Category Archives: responsibility

affirmation, bible, choices, Enlightenment, faith, Growing, Healing, Lessons, life, love, peace, responsibility, scripture, self help, self improvement, Suffering, Uncategorized

Getting The Monkey Off Your Back!

Do you ever feel like the devil is “messing with you”? This thought often refers to spiritual or personal struggles rather than direct interference from a supernatural entity. In other words, there is always a possibility that it is the devil, but it could also just be part of the ups, downs and sideways of life. Here are some signs that people may interpret as indications of negative influences and a few ideas about what we can do about them:

1. Constant Negative Thoughts: If you’re persistently experiencing negative, self-deprecating, or harmful thoughts that seem beyond your control, it might feel like an external force is influencing your mindset. There is an old computer terminology that says: “Garbage In, Garbage Out!” What are you allowing into your life in the things that your eyes, see, your ears hear, your mouth taste, your nose smells, your skin feels and your minds thinks about?

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” -Philippians 4:8

2. Sudden and Unexplained Struggles: Unexpected difficulties in various aspects of life, such as relationships, work, or health, might be perceived as signs of interference. The first thing we need to do, before looking to place the blame on someone or something else, is own our own responsibility for what could be a contributing factor.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” -James 1:2-4

3. Feeling Disconnected or Drained: Sensations of feeling spiritually or emotionally disconnected, drained of energy, or experiencing a sense of impending doom may lead one to believe they are under negative influence. If you are feeling disconnected ask yourself: “What have I done to make sure I am connected?” If you are feeling drained of energy, take a look at your diet and exercise and think about changes that you might need to take. If you are experiencing a sense of impending doom, make sure that you are spending time reading and thinking about spiritual literature, especially the Bible.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8)

4. Unexplained Physical or Mental Health Issues: Though often medical, if someone experiences unexplained physical ailments or mental health issues, they might attribute them to external negative forces. Sometimes the body gets sick and there is almost always a reason for this. It is usually because something has gotten into us that does not belong or we have failed to take something in that our body or mind needs. Check yourself and if need be, get professional help to get back healthy.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10

5. Repeated Obstacles or Failures: Feeling like there’s a pattern of repeated obstacles, failures, or challenges that hinder progress or success in life. The reality is that sometimes we are our own worst enemy and we just keep on repeating the same of self defeating behaviors. We will not ever overcome, until we get honest with ourselves and our Maker.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

It’s important to note that while these signs might be concerning, they can also be attributed to various other factors such as mental health conditions, life circumstances, or personal struggles. Seeking guidance from trusted spiritual leaders, counselors, or mental health professionals is advisable if these signs persist or significantly impact your well-being. Additionally, interpreting these signs as the direct influence of the devil is largely subjective and varies according to personal beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Often we give the devil way too much authority and power. If you are a child of God, the devil has no power over you, unless you give it to him, so remember this: You Got The Power!

Blogroll, choices, Discipleship, Enlightenment, faith, God, grace, Growing, humility, ideas, Jesus, journey, Lessons, life, love, peace, personal growth, positive, responsibility, self improvement, spiritual enlightenment, Spititual Development

You’ve Tried It Your Way???

In this thing we do called life, we all need someone we can trust. And most all of us have lived our lives long enough to have trusted and had that trust broken. Once trust is broken, it is hard to ever give it again to anyone, so we just sort of mettle through doing the best that we can. The problem with that approach to life is that we were created for relationship and we can’t really have a growing and meaningful relationship without trust. In other words: To get the most out of this life, we have got to trust someone!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16

God loves you and He created you for relationship. The purpose of the relationship is so that God can bless you and you can glorify God. We glorify God by trusting Him. We trust Him by receiving His blessings and we glorify Him by sharing those blessing with one another. We can call it whatever we want to: “trust/faith/belief”, but regardless of what we call it, the results are the same, it allows the stuff of God to flow to us and through us…

If Not God, Then Who?

I hate to say it, but others don’t have your best interest at heart and even if they do, they can’t even get themselves to where they need to be. There is an old saying that “Misery loves company!” Others don’t really want you to be blessed and succeed, because then they would have to feel bad because they are not being blessed and succeeding. The truth is: We can all be blessed and succeed, but someone has to be willing to trust God and start the process.

You’ve Tried It Your Way!

You’ve tried and failed, so when are you going to learn? If we will take a moment to get still, quiet and look into ourselves, we will know that we can’t, but God can and has and will if we will just trust/believe/have faith in Him. We know our ways don’t work, so let’s honestly and wholeheartedly give God’s way a try!

God has always been the way, is the way and will be the way! The Bible teaches that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I challenge you to trust Him in all things, not just some things and watch your life line up with His blessings and before you know it – you will be blessing others for His glory…

affirmation, Blogroll, change, choices, Control, Creativity, Enlightenment, Expectation, faith, God, Gratitude, Growing, Healing, ideas, journey, Lessons, life, love, mental challenge, Miracles, Mystery, Life,, personal growth, Problems, purpose, responsibility, self improvement, spiritual enlightenment, Spititual Development

This Is The Way!

Our Biggest Challenge: God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways!

I think one of the biggest challenges in life has to be the realization that there is more than one way. I mean 2+4=6, but so does 3+3=6 and they are both right. Live life long enough and you will discover that there is the right way and the wrong way, the easy way and the hard way, God’s way and your way, and we could go on and on and on.

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts higher than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:8-9

You’ve Tried It Your Way!

Let’s get honest and real for a few moments: You’ve tried it your way and things just aren’t lining up and working out. You know there is a better way and you know that better way is God’s way, so why are you so hard headed and reluctant to let go of your way and try God’s way? If it because you are afraid that it might actually work and you might start enjoying this gift called life? Is it because you have become so accustomed to misery that you think there is no other way to live?

I want to challenge you to get really real with yourself for just a few moments. You’ve been doing life your way and how’s that working out for you? Do you really think that you are living up to your God-given potential and are you really experiencing all of the blessings you were created to experience and share? Most of us, if we are honest, have to admit that we are living way below the level of our blessed, created potential and we know that God has so much more in store.

Seriously think about it! Take a look back on your life and living and learn whatever this life is trying to teach you or you will continue to repeat the same mistakes and live the same life. God has better and God wants better for you, but God loves you and will never force his blessings upon you.

If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always got! If you want a better and more blessed life, then you have to admit that you don’t have it all figured out and that is totally okay. Once we admit that we don’t have it all figured out, then we can begin to look to the One Who does have it all figured out and He will direct and guide us to where we need to be and give us the strength to do what we need to do, so that our life and living aligns with His plans for blessing and growth.

You can’t, but God can and He has and He will, if you will get out of His way…