Life is full of events. Some are good, some are bad but in everything you endure, the key is to learn from it. When we learn from it, we can practice it. When we practice it, we become better at it. And when we become better at something than where we were before, it shows that we GROW from it.
James 1:14-15
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. and when sin is allowed to GROW, it gives birth to death.
Black & White Mentality: It is easy to place any type of blame on others and make excuse for evil thoughts and wrong actions. We use excuses such as: (1) It's the other person's fault, (2) I couldn't help it, (3) it was just a mistake etc. That a person who makes excuses is trying to shift the blame from him/herself to something or someone else and NOT taking responsibility for his/her own actions, confess them and ask GOD for forgiveness.
During the past month of being geographically separated from the ones I LOVE most, I've had much time to GROW in Christ. Between being away from my LOVED ones, adapting to a new place of living by myself, enduring the death of a good friend and mentally and spiritually preparing myself to now go to Afghanistan for 10 months has taught me that I needed two things. Patience, and Peace. My relationship with Christ has deepened and my Prayer Life has Increased Tremendously.
2nd Corinthians 8:12
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what YOU HAVE, not what YOU DON'T HAVE.
Black & White w/ Color Mentality: This very verse shows that there is no FAITH in starting to get locked in what you do not have. The greatness of GOD does not come out of what you DON'T have but comes out of what you DO have. Once I realized that me being away from my Family and best friends wasn't the problem, once I realized a good friend of mine who passed away wasn't the problem, and once I realized that even my deployment was not the problem but that it was me, Things started to STOP looking so... "Black & White" and began to see a little bit of color (The Bigger Picture). As I began to allow GOD to GROW me, I began to slowly OVERCOME my situation.
Galatians 6:9
So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.
When we have those times in our lives and have... a spirit of "Being Weary", we have to realize that is is NOT just a feeling you get when you wake up one morning. You GROW Weary and we must decide to persist and look to Jesus. Hence as it says in the verse to NOT get tired of doing what is good. Don't GROW WEARY!
2 Peter 3:18
I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Color Mentality: For Those who trust in the Lord will fine new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not GROW weary. They will walk and not faint. When we Stop making excuses and take responsibility for our own actions, thoughts, way of thinking, that's when we can allow GOD to GROW us. And when we GROW in Christ, we can OVERCOME anything in him. That if we stop seeing things so "Black & White" and see the bigger picture, we'll realize that it takes even dark colors to paint a masterpiece. An OVERCOMER will NEVER live out of what they DON'T HAVE. The moment you get worked up by what you DON'T have, is the same moment you stop building HOPE. So I encourage you, in whatever you are facing, to become a RESILIENT believer. For a RESILIENT believer is a GROWING Believer. And a GROWING Believer, is an OVERCOMING Believer.
GOD is LOVE
