Mentoring Matters

“If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus.” Ephesians 4:21

How we live is determined by what we believe. If Truth is in Jesus, then why do we have such corruption in our lives? Why do the daily struggles far out way the confident victories that are said to be ours?”

There is a saying, “There must be a cross before there can be a crown.” The cross we need to embrace includes giving up our plans for the greater plans of the Savior, bringing our opinions, priorities, and thoughts into alignment with the bigger picture, and knowing what that picture is.

The Bible has not left us overwhelmed as to how this is to be accomplished. There are really no excuses for believing a lie as truth when Jesus is our Truth. Study with us today as we see the provisions that we have in trading the old for the new.

“Believe in your heart that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Beliefs are vital to a person in establishing who they are and this passage deals with the belief of WHO God is. We have blended our beliefs with the cultural and secular world mixing percepts and concepts that will never work together.

It is like oil and water. Oil is lighter and floats to the top. Likewise, we enjoy the light and easy ways of blended thinking, rather than searching out what is really necessary for godly living.

Today we examine how to make right what is wrong in our thinking so that in everything we do we may be pleasing in God’s sight. For the person still searching find the foundation that offers a solid and fixed way of understanding.

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them

out.” Proverbs 20:5

We know out of the heart proceed all the issues of life, but how does that relate to a heart purpose? Does the heart plan on good or evil? What influences the heart in revealing what is the priority on which the heart thinks? In the physical world a heart not working right brings trouble to all the body and a heart out of balance will also trouble our mind, will, and emotions. Take time out today to consider matters of the heart.

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.” Proverbs 16:2

We think we have our lives under control from our perspective and need no other

help. A few bumps here and there, coping but never soaring, and often wanting to

hibernate to escape living with everyday life.

Whether it is relationships of being ignored, hassled, or living with the results of our own poor choices, we find a way to survive. We keep everything on the

surface but never dig down to the root of the problem.

Today we acquaint ourselves with some less obvious defenses while hoping to find a place to land that brings peace. There is a solution!

When you meet someone there is usually an introduction of your name and then something about what you do. It takes a name to make what you do important. Telling someone what you do without a name is incomplete to our identity.

Likewise, part of our identity as members of God’s family is our being an ambassador to show people what the family of God should look like in today’s world.

Many times, we are displaying a bad “identity” because we are attempting to make ourselves look good rather than reflecting our identity of being IN CHRIST. Who we are reflects what we do. How important is this in our understanding of living?

“The spirit of a man will be his support and sustain him when he is ill, but a broken and crushed spirit, who can bear.” Proverbs 18:14

How do you handle and react to frustration and troubling conflicts? Some explode,

some turn their backs and ignore the hurt and pain, others carry it inside and have

unusual Defense Mechanisms that are hard to recognize.

When we want to be strong in spirit we must be pure in heart. Learning to observe

what sounds good may be a cover for a heart that is coping and not really caring.

Don’t get trapped in Defense Mechanisms that substitute reality in relationships.

We have been given The Great Escape. Let's use it!!

"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things" Romans 2:1.

Defense mechanisms are ways that we react to conflict in order to maintain our self-esteem and avoid anxiety. They are used when we need to reduce emotional conflict or soften feelings of failure or disappointment.

However, when we use these mechanisms, they prevent us from moving forward in the joy of the Lord and spiritual growth.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be healthy to

your flesh, and strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8

Denial and Rationalization are two defenses we run to when we believe our own wisdom is the best choice for making decisions. This may not be a deliberate but a place to run to in need to survive and not wanting to work through the difficult disciplines required for change. When scripture is lacking in our life, one of the natural fallbacks is into a pattern of denial and rationalization.

You may be rather surprised as you listen to the comfort zone of unbelief!

“The wisdom of the prudent (sensible) is to understand his way but the folly (foolishness) of fools is deceit.” Proverbs 14:8

 

Christianity has cracked the door open to ways of the world becoming acceptable in the life of the Church, and we don’t even recognize the tangle web that has been woven into our thinking.

Rather than accepting the fact that we are called to lay down our lives for others in service and caring from a heart of sacrificial love, we protect ourselves from having to bear one another’s pain. We don’t know how to help others  carry the load that plague the soul and spirit. We are great on helping in the physical needs and we are thankful for that blessing. However, we are body, soul, and spirit. All three parts need to be growing and healthy.

Heavenly wisdom give us understanding in tearing down our walls of defense, as we allow the Spirit to make  the heart  of Christ real in our lives.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

 

Modern psychology is the perfect substitute for God playing in our lives with our own intellect and reasoning. There are many different facets that mar our thinking, and some are so “reasonable” the modern-day church accepts and even endorses them.

The church family – The Body of Christ is the only source of light in the darkness of human reasoning and logic.

One positive note is that even with self-consciousness within weak or carnal Christians there are “pockets” of believers that are standing strong, growing, and ministering to others who are in need. For others.

Some are just too busy to get involved with helping someone with their entrapment of worldly values.

Some are too ignorant of God’s word and unable to assist in helping to set free people in bondage.

Some want to help but don’t know-how and fear keep them silent.

Some are being a witness to the Life of Christ within us – Where are you in this line-up?