Three Likeable Behaviors We Should Not Keep

Three Likeable Behaviors We Should Not Keep

Seeking the Good Life                                       

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There are many things and behaviors in life we should give up that we would rather keep.  Some of these in the times of Jesus would likely be called 'evil spirits'.  Behaviors such as selfish pride, and "emotional baggage" are not good for us and are 'stuff' we need to give up, but unfortunately, we just enjoy the sinful feelings they brings us.  Also, too often we are too involved in our self afflictions of "worry", so much so that we would not know what to do if we could not worry about something.  

Down deep in our hearts we know we need to purge these behaviors as they are truly not worthy of our time, they create barriers, and can easily be physically unhealthy.   We know we need help to eliminate them but at the same time we too much desire them.  What we do not always realize is that these behaviors become barricades and stumbling blocks to our most important behavior with God- the close personal relationship He wants with us and has demonstrated by pursuing us in completing that relationship!

There are many things we need to pray for but perhaps the most important are those that represent barriers to our Relationship with God, our stumbling blocks in knowing Jesus, and the easy detours in accepting the path and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Here are but three that can be real stumbling blocks to knowing God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

1. Pray to Avoid and/or Give Up Selfish Pride
   Pride is a great but dangerous motivator.
   
   We depend on God for all we do, all we are, and all we accomplish.  But, when we think we alone accomplish something, and forget that God gave us the tools, the materials, and the brain to do all we do, then we are on a slippery slope to sin.
   When in thinking we alone have done something, we are building barriers in our ability to Love God and anything we do that puts barriers between us and God is Sinful.
   
   
   We have to remember, that 'I" is at the center of the word 
   'p r I d e'
   

   We can take some pride in what we do,
   we work hard to accomplish,

   
   

   we use our brain to understand instructions,
   we try to find the best way to solve problems,
   but in the end

   
   

   it is our loving God who provides all that we use,

   
   

   therefore, we have to give God the Glory in all we do.

   
   

   Some additional thoughts:

   
   

   a-  Pride is a "Sneaky 'little' Sin'

   
   

       click this link for some others:  Sneaky 'Little' Sins
   
   b- Click here for:  Ten dangerous thoughts of "I"
   
   
2. Pray to forgive and give up Old Baggage, Grudges, and
   the Discontent that comes with it.
   
   We all like to keep stuff.  We move, we pack, and some of it goes in the attic.  Years later it is still there and we do not want to let go.  It does us no good yet we keep it knowing it would be fuel for a fire.  The problem is, we pack emotional baggage in our memory attic knowing it is not good for us and not realizing it too can become fuel for a fire.  What is worse, this old memory baggage can be about people we love that we chose to have close to us.
   For more on 'Old Baggage' and what Jesus had to say about it
   
   click this link:  "Old Baggage" - another sneaky sin.
   
3. Pray to Follow the Words of Jesus and give up Worry
   
   In Matthew 6:  Jesus teaches us not to worry.  In fact, He commands us not to worry.  We can be concerned about our Problems, Issues, and Troubles (PITS) in life, but excessive concern becomes worry.  Worry can lead to a whole host of medical issues including death.  Many years ago, a friend of mine excused himself from the Sunday dinner table after attending church, and with his parents, wife, and four children at the table went to the bedroom, took a 410 shotgun and killed himself.  He worried himself about a potential Army courts martial (arrest and trial) that he thought death was better than facing life.  Worry does lead to problems greater than the PITs you think you have.
   Like other issues discussed, worry creates a barrier to our relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, it is sinful.
   
   Worry- if you are excessively and overly concerned, you have to find a way to beat it.  At one point in my life, I was an excessive worrier, I am experienced at beating it because I daily choose to trust God, therefore beating worry everyday.
   
   For more on the medical affects of worry- 
      google search-  worry medical results  
      or
      try this web site:  
                              http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/how-worrying-affects-your-body
   
   For more thoughts on the Biblical aspects of worry and possible ways to beat it
      click this link:  Worry and Beating It
   I caution you, worry can be serious, if you ever have any thoughts of harming yourself or people around you, seek professional advice in addition to Seeking the Kingdom.
   
   Another Link on Worry:
               10 Thoughts on Reducing Worry

In nearly all aspects of our lives, if we take something away, there is an empty space that needs to be filled.  Read Luke 11 19-28 below for Jesus' thoughts on removing the 'evil spirits' of pride, Old Baggage, and Worry.

In purging something in your life, fill it with Bible Study, prayer, and Seeking the Kingdom.  When these and other sinful thoughts come to mind, immediately pray.  The thoughts will go away, eventually, if you are sincere in your prayers. 

Thanks Be to God

© lonnie coggins

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References:

Luke 11:
19Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.21"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.23"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.24"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."28He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."


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ldcoggins@gmail.com

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There are many behaviors we know we should not keep, but we too much enjoy the sin in living with them.  Click the link for three of these behaviors and what we should get rid of them.

http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/09/three-likeable-behaviors-we-should-not.html

Thoughts on the Danger of What "I" Can Do

Thoughts on the Danger 
   of What "I" Can Do
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For a long time in my life I thought I was a pretty smart guy.  
While in the Air Force "I" did some really neat stuff,  "I" was successful in business and teaching careers.  

"I", at age 24, developed for a Vietnam combat required emergency the navigation techniques to air-drop a 2000 lb bundle from 10,000 feet and consistently hit the leading edge of a soccer field.  

"I", as a young first lieutenant took that airdrop project to Vietnam, trained about 20 other crews how to do it and helped save the lives of 300 soldiers surrounded by 40,000 bad guys.  One of the best job activities I have ever been a part of.

"I" 'saved' my crew one monsoon rainy, stormy night, when almost out of gas and no visibility outside the cockpit of our C-130 plane, and ground control could not 'paint' our airplane because of the storm, "I" used "my" navigation skills, "my" talent, and "my" abilities to talk the pilot to the runway.  The pilot never saw the runway until I told him to flare (pull up) the nose and settle the plane for landing.

"I" started and had a successful business.

"I" was a good middle school teacher.

"I" did a lot of unusual stuff very successfully in my life.

BUT,

     my first night in Vietnam I was so scared of dying that I knew that on the next day I would not be able to function.  It was staggering great responsibilities I felt for what I had ahead of me the next day.  For some reason, that night I prayed, something I had not done in years.  In that prayer God relieved my burden and the next day "I" started implementing the air drop procedures and process described above.

In those next days, "I" also forgot about what God did for me.  It took me 37 years to come full circle to realize and came to understand that "I" had done nothing.  I had also prayed about how to do the process of dropping those bundles on the soccer field and God had shown me the way.  God truly showed me how to do that airdrop procedure, God relieved me of my burdens and then, .. I forgot about Him! Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

If I have learned anything in this life, 

whatever it is that we do, 

we do more if we allow God to direct our lives.  

In my lowest moments in those days now 41 years ago, 

God, 

when requested through prayer, 

lead me to the solutions,
calmed my heart
and helped me save many people.

It often comes to mind that I could have done so much more in those 37 intervening years if I had prayed daily as earnestly as I prayed in those days of the Spring of 1972.  Prayers came to me from time to time, mostly in times of crises and I prayed often when teaching my SS class, praying for Guidance of my words.  But, only on the rare occasion of a crises in my life did I pray.  I do not remember praying about business decisions, family decisions, even if I should teach middle school.

On our own, we may do some good things with our life.  But, I thank God He showed me His power in those prayers in those hard days of 1972 and what He can do through me when I allow Him to guide me.  Again, I regret it took 37 years for me to realize that "I" is dangerous.

It is my testimony that the biggest problem of achieving our greatest accomplishment is one little word, "I".  God gives us our brain and its capabilities, he give us life and the breath to sustain live, He gives us the desire and will to do our best, and everything else we have.  We owe to Him everything we accomplish, for without Him we truly are not much more than dust, at best we are dirt, and maybe not even good dirt.  In giving everything we do to His Glory, He will give us more opportunities to serve Him.

A most simple direct example-- I do not consider myself much of a writer, but, when I allow Him to guide my words, some good words are on this page.  Maybe I am "wordy", maybe I mispell a word, drop a comma, maybe a hanging participle lingers around, maybe sometimes I do not even make a bit of sense, but I try my best, seek His guidance, and it seems to work.  All this, from a me, a guy that required three semesters to complete freshman college English Composition.

I appreciate you, my readers, for your encouragement. I write what I feel moved to write and a good many of you seem to like it, take the time to read, feel moved by it, and then feel encouraged to do more.

My testimony, "Seek ye first His Kingdom...", letting God guide you to where He wants you to be, and you and those around you will be the better for it.  (Matthew 6:33)

Above all, do not let "I", your inborn self-centered selfishness, get in your way of what you should be doing and being what God has planned for you.  Pray and pray and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and God will build your faith as the Holy Spirit guides your life into far greater accomplishment than what only "I" can do.

"I" is perhaps the most dangerous word we use to cloud our lives, hinder our vision, and hold us back in our doubts.  "Seek first the Kingdom", it is, after all, a command of Jesus!  

We truly are strongest and at our greatest potential,
when we humble ourselves to God 

asking for His guidance in all we accomplish for Him.

Thanks be to God,
lonnie

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