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Do You Matter? The Answer May Surprise You!

2/26/2012

Feeling unappreciated? Are you discouraged about where you are in life? Does the rapid decline of America fill you with a sense of hopelessness?

Rude Awakening #14: Everyone feels this way now and then.

Remember Elijah? He was so discouraged he asked God to take is life – and this happened right after fire fell from heaven in answer to Elijah's prayer on mount Carmel! (1 Kings 18-19).

And let's not forget that Jesus called out from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)

It's important to remember that these feelings will probably pass soon. But maybe we should take a look at why we're feeling this way. David wrote in Psalms 42:11 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

David reminded himself to hope in God! Our God is mighty, faithful and true. Nothing, and no one compares to him! His promises are real! He is worthy of our trust, and worthy of all of our hope. When we lose sight of his greatness, our problems look bigger than they really are.

How are things between us and God? Have we strayed from regular prayer and time alone with him in his word?

The times I'm most down and feeling that I don't matter, stem from a lack of praising God and time in prayer. I get so easily distracted, putting trivial things ahead of what's really important. Prayer takes a back seat, and soon I feel like I'm in the trunk next to the spare tire. That's a lousy place to be on this great road trip of life. Yuck!

Don't Travel The Road of Life In The Trunk!

A soul that continues this way could eventually lose all hope and become bitter. The list of spiritual and physical side effects that accompany bitterness would last longer than a prescription drug commercial. Let's not go there, shall we? Instead, let's hope in God!

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Sometimes we bring discouragement onto ourselves because we try to do everything our way, in our own strength, without seeking the Lord. It's easy to do. But let's consider this option instead...

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Do I matter?” we ask. We matter so much that Almighty God is willing and desirous to

exalt us in due time if we humble ourselves under his might hand;
take on our care for he careth for us;
and direct our paths if we'll trust in him with all our heart.

Jesus Christ didn't only come to earth to die on a cross for our sins. He came to give us life, and that more abundantly. Discouragement, disappointments, and even the end of the world are just part of this life. But let's keep things in perspective...

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Psalm 103 is one of my favorites. The first 14 verses are especially uplifting. As soon as you can read those verses out loud to yourself from the King James Version. You can't read that passage without feeling loved and appreciated.

You do matter! Your life does count! Encourage yourself in God today and RSVP to this great invitation personally addressed to each of us...

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Thanks for sharing this with others!

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What To Do About Guilt

1/2/2012

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If you're wondering what to do about guilt, that kind of crippling guilt that ruins what otherwise would be a great day, then please keep reading. I know there are many of us who struggle getting past feelings of guilt.

I believe guilt is an important and helpful part of lives. Guilt let's us know that we have a properly functioning conscience. If we've done something or someone wrong, we should feel guilty. That kind of guilt motivates us to make things right with whomever we've hurt or trespassed against. Consider the words of Jesus on what to do about guilt:

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. (Matthew 5:23-25)

Our God is a God of resolve, not of festering wounds and lingering guilt. He expects his children to make things right with those we've offended. Then he expects those offended to forgive the offender. Much easier said than done, but that's how we're supposed to act.

However, guilt stops being helpful when it continues to haunt us even after we've done all we can do to make things right. Like when a single bad memory hits us, and we become emotionally bottomed out for the rest of the day. It's really tough to be a blessing to others when we're drowning in our own swamp of negative feelings. That kind of recurring guilt is neither helpful or productive and here's something else: It's not from God.

Take a look at John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Life more abundantly does not include crippling guilt!

Jesus Christ came to bring deliverance to us captives. It's our lifelong enemy, the devil, that will use anything and everything to steal our joy and get us down and depressed. Bringing up past mistakes and blowing them way out of proportion is one of his most successful tactics. He'll use old memories against us to make us feel like failures. But let's never forget: God Is Bigger Than Our Past Mistakes.

Here are a few suggestions for what to do about guilt:

Ask yourself if you've really done all you can do to make things right. If you haven't, then you need to. This guilt is still serving a purpose. If you have, then stand on that knowledge and let it go. Brush the mud off and move on!
Keep things in perspective. All of us can look back on some situation and wished we would have handled things differently. But we can't change the past. We can only learn from the past and do better next time. Don't be so down on yourself for not knowing then what you know now.
If you've made things right, and you can see things in perspective, but still get stuck on the ol' emotional roller coaster, then maybe it's a trick of the devil. Perhaps he's found a weakness in you and is pressing those tender wounds to take you out of the game. It's tough to rejoice when you're hurting, right? It may be time to join the resistance! Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) Remind Satan that you've obeyed the word, you've done all you can do, and he can take his guilt trip somewhere else!

We might have to walk through this a few times till our emotions catch up with our head, but being free from soul sucking guilt is a real blessing that can be ours!

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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Do You Matter? The Answer May Surprise You!

What To Do About Guilt

Patrick Sipperly

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