Running From God???

"Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4

Ouch! This one really hurts! If you ever wondered what God thinks of you as you dibble in the things of the world, here's your answer.

God can only tolerate your behavior for so long. Many of us call ourselves Christians, but run into the arms of the world seeking guidance from unsaved friends, pleasure, numbness to pain, and selfish desires. The truth is...we should be running into the arms of Christ. He will give us the "replacements" we are searching from the world.

I know it may sound easy, but it's not. Nobody ever said that once you accept Christ as your Savior, you won't be tempted. Temptations are everywhere and Satan knows this. There are things I struggle with daily. The key is to overcome temptations by walking daily with Christ.

The first thing you should do is get in the word. If you don't have a Bible that you can understand and comprehend, get one. It makes a world of difference. I can honestly say I never read God's word and got it until the last few years. Part of the reason is because my heart is finally in the right place and ready to accept his directions for living. The other part is because I use 3 different Bibles to help me understand what God's word really means.

The next thing you should do is pray. Prayer is very important to Godly living. Talk to God like he is a friend, even if you think you don't make any sense. He knows your heart and longs to hear from you.

Praise and worship is equally important. It's more than just singing. It's an attitude that nurtures the spirit within to bear the fruits that God intends for you to share with others. Galatians 5 tells us that we are to have the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

When you run from God, you are causing destruction to yourself. In most cases, the damage is to the body, soul, and spirit. Recognize that Satan wants to destroy your new life in Christ. Stop running and start fighting the spiritual battle that rages inside you. Through Christ, you will always win!

"I can do all things though Christ because he gives me strength." Philippians 4:13.

LIVE IT...BELIEVE IT...CLING TO IT! There is always hope in Jesus Christ!