   Find help when...
[Afraid]
[Anxious]
[Backsliding]
[Bereaved]
[Bitter or Critical]
[Conscious of Sin]
[Defeated]
[Depressed]
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[Friends Fail]
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 Finding help when you feel yourself Backslidingwritten by Richard Thomas / November 10, 2001Picture yourself in a cross country race. This one seems to be mostly uphill. You are pressing forward toward the goal but someone doesn’t want you to get to the finish line. So your adversary (the devil) tries to distract you, discourage you, sidetrack you or all of the above. Instead of keeping your eyes on the goal, (Jesus Christ) you look to the left and right. Then down at your feet. You loose your focus in the cares and snares of this world. Your feet begin to loose traction. You begin to slide backward. Your feet totally lose their grip and you fall flat on your face. You are demoralized by defeat and to make things worse, your adversary is mocking you by saying what a failure and fool you are to have entered the race in the first place. But the one who called you to join His flock [Phillipians 1:6] comes to your aide, enables you to stand. You hear His encouraging voice because you belong to Him.[ John 10:27 ] You find your focus again to continue the race. Your feet find solid ground. Your strength is renewed, not from within, but from above. Because you belong to the Good Shepherd, He will not let you fail. He promised. [ Hebrews 13:5 ] Biblically speaking, blacksliding refers to drawing back from God’s defined will and purpose. Another term for it is, Apostasy. It is not referring to a "one time neglect" but rather an act of the will that begins as a little fib and turns into a very big lie. It starts with a compromise. “You will not die, God knows that when you eat from this tree, you will be like Him.” [Read Genesis 3:1-7 ] Today is the same. The one that deceived Eve will do the same to you and will wisper in your ear that you have totally embarrassed God beyond forgiveness. Nothing could be farther from the truth! And what really gripes me is the doctrine running through Christian circles that God will give up on you and turn you loose to follow the trail that drops right off into the Lake of Fire. When Jesus was describing His role as the Good Shepherd as reported in [Luke 15:1-7] He was referring to the body of Christ that was commissioned to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. He also said as reported by Luke in [Acts 1:8] that we would be His witnesses when we have been empowered by His Spirit and there is laid the responsibility of the church. Jesus said we are to be “salt and light” in a sick and dark world.[ Matthew 5:13-17 ] Salt brings healing. Light brings understanding to keep our brethren from stumbling. The world will know we are Christians by our love - for one another. [Read John chapter 15 ] God has given the Church the tools to keep us on the upward climb. A daily dose of God’s word will nourish your soul. Daily prayer will empower you. The time you give to conversation with God (whether morning,noon or night ) will be given back to you. Remember, He is the God of the past, present and future. He knows your schedule. Make Him your schedule and you won’t be disappointed. Guaranteed! Church attendance is important for the building up of the body of Christ. Did you ever think that you were/are an encouragement to someone when they see you darken the door of your place of worship. Most assuredly, you are. When you neglect the assembly, you shortchange those who would be encouraged by your attendance. God has no pleasure in those that (backslide) draw back. [ Read Hebrews 10:37-39 ] His concern is like that of a parent with a persistent child that will not stay out of the street, no matter what you do or how you set it up to prevent a parent’s nightmare. And no matter how many times a child wanders into the street, you can count the same number of times the child is rescued by the parent. But with persistence and discipline, the child will learn not to wander into the street. What kind of parent would throw up hands and say, just forget it. Go ahead, get run over by a truck. Just make sure you are wearing clean underwear. I know this subject is nothing to joke about. Neither is the doctrine that God will give up on you if you backslide. But if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [Read 1 John chapter 1 ] The best way to avoid backsliding is to get your eyes off yourself. Keep your focus on Jesus Christ, He never fails.[Hebrews 12:2] If you are seeking hope for a new life, it all begins with Jesus Christ. Begin Here!
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