I’ve been having a difficult time the last few days and especially today. I like this post that I put on another blog and thought I’d post it here.
I sense that people often feel a need to be right and one way to exercise this is to give advice to those who are suffering so that they can fix them. Then if they get better they can feel good about how they were right. Two problems with this is that it makes the sufferer feel like they are seen as not as smart as those who don’t suffer as much because much of the “advice” is already known by the sufferer and in fact the sufferer usually knows much more about the subject than the person giving the advice! People don’t always suffer because of lack of knowledge. It also shows that we can forget that although we can help each other, God is ultimately the who heals, who decides a person’s fate and who is always right.
From Still Higher For His Highest by Oswald Chambers
January 20
Temperamental-the way a man looks at life. My temperament is an inner disposition which influences my thoughts and actions to a certain extent, i.e., I am either pessimistic or optimistic according to the way my blood circulates. It is an insult to take the temperamental line in dealing with human beings-”Cheer up, look on the bright side”; there are some types of suffering before which the only thing you can do is to keep your mouth shut. There are times when a man needs to be handled by God, not by his fellow men, and part of the gift of a man’s wisdom is to know how to be reverent with what he does not understand.
Job 2:13
Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
I think Oswald Chambers had a good knowledge of what I call “real psychology” as opposed to our typical psycho-babble. (That’s not the main topic of his devotionals though.) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is another one who was ahead of his time in this regard.
I own, and need to start reading, Lloyd-Jones’ Spiritual Depression.
I read it a few years ago. It’s good for a certain type of depression. Anybody can benefit from it of course but it’s not geared to those who are clinically, chronically depressed or suicidal but people who aren’t experiencing the joy of being a Christian that they could be.
Jeff
People experience depression for all kinds of reasons such as: unmet expectations,to the loss of a loved one, or loss of a job.
Whatever the reason may be it is clearly in the hands of GOD.
If you are a person of faith and desire to be changed from your present situation, you need to be prepared to make changes.
If you’re not a person of faith, you need to give your life to the LORD JESUS CHRIST so that you may be born again.
First you need to understand that we cannot simply live how we please and expect everything to turn out okay.
We need direction!
GOD says, as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Each day that goes by in our lives, the GOD who created the heavens and the earth desires greatly to have an intimate relationship with each one of us.
HE desires that you be more interested in HIM than all your other interests, HE deserves to be first and the most important person in your life.
JESUS said, man does not live on bread alone,but on every word that comes from the mouth of GOD.
The source of your strength and your very existance is in HIS hands.
Everything that makes your life valuable is from HIM.
HE says, I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.
The things you allow yourself to do whether good or evil you are being constantly judged for.
So your responsability is to remove from your life everything that you know is wrong, and replace those wrongs with rights and then you will begin to see more positive things happening because of your obedience to HIS word.
Fill your time with quality things,get rid of the negetive.
Romans 12:1-2.
Therefore, I urge you brothers in view of GOD’s mercy to offer your body as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to GOD-this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve of what GOD’s will is-HIS good, pleasing and perfect will.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please GOD.
Anyone who comes to HIM must believe that HE exists and that HE is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek HIM!
Delight yourself in the LORD and HE will give you the desires of your heart.
To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
Speak to GOD as much as you can and make sure you’re listening to what HE is saying to you in HIS word.
HE says, I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.
The things you allow yourself to do whether good or evil you are being constantly judged for.
For those who are believers, our sins have been forgiven and we are the righteousness of God. We are not constantly being judged. I’m not sure what brought on your whole comment here. It doesn’t seem to have much to do with the post but thanks for quoting the Scripture.
So your responsability is to remove from your life everything that you know is wrong, and replace those wrongs with rights and then you will begin to see more positive things happening because of your obedience to HIS word.
We just need to remember it’s God who does the sanctifying, not our own efforts other than to strive to obey and persevere.
Jeff
Ray,
Was there a point to your typing session?
I didn’t even realize how old this post is. I was thinking it was a new post. But still, what Stan said.
I think this is part of it, as written in the post:
“I sense that people often feel a need to be right.”
Jeff