Chris' Christian Blog

January 1, 2019

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Prompt: What are you praying for in 2019?

I am praying for holiness. I struggle a lot with sin in my life. I know better than do the things I do and walk right into them with my eyes wide open. It is beyond my capabilities as a human to overcome sin. I realize that and am praying that God removes sin from my life in 2019. My church, The Salvation Army, practices holiness doctrine. This means that we believe God can make one holy. All of us sin and fall short of God's glory. However with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us we do not have to yield to sin. My prayer for 2019 is that the Holy Spirit will make me holy.

Prompt: "Think about all the books you've read or for that matter written. What one Character would you say best describes you and why?"

That is a really good question and a hard one to answer. My favorite book of course is the Holy Bible. I guess the character I want to be like would be King David. David knew how to sin and on several occasions he screwed up big time. He was the king who committed adultery with Bathsheba, one of his soldier's wives, and then tried to cover it up with conspiracy and murder. So he knew how to screw up and when he sinned he did it big time in human terms. (God sees all sin as the same. The sin of gossip is equal to the sin of murder in God's eyes.)
David also knew how to repent. When he screwed up he admitted it and did everything in his power to serve God. He loved God and I love God. If just a little bit of King David's heart were my heart I would be happy. God said that David was a man after God's own heart. That meant that David knew how to be righteous and holy. My goal is to be righteous and holy.

Prompt: “A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.” Paulo Coelho
How much of that child do you have inside you? Do you know anyone who does? Do you wish to be that child in 2019?"

I don't really know that I want to be a child again. Yes children can teach adults to always be busy but there are times I don't want to be busy. I just want to relax. A child can teach an adult to demand what they want with all their heart but there are times I don't know what is best for me. Some of the greatest gifts I have ever received are things I did not get. The woman I demanded with all my heart and did not receive who later turned out to be incompatible with anybody was a gift. I'm grateful I was told "no". There are lots of such examples including jobs I did not get and cars I wanted.
I do agree with being happy for no reason. I try to remain upbeat and have found that the key to happiness is doing the will of God. As long as I walk with Jesus I am happy. When I stray sadness and grief come along.