The flesh or the Spirit?

Isn’t it hard when you feel you’re being pulled in every direction all at once? 

Wouldn’t it be easier if God just told us exactly what He wants us to do, without us having to ask to be led? 

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed because I’m trying to understand the path that God wants me to take. Sometimes it’s clear, and sometimes, not so much. Sometimes I can say in full confidence that I know exactly what I am doing, and sometimes I feel stuck and unsure, intimidated and insecure, confused and doubtful, stressed and anxious. 

I think it is normal to feel this way sometimes. We are only human. We are not perfect.

At times, I wonder why some doors keep popping open, even after I’ve closed them. I wonder if it’s God, or if it’s the enemy tempting me. Then I go back to my Father’s Word, and I’m reminded that, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace…” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
His Word also reminds me that He calls us to, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy2:7)

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8

“I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!” – Psalm 119:125

These verses give me great peace whenever I’m tempted to give it all up and go for the desires of my heart, without meditating on it beforehand. I have to be honest. Lately, this man I have tried saying goodbye to many times, keeps coming back. I have wondered if it’s God’s way of telling me that he might be the one. Then I’m reminded that although my flesh (my heart) tells me that he might be the one, my Spirit remains doubtful. I ask myself, “Is he the type of man you’ve prayed for all your life?” “Does he love Jesus Christ above all else, and love you second?” “Would he be a great leader in our walk in Christ once married?” “Does he respect your wants and needs, and does he try his best to support you?” “Does he challenge and encourage you to grow in Faith?” 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” – Jeremiah 17:9

The answer to all of those questions is the same… A big, fat, NO. So there you have it. I have made up my mind about him by meditating on the Word and putting the Lord first. Like He promises, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) 

He is so FAITHFUL. He will always be there for His children. 
So if you are feeling confused about something today, I encourage you to spend some time in the Word. Anxiety and worries are not part of His plan for your life. If you have a hard time feeling at peace when making a decision, it could mean that He’s trying to talk to you and show you the right way. Pray, meditate, listen, wait patiently. He will guide you through. And then, you’ll just know.

Trust Him. He’s got your back 🙂

In Christ,

Nessa 

 

 

My prayer for anyone who reads this…

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” – Ephesians 3:14-19

Amen.

Meditating on these verses today, and found them, simply put, beautiful and powerful. Was feeling a bit antsy earlier, and decided to come to the Word and be filled with His perfect peace. It worked. 🙂 I pray It works for you, too. 

Thank You, Lord, for being there for us at all times. You make everything beautiful. ❤

In Christ,

Nessa

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:16

Amen.

Have you been praying for something for a while now and feel like God is not answering?

I have been there, many times. I’ve had to learn to trust in Him even when the things I pray for aren’t being granted to me, yet.
I’ve learned to understand that God knows exactly what and who I need, when and how I need it. Sometimes He needs to say no to some of our prayers because He has greater things in mind for us. Maybe He didn’t let things work out with that last guy you met because it would’ve taken off your focus from the right man He is eager to introduce you to. Maybe if He listened to and granted all of our prayers, we would be led into a bigger mess than we already are in.

“Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” You may think you know what you need, but sometimes we are led to pray through our feelings and emotions, and not through the Spirit. I’ve learned to understand between an effectual and fervent prayer and a prayer from the flesh. We pray for things we FEEL are good for us NOW, while God knows that they wouldn’t be good for us in the long term. See, God sees the greater picture; The past, the present, and the future. He can already foresee all of our days to come, and He knows that if He’d let us have our way all the time, we would end up lost and discouraged, in bad company, away from Jesus, and buried deep into the things of the world.

I have to admit that there have been times when I’ve felt forgotten by God. All of my life, I’ve had one prayer be the same one.
“Lord, please let me find true love. I want to fall in love with a man who loves me back.” And here I am, still single as can be. I’ve relied on things of the world at times to distract myself while I wait for God to answer my prayer. Doesn’t that sound silly? Probably because it was. Where was my Faith, if I had to rely on things of the world to pass the time? There was one year where i dated like 6 guys back to back, never spending a minute alone, because I was so afraid of being lonely. Then last year I realized that I couldn’t keep doing that anymore, and decided to remain entirely single until I met a man who made me change my mind completely, a man who could show me God’s love in person, a man who would make it all worth it. And here I am, still single. There is a huge difference now though. My prayer has changed from, “Lord, please let me find true love. I want to fall in love with a man who loves me back.” to :

“Lord, thank You for loving me more than anyone could ever love me. You know all of my heart’s desires, You know all of my fears, You know how much I yearn to be loved by a man who loves You first and me second. I pray that You keep molding me into the person that I am meant to become, and that if a Godly marriage is in Your plan for me, I trust that You will guide him to me in Your perfect timing. In the meantime, I will keep my eyes fixed on You, until one day I can share You with the man that You’ve so lovingly prepared for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

I feel such a big difference in today’s prayer compared to last year’s. Thank You, Lord, for helping me mature in faith, and for letting me rest in knowing that You are in control, every second of every day. Thank You for reassuring me that You have great things in store for me, even when at times it seems like nothing is going my way. I go back to,

“… For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

 

So if you’re feeling a little discouraged today, know that sometimes God’s no is really a ‘Not yet’. So let’s never stop praying in Faith, through the Spirit, even if, at times, we feel like giving up. God is teaching us to trust in Him. God is teaching us Faith. God is teaching us patience and endurance.
So while we wait for Him to answer in His own way and in His own timing, let’s keep building each other up, spreading His hope with others, getting to know God more, meditating on the Word, spending crazy time with Him, falling deeply in love with Jesus, and becoming the best versions of ourselves.

Thanks to everyone who reads my blog. I pray you are encouraged. 🙂 Be blessed.