Obedient Lifestyle

Do you feel like you’re in a constant tug of war in your life? You want to do the right thing but you keep getting pulled away.

It’s because we are in a constant battle with good and evil; the devil will stop at nothing to make us fall back into sin. Whether it’s bad thoughts, eating unhealthy food, drinking alcohol, using drugs, struggling with sex addiction, or just spending time with negative influences, these temptations won’t stop, but they will become easier to resist as you build your strength in Jesus. It’s like building muscle in the gym; you have to work out the muscle and eat right to grow.

With God, we also have to work out with Him. We do this by studying His word and engaging in daily prayer to create a close relationship with Him. Eating healthy will also help your mind understand better; this is why living a healthy lifestyle is so important these days.

These temptations often arise when we decide to improve our lives, especially with God. The devil does not want us to grow closer to God, so he will send distractions and temptations. Your phone might start ringing while studying the Bible, a family argument might erupt, or someone you’ve been wanting to see might suddenly want to take you out partying. It will be something, but you have to remember that these are also tests from God to see how loyal you will be to Him.

So you have to be strong, fight the temptation, ask God for help, and if you fail, ask God for forgiveness and seek His help to overcome this sin.

These temptations will indeed become easier to resist, trust me, because you will grow stronger in Christ. Reading His Word every day and praying will bring you closer to Him. You may not understand the Bible at first, but this doesn’t mean you should stop. Eventually, you will understand; God will give you that wisdom as He promised in Jeremiah and Proverbs.

I still remember when I started reading the Bible again in my late 20s. I didn’t understand anything, but I didn’t want to stop because I remembered my dad saying when I was a child that God would help me if I searched for Him, and I really wanted a change in my life, and I know God knew it too. A part of me also thinks He was seeing how serious I was too. Now that I think about it, there is a verse that comes to mind from 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show thyself approved unto God…” We have to prove ourselves to God. It’s like a marriage; you have to prove your loyalty for someone to marry you. In a friendship, you can’t just ignore your friend and expect your friend to come running at your beck and call when you need help. When you start doing things for God, He sees this, and you will be blessed.

Everything He does in our life is good; His timing is perfect. Remember, “THY will be done, NOT yours.” Recall that verse in Isaiah 55:8 where it says “His ways aren’t our ways”? We need to be walking in His path, we need to let Him guide us to where He wants us to go. Giving God total control of your life will give you everything you ever wanted.

I know we all struggle with certain things, but know that God will help you if you ask with a sincere heart. God knows our hearts; He is the only one who can truly read our hearts and minds. So, get closer to God today, change your life. Be different. Start your day with praying and reading His word, even if it’s just a chapter.

I know some people don’t know how to pray. So when you pray, get on your knees because this shows respect to our Lord, and pour your heart out to Him. Tell Him how thankful you are, ask Him for any help you need, ask Him to protect you and your family. We should never leave our house without asking for protection, especially these days. Our prayers should always be respectful and genuine.

When we get closer to God, our hearts will change, and so will the hearts around us, especially our spouses. The Word says our spouses are sanctified through us, so we can help them from our love for God. God can change your whole family just by your obedience to Him, especially if you are the head of the household. Another thing to understand is that you may lose friends and family members because of your beliefs, but that is all part of the test to God. We shouldn’t care, and honestly, if someone in our life doesn’t want to be around you because of your love and respect for God, then that friend isn’t a real friend.

The truth is, we need to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and get closer to God. We need to get uncomfortable for Him. Look at what Jesus did for us. He gave His life so that we can have a chance at Heaven. We can’t ever repay Him.

When you truly learn and understand God, you will want to do everything in your power to please Him. If I could give advice to people who are just starting to learn about who God is, I would recommend starting to read the King James Version Bible, and always pray before you read it for guidance and understanding. It’s best to stay away from the revised versions because they are very corrupted. Find a church that preaches from the King James Bible and follows its teachings without loopholes. If your pastor is doing something contrary to what the Bible says, then you need to consider leaving that church, as there are many deceivers who twist verses to justify their sin. Don’t be fooled. You can study the Bible at home until you find a trustworthy church. If you want to learn about the corrupted bibles click here.

There are a couple of books I recommend by the author Ellen G. White. She lived in the 1800s and spoke only of what she learned from the Bible and what God had shown her. One book is called “Steps to Christ,” and the other one is “The Great Controversy.” Be cautious about where you purchase these books because, just like the Bible, some people have changed some of her writings, just as she predicted they would. If you’re interested in a book, send me a message, and I will send it out to you, or you can order it yourself from a trusted bookstore called Echoes From the Past at www.vbates.com.

I genuinely hope and pray that you find your path with Christ so that you can reign in paradise with Him, as His Word says.

One of my favorite verses that show how important God’s commandments, patience and having the Faith in Jesus is:

Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Another one of my favorite verses that shows how important God’s word is:

 Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”