Pitfalls followers of Christ encounter

Psalm 25:1-3

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.  Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly

 treacherous.”

Most men who go by the title of Christian would state that's a beautiful prayer, that is the kind of man I want to be, but also few, if they were honest with themselves would say that is the man I am.

What is the problem with men who go to Church, and try to lead their families in righteous living, where are we dropping the ball?  As a man who wants to be a follower of Christ each day, let me share some of the pitfalls that as dads and providers I have encountered.  But first let’s make sure we are on the right page in our understanding of the word soul, it is your mind, your will, and your emotions. 

My friend Bill Gillham often said in his teaching that you have never made up your mind about anything, for it is the mind and emotions that give will the information, and will 100% of the time makes a choice.  I always enjoy Bill explaining how this works, and he often uses this example; you come upon a giant bear in the woods, your mind says bears eat people, bears run faster than people, and they climb trees very fast.  Your emotions are screaming you're going to die, and you see a cabin 20 feet away, your mind says to run for the cabin, your feelings are shouting you're going to be lunch, and you make up your will to run to the cabin.  (Key concept – never look to your emotions as the main barometer of spiritual reality.)

My first area of needing to lay those emotions at the feet of Jesus, when reading a Psalm or Proverbs without asking the Spirit of God to open your mind to what your reading.  And be willing to act on what God showed you, helps prepare you for the encounters of that day. 

And often my enemies did win and looking back it is so clear why I was to wait on the Lord, so if I did more like I’m doing now and sought the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and learned to wait I would not have been put to shame.

When I think of these words; wantonly treacherous my mind does not go to a man that goes by the name of Christ, for the word treacherous has these meanings; unfaithful, traitorous, disloyal, deceitful, two-faced, and underhanded, to name a few.  Only you know if those words fit your character, but if they do, makeup your mind that you will stop before you bring more shame on our LORD.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice