How do we know what we want out of? Sometimes it’s difficult to tell. We may have to sit down and take an inventory of our lives. Because if we don’t know what we to be, we won’t know when we get there.
I think sometimes it’s easy for us to coast along in our lives thinking that the things we want in life will just end up presenting themselves. It doesn’t always seem to work that way. I figured this out when I was in college. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be. I ended up kind of drifting along because I couldn’t decide on anything. I wasn’t exactly laser focused. I had yet to find what I was really good at and enjoyed. I think this is why it’s good sometimes to really sit down and take an inventory of what goals I have in life.
Sometimes we do know what we want. However, sometimes these things come down to how bad we really want them. I can say I desire a lot of things out of life. I can say that I want a big house on a hill. But if I’m wasting all my money and not putting anything away for savings, it’s probably not going to happen. Or, being married with a family might be a goal. However, if I’m not willing to do what is required, then I’m going to have difficulty achieving my goal.
Here’s one thing I figured out that I was able to do. It’s really a simple thing. I was wanting to get an entire book read while on vacation. I like to read but I don’t often read through books very fast. Many times, when reading a book, I’ll read through a few pages and then not read it again for a few days. But this time I was determined. I had a goal. So, I sat down and read the first part for a few hours. I was able to get about half way through. Then I read some more on another day and then finished it off in one more day. But altogether it probably only took me only 4-5 hours to read it. I was actually kind of surprised that I was able to focus that long and get through that book so easily. I also got part way through another book. It wasn’t really too difficult. I found out how productive I can be when I’m determined. One other thing that probably was a detriment in the past was just making it too big a project in my mind. This time, though, I guess I just didn’t over think it. A lesson I can probably apply in other areas, I guess.
So, periodically it seems prudent for us to first take an inventory of what we want out of life. Not only what we want, but what are we willing to do to get it. Many times if we want something bad enough we somehow find a way to get there. I just need to be intentional about my destination. Although, we do need to make sure that those things we want are worthy and righteous goals to attain. Some things aren’t good righteous goals. And sometimes something we want isn’t necessarily bad, but we may want it for the wrong reasons. So, how do we deal with these?
There’s an interesting thing about desires when it comes to our spiritual lives. As believers, we have desires in our hearts and desires in our flesh. It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish the two. Of course, if those desires go against God and His will for our lives we can be sure that they are fleshly or worldly desires. This is what Paul was talking about in Romans. Romans 7:18 says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Paul, here, was describing a battle between his hearts desires, which are from God, and his fleshly desires, which are sinful and selfish. When we are first born again we have a regenerated spirit. However, our flesh is still worldly and selfish. So, this is the battle we face. We have to make sure our spirit is in charge of our lives.
Apart from that, its earliest viagra sale purchase at appalachianmagazine.com findings were in certain locations in East Africa. On the other hand, without sexual incitement in the body buy cialis generic with changing physical behavior. And if you are able to figure out if there are any long-term effects to extended use of sildenafil canada online. Among many other problems, medical problems in sexual life are busy work schedule, depression, order cheap viagra stress, tension and sex related problems or issues. So, what do we do here? A couple things. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” It’s important that we are filling our minds daily with things that are good and true. Most importantly, God’s Word should be in our hearts and minds. We have a culture we live in on a daily basis that goes against what is in our hearts to do. So, we have to combat this with the Word.
Another important principle is spelled out in Galatians 5:16, it says: “[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Being equipped with the Word, we now walk according to our renewed spirit in Christ and we are to be led by the Holy Spirit. See, this is key. Once we’re saved we can have a renewed spirit but still be walking according to the flesh. This is why the Bible instructs us to ‘Walk in the Spirit’. This regenerate heart, then, is to take priority over our flesh. This also involves crucifying the flesh. Paul states this also in Galatians 5:24: “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
It’s important that our heart trumps our flesh. That we are led by the Holy Spirit in all matters. These things are a learning process, but we can learn them. Just like a baby learns how to walk, we can learn too.
Romans 7:18 says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Galatians 5:16, it says: “[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:24: “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”