Family of God: Re: [FamilyofGod] Loneliness

Amen

On Sat Sep 17th, 2011 11:36 PM CDT Michael J. Knight wrote:

>
>Loneliness - A Choice?
>
>
>
>He who willfully separates and estranges himself (from God and man)
>seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound
>judgment. A (self-confident) fool has no delight in understanding, but
>only in revealing his personal opinions and himself. Proverbs 18:1-2
>
>Where no wise guidance is, the people fall; but in the multitude of
>counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14
>
>It is a current phenomenon that people are isolating themselves from
>each other more and more. Loneliness is epidemic. Most people don't feel
>anyone understands them or their circumstances. Many have been hurt and
>never get past it. So, their knee-jerk reaction is to hide from the pain
>of new relationships, or even old ones that need work.
>
>Then we have those folks who sit and look for the faults in others,
>rather than looking for the good, and praying for the needs of those who
>are lacking or who are in internal pain, from many sources.
>
>All these things isolate people. The verses above are a powerful lesson
>about isolation. When we think we are isolating ourselves ... we are
>actually saying our opinion matters more, we know better, and no one is
>going to change our minds. We have stopped learning, stopped growing,
>and stopped allowing input.
>
>So basically, if our opinion is biased or corrupted, we are seeking no
>help, and growing daily in anger, depression, loneliness and despair.
>
>Folks, every one of you sitting out there has faults. It is a tried and
>true fact ... we all do, we all fall short of the glory of God. We all
>have sinful natures, and need changes. And unless we can work together
>as a "body" of Christ, strengthening, counseling, being accountable to
>one another, we will fall prey to one of satan's greatest tools.
>
>Isolation and division. If a house is divided against itself it cannot
>stand.
>
>IN this world of trials, troubles, war, fear, global weather changes,
>money problems, and isolation... What profits us to isolate ourselves
>from the very fellowship and help we need? Iron sharpens iron, we all
>need that sharpening that comes from being around good Christians who
>love us, speak the word of God, are into the word of God, and can pray
>with us during the hard times.
>
>Stop looking for each others faults. Stop holding grudges. Stop
>isolating yourself. All this is about ego. You hurt me ... my revenge is
>to cut you off.
>
>You are cutting no one off but yourself, to your own hurt.
>
>Today, ask God to show you a better way. Ask God to show you what areas
>you need to change. Get involved in a good Bible believing church. If
>you meet people who don't fit your mold, don't sit and point fingers,
>love what you can about them. Make yourself a light, and full of love,
>and full of forgiveness. These things bring no regrets; they are full of
>wisdom and the heart of God.
>
>Please save this devotion, read it again, we all need to read it, we all
>are isolating ourselves to some degree, we have all been hurt. Life goes
>on, and so must we, we learn, we forgive and we move on.
>
>Don't look for perfection in me or anyone else ... it is not there. Our
>sufficiency and hope is in Christ. People are just gifts to our life,
>treat them with respect and grace, as Christ asked us to. Love them
>anyway ... just like Jesus loves you in spite of your faults.
>
>Then work on yourself... and watch the wonderful changes and growth.
>Always remain teachable. To not be taught is to become stale and bitter
>within.
>
>I love you, and always have to say ... what I feel God is speaking, for
>my own sake and yours. Each day I face my own flaws, and ask God for his
>gracious, and merciful help. And He listens, encourages, and forgives.
>
>Hallelujah!!!
>
>Love & Prayers,
>
>Michael J. Knight.
>
>"By the grace of God I am what I am…." 1 Cor 15:10.
>
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InnerVoiceMinistries/
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InnerVoiceMinistries/>
>
>What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
>