The world continues to push and mold us into their way of living.  For most, it is difficult to resist the pleasures that we see in the media and as we watch the worldly lives of others.  The more we know God and understand Him, the easier it is to resist the world’s temptations.  But that requires knowledge and that comes through study.  The more we study the Bible and the more we know about God the easier it is to live a Christian life.  Living a Christian life without the help of the Holy Spirit and knowledge of what God expects, is almost impossible.  God said in Hosea 4:6a – “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge, because you have rejected knowledge.”  Are you at risk because of a lack of knowledge?

God does not give us a step by step plan as to what we are to do in life.  However, He is in complete control of what happens in our lives and we know that He wants our total dependence on Him.  Many times we learn more from our failures than we do when everything is going well.  We can assume from Scripture that when bad things happen, God allowed it for a reason.  Take the Life of Joseph, 13 years before his troubles were over and he received the 2^nd highest political office in Egypt.  It took the Israelites 40 years to go eleven miles.  Then there was Job.  It was all for learning lessons, controlled and allowed by God.

Romans 8:5 – 7 – “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”  We can allow our sinful natures to control who we are or we can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  A person unaware of this fact and has not accepted Christ as their Savior and allows the Holy Spirit to guide them, die both a physical and spiritual death.

We are living in the end times and they are trying.  Matthew 24:7 – “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”  God, through Noah, warned those that they had better change their way.  They refused and the end came.  Many believers and non-believers live as if things will always exist as they are now.   All we have to do is look at the world going through financial crises and governments who have promised entitlements they can no longer keep.  The Bible teaches that we are to rely and trust God—not man or governments.   Without Biblical knowledge as to how we are to live, the world’s ways can corrupt and bankrupt us.

Scripture that has been very helpful to me is Romans 7:17 – 20 – “As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

Are there times when it seems nothing good lives within you and being a Christian is too restrictive?  Why is it that we still continue to do things we know are wrong? Without the help of the Holy Spirit, sin can be stronger than we are.  Do you find times when you feel unable to defend yourself against temptations even though the Holy Spirit is checking you? We may have good intentions but our self-centered, carnal nature can still control us at times.  God knows what is happening and He can either stop or allow it.

Scripture teaches in I Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 – “Rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  It tells me when bad things happen I am not to complain to God but give thanks for Him being with me through all my troubles.   No matter what we face we are to give thanks, remain joyful and pray continually. These are commands and may be against our natural inclinations, but they are to be followed.  Prayers should not fluctuate with our circumstances.  The more Biblical knowledge we have, the more we understand God and the easier it is to live a spirit-filled life.  And just maybe—fewer problems to face!