Sunday Re Cap (2nd Sept 2007)

RIGHT BELIEVING LEADS TO RIGHT LIVING
by Ps Samuel Hari

Text: Jer 29:11

God has designed an internal feedback system that we can know moment-by moment if our belief system is aligned to God’s truth; this feedback system is known as our emotions or feelings. These emotional signposts are signals that we may be cherishing a faulty goal based on a wrong belief.

Let me illustrate:

1. Anger signals a blocked goal.

2. Anxiety signals an uncertain goal.

3. Depression signals an impossible goal.

Sometimes depression resulting from impossible goals is related to the wrong concept of God. (Ps 13:1,2). David had a wrong concept of God, feeling that he had been abandoned to the enemy. This wrong concept led him to an impossible goal; overcoming his enemy by his own strength and no wonder, he was depressed! But David did not stay there. He began to focus on what he knew about God v5. The he made a positive expression of his will v6. He willfully moved away from his wrong concept and its accompanying depression and returned to the source of his hope. Also see Ps 43:5

WRONG RESPONSES TO THOSE WHO FRUSTRATE GOALS.
It’s not hard to see why people try to control others. They believe that their self worth is dependent on other people or circumstances. The most insecure people are manipulators and controllers of others. When they cannot control, they become bitter, angry, or resentful.

SO HOW CAN WE TURN BAD GOALS INTO GOOD GOALS?
The only requirement for your success is your response as we say with Mary, “Be it done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

GOALS VS DESIRES
The secret to achieving God’s goals is learning to distinguish between godly desires from a godly goal. This is critical as it can distinguish between success and failure and inner peace or inner pain.

A GODLY GOAL: a result reflecting God’s purpose that does not depend on people or circumstances. The only one who can block it is you. If we adopt an attitude of cooperation with God, our goals can be reached and we can succeed.

A GODLY DESIRE: a specific result that depends on people or circumstances that you cannot control. You can’t base your self worth and success on it, no matter how godly they are. They can be blocked, uncertain or impossible.

Anger, anxiety and depression comes is and is an indication that a godly desire has been elevated to a godly goal. If a desire is not met, all you face are disappointments and life is full of disappointments! Dealing with disappointments of unmet desires is much easier that dealing with anger, anxiety or depression.

When we align ourselves with God’s goals and our desires as God’s desires, we will rid our lives of anger, anxiety and depression

Problems aren’t a deterrent to our goals. If anything, it ought to strengthen our resolve to press on towards God’s goals! Family problems a great opportunities for us to shine for Christ and be what God wants us to be.