Under Pressure...When You Don't Know What To Do

It happens, Christians will make and follow through with decisions that leave them vulnerable to worldly influences.  It is during these times that God will apply pressure with the intent of bringing about repentance and a renewed confidence and contentment with His perfect will.

The only advantage a Christian can employ under pressure and overcome is an unveiled openness before God. The opposite of this is a self-willed, miss-guided heart that ultimately results in a sense of futility in all that we do and become. We impoverish and weaken ourselves all because we will not trust and obey God with ALL our heart.   It is for this reason that God applies pressure in our lives. Unless we experience the pressure of facing every deception about ourselves we will claw to the depths of our hearts before we give the Holy Spirit our consideration.

When a Believer Leans to their own understanding... they are certain to suffer disillusionment.   When we really see ourselves as the Lord sees us, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh which shock us, but the awful nature of the pride of our own hearts opposing Jesus Christ.

If you are faced with the question of whether or not to open, and surrender your heart; then make a determination to go through whatever pressure God has permitted... surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. You will take great pleasure in knowing that you are not your alone. Amen.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger

God's Plan For Your Life

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5

Making the Right Choice: The Battle of Wills

It is not unusual for Christians to resist God's known will over their own will.  The apostle Paul spoke very directly about this matter in his epistle to the Believers in Galatia (Galatians 5:17).  

Discerning and choosing to obey God's will begins with an understanding that  Bible is not a catalog of multiple options. The Bible is God's provision for direction that is moved by eternal values. Yet, so many believers feel very uncertain.  Many feel this way because they are nurtured by circumstances that leave them suspect of God's leading. The only  choice God demands of us is to trust Him. All other pursuits will rob us of a tenacious desire to obey God.

The clear evidence that a Believer is led by the Holy Spirit will be evidenced by a decisive act of trust characterized by pure obedience to the will of God based on sound knowledge of God's Word.

The highway of reality is the Bible. The Holy Spirit will never direct us contrary to the Word of God. Thus the fundamental concern for the believer is to understand the Word of God as the only means for direction. The Bible is the only resolve that instills a pure ambition for the glory of God. Hiding God's Word in our hearts is the only way to be discerning of God's direction and purpose.

Sincerely Dr. Arthur Belanger 

God's Will For Your Life

God's Will For Your Life

How can I be sure that I am in the will of God and not just influenced by my good intentions? A Christian who mistakes God's will for something else will remain intimidated by the influence of fear.

The will of God ultimately is the influence of God that breeds discernment which reveals the will of God verses one's good intentions. With that being said... how can a Christian be absolutely sure they are in the will of God?

#1: Be sure that you are already in the habit of obeying God (James 1:22 ). This is key. Obeying God consistently will protect you from self-deception and build your sense of discernment about others and the environment around you.

#2: Always determine that you will glorify God spiritually and physically. The Holy Spirit will use that ambition to weed out or diminish the strength of one's own understanding. 1 Cor. 10:31.

#3: Read and study the Bible consistently. This will help direct your steps away from darkness. Your orientation will be principle over preference. Col. 3;16

#4: Associate with Believers/Church in whom you can receive godly counsel. Don't under-estimate the experience of godly influences in your life. Psalm 1:1,2

If all four of the above are in place, you are ready to discern God's will through prayer and if necessary: adding fasting to your prayers. Phil. 4:6,7.

Ultimately, the Bible is the key. The Holy Spirit will always exhibit the undiluted sternness of the Word of God. Why? There is no greater necessity for the believer than an unflinching faithfulness to the Word of God. This will inevitably result in the withering of our personal preferences which will result in clarity of God's will in all matters of life... making void the taunting influence of fear.

Faithfulness to the Word of God accepts the fact that there are no other reserves to draw upon. All other means apart from the stern and sure admonition of God's Word will only leave us unpredictable, discontented and irrational. We are afforded God's demand to reject any and all substitutes for the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will never make this a matter of debate. God's Word and our obedience to it is the only pattern to knowing and enjoying God's will (Eccl. 12:13).

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger