Causes of Our Downfalls Drawn Out in Scripture

It is interesting how those things that make us doubt God's existence(that give us a posture of proud doubtfulness) are the things Scripture says will move us toward doubt and other harmful modes of thought or existence.

In our lowest points Scripture accurately diagnoses why we are there.

I am often consoled when I cannot deny Scripture's rightful diagnosis of my weakness and ugliness.

I pray for the strength to accept the remedy Scripture also provides--boldly, clearly.

Different Aims of Habit

Too much of the time we use or pursue habit (to habituate ourselves toward a certain thing or toward doing a certain thing) as a means of making our lives easier.

By that I am not saying certain habits do not and should not make certain activities easier. For example, the desire to habitually detect and use good grammar (to not have to require as much mental exertion as when one is not familiar with grammar--dance or sports offer more similar examples) is not a form of laziness one should be reproved for. However, the desire to make aspects of our relationship with God and others an easier thing to get through by habit is sad and impersonal.


Depending on the object or activity, the aim and attitude of habit changes. Sometimes we habituate ourselves toward a thing so that we don't have to think about it as much. At other times we habituate ourselves to create a context in which we can work harder and more effectively engage the situation or activity.

"Let us not grow weary of doing good..."

...for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9


Let us "be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 )

"'Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.' Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1


I am continually confronted with the realization that there is no end to the things we are called to do(that we commonly fail to do, mind you..) for the sake of God..that is..we aren't doing these things for ourselves(even though they consequently are the highest good to us), what we get out of it..but simply because God is God.

This is, at times, a tad overwhelming, but ultimately the most exciting thing possible. As Christians, as human beings, there is no pause button, no time out. There is no time that we can deny reality. There is always a consistent way we are called to live..and we cannot wait till everyone else is doing it-We are called to live in a very extreme way, considering our surroundings..and at times we will be going at it alone..yet this is something we must cling to. God demands intentionality, complete devotion, our WHOLE souls!!.. That is not considered normal in our society and we commonly will not be patted on the back for living in such ways..but that is not why we do it.

We do not do what we are called to because of what we can get out of it (though we experience the greatest rewards through such things)..but because God is God and there is no other proper way to live knowing that reality. Yes, it is overwhelming, but isn't that we were told from the beginning? Yes there is much left to learn, and there always will be..we will never have it all done, but "let us hold true to what we have attained" (Philippians 3:16)..

Let us tend to the truths God has graciously revealed to us. In other words, let us get better at receiving and holding fast to the gifts God has given us!.."Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." - Hebrews 12:28-29

We have been so blessed to be called to such things but we don't even acknowledge it. Oh how distracted we are..God help us all.

a song for your heart to sing always pt. 2

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts (Hebrews)

"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourages one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first..."

--Hebrews 3:12-14

It is good to remember that we all have the tendency, at times, to be hardened when confronted by God, and, to have an unbelieving heart towards reality. In other words, we can have an unbelieving heart of who God is, who we are in relation to Him, and of His overwhelming presence always. Alas, we do not always like believing in reality. We sacrifice the real for the fake and would like to think we're happier there. Thanks and praise be to God that He continues to pursue us. He convicts us while we're in our futility and gives us another chance to live. Let us embrace His calling, lest we remain in that which is not instead of embracing that which is.

a song for your heart to sing always

"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

One cannot remain comfortable with the world and expect to experience something spiritual. There is an initial denying of self that one needs before having faith..yet people commonly feel that the faith has to be there before the denying.


Each of us must, then, be so stung by the conciousness of his own unhappiness as to attain at least some knowledge of God. Thus, from the feeling of our own ignorance, vanity, poverty, infirmity, and--what is more--depravity and corruption, we recognize that the true light of wisdom, sound virtue, full abundance of every good, and purity of righteousness rest in the Lord alone. To this extent we are prompted by our own ills to contemplate the good things of God; and we cannot seriously aspire to him before we begin to become displeased with ourselfes. For what man in all the world would not gladly remain as he is--what man does not remain as he is--so long as he does not know himself, that is, while content with his own gifts, and either ignorant or unmindful of his own misery? Accordingly, the knowledge of ourselves not only arouses us to seek God, but also, as it were, leads us by the hand to find him.

Again, it is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God's face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself. For we always seem to ourselves righteous and upright and wise and holy--this pride is innate in all of us--unless by clear proofs we stand convicted of our own unrighteousness, foulness, folly, and impurity. Moreover, we are not thus convinced if we look merely to ourselves and not also to the Lord, who is the sole standard by which this judgment must be measured. For, because all of us are inclined by nature to hypocrisy, a kind of empty image of righeousness in place of righteousness itself abundantly satisfies us. And because nothing appears within or around us that has not been contaminated by great immorality, what is a little less vile pleases us a thing most pure--so long as we confine our minds within the limits of human corruption.

--Calvin, Institutes