Did you know that the origination of Yoga was not for better health, but rather for old people who are getting ready to die to deal with their death experience?
We live in a deceptive world full of lies, actually causing people to practice something religious that was meant for dying people.
Yoga in the beginning had nothing to do with fostering health, that's the lie so many people have told so long that the origins have been almost completely forgotten.
Why anyone would think that sitting in lotus position while emptying the mind would do anything except make someone stupid is beyond me.
God never tells us to empty our mind, just the opposite. God teaches us to think with the mind of Christ. The devil always promotes the opposite of what God has commanded.
Think about it!!!
Thursday, April 25, 2019
We Might Have to be a Doormat at Times
Psychology has taught us that we should never allow anyone to abuse us. This is coming from a stance of arrogance.
Can the Jews in Nazi Germany say, "God wouldn't want me to be abused?" God allowed the Jews and many other people in the world to be abused for His purposes. The nation of Israel was re-established because of the holocaust. The world felt sorry for the Jews and because of this empathy, they were given their own nation.
God allowed it and then punished the evil people and nations that did the abusing. We don't always understand God's purposes but if we trust Him, then we know they are the best.
I was angry at the Germans when I was a child. My family were partly of the Germanic race. I was angry because of the documentaries I saw that showed the atrocities the Germans and others perpetrated on the Jewish people. I hated the abuse then and still do. However I see the big picture, some of the born again believers escaped, others went home to the Lord and still others died in their unbelief without the protection of God. The tribulation will be this way too for the nation of Israel.
After all the abuse of the world and the anit-christ the Jews will once again be persecuted. Those Jews who will not trust Christ will meet their maker without Christ. Two thirds of the nation will be destroyed with only one third remaining. Because of the miracles of God to protect the nation itself, these one third will become born again, they are the ones who will be protected.
As believers we are not always protected. Sometimes we have to endure terrible things because we love Christ. When I speak of getting away from abuse it is always in the context of "if it is God's will." If God gives us an escape from abuse then we are free to take it.
2 Timothy 3:12
"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"
When a person is married to an emotionally abusive spouse there is no out for that person. One must learn the ways to live out their Christianity in spite of the verbal abuse. However, in physical abuse, real abuse, not just a slap of the face or a pull of the arm, then one must call the authorities, it is against the law. So much of mean spirited behavior today is wrong but I would not call it abuse.
When someone lives every day with a non-believer the highest goal is to live out their Christianity in the power of the Holy Spirit. Believe me when I say it takes a whole lot more faith to live out our faith with a non-believer. The "feelings" of wanting to return evil for evil or to exact revenge in some way is a constant battle of the mind while resisting the whispers and temptations of the devil to become like the abuser.
God has called us to be strong, walk faithfully with Him even in frustrating situations. The abuse that includes beatings and other forms that are life threatening are against the law, the woman experiencing this must take it to the authorities.
However, too many women are claiming abuse when there is uncomfortableness or control over them when there shouldn't be. Yes, this is wrong, but divorcing and calling authorities is revenge in these cases.
God may want us to be a doormat for a time to learn humility and to show the love of Christ. No where in the word does God say "you should not be a doormat. Even Christ was the ultimate door mat in dying for the sins of others when he never sinned himself.
We remove ourselves from those who abuse when God tells us to remove ourselves. He also gives us options and permission at times, but other times we are called to "suck it up", because the greater good is more important. Often we do not know what that greater good is until the end of our life.
I am more likely to avoid people who claim to be Christians when they are verbally or emotionally abusive. They are violating God's principles with the mentality of superiority and demeaning traits and actions. I will avoid those who claim to be of God but have no remorse over their disrespectful ways.
And, I am more likely to put up with abuse from non-believers who don't know any better. They are ruled by the devil, they are putty in his hands without defense against the emotions and lies he places in them every day.
Ephesians 6:12
"12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
“Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on his. When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives along with the command, the love itself.”
Corrie Ten Boom
Corrie could not remove herself it was not an option given to her. She began an angry person only to become stronger in her faith, cleansed of self will replaced by trusting Christ more.
As for our pride, sometimes our frustration comes out of pride more than justice. Here is another quote from Corrie that hits home. Often our anger at abusive behavior has more to do with our own pride of wanting to be loved than it does out of God's purposes.
"“Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.” Corrie Ten Boom
More quotes from Corrie:
“What wings are to a bird and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.”
“With Jesus, even in our darkest moments the best remains and the very best is yet to be…”
Our highest goal is to live for Christ no matter in which prison cell the devil places us. The devil cannot do anything without God's permission, His purposes take priority over our "feelings" and "desires."
Corrie Ten Boom experienced more abuse than any of us can imaging. She never said things like; "God wouldn't want us to be a door mat. " Because her focus was Christ, at least eventually, she was able to get past the thoughts of the abuse to the purposes in it, for her growth and the growth of others who will know her story.
Now that we have established that abuse is wrong and in some cases we must remove ourselves, we must remember that others times we remain in order to learn humility, steadiness in trials and graciousness through any circumstance.
When we bail out every time, we may be missing important lessons. If you are removing yourself be sure it is God's plan and not just your desire to be comfortable.
Romans 5:3-5 "…3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."
Remember if you cannot leave an emotionally and spiritually abusive situation, you can pray and fast your way through. I promise if you do this you will come out the other side stronger than before and more Christlike.
Hallelujah!!!!!
Can the Jews in Nazi Germany say, "God wouldn't want me to be abused?" God allowed the Jews and many other people in the world to be abused for His purposes. The nation of Israel was re-established because of the holocaust. The world felt sorry for the Jews and because of this empathy, they were given their own nation.
God allowed it and then punished the evil people and nations that did the abusing. We don't always understand God's purposes but if we trust Him, then we know they are the best.
I was angry at the Germans when I was a child. My family were partly of the Germanic race. I was angry because of the documentaries I saw that showed the atrocities the Germans and others perpetrated on the Jewish people. I hated the abuse then and still do. However I see the big picture, some of the born again believers escaped, others went home to the Lord and still others died in their unbelief without the protection of God. The tribulation will be this way too for the nation of Israel.
After all the abuse of the world and the anit-christ the Jews will once again be persecuted. Those Jews who will not trust Christ will meet their maker without Christ. Two thirds of the nation will be destroyed with only one third remaining. Because of the miracles of God to protect the nation itself, these one third will become born again, they are the ones who will be protected.
As believers we are not always protected. Sometimes we have to endure terrible things because we love Christ. When I speak of getting away from abuse it is always in the context of "if it is God's will." If God gives us an escape from abuse then we are free to take it.
2 Timothy 3:12
"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"
When a person is married to an emotionally abusive spouse there is no out for that person. One must learn the ways to live out their Christianity in spite of the verbal abuse. However, in physical abuse, real abuse, not just a slap of the face or a pull of the arm, then one must call the authorities, it is against the law. So much of mean spirited behavior today is wrong but I would not call it abuse.
When someone lives every day with a non-believer the highest goal is to live out their Christianity in the power of the Holy Spirit. Believe me when I say it takes a whole lot more faith to live out our faith with a non-believer. The "feelings" of wanting to return evil for evil or to exact revenge in some way is a constant battle of the mind while resisting the whispers and temptations of the devil to become like the abuser.
God has called us to be strong, walk faithfully with Him even in frustrating situations. The abuse that includes beatings and other forms that are life threatening are against the law, the woman experiencing this must take it to the authorities.
However, too many women are claiming abuse when there is uncomfortableness or control over them when there shouldn't be. Yes, this is wrong, but divorcing and calling authorities is revenge in these cases.
God may want us to be a doormat for a time to learn humility and to show the love of Christ. No where in the word does God say "you should not be a doormat. Even Christ was the ultimate door mat in dying for the sins of others when he never sinned himself.
We remove ourselves from those who abuse when God tells us to remove ourselves. He also gives us options and permission at times, but other times we are called to "suck it up", because the greater good is more important. Often we do not know what that greater good is until the end of our life.
I am more likely to avoid people who claim to be Christians when they are verbally or emotionally abusive. They are violating God's principles with the mentality of superiority and demeaning traits and actions. I will avoid those who claim to be of God but have no remorse over their disrespectful ways.
And, I am more likely to put up with abuse from non-believers who don't know any better. They are ruled by the devil, they are putty in his hands without defense against the emotions and lies he places in them every day.
Ephesians 6:12
"12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
“Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on his. When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives along with the command, the love itself.”
Corrie Ten Boom
Corrie could not remove herself it was not an option given to her. She began an angry person only to become stronger in her faith, cleansed of self will replaced by trusting Christ more.
As for our pride, sometimes our frustration comes out of pride more than justice. Here is another quote from Corrie that hits home. Often our anger at abusive behavior has more to do with our own pride of wanting to be loved than it does out of God's purposes.
"“Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.” Corrie Ten Boom
More quotes from Corrie:
“What wings are to a bird and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.”
“With Jesus, even in our darkest moments the best remains and the very best is yet to be…”
Our highest goal is to live for Christ no matter in which prison cell the devil places us. The devil cannot do anything without God's permission, His purposes take priority over our "feelings" and "desires."
Corrie Ten Boom experienced more abuse than any of us can imaging. She never said things like; "God wouldn't want us to be a door mat. " Because her focus was Christ, at least eventually, she was able to get past the thoughts of the abuse to the purposes in it, for her growth and the growth of others who will know her story.
Now that we have established that abuse is wrong and in some cases we must remove ourselves, we must remember that others times we remain in order to learn humility, steadiness in trials and graciousness through any circumstance.
When we bail out every time, we may be missing important lessons. If you are removing yourself be sure it is God's plan and not just your desire to be comfortable.
Romans 5:3-5 "…3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."
Remember if you cannot leave an emotionally and spiritually abusive situation, you can pray and fast your way through. I promise if you do this you will come out the other side stronger than before and more Christlike.
Hallelujah!!!!!
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