Personal Battles

We all have something we are battling. Some of us battle addictions that range from drugs to food or porn or, in this day and age, technology addictions. Some people just can’t stay off Facebook or put their phone down for a minute. For others, our battles could be health battles, weather physical or mental, but we are all battling something.

I think as a Christian I strive to find contentment. I once listened to a sermon by Dr. Justin Hayes where he said, “contentment is being so satisfied by our relationship with Jesus Christ, that come blessing or curse, we still find Peace.”

No matter our hurts or battles I believe each one of us can still come to a place of contentment. I think contentment comes with our satisfaction in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

I think it’s important to have scripture close that can help us get through those tough times. When whatever we are battling starts to overtake our minds and we start to feel restless, not able to find that contentment with Christ that our souls long for.

Hebrews 12:1 Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perserverence the race marked out for us. God has a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives and that plan does not include for us to be weighed down by our sins. We are instructed to throw off everything. God also gives us power, Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and the power.

For me, one of my personal battles has always been my weight and exercise. When I read that scripture, I feel like I need to use all that power God has promised to fight through the physical pain of exercise and have full trust that God will heal my body, he will give me the energy I need.

Matthew 6:34 So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too, live one day at a time. Once you get to the point of being able to throw off whatever hinders you and you begin to live your life through God’s powers and strength, it is so very important to do exactly how God instructs in Matthew. It is, in my opinion, one of the most important verses in the Bible because if you do not learn how to live one day at a time and you do not learn how to give God all your fear and anxiety, those things that hindered you will come right back to you and before you know it God is no longer in control, you have taken the control away from God and tried to handle things in your own power and strength and you will fail every time. If you get away from what Matthew 6:34 says, you are showing lack of discipline.

Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken down walls. Don’t make excuses for your bad behavior or for your lack of discipline. When you mess up and you get off track and you stop living one day at a time and you start to run ahead of God instead of following God, remember that you have already attained from the Holy Spirit the power and wisdom and strength that you need to live up to what God has called you to do.

Philippians 3: 13-16 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if at some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Such a beautiful scripture. God is telling us to press on, we don’t have to be oppressed by whatever lies behind us. And if we get off track and don’t even realize it he says, that to he will make clear to us.

Throughout our lives we will continue to encounter hurts and trials that we alone are powerless to change but with Gods help we can throw off all that hinders us and we can strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ and then before you know it you can honestly say, I have found contentment. I am so satisfied by my relationship with Jesus Christ that come blessing or curse I still find peace.

Philippians 4:12-13 I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation….for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who give me the strength and power.