Understanding the problem from God's point of view:
James 1:22-25
; Rev. 22:14
-Christian life is one of commitment
to God and His Word. It is not to be part-time, of casualness,
of indifference or neglect but one of doing, of practicing, of
exercising in the pursuit of excellence, in the spirit of integrity,
working through failures time and time again, and using the failures
as opportunities to grow into a mature christian in the image
of Christ. It is not enough to listen, to hear, to know, the word
must be practiced and exercised until the person is set free from
the bondages of sin and death.
Hope:
James 1:19-21
; Matt. 13:23
-Be quick to hear the word of God,
not hanging on to one's own ideas, but be willing to listen to
God's word instead of insisting upon what one thinks and likes.
He responds rather than reacts to life by being slow to speak
and slow to wrath, developing a gentle spirit as a child. Listens
to God's words, allowing God's words to be born within his heart
and life, healing and saving his soul.
Col. 1:9 ; 2 Cor. 10:5 ; Ps. 143:10 -Nothing is to flow through us nor out of us that is not of God's will. God's will involves all of life, everything we do, every moment of the day. Through His word God tells us how to live.
Knowing God's will involves both wisdom and understanding. Wisdom means a person knows the first principles of life, and understanding means the person has the ability to apply the basic principles to everyday life, to the circumstances and decisions of life.
Prov. 2:1-2 ; Acts 20:32 ;27:7-16; Eph. 1:17 ; Jm. 1:5 -We secure the wisdom and understanding by studying God's word and by prayer-praying to be filled with the knowledge of God's will.
Change:
Rom. 12:1-2
; Col. 1:10
-It is not enough to know God's will,
to possess wisdom and understanding, it all must be put into practice.
We are to live out the will of God. Christ is the pattern, and
our conduct and behaviour is to be upon Christ. To face life,
death, disease, accidents, we need God's power, and we secure
this power through prayer.
Jm. 3:17-18
; Matt. 5:8
; Heb. 12:14
-Source of true wisdom is God.
To be pure is to be free from fault and defilement, from moral
impurity, separated from iniquity and separated unto God. We must
be peaceable and gentle, forbearing with people, being in a state
of reconciliation with self and with others, weave with self ,
with God and with others. The last thing to do is to criticize,
condemn, neglect and ignore people. We must be ready to listen
to reason and to appeal; being willing to change when one is wrong,
to have feelings of compassion, affection and kindness, eager
to help others, and not show partiality or favoritism, be without
hypocrisy, insincerity. The fruit of righteousness is brought
about by making peace, being at ease with each other and with
God.