Thank you, Donna, for your calming, spirit-led words that are such an encouragement to all of us, but especially to younger or newer Christians who sometimes in their zeal for wanting to obey God with everything that is within them make mistakes in believing wrong teaching because they have not yet had enough time in the Word, or perhaps have not been exposed to the teaching of the Truth to be able to discern yet that which is right and true from that which is deceptive. That which contains enough of the truth that it appears to be right to the unlearned, or those we would call gullible. Everyone has to start somewhere.
It calls to mind when as a young, single mother to a 3 yr old, I was convinced by some older ladies that after my long day at work
(with my child at daycare all day long) it was more important for me to spend hours in prayer rather than with my child
(who was with yet another babysitter). My mother became so angry with me and yelled at me "how bad a mother I was" that I dissolved in tears. I didn't know what was right to do. A lovely, kind Great Aunt of mine in whom I could confide, listened to me as I explained my confusion on how best to please the Lord. (I'll admit, for most people it would have been common-sense as to what to do.) She listened to me and then calmly explained in her loving way that "Yes, prayer was very important, but that in this particular season of my life, caring for and loving my child would please the Lord very much. That she was at an age where she needed her mother." After she talked to me, I could see the truth, but it took a gentle word, not a sharp reprimand to help me understand what I needed to do.
Thank you, too, Morningstar for your Words of Wisdom and instruction from which I am learning much.
To add to yours, other than the above acclimation:
Logic, I firmly believe, is a gift of God (or, more likely, a characteristic of Himself that is *also* a gift to His creatures). So, we can approach Him in a very distant way - or even more directly - through the paths of logic (I say distantly to directly, as we all have different ways of understanding Him). He, Himself, has had discussions with His creatures in the Bible where He encourages us to reason with Him, or to use the capacity of reason or logic to learn something about Him. I cannot recall where, but one such verse that is used often springs to mind: "Come, let us reason together..."
However, I have been on the other side of this. I cannot remember the verse currently, but He warns us that what we can easily logic ourselves into, we can just as easily logic ourselves out of. The point is - I happen to humbly think - is a balance between logic, trust (or faith, if you will) and emotion, all built on the bedrock of truth.
Most of my personal doubt stems from logic-ing (not a word...I made it up!) myself out of believing that, (1) He is really who He said He is, and (2) that He really does mean what He says to us living today. I'm quite sure that I can get myself painted into a corner all by own little self, but sometimes I am equally sure that I've been painted into that corner with the combination of my own sin nature and the help of other creatures (we'll be nice, and call them 'elder fallen ones,' although I'll be rude and call them demons/fallen angels, so that all reading can understand my gist).
The point: Do not lose the threads of truth; hold on to them, and make sure that you don't lose sight of them when you are on the edges of, or even in the midst of, possibly losing any degree of your faith/trust.
My faith is not (I repeat: NOT) built on feelings, poor logic, or hallucinations; it is built on hard, firm, immovable TRUTH. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that this is the case, however.
Don't forget to remind yourself, either, in those dark moments. Or, should I say, don't listen to those voices who try to convince you that your faith is illusion combined with a healthy pinch of delusion. Because...it's not.
Excellent lesson . Thank you for sharing this , Morningstar .
Quote : "A man who will not stand for something , will fall for anything ."
Anonymous ~~~~~
