Strongholds

What are strongholds? It's really simple, it's something that has a STRONG hold on your life. It's anything that is SUPER hard for you to work through and get over. Something the Devil uses against you because you are really weak in an area (or more than one area). It's not a good thing to have, but we all have strongholds in our lives somewhere. Strongholds can only be conquered through Jesus. He has broken every stronghold and everything that sets itself against God's Word. In conquering a stronghold I believe that there are some things that one has to do to get through strongholds in their life. The first thing is ADMITTING the stronghold/problem, this is important because without admitting and saying you or I have a stronghold we will never get over it. The second thing I believe is important to get over a stronghold is CONFESS. the stronghold/problem to a strong Christian who can help build you up in your faith, normally talking to someone of the same gender is best unless it's like a serious/legit leader of an opposite gender or something like that, but I believe that it is more safe that way. The third thing I think is important to conquer a stronghold is get PRAYER as much as possible. Get prayer because with prayer and faith that you can conquer the stronghold on your life, it can and will be done. The fourth thing I think that one should do is  CONSCIOUSLY make and effort and decision to NOT do or say or think those things again. FORCE yourself to resist the temptation when it rises. Don't let others or Satan or ANYONE tell you that you can't get over it because it's NOT true. You have the authority to tell it NO. Start making right decisions in the right direction and don't do or think or say those things that you know is wrong. Even when it hurts and is REALLY hard-resist and prove to everyone and yourself that you are an overcomer and you have God on your side and He will help you. Let Him live in you, don't do it on your own or you will fail. Even if you fail-ask God to help you every day. Think on things above, change your thinking, change your thoughts and actions. It's easier said then done, but the more you or I do it, the easier it will get because every time one resists temptation they are conquering the strong hold on their life. The next thing I think should be done is SPEND time with God daily and even multiple times a day. Instead of playing games or watching t.v. or going shopping or other things, spend time with God-it will grow you up. Listen to Godly counsel and walk in obedience out of a heart for Christ and the love He has for you. Realize you are weak and He is strong and without HIM you can do NO thing at all! He is all you have and can live for! He's GREAT and I know you can conquer these strongholds. There are some other steps and if I think of all of them I will make another post on it, but for now I think this is a good start. I am praying for you! :) <3 God is on your side, don't let the Devil lie to you and try to lead you off the track that God has for you! KEEP LIVING FOR JESUS. HAVE A RELATIONSHIP with HIM! IT'S THE GREATEST GIFT EVER!!! :)

The Mark of A True Christian

Have you ever thought-I wonder if so and so is a Christian, or I think this person is a Christian, but I am not sure. One evaluation you can have to determine if someone is a true Christian is if they are continually growing in Christ-there MUST be fruit of a Christian in their lives. Many people can say they are Christians and can even act like they are Christians, but a true lover of Jesus and follower of Christ is evidence throughout time and evidence of what's in the heart of someone. After being around and hanging around people you are able to tell what is in their hearts and what they think about. One is able to determine from relationship and being around someone where they are at in their walk with God.

I personally know and have met people who, it seemed like to everyone that they loved God and was pursuing God, but in the end we found out hidden sins that they never told us. Now everyone will have sins that they really, honestly don't know about but it's in their growth and evidence throughout time that proves where they stand and where their heart is. True repentance is when you have been doing something wrong and you turn the other way and follow after God whole heartily, never turning back-standing firm in faith and love for God. Many people can "walk the walk" and they can "talk the talk" but do they have the fruits of the Spirit, are they applying what they have learned from scripture to their lives? Are they studying the Bible and living it out in their lives? Do they honor others? Look at the character of a person and that also tells a lot. Is that person lieing a lot? Is that person listening to Godly leaders and searching out God in all of His righteousness? Is that person inspiring others to live like Christ? There are so many questions you could ask yourself and another person to see where they are at spiritually.

Evidence of love and faith in Jesus is continual growth and fruit in their lives in all aspects and it can't just be "going through the motions," but a sincere different person change in their lives. The person is different-they have a different spark or light to them that you never noticed before, etc...God is evident and real in their lives. Hidden sin is not hidden-but one is accountable to leaders in their lives for their growth in Christ. There is a difference between "unknown sin" and "hidden sin." Unknown sin is sin that a person doesn't know about sincerely, but hidden sin is sin that a person does know about and no one else knows so they hide it thinking they are getting by with it, but in the end ALL sin will be out in the open and revealed for all to see. Can you see what I'm saying? GROWTH is evident in a TRUE Christian, a RELATIONSHIP with Christ is evident in their lives!

If you have any questions on this, please feel free to talk to me about it! I will do my best to answer them!  Thanks for reading and keep following and keep updated on current posts to learn more! :)