What is YOUR "thorn in the flesh"?

[marks]

God has given me emotional relief of the peace of Philippians 4:6-7 with a biblical prayer that isn't in our western culture to our detriment. It is lamenting like Job 10, Psalm 39 and 88, and Jeremiah's Lamentations. God used such persistent prayers to give me that peace. Try it persistently until he gives you his peace, if you don't have in yet.

The good thing is that physical/mental/emotional suffering does not take one's spirit away from God's Spirit.

You shall keep him in perfect peace who's mind is stayed on Thee.

For me the quickest route into the peace of God is to remember He is here, and He loves me like no other!

Much love!

 

[Ritajanice]

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:26). “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3). “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Mt 5:4). “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7)

 

[Dan Clarkston]

Peter also mentions when we suffer according to God's will.

Well there ya go then.... you only look at the scriptures that embrace your desire to live in pain and not be delivered while rejecting the many promises God has made for deliverance.

This is rejoicing in thy pain and suffering and glorifying it!

Why would we glorify pain and suffering?

That's what you are doing, enjoy!

If you think other people could tempt one to back slide and turn away from Christ, you are not paying attention. It's easy to be spiritual when it is only you and God. When all the SOB's do everything they can to distract, pick, prod and otherwise be a thorn in your side, one can actually struggle to imagine a better means to seduce God's children away from His will.

You are talking in circles... why would anyone want to "struggle to imagine a better means to seduce God's children away from His will"

And whassup with the foul language??? Does the "spirit" you follow lead you to use foul language? That's not of God.

 

[Dan Clarkston]

He loves me like no other!

He loves you more than He does everyone else???

 

[Dan Clarkston]

Try it persistently until he gives you his peace

I got His peace and rest when I got born again John 14:27 and received the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

Too bad you guys have to work to try and get peace somehow.

 

[Ritajanice]

Short commentary.

Why should we glory in our suffering?
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

 

[Bruce-Leiter]

The good thing is that physical/mental/emotional suffering does not take one's spirit away from God's Spirit.

You shall keep him in perfect peace who's mind is stayed on Thee.

For me the quickest route into the peace of God is to remember He is here, and He loves me like no other!

Much love!

Yes, I agree. May God bless you abundantly!

 

[marks]

Well there ya go then.... you only look at the scriptures that embrace your desire to live in pain and not be delivered while rejecting the many promises God has made for deliverance.

More nonsense! You think you know me, you demonstrate by your words your ignorance.

Read all the relevant passages and then come back to talk about it.

Much love!

 

[Dan Clarkston]

The good thing is that physical/mental/emotional suffering does not take one's spirit away from God's Spirit.

It's a good thing the Lord provides deliverance to those that will stand on His promises!

 

[marks]

Short commentary.

Why should we glory in our suffering?
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

That word there translated "glory", we also glory in our sufferings, the meaning is like boasting to yourself within yourself.

Much love!

 

[Dan Clarkston]

Read all the relevant passages and then come back to talk about it.

I did but unlike you I also read God's promises of deliverance and received!

Some just don't accept the whole counsel of God.

 

[MA2444]

I don't want any speculation about the nature of Paul's "thorn in the flesh." Other threads do that kind of discussion. Finding out what it was is not my interest, but sharing our experiences with weaknesses is.

Mine is physical pain, four kinds, that started 38 years ago the third Friday in March. It developed at the very depth of my seven years of major depression, from which God has delivered me for more than three decades now.

God has said "no" to my many requests to take away my pain but has given me his grace to control it, be at peace about it, and remain effective in many years of preaching and teaching his Word in churches and of writing books to honor him.

The result is that he has humbled me, using Satan's attacks, to depend on him, especially in dependent prayer, so that I can testify clearly and honestly what Paul says, "When I am weak, I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

How has God used his grace to enable you to deal with your "thorn in the flesh"?

That's a good question, lol. As far as I can tell, I have several thorns. I learned to walk on them though prolly due to God's Grace like you say! One thorn is I have been Epileptic since I was a little kid. Another one is just like your almost, back pain from an accident in 2009 when the Lord saved my life, but I broke my back in two places so I have daily pain and it sure took a lot of the wind out of me. I've always that if you break your back that you go in a wheelchair, but I am not and I dont quite understand that yet but I feel I am blessed to be walking on my own! (Just not as far, lol!) . I used to make so much money! But it was labor intensive too so suddenly I couldnt work an 8 hour day. noon or two at best, even with pain pills. And so, what? Go on Disability and just retire early! WHat a great idea! I wont have to work...well I found out that being retired is boring and it's also like being on public assistance they way they treat people. I worked for that money and paid it into that account, and now I have another thorn to go with it...Poverty.

I did come to the realization over time that...poverty is actually a pretty secure place to be (LOL!). It keeps me clinging to the Lord, I kid you not. So it's all perspective I guess. What's that 3 thorns? Sounds like a lot.

 

[Ritajanice]

That word there translated "glory", we also glory in our sufferings, the meaning is like boasting to yourself within yourself.

Much love!

Put another way, glory is what suffering looks like from an eternal perspective. It is the honor of God that crowns God's people. And there will come a time in which all of the church's shared sufferings will be seen as radiant and beautiful.

 

[marks]

Put another way, glory is what suffering looks like from an eternal perspective. It is the honor of God that crowns God's people. And there will come a time in which all of the church's shared sufferings will be seen as radiant and beautiful.

To me the idea is more about that we see the afflictions we have to endure, and we are all excited knowing what good things are coming through that affliction.

We glory (rejoice with expectation) because we see suffering for what it is, the heavy hammer in God's tool box. We know the heavy work is being done. Good things are coming!

Much love!

 

[marks]

I did but unlike you I also read God's promises of deliverance and received!

Some just don't accept the whole counsel of God.

Are you the one who is exempt from afflictions? Because I don't think anyone is. And that's the whole counsel of God, whether you will believe it or not.

It is through much tribulation that we must enter the kingdom of God. And there are many passages like that.

1 Peter 4:1 KJV
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Suffering comes to everyone. We are told to "arm ourselves", because it's coming to us. Or, if you think you are exempt, then don't arm yourself. It's up to you.

Maybe you think that if you have a bad day it means you aren't a Christian. Jesus had a really bad day on the cross. Are you going to take up your cross also and follow Him?

Much love!

 

[Ritajanice]

If I find someone upsetting me, I put them on ignore..or just ignore their post..now.

Why feed them.

 

[MA2444]

That's pretty funny.... some thinking the Lord is working with satan to keep people "humble" View attachment 51960

No Brother it isnt like that. I disagree with your assertion.

I just posted to the OP and I gave account of my thorns, (Epileptic, broken back, and poverty) and the Lord saved my life in 2009 when I had an epileptic seizure doing 70 mph on the highway during rush hour. I rolled my truck 3 times after I hit a tree and broke my back. Over time it came to me what happened, I felt the seizure starting to happen and looked in the rearview mirror and saw myself fading from consciousness, the only thing I had time to do was to say, Lord be with me...

And I lived! Broken back and I had back surgery at 5am the next morning. They say it was a success, but it doesnt feel like it! But I walk on my own and am alive!

I reasoned it all it out. The Lord had mercy upon me and so allowed the accident to happen because I suspect that He was tired of waiting on me to return to Him. I was saved and Baptised before I even started noticing girls, but that was when I parted ways with him and I remained backslidden until after my 26 yr marriage was over. And I feel sort of like this was last call for me. That was close! So while I was laying on back recovering for 4 months after my surgery, I knew in my heart, I owe Him my life. SO I got serious and returned to Him in a serious way.

I had everything before. Beautiful family, my own sucessful business and money out the wazoo. The Lord needed to humble me to get me to return to Him, so He chopped my life right down. It was so fast. Suddenly I had no family, money or wife. 26 year marriage down the tubes. What did I do? Started chasing women (so to speak). And the Lord said, huuh, not again!

So the Lord allowed those evils to befall me in an act of mercy and a test for me. I remembered the Lord real fast when I saw I losing consciousness! and He knew I would. So it brough quite the air od eriousness to my life and did humble me. And I tried to the best of ability to cling to Him and devote my life to Him and I began obeying and reading and praying and praising. And I kept obeying and here I am 15 years later still serious and with Him and all those things were added unto me.

SO Brother, it isnt funny that the Lord works thru satan to humble us. It's real and everything every situation that we find ourselves in, we are there to make a decision.

Who gets to dictate to the flesh body how to behave and how you act? Your spirit or your carnal soul? When we allow our spirit to lead us and our behavior, we get rewarded for that obedience. Job got tested. I've been tested, you get tested every day. Scripture say be led by the Spirit! And It is true. Just Believe Brother.

One day I had just been shopping with Lord and talking to Him so my discernment was sharp. then I got thrust into a weird situation and it boggled my mind and was off sort of, I couldnt put my finger on it why, and I thought of the Lord and started laughing at the situation and said, Lord I dont know what you're doing here, but I trust you so I will just watch! And within 24 hours it turned into a blessing instead of a curse.
True story. I let the spirit guide. That's the short version of that one.

 

[Wrangler]

You are talking in circles... why would anyone want to "struggle to imagine a better means to seduce God's children away from His will"

Not talking in circles at all. Regarding WHY anyone would want to "struggle to imagine a better means to seduce God's children away from His will," it’s called evil.

 

[amigo de christo]

Watching interfaith take over christendom and the world has been a serious pain to watch .
But do not a one of you all worry for me . By grace i am gonna expose every last word of it and those who align with it
WE POINT TO JESUS THE CHRIST , not a lie . keep that in mind everyone . WE POINT to JESUS THE CHRIST and not a lie .

 

[NotTheRock]

Didn't say that. Just admitted what the thorn in my side is.

If you think other people could tempt one to back slide and turn away from Christ, you are not paying attention. It's easy to be spiritual when it is only you and God. When all the SOB's do everything they can to distract, pick, prod and otherwise be a thorn in your side, one can actually struggle to imagine a better means to seduce God's children away from His will.

I am trying to avoid (when possible) places, situations, and people that can trigger me into being a man of the world instead of a man of God.