I t seemed like in the late 80s and in the 90s many churches started preaching that if you do everything right you will be rewarded and no harm with come to you if you just have faith and believe. It was like almost like tir fot a tat if you do this you will get that and sadly I believed this devilish doctrine.
Alot of times when I go through trials I am like this should not happen to be I have done everything right and serve God or I say this trial is getting freaken old cant we move on to somthing better?
My question is how do I get out of the prosperity trap and start thinking godly and Christ like about things?
2007-09-14 16:04:08 · 26 answers · asked by encourager4God 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
hey man, being "good" and doing "righteous" things won't keep you from trails. God didn't promise an easy and simple life when you became a Christian. All but one of the apostles were martyred for what they believed in. You will be persecuted and go through tough times, but these are the times we should seek the Lord the most. If you're going through a struggle don't seek a way out ...seek the Lord. Get in His Word and live it. When seeking the Lord, ask Him what you are learning in through the struggle. You'll get your answer if you seek Him with a sincere heart.
2007-09-14 16:13:45 · answer #1 · answered by zero_or_die77 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When a person is TRYING to be something else, then they are NOT being themselves. Did the SPIRIT created you? Isn't EVERYTHING that is created by the SPIRIT as it SHOULD BE?!?
Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks...
Ecc 7:13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
Mat 23:25-26 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Hheheee basically, you keep going through the SAME trials cuz you keep making the same choices. Hheheee which you will KEEP going through until you choose something ELSE. This is where 'reflection' comes in. Look at you life, look at the choice that brought you to THIS point. If there WERE mistakes---learn from them so you don't do them again.
Another BASIC is that WHAT people HAVE in their lives is what they TRULY feel worthy of. A person can SAY that they are worth ALOT, but the real truth is what they do. This is where regular personal 'cleansings' can come in. Things like self doubt, confusion, fear, and OTHER negative emotions can blind a person from their TRUE strengths and aspirations. Pretty much every religion does have its forms/ceremonies/rituals that can help get these 'ickies' OFF, then find some 'alone' time with the SPIRIT to SEE how you really FEEL. Usually when you make choices that effect your life when ya are fill of the ickies, hehehee it just creates MORE ickies.
Hhehee its also IMPORTANT to get out of your own head occationally and out into the world created by the SPIRIT.
Ecc 8:17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.
2007-09-14 16:27:38 · answer #2 · answered by Lion Jester 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When was the last time you actually read through the whole book of Job?
A lot of people get that story wrong and think it is about prosperity theology, but that is not what it is about.
God is not a person you can deal with, at least not according to Job. You live your life and do the best you can. God does what God does, that is just what God is, the great mystery.
If you are going through trials then you look around for reasons in the real world and do real changes in what you are doing in your real world life..
2007-09-14 16:38:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it's okay to be trapped. Remember the Israelites as God brought them out of Egypt. He led them to a spot between two mountain ranges they could not climb, with a seemingly impassable body of water in front of them. The Egyptians considered them to be "trapped" in the land. God said that He led them into this situation so that the Egyptians might finally come to know that He is God.
Do not assume that there's something wrong with prosperity. In Proverbs, God inspired the writer to note that "God gives us the power to produce wealth and He adds no trouble with it." Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle John wrote: "I would that you prosper and be health, even as your soul prospers."
So what's the problem? Why do you feel so frustrated?
The answer focuses on your thinking, your beliefs, your expectations and your attitude. Isaiah, God inspired the prophet to write: "My thoughts are not your thoughts. Your ways are not my ways." Then in the letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote: "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." In other words, learn to think like God. But how?
Here's the process:
1. Rejoice always, and again I say rejoice
2. Let your gentleness be known to all,
3. The Lord is near.
4. Be anxious for nothing, but . . .
5. By prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests know to God, and . . .
6. The peace of God that surpasses understanding will . . .
7. Keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
That's how you think godly and Christ-like.
See you at success
2007-09-14 16:44:38 · answer #4 · answered by mcjordansr 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have faith and believe but I'm not immune from hard times. If Christians were immune from all bad things, everyone would become a Christian.
When t.v. evangelists say that if you send them $10 God will bless you $100 (the heart prosperity doctrine) I always say the minister should send me the $10 so he can get the $100.
Keep the faith :)
2007-09-14 16:13:43 · answer #5 · answered by mel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have heard tele-evangelists often say that you can't out-give god so send me some money. Not quite like that but the same meaning. God gives us spiritual blessings and lets the rain fall on everyone the same with physical blessings. We often misinterpret the Bible and get the wrong ideas.
Stop and think - when the idea comes up that giving brings things our way - am I thinking physical or spiritual? .. We have no promise that God will give us anything here on this earth.
God Bless and if you pray a lot, it will help.
2007-09-14 16:20:31 · answer #6 · answered by mesquiteskeetr 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seek the word -
Seek the word -
Seek the word!
Darlin' - when you remain in the word, you get strength for the trials that come. Our treasure will always be in heaven - not earth.
Seek to read the word daily -
Seek to follow the word's leading -
Seek to live the word through actions daily!
Put your self in a position to serve somebody regularly in ANY way... and you will be blessed in ways you never thought possible. Put the focus on Christ first - your husband and family second - others third... and THEN deal with yourself... it puts a lot of troubles in perspective when you are helping others with theirs.
Peace hon.
2007-09-14 17:33:51 · answer #7 · answered by Depoetic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you go on a mission trip? Take yourself out of the country, and go to some third world country so that you can share the Good News. It's amazing how close you feel to God when you are completely out of your element. And you see God work through you and those around it. You will see life in a fresh perspective. You will honestly change from the inside.
2007-09-14 16:14:22 · answer #8 · answered by justanotherone 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
we all fall into some trap of some kind and get hung up. By going into the bible and seeing what the bible says about what someone is saying or preaching we can avoid alot of mistakes......We go through trials not to harm us but to strengthen us.....its how we go through them that builds character....we can either say ok God what is it you are trying to show me or we can fight it every inch of the way and be miserable.....I know I have done the fight part more times than care to think about.
Go to prayer tell God how you feel and think...Thats what He wants....
God wants a relationship not religion.
2007-09-14 16:20:15 · answer #9 · answered by bmdt07 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you really want to recapture how you felt in a better time, and want to blame your faith (or lack of it) for your current unhappiness.
As far as religion goes, believe what you think is right. That's all. You're not trapped.
And, don't expect to be happy once you've found your more Godly beliefs. That would be exactly what you're saying is the problem you have now, wouldn't it? Expecting something for acting or believing a certain way?
2007-09-14 16:22:31 · answer #10 · answered by Mr. Bad Day 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋