Pastor Baker's Blog

Entry for October 12, 2006

Daily Reading: Isaiah chapters 21 thru 24

Key Verses: Isaiah 22:12-14

The people said, "Let us eat and drink," because they had given up hope. Attacked one every side (22:7), they should have repented (22:12), but they chose to feast instead. The root problem was that Judah did not trust God's power or His promises. When we face difficulties, we need to turn to God. Today we still see people giving up hope. There are two common responses to hopelessness: despair and self-indulgence. Hopelessness is often a response to the belief that "this is all there is." A dead end job, a fruitless marriage, unfulfilled expectations and loneliness can lead to feelings of hopelessness. Despair is a result of hopelessness which leads to a lifestyle of self-indulgence. Food, shopping, relationships, partying, drug use, alcohol consumption, depression (the list goes on and on) are all a result of the despair felt because of hopelessness. In each self-indulgent act, the person is looking for something to make them feel better, whether they realize it or not. It is a set-up of the enemy, especially if you cannot see beyond your situation (2 Corinthians 5:7). Obesity, debt, broken hearts, addictions and mental health issues are all linked to hopelessness. The set-up is taking a small situation and magnifying it into extreme pain.

But this is not all there is, so we are not to act as if we have no hope. Our proper response should be to trust God and His promise to include us in His eternal kingdom.

Does the hopelessness, despair and self-indulgence of a Christian affect the unbelieving world?

2006-10-12 14:01:13 GMT

Comments (2 total)

Author:Anonymous

There are many times when I felt hopeless. I must admit that I dealt with these feelings in negative ways. Of course, at the time, I did not know exactly that what I was feeling was hopelessness. When I was in college, I dealt with a cheating fiance and a broken engagement. This led me to amp up my partying and to dating some unsavory characters. Most recently, I felt hopelessness over my last job. I felt trapped in a situation that had no improvement in site. I indulged in food, shopping, and a regular glass of wine. I did not realize that I was necessarily trying to make myself feel better. I just thought I was removing myself from the situation for however brief the moment was. I now realize how that can affect others, especially if you are ultimately trying to be a witness for Christ. It leads to confusion about God's Word being true. How can I ask someone to trust Christ if by appearances I do not seem to trust Him myself? Things are different for me now. Even though my flesh still seeks to fulfill its desires, I can recognize it and seek the Lord instead of self-indulge. I also realize as Paul stated in 1 Cor. 8 that I have to "be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak."
--Aundrea Baker
<mailto:abaker@thewaybiblefellowship.org>

2006-10-12 14:26:04 GMT

Author:Anonymous

2006-10-12 14:26:29 GMT

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		Pastor Baker's Daily Devotional

		Entry for October 12, 2006 Daily Reading: Isaiah chapters 21 thru 24 Key Verses: Isaiah 22:12-14 The people said, "Let us eat and drink," because they had given up hope. Attacked one every side (22:7), they should have repented (22:12), but they chose to feast instead. The root problem was that Judah did not trust God's power or His promises. When we face difficulties, we need to turn to God. Today we still see people giving up hope. There are two common responses to hopelessness: despair and self-indulgence. Hopelessness is often a response to the belief that "this is all there is." A dead end job, a fruitless marriage, unfulfilled expectations and loneliness can lead to feelings of hopelessness. Despair is a result of hopelessness which leads to a lifestyle of self-indulgence. Food, shopping, relationships, partying, drug use, alcohol consumption, depression (the list goes on and on) are all a result of the despair felt because of hopelessness. In each self-indulgent act, the person is looking for something to make them feel better, whether they realize it or not. It is a set-up of the enemy, especially if you cannot see beyond your situation (2 Corinthians 5:7). Obesity, debt, broken hearts, addictions and mental health issues are all linked to hopelessness. The set-up is taking a small situation and magnifying it into extreme pain. But this is not all there is, so we are not to act as if we have no hope. Our proper response should be to trust God and His promise to include us in His eternal kingdom. Does the hopelessness, despair and self-indulgence of a Christian affect the unbelieving world? 2006-10-12 14:01:13 GMT Comments (2 total) Author:Anonymous There are many times when I felt hopeless. I must admit that I dealt with these feelings in negative ways. Of course, at the time, I did not know exactly that what I was feeling was hopelessness. When I was in college, I dealt with a cheating fiance and a broken engagement. This led me to amp up my partying and to dating some unsavory characters. Most recently, I felt hopelessness over my last job. I felt trapped in a situation that had no improvement in site. I indulged in food, shopping, and a regular glass of wine. I did not realize that I was necessarily trying to make myself feel better. I just thought I was removing myself from the situation for however brief the moment was. I now realize how that can affect others, especially if you are ultimately trying to be a witness for Christ. It leads to confusion about God's Word being true. How can I ask someone to trust Christ if by appearances I do not seem to trust Him myself? Things are different for me now. Even though my flesh still seeks to fulfill its desires, I can recognize it and seek the Lord instead of self-indulge. I also realize as Paul stated in 1 Cor. 8 that I have to "be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." --Aundrea Baker <mailto:abaker@thewaybiblefellowship.org> 2006-10-12 14:26:04 GMT Author:Anonymous There are many times when I felt hopeless. I must admit that I dealt with these feelings in negative ways. Of course, at the time, I did not know exactly that what I was feeling was hopelessness. When I was in college, I dealt with a cheating fiance and a broken engagement. This led me to amp up my partying and to dating some unsavory characters. Most recently, I felt hopelessness over my last job. I felt trapped in a situation that had no improvement in site. I indulged in food, shopping, and a regular glass of wine. I did not realize that I was necessarily trying to make myself feel better. I just thought I was removing myself from the situation for however brief the moment was. I now realize how that can affect others, especially if you are ultimately trying to be a witness for Christ. It leads to confusion about God's Word being true. How can I ask someone to trust Christ if by appearances I do not seem to trust Him myself? Things are different for me now. Even though my flesh still seeks to fulfill its desires, I can recognize it and seek the Lord instead of self-indulge. I also realize as Paul stated in 1 Cor. 8 that I have to "be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." --Aundrea Baker <mailto:abaker@thewaybiblefellowship.org> 2006-10-12 14:26:29 GMT Site Home