The Ballestero Blog

You Can “C” Your Way Through This!

You can get through this trial. You can survive your journey through the valley. There is a way to come through your dry spell. It’s not all that hard. You just have to “C” your way through.

(A few days ago Bro. Ken Bow shared some of these major points with his church while I was there. I took liberties and expounded and added to them. Thanks Elder.)

1. Consistency

Be Consistent.

Like Job, be consistent. Especially during your time of testing never falter in your walk with God.

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

What do you do when things are going wrong?

• You keep on praying
• You keep on singing
• You keep on coming to church
• You keep on praising the Lord
• You keep on paying your tithes
• You keep on doing what you know to do.

Be Consistent, be faithful. Never allow yourself to be up and down in and out

If You Are Consistent, You Can “C” Your Way Through This!

2. Commitment

Make A Complete Commitment To God.

Make a Commitment. Then keep your promises. Are you a child of God or not? If so, then commit yourself to living in a manner pleasing to Him and not yourself.

Make the commitment now. Don’t delay.

Psalm 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

• Make a commitment to a better prayer life.
• Make a commitment to be a worshipper.
• Make a commitment to holy living.
• Make a commitment to abstain from all ungodliness and impurity.
• Make a commitment to be a faithful tither and a giver.
• Make a commitment to be faithful to every service.
• Make a commitment to visit the prayer room before the church service.

When you make your commitment to Him, like the psalmist did and get your heart fixed, you will feel like singing too!

If You Are Willing To Make The Commitment, You Can “C” Your Way Through This!

3. Conviction

You’ve Got To Get Some Convictions For Yourself.

You can’t just live off of the preacher’s convictions or your Grandma’s. However wonderful theirs are, you have to get it in you.

Don’t expect to survive your storm in a boat with no rudder. Determine now your direction and don’t change. Don’t even hang around those who you know would give you bad advice and mislead you in a wrong direction.

Moses Had Conviction.

Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

The Three Hebrew Children Had Conviction.

Daniel 3:6 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Daniel 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

If You Get Strong Convictions About Right And Wrong And Separating Yourself From The World, You Can “C” Your Way Through This!

4. Confess

Be Quick To Repent And Search Your Heart.

The first step in finding God’s approval and favor on your life is being willing to admit all of your failures and ask His forgiveness. It’s important to repent often and sincerely. David Did.

David’s Sins Were Grievous, But He Was Quick To Repent.

As a man David was flawed in several ways. Yet somehow he was known as a man after God’s own heart. How could that happen? How is it that Saul messed up once and God cut him off and yet David has shameful moments more than once and God is merciful to him?

I believe it’s because David was quick to repent. David was willing to admit he was wrong and ask for mercy. He desired to be clean.

Psalm 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Psalm 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: …

Seven people in the Bible said, “I have sinned.” Only two of them found forgiveness: David and the Prodigal Son. These two said, “I have sinned against thee oh Lord.” All sin is against God. Recognize that your sin affects more than just you. Sin is against God.

Be quick to acknowledge your wrong before God. He will forgive you.

If You Will Be Quick To Confess When You Need To, You Can “C” Your Way Through This!

5. Carefulness

Be Careful Around Sin.

Don’t play games with your soul. Please don’t throw away what God has given you. This generation lives too carelessly. Even some Pentecostals who know better are somehow enticed to push the limits of separation from the world and see how close they can get and still feel saved. Why even think like that? The coming of the Lord is so close. This is no time to be careless with your eternity. You are in the world but not of the world.

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

There’s That “C” Word Again!

Quit trying to see how much of the world you can have and still be a member of the church. That is foolish thinking. Remember this old Sunday School memory verse?

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Ask God to direct all of your steps and only lead you in paths pleasing to him.

Be Careful In Your Daily Life,

• Your speech,
• Your conduct,
• Your entertainment,
• Your hobbies
• Your friends
• Your thoughts

If You’re Careful, You Can “C” Your Way Through This!

6. Camaraderie

Godly Camaraderie With The Saints Is Key To Your Spiritual Welfare And Survival.

I cannot begin to tell you of he great blessing, strength and comfort godly fellowship. It grieves me hear you tell me that they have no friends in the church. That your best friends are in the world.

If that is true, it will only be a matter of time before you are where they are. God places us in His family. The people of the Lord should even be closer to you than your unchurched family. Included along with doctrine and prayers in one verse is this key to your survival.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Your fellowship with God’s people is important and key to your spiritual survival. Minimize your influences from those that refuse to walk in all the light of truth. No matter how nice they are.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

If two people have different destinations then it will just be a matter of time before there is a parting of the ways. If not, then one of them will go where they really didn’t want to go because they refused to break company with their friend who was going in the wrong direction.

If You Surround Yourself With God’s People, You Can “C” Your Way Through This!

7. Consecrate

Consecrate Yourself To God; Surrender Your Will.

When you consecrate yourself to God. You then pledge to do whatever it takes to please Him. Consecration is about submission to His will and His way. It is saying, not my will but Thine be done.

Don’t wait for someone to tell that it’s time to draw closer to God. You already know. So please don’t delay. If you will draw closer to God, He will draw closer to you. That is His promise.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

• Give Him you life.
• Give Him your all.
• Give Him your heart.
• Give Him your willingness.
• Give Him your obedience.
• Give Him your love.

If You Consecrate, You Can “C” Your Way Through This!