Is this just a test from God?

[Jacqueline]

For labor day my family did what most American's did. We had a barbarque. It started out just like every other party that we have. Kids running and playing, music so loud you can't hear your self, so much food that takes what seems like forever to make, a lot of drinks. But this time it wasn't the same for me. Usely I'll sit with the women and listen to their conversation. Conversation which always includes talking about someone. This time however as I listen to them I found myself wanting to not be the bystander looking in. I wanted to be one of them not just the silent shadow in the back ground.

I wanted the world that I ran from. I wanted to drink so badly that I kept looking at the cooler which held them. You see I knew that with just a few drinks I would be one of them. I'll be laughing, joking around, talking about the women that my brother invited to the party even though I don't know them just like the rest of them. One of the things that stopped me was the fact that my cousin who is a Christian was there, but most importantly I remember that Jesus said if you turn back to the sin's that you've left behind that it will be worst then before. At least I think it was Jesus that said that.

Any way my other cousin who is a Christian not to long a go said something to me that came to my mind to night. He askd me if I still went to clubs and I told him no. I don't want to drink and party with the people that I use to party with. He said that maybe God was testing me. That I should be able to go to parties with them. That left me wondering if to night was a test because if it was I just failed it. I may have not had a drink, but I wanted to.

Want do you think? Am I suppose to be able to be around people who are drinking without wanting to drink? Is my cousin right is God testing me? I feel really stupid as I write this, but I need to know.

You know what I've learned. Choosing to follow Christ is something that we have to choose to do every single day. Once we give our lives to Him, He may guild us, protect us, but He can't make us do the right thing. We still have to decide to listen to Him.

God Bless

Jacqueline

[jcm]

That left me wondering if to night was a test because if it was I just failed it. I may have not had a drink, but I wanted to.

Want do you think? Am I suppose to be able to be around people who are drinking without wanting to drink? Is my cousin right is God testing me? I feel really stupid as I write this, but I need to know.

Temptation will always be around us and not one of us will go through life without being surrounded by it. I don't think that your wanting to drink was a failure.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Jacqueline,

You know what I've learned. Choosing to follow Christ is something that we have to choose to do every single day. Once we give our lives to Him, He may guild us, protect us, but He can't make us do the right thing. We still have to decide to listen to Him.

I believe this says YOU GOT THE VICTORY! There is a part in all of us that when tempted in that area, we can't help but dwell on it. Satan knows exactly where to tempt us, but as you have found out, "Greater is He that is in YOU, than he that is in the world."

I praise God for you.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[3in1]

well, the first thing that came to mind was that you are not required to drink at clubs and parties. also, it is not a sin to drink. so feeling like having a drink is not in itself sinful. of course this may vary, but we cannot say that everyone who feels like having a drink is sinning. but for some, a few drinks is not possible. for some its either sober or smashed! im not saying you are like this but hopefully you see where im coming from.

Any way my other cousin who is a Christian not to long a go said something to me that came to my mind to night. He askd me if I still went to clubs and I told him no. I don't want to drink and party with the people that I use to party with. He said that maybe God was testing me. That I should be able to go to parties with them. That left me wondering if to night was a test because if it was I just failed it. I may have not had a drink, but I wanted to.

if you've had a problem w/ drinking and still do not want to be around your old scene, i doubt God is 'testing' you in this sense. IMO. actually, im not so sure i see a test in this equation. at some point in your life maybe you will be able to go to these places and still be a light. for a while in my walk, i had no business even mentioning the word club! but now it is no big deal for me to head out w/ friends (believers or not) or my wife and hang out every once in a while. i also have three kids, so when i say every once in a while i really mean it! but our situations are different, not just mine and yours but believers all together! God molds strong individuals to make a strong body! God is building YOUR testimony, Christianity is truly a personal relationship w/ the Father!

Want do you think? Am I suppose to be able to be around people who are drinking without wanting to drink? Is my cousin right is God testing me? I feel really stupid as I write this, but I need to know.

again, wanting a drink is not a sin for everyone. really you are best suited to answer that. if its an addictive type of want, where you are controlled by your flesh, then you may want to abstain. ive been in a restaurant and someone order a drink, but i just didnt really feel like having one that day. but other times, someone may order something and i thought it looked good so i had one. so again, do you feel compulsive about needing a drink? do you think you want one or need one? big difference between the two.

anyway Jacqueline, hope this helps

in Christ

[alecia]

Being tempted is not your fault.. if it were, everyone on this earth would be in SERIOUS trouble!

One or maybe even two drinks is not bad IF you dont have and never have had a drinking problem.. but if you -have- had problems in the past, I would suggest you avoid it.. I used to drink like a fish but I had to give it up because eventualy it would have killed me.. it seems that when I get near alcohol, I want to get drunk.. I have slipped up a few times and done it but I continue to fight it.. Ive had just one drink this year that I remember and I hope to make it my last one.

I dont feel God would purposely put you in that position that might cause you to fail, so no.. I dont feel it was a test, it was just a normal thing that many people encounter.

[irishcowboy]

we all get tempted......

it is not the temptation that is wrong, or sinful, but how we handle it....

if an ex-smoker desires a cigg, but does not give in, they have beat the temptation ( i know, i fight it from time to time.... some days worse then others, but know i can not start again, for the last time it only took one to get me started again, after 4 years off of them )

if an ex-drinker, is tempted, and does not drink, they have done well, some times the temptation can be greater then other times..... it is how we handle it.....

if some one that is hooked on porn, is tempted into looking into a sleezy web site from an email they received, and deletes it and moves on with out opening it, they did good....

the same with cussing, drugs, gossip, lies, cheating, stealing and and and....

it is not so much that a person is tempted, it is how the person handles the temptation that matters....

if we slip, be asured God is still there and waiting for us to run to Him and He will forgive us.....

stay strong, stay focused on God....

mike

[Jacqueline]

Thank you all for your replies. It means alot to have brothers and sisters that understands and I can turn to.

May God Bless you all

Jacqueline