I want Paul's attitude regarding suffering

[spiderman1917]

Colossians 1:24 ►
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

2 cor 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

He takes pleasure in suffering.  That is brilliant because I and so many others have to suffer every day, and we will be much more happy if we learn to love it (as Paul did.)

let me ask you reader, If there are two children in Somalia starving to death, one of them hates suffering, one of them loves suffering, which do you think suffers more? Which one would you rather be?

Since they don't get to have food, it is their attitude about suffering that makes all the difference in the world.

Paul was shipwrecked, stoned, chronically persecuted, and suffered all kinds of torments, but he learned how to take delight in the trials and suffering.  Do you think God will grant some people that grace to love their crosses and afflictions?  Perhaps those of us who have to suffer on a daily basis should pray for that grace.  It would make us a lot happier.

 

[Omegaman 3.0]

Haven't you already had this conversation? Seems very familiar!

[spiderman1917]

3 minutes ago, Omegaman 3.0 said:

Haven't you already had this conversation? Seems very familiar!

It wasn't about paul's attitude regarding suffering.  In fact, it just hit me today that I should pray for that attitude about all the things that have been bothering me lately.

I'm not advocating inflicting suffering on oneself, but I have to suffer daily and will have a lot of suffering and perhaps a painful death in the future, so will be happier if I have Paul's attitude.

Edited December 23, 2016 by spiderman1917

[kwikphilly]

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but I have to suffer daily and will have a lot of suffering

I'll be perfectly honest,anyone who has that attitude & is resolved to the "facts" they choose to hold  on to,will indeed have it that way

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Proverbs 18:21

²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death,
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.

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Romans 4:17 – Speaking Those Things That Are Not As Though They Were!

 

[hmbld]

I don't think it's actually loving the pain and trials as much as loving the result, the fact that it can draw us closer to the One who loves us!

[spiderman1917]

2 minutes ago, hmbld said:

I don't think it's actually loving the pain and trials as much as loving the result, the fact that it can draw us closer to the One who loves us!

Amen!  Pain, suffering, trials, persecution... it draws us closer to God.  The cross and suffering unites us with the one who loves us.  You hit the nail on the head!  

[spiderman1917]

7 minutes ago, kwikphilly said:

I'll be perfectly honest,anyone who has that attitude & is resolved to the "facts" they choose to hold  on to,will indeed have it that way

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Thank you for reminding me of that and for those Scriptures     

[angels4u]

20 minutes ago, spiderman1917 said:

It wasn't about paul's attitude regarding suffering.  In fact, it just hit me today that I should pray for that attitude about all the things that have been bothering me lately.

I'm not advocating inflicting suffering on oneself, but I have to suffer daily and will have a lot of suffering and perhaps a painful death in the future, so will be happier if I have Paul's attitude.

 

 

Pauls attitude was to be content in every situation, you did not go through what Paul went through , be careful with your words~~ 

I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. 12I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation — to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.…Phill.4:12

Paul was not asking to suffer ~

[angels4u]

25 minutes ago, spiderman1917 said:

It wasn't about paul's attitude regarding suffering.  In fact, it just hit me today that I should pray for that attitude about all the things that have been bothering me lately.

I'm not advocating inflicting suffering on oneself, but I have to suffer daily and will have a lot of suffering and perhaps a painful death in the future, so will be happier if I have Paul's attitude.

 

 

Trust in the Lord
…4So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.…

[Omegaman 3.0]

²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they ^[b]descendants of Abraham? So am I.²³ Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in ^[c]far more labors, in ^[d]far more imprisonments, ^[e]beaten times without number, often in danger of death. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; ²⁷ I have been in labor and hardship, ^[f]through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and ^[g]exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such^[h]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak without my being weak? Who is ^[i]led into sin ^[j]without my intense concern?

³⁰ If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,³³ and I was let down in a basket through a window ^[k]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.