“Formula” for Life

[johnthebaptist]

I am always trying to find a “formula” to keep me happy and safe. How about this one:

1. Have faith. (John 14:27)

2. Enjoy the glory God gives to all repentant sinners. (Matthew 4:17)

3. Pray constantly. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

[Hopefully]

Amen. I would like to add to your list.

Seek peace (Psalms 34:14)

Have love ( 1 Corinthians 13:13)

[BeyondET]

Life On Velvet Emotion.

(Matthew 11:28-30)

 

Edited May 18, 2021 by BeyondET

[Arrabon]

@johnthebaptist

My formula started with building a foundation of Godly Conversion, ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, and everything has grown perfectly from there with the right understanding to build on.

Love everyone with GODLY LOVE - God, your neighbors, those who hate you, those who persecute you, those who would kill you.

Find peace with all men, as much as it is possible.

Don't worry. Put your life and all your situations in God's hands and He will care for it all.

Seek out and love the lost.

Be kind, loving and caring and be a source of empathy for everyone hurting that comes in your life.

Listen to people who are lonely and need an ear with a caring heart.

Everything in Christ comes to us as a result of our choices, and God's plan for us.

Edited May 18, 2021 by Arrabon

[Slug1]

On 5/16/2021 at 10:18 AM, johnthebaptist said:

I am always trying to find a “formula” to keep me happy and safe. How about this one:

1. Have faith. (John 14:27)

2. Enjoy the glory God gives to all repentant sinners. (Matthew 4:17)

3. Pray constantly. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

#1 should be "exercise" faith. Met many who have said they have faith and were not happy... until they began to exercise the faith and then they never were afraid and had peace in the midst of troubles. 

[Michael37]

On 5/17/2021 at 2:18 AM, johnthebaptist said:

I am always trying to find a “formula” to keep me happy and safe. How about this one:

1. Have faith. (John 14:27)

2. Enjoy the glory God gives to all repentant sinners. (Matthew 4:17)

3. Pray constantly. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Here's my formula: J + E + S + U + S = JOY

Jas 1:2-4  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,  (3)  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  (4)  Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

[Marathoner]

A formula? There is only one "formula" for those who belong to Jesus Christ, and it's this: walk in His Spirit. Safety is an illusion, comfort is a delusion, and our walk with the Lord is not measured by a rubric familiar to this flesh. The world is ironically obsessed with comfort and safety but we were told that we enter the kingdom through much tribulation.

As a brother whom I'm rather fond of has shared with us before, "well done" is better than well said. I wholeheartedly agree, and we "do" by walking in the Spirit of the Lord. Peace arrives in the midst of the storm, not through studiously avoiding bad weather. 

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Marathoner said:

A formula? There is only one "formula" for those who belong to Jesus Christ, and it's this: walk in His Spirit. Safety is an illusion, comfort is a delusion, and our walk with the Lord is not measured by a rubric familiar to this flesh. The world is ironically obsessed with comfort and safety but we were told that we enter the kingdom through much tribulation.

As a brother whom I'm rather fond of has shared with us before, "well done" is better than well said. I wholeheartedly agree, and we "do" by walking in the Spirit of the Lord. Peace arrives in the midst of the storm, not through studiously avoiding bad weather. 

Many Christians do have a daily routine that involves something called their "quiet time". In one particular denominational fellowship I became associated with this practice was promoted to the extreme so that missing your "quiet time" was deemed backsliding and all manner of torments, trials, and tribulations were guaranteed as a result. I regarded this extreme as superstitious, preferring to avoid such religious legalism in favour of constant access to the grace of God, whether in Bible reading and study, instant prayers and intercessions as prompted by the Holy Spirit, or blessed thought streams of spontaneous praise and worship.  

[Marathoner]

27 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Many Christians do have a daily routine that involves something called their "quiet time". In one particular denominational fellowship I became associated with this practice was promoted to the extreme so that missing your "quiet time" was deemed backsliding and all manner of torments, trials, and tribulations were guaranteed as a result. I regarded this extreme as superstitious, preferring to avoid such religious legalism in favour of constant access to the grace of God, whether in Bible reading and study, instant prayers and intercessions as prompted by the Holy Spirit, or blessed thought streams of praise and worship.  

I've heard of that before though I wasn't involved with such practices. A very long time ago, the fellowship I was a part of started sliding toward extremes but this didn't fully manifest until I was long gone. I learned about what unfolded in the years following my departure from an old friend whom the Lord brought back into my life. It was sobering. 

Hence walking in His Spirit is the "formula" if doing so can be referred to such a way. Jesus Christ is the Life, not ritual nor observances. All manner of extremes present themselves before us, traps to snare the unwary, with comfort and safety being chief among many. The Lord does indeed test us and there is solid scriptural precedent testifying of this truth, my friend. Remember who told us that we enter the kingdom through much tribulation.

I'm accustomed to being sent into the storm, places most people would rather avoid. Who wants to walk among despair and suffering? Certainly not me, but it's my place to walk in His Spirit and so this is where He sends me. Peace is given by the Lord when we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, occupying ourselves with serving His kingdom without end. There are many ways in which we do this, but all that matters is what He intends for us to do. Walk in His Spirit.   

Edited May 19, 2021 by Marathoner

[Sower]

On 5/16/2021 at 9:18 AM, johnthebaptist said:

I am always trying to find a “formula” to keep me happy and safe. How about this one:

1. Have faith. (John 14:27)

2. Enjoy the glory God gives to all repentant sinners. (Matthew 4:17)

3. Pray constantly. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Thanks John, I like it.

I have always liked,
'Trust and obey.'

and God's formula,
O.T.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man.  Ecclesiastes 12:13  (not everybody likes that one )

N.T.
Love the Lord,
love your neighbor.