One of the most spectacular natural wonders, Victoria Falls is a waterfall located on River Zamberi in Southern Africa between Zimbabwe and Zambia. “Mosi-oa-Tunya”- its local name means the smoke which thunders and the falls that are remarkable. Victoria Falls is the most unusual in form and arguably the largest waterfall in the world.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” Jude 1:24
To understand falling is to gain knowledge and wisdom that will keep a Christian from stumbling in the future. Our falling ought to make us more intelligent about not falling when we are faced with disappointments in our life.
I have stumbled in the Christian life and undoubtedly hurt others during the course of my actions. When the stone of sin is tossed into the pond, the rippling effect is irreversible. Our sin always has an effect on others!
It is God alone, who amidst the temptations of this world, can keep us from falling; He has the anti-fall recipe for the Christian life. Jude offers sound advice that, if followed, will keep you from stumbling.
Sin is making a choice not to do right before God. It is an act, thought, or way of behaving that is contrary to God’s Word. Falling is a bi-product of our sin and a choice to disobey God. We allow the circumstances around us, good or bad, to dictate our responses – however sinful they may be! We justify our actions and wrap the excuse up in a lie labeled, “I’m a victim!”
How many times have you said in your heart, “I deserve better than this. I do the right thing, I follow the rules, and this is all I get?” Taking the hurt of what we feel and retorting with an unkind response is never justifiable.
It is my experience that two of the greatest besetting sins in the Christian woman’s life are the lies we conceive and the manipulation of others. Society teaches us to lie and manipulate all the time. Sadly, our homes can become a classroom for training up children who will master these sinful moves.
There are times when I struggle with my own potential for pretense and lying. It all started in the garden with Eve. She lied to her husband and deceived him into disobeying God’s rules. Because of the fall of man we must all open our eyes to the inherit weakness of lying lips and manipulating minds. It’s a problem for ALL women!
I have felt my emotions falling at times and without initiating some necessary steps, I would regret my actions and the consequences thereafter.
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:” Proverbs 24:16-17
You do not have to react to the hurt that you feel! In fact, I make a choice not to respond when I am hurt. Jesus’ life here on earth was the sum total of hurt. He understands how I feel more than anyone else could ever begin to understand. My testimony is important to me and how I react or respond to the disappointments in life is important to God. I allow God to guide my responses and to deal with my disappointments His way.
If you are a struggling Christian woman, you can remain on your feet.
1. Build on our own faith and not the faith of others – “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,” Jude 1:20 - our faith must be personal and we must experience it!
How we build on our own faith is through our own daily Bible reading schedule, our own praying, and our own soul winning. Riding the crest of another’s faith is a common reason for a Christian to trip and stumble.
2. We are to pray in the name of the Holy Ghost – “…praying in the Holy Ghost,” Jude 1:20b – The Holy Ghost lives inside of every Christian and He knows us intimately. One way to keep us from falling is to be completely transparent and honest with God. Don’t be afraid to tell God what is going on inside your heart and mind…He already knows what is there. Come clean and be honest with God in your prayer closet.
God is able to keep a Christian from falling when the Christian admits how close the feelings of his heart are to falling.
3. Don’t require God to prove His love for you – “Keep yourselves in the love of God,” Jude 1:21a – We must not put God on trial when we hit a rough patch in our life. He does not have to prove His love for us. Calvary shouts His love through eternity. Being suspicious and distrustful is unfortunately part of our human nature. If you sever yourself from the love of God, you will justify any transgression.
4. Looking for God’s mercy – “…looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:21b – When we notice God’s mercy we will not notice the devil’s deception constantly on offer. The evidences of God’s mercy are salvations, baptisms, Christians living for Him and making decisions that will bring them closer to God. People fall into sin when they are not looking at the goodness of God.
5. Live for others regardless of how you feel about them – “And of some have compassion, making a difference. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh:” Jude 1:22,23 – At some point in our lives we have all felt discrimination in our hearts toward a particular person. If you feel intolerance or dislike for them – help them anyway! God makes no distinctions! He says to have compassion on all.
Whose faith are you building on? When do you own up with God? Do you blame God for not coming through? Is His love on trial in your life?
How we build on our own faith is through our own daily Bible reading schedule, our own praying, and our own soul winning. Riding the crest of another’s faith is a common reason for a Christian to trip and stumble.
2. We are to pray in the name of the Holy Ghost – “…praying in the Holy Ghost,” Jude 1:20b – The Holy Ghost lives inside of every Christian and He knows us intimately. One way to keep us from falling is to be completely transparent and honest with God. Don’t be afraid to tell God what is going on inside your heart and mind…He already knows what is there. Come clean and be honest with God in your prayer closet.
God is able to keep a Christian from falling when the Christian admits how close the feelings of his heart are to falling.
3. Don’t require God to prove His love for you – “Keep yourselves in the love of God,” Jude 1:21a – We must not put God on trial when we hit a rough patch in our life. He does not have to prove His love for us. Calvary shouts His love through eternity. Being suspicious and distrustful is unfortunately part of our human nature. If you sever yourself from the love of God, you will justify any transgression.
4. Looking for God’s mercy – “…looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:21b – When we notice God’s mercy we will not notice the devil’s deception constantly on offer. The evidences of God’s mercy are salvations, baptisms, Christians living for Him and making decisions that will bring them closer to God. People fall into sin when they are not looking at the goodness of God.
5. Live for others regardless of how you feel about them – “And of some have compassion, making a difference. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh:” Jude 1:22,23 – At some point in our lives we have all felt discrimination in our hearts toward a particular person. If you feel intolerance or dislike for them – help them anyway! God makes no distinctions! He says to have compassion on all.
Whose faith are you building on? When do you own up with God? Do you blame God for not coming through? Is His love on trial in your life?
I can’t imagine a day without thanking God for countless things in my life. What have you thanked God for today? What merciful things has He done in your life?
I praise God daily for being kind. Being grateful is at the root of my love for God and I work on humbling myself before Him every day. Only God’s grace prevents us from falling. The moment we think of something for which to thank God for, we prove that God is better to us than we thought. As we realize the greatness of God toward us, our perspective on falling and stumbling improves. We can all remain on our feet!
I Love You,
Deborah
Deborah
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