Meme: You Are Held

Provided by "Mindful Christianity"

The Carnal Christian

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 – 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 D𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 T𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵?

The word “Christian” is used in many different contexts today. However, very few people understand what a “Carnal Christian” is all about. If we search, we will not find the phrase “Carnal Christian” in the Bible, but the Scripture does teach about being carnally minded and living out of our old sin nature or what we inherited as part of humanity. The biblical word translated “carnal” is also translated “flesh” and it denotes mere human nature or the earthly nature of mankind apart from divine influence, and therefore it is prone to sin and opposed to God. A Carnal Christian is a believer in Christ who is more influenced by their human or earthly nature rather than the nature of God. Scripture teaches that we have our treasure in an earthen vessel (2 Corinthians 4:7). An earthen vessel is made from dirt and Genesis 2:7 says that God formed Adam from the dust of the ground. We could then say we have what is ours as believers in Christ in a body of flesh or dirt. We are also told that when we come to Christ, we are a “new creation” (1 Corinthians 5:17). However, the new creation has to do with our spiritual life and is not a transformation of our old flesh or our carnal body. The issue then is what controls our treasure. Are we as Carnal Christians controlled by our carnal or fleshly sin nature or do we surrender to the new creation, which is empowered by the Spirit of God?

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 – 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱?

The Apostle Paul speaks about Carnal Christians in Romans 8:6-7 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. The characteristics spoken of in these passages are that the carnal or fleshly mind, which is human viewpoint, is enmity against God or is anti-God. It cannot please God, is unable to digest solid spiritual food, and is filled with strife, envy, and division. These are very unhealthy spiritual traits and the reality is that all believers are carnally minded at one time or another. It is a matter of growing up and becoming mature. That is a process that continues on a daily basis as we acknowledge our need of grace and submit to the process. We fully surrender to the LORD as He works through every situation in our lives to conform us to His image. So then, we know that a Carnal Christian is one who is characterized by inner mental attitudes that are not in agreement with God’s viewpoint and from our inner mental attitudes come our actions. We could then say that a Carnal Christian is one who does not focus upon God’s Word, does not see the necessity of obeying God, and does not experience the abundant peace and joy that is the believers if they submit to the power of the Spirit in their lives rather than being led by their old carnal nature (Galatians 5:16). A Carnal Christian is often very frustrated because the Spirit of God is faithful to us and convicts and convinces us that when we are operating out of our carnal flesh, we are not fulfilling God’s purpose for us. Our purpose as children of God is to bring glory to Him in all our choices and actions and so since we are not fulfilling our true spiritual purpose, we suffer self-inflicted misery.

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 – 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝘆?

How can you be transformed from being a Carnal Christian to being a Spirit-led Christian? We find an answer in Romans 12:1-2 where we read that you can choose to submit your flesh or carnality as a living sacrifice or what that is set apart unto God and not be conformed or molded by the pressure of the world and the flesh. You can be transformed, which is a continual process, through allowing the Word of God to renew your mind so that we may prove or authenticate, to put to the test, what is the good and acceptable or fully agreeable and complete will of God. It is God’s will then for a Carnal Christian to mature and grow strong in their faith and walk of obedience. The ongoing process that takes a believer in Christ from a Carnal Christian or what Hebrews calls a “babe in Christ” to one who is engaged in maturing as a child of God is the choice to take in the solid food of the Word, which equips us as Christians to be able to discern or reason what is good and what is evil and what is good and what is better (Hebrews 5:13-14).

Provided by "All About God Ministries"

Prayer: God's Infinite Grace

Father, I stand before the vastness of Your creation and I am reminded of Your infinite grace that has no end.

Teach me to witness the dance of the waves with the curiosity of a child, finding wonder in the spray and peace in the persistent rhythm of the tide.

Help me to let go of the rigid expectations I carry, allowing Your peace to wash over my heart just as the water cleanses the shore. Remind me that even when the currents of life feel strong, You are the steady ground beneath my feet and the shield around my soul. Give me the grace to be small in Your presence, finding safety in the knowledge that You are the Great Architect of every grain of sand. Help me to listen for Your voice in the whisper of the breeze and the roar of the deep, knowing You are present in every unexpected moment. I lay down my pride and my plans at the water’s edge, wanting less of me and more of You, choosing Your perfect will above my own.

In Jesus name, Amen.

“The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters,

yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.”

Psalm 93:4

Provided by "Word of Encouragement"

When The Flesh Wins

Let’s talk about the part of Christianity most people won’t…

What happens when you fail?

When the flesh wins.

When you fall back into something you thought God already delivered you from.

Those moments.

I love Jesus. I really do.

I seek Him. I pray. I open His Word. I want my life to reflect Him. But if you follow my content, I want you to understand something about me…

I’m not perfect.

There are days I struggle.

Days where my flesh gets the better of me.

Days where I walk away from a moment thinking,

“Lord… I should have handled that differently.”

And I’ll be honest…

There are days my flesh wins battles I wish it didn’t. And in those moments the enemy loves to whisper, “See? You’re not who you say you are.”

But here’s something I’ve learned through my failures… Those moments are exactly what the gospel is about.

The gospel was never for people who never fall. It’s for people who fall… and realize they desperately need a Savior. It’s for the person who runs back to God after messing up and says…

“Lord, without Your mercy I have nothing.”

My failures don’t make me run from Christ.

They make me run to Him. Because every time I fall short, I’m reminded of something powerful…

I was never saved because of my perfection. I was saved because of His grace. So if you follow my page thinking I’ve got it all figured out…

I don’t.

I’m just a flawed human being who loves Jesus and keeps getting back up, running to the cross.

The cross wasn’t built for people who have it all together, It was built for people like me who don’t. Author: Ryan Teaford

Transformation...

Transformation rarely looks graceful in the middle of it. It often feels confusing, uncomfortable, and unfinished. If you feel like you’re falling apart instead of coming together, this might not be failure... it might be formation. God does some of His deepest work in seasons that feel messy and hidden. So if today feels heavy, keep going. Grace is still at work in you.

Provided by "Mindful Christianity"

How Can I Experience Joy In My Christian Life?

Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be a part of every Christian’s life. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced by God’s work in us, and it is part of God’s will for us.

We know that even the most mature of God’s people experience periods of joylessness. For instance, Job wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with reality (Psalm 55:6-8). Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings 18:16-46), fled into the desert and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3-5). If these men struggled, how can we experience consistent joy in the Christian life?

The first thing is to realize that joy is a gift from God. The root word for joy in the Greek is chara, which is closely related with the Greek charis for “grace.” Joy is both a gift of God as well as a response to the gifts of God. Joy comes when we are aware of God’s grace and relish His favor.

With this in mind, it’s evident that one way to experience joy is to focus on God. Rather than dwelling on our difficulties or those things robbing our contentment, we can dwell on God. This is not to say we should deny our discontent or stuff negative emotions. Following the example of many of the psalmists, we can pour out our hearts to God. We can tell Him bluntly all the things that ail us. But then we submit those things to Him, remember who He is, and are happy in Him. Psalms 3, 13, 18, 43, and 103 are good examples.

Meme: My Story...

Quote: C.S. Lewis

Lord, I'm learning that relying on You has to begin all over again every day, that yesterday's faith doesn't automatically carry me through today.

Each morning I wake up with a choice, to depend on You or to fall back into the illusion that I can handle life on my own, and I confess how easily I forget.

Teach me that relying on You isn't a one-time decision but a daily surrender, a constant returning to the truth that I need You as much today as I did yesterday and will tomorrow.

Help me start each morning by acknowledging my need for You, by consciously choosing dependence over independence, by asking for Your strength before I try to manufacture my own.

Remind me that this isn't failure or weakness, it's the rhythm of faith, that even the most mature believers have to wake up and choose to lean on You all over again.

Give me grace for the days I forget and try to go it alone, patience with myself as I learn this daily practice of surrender, and wisdom to recognize when I've drifted back into self-reliance.

Let relying on You become as natural as breathing, a daily habit that shapes every hour, every decision, every moment, knowing that I will always need You and that's exactly how You designed it to be.

Amen.

Provided by "Faithful Grace"

When Guilt Won’t Let Go: How God Restores a Heart That’s Been Broken by Sin

We all have moments we wish we could erase, right? Words spoken in anger. Choices made in weakness. Opportunities missed because of fear or pride. The memories fade, but the guilt lingers. Like a song you can’t stop hearing, playing on repeat in the back of your mind. King David knew that feeling well. He had fallen hard. The leader who once sang of God’s faithfulness had given in to temptation, committed adultery, and arranged a man’s death to cover it up. When the prophet Nathan confronted him, the truth broke through like a flood. 

 

Out of that heartbreak came one of the most powerful prayers in all of Scripture: 

 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12). 

 

Psalm 51 isn’t the cry of a man making excuses. It’s the cry of a man who finally stopped running. 

 

The Weight of Guilt 

Guilt can be both a gift and a burden. When we sin, the Holy Spirit convicts us; He pricks the conscience to draw us back toward God. But once we’ve confessed and received forgiveness, the enemy often twists that conviction into accusation. Instead of prompting repentance, guilt becomes a prison. 

 

You know the voice: You’re not really forgiven. God’s done with you. You’ve gone too far this time. 

 

Those lies have destroyed countless lives. They sound spiritual, but they’re not. Scripture tells us that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Conviction leads to restoration; condemnation leads to despair. The difference lies in what we do next. 

 

When guilt drives you away from God, it’s toxic. When it drives you toward Him, it becomes grace. 

 

The God Who Cleanses, Not Cancels 

David didn’t try to manage his guilt with good deeds or pious words. He asked for something only God could do: “Create in me a clean heart.” The Hebrew word for create here is the same one used in Genesis 1 - it means to bring something into existence out of nothing. 

 

David wasn’t asking for a tune-up. He was asking for a miracle. 

 

And that’s exactly what God offers us in Christ. When we confess our sins, we don’t get a partial pardon; we get a brand-new heart. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead breathes life into our spiritual failures and makes us clean again. 

 

That’s not sentiment. It’s Scripture. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jonn 1:9). Notice that last phrase: all unrighteousness. Not some. Not most. All.