Our faith is shaken, we are now in an area of our lives where we are questioning everything we believe in because all the support we felt has left us, and we feel alone. Then we do something that will define who we become for the next few weeks, months or even years. We start thinking with our carnal minds.

What happens when we think with our thoughts ?

Before you know it, we go right back to the thinking that got us into trouble in the first place. Why ? It's is the easiest recourse for us to do naturally, because that is what we are used to doing, we are comfortable taking the path of least resistance. We then feel alone again, our thoughts get foggy, then we have trouble seeing what God desires for us in our lives. Confusion sets in, we can't see things the way God sees them, because we can't, He doesn't think like we do.

There are three things that we need to know about God and our relationship with Him.

1. God wants to forgive us to have a personal relationship with Him.
2. God wants to Bless us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
3. God wants us to bear fruit pleasing and acceptable to Him.

These three things are everything God wants from us in a nutshell. Not anything less, or anything more, just these three things. I can't make it more simple than that.

Does that sound hard or easy ?

It is both. If we do everything He wants us to do then it is easy, but when we don't do the things He wants us to do, things snowball out of control.

Lets start at step one :

Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Oh, bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins. Psalms 25:16-18

The New Christian:

When we first come to Jesus we are usually at the end of our rope in dire straights. The world is usually collapsing around us, and we need somewhere to turn to in order to bring comfort to us in our times of trouble. We have lost a marriage, all our finances are in ruin, addicted to drugs or alcohol, lonely and empty inside. Whatever the reason is, it has brought us to our knees, and we need to cast our cares on Him.

We get saved and just having the comfort of Christ in our hearts gives us the security we need to go on and fight the battle, to help ease the pain we feel. We have a smile on our face, peace in our hearts and everything is beautiful for a time.

The Tested Christian:

As we mature we stop seeing life through those rose colored glasses, our eyes are open, we have now become aware of new problems that we have never dealt with before, when we pray the answers don't come as fast as they did before. We start to feel inferior, unworthy and alone again. We see other Christian brothers and sisters living really great, Godly lives, and we are feeling like we are falling short and un-forgiven for our past mistakes, and we are no longer important to God. We don't read enough, pray enough or witness enough. We are  feel like we are lagging and God has no use for us anymore.

The problem with that thinking is that a lot of Christians have trouble seeing themselves as God sees them. We are at a monumental disadvantage, because God knows the outcome of our lives before we do. So we have to just go through life trusting Him blindly, even though we don't feel right about ourselves.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:22

You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah !!! You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. Psalms 85:2-3

A lot of Christians live as though they hope they're on the right track, but they're not quite sure deep in their hearts.That is a very uncomfortable way to live, it usually means that there are sins that they are concealing that they are refusing to give up.Some are depending on some scriptural view, such as, once your saved you're always saved, but if you feel unsure, that means you might not be saved at all, or that you need to be assured more than others do.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:2-5

The Unforgiving Christian :

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the second, like it, is this: `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.'' Mark 12:30-31

He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I John 2:10-12

When we refuse to forgive, we render God useless in our life because light has no place in darkness.Hatred, Bitterness, Resentment and Revenge are as dark as sin can get. They destroy everything in the unforgiving persons life, as well as destroying that persons health. Much illness today has been proved to be detrimental and is attributed to hate and bitterness being the root of the problems.

But worst of all that person walks blindly through life, because God can't guide them into the next phase of the relationship He wants us to experience in Him.

Blessings :

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

The second part of having a relationship with God is that He really wants to bless His people in every area of their lives. Does that mean everyone who comes to Jesus will be rich ?

I don't think so. Some people could never handle the pressure or temptations that would come with riches that all of the sudden popped up in their lives. God's blessings are not only limited to money or things.

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalms 24:3-5

Some of the benefits of God's blessing are the transformation that takes place in those who come to know Jesus as their Savior. Their self goes through a metamorphous that everyone around them sees, they know something is different about them and it shows. Their heart becomes more pure, their tongue speaks more positively and the truth comes without taking advantage of those around them. They want to be around Christians because they enjoy the unity, the family feeling they have probably never experienced. People like you more, trust you more, depend on you more, because they see the richness of God's love permeating your being. Riches that money can't buy.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing Life forevermore. Psalms 133:1-3

But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. Proverbs 24:25

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20

Fruits

Everything for some is changing so quickly that they are overwhelmed, for others it can't change fast enough, but one thing is sure, you are changing. And with these changes we become more the people that God intended us to be. If you seek the things above, you are experiencing changes that you are embracing with all your heart, because you have a hunger that is hard to quench. You are becoming more the Godly person, without even realizing it, because of the working of the Holy Spirit in you. You realize a greater peace, you're more joyful, you're singing songs of praise and you have a smile that runs ear to ear. Something happened..

You Became one of them Jesus Freaks..

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

Now that you have transformed you find yourself needing to share these good things with everyone else because the other part of being fruitful is bearing fruit.