DEAR RANDY,

I HAVE BEEN RECIEVING YOUR E-MAILS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. I AM WRITING TO FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU. I OFTEN FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN MY FAITH, AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN READING WHAT YOU SEND ME HAS GIVIN ME HOPE. I COME FROM A FAMILY WITH LITTLE, IF ANY, FAITH. GOD, JESUS, AND THE BIBLE WERE SIMPLY NOT DISCUSSED IN MY HOME. ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO I BECAME FRIENDS WITH MY NEIGHBORS, WHO ARE VERY FAITHFUL BAPTISTS. I LEARNED A LOT FROM THEM. I THINK THAT IT WAS FATE FOR ME TO MEET THEM AND HAVE MY EYES OPENED TO JESUS. I BELIEVE IN JESUS AND THE BIBLE WITH ALL MY HEART AND I PRAY THAT HE WILL LEAD ME THROUGH LIFE ON THE RIGHT PATH, BUT IT IS OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF MY CIMCUMSTANCES. I AM INVOLED IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE JESUS. MY BOYFRIEND SEEMS TO BE HOPELESS SOMETIMES. HE HAS ALMOST NO FAITH. I AM WRITING TO YOU TO PLEASE PRAY FOR ME. I WANT TO, WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL, REJOICE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHEN MY TIME COMES. I KNOW THAT TO DO THAT I MUST TRANSFORM MY LIFE AND LIVE FOR THE ONE PURPOSE, TO LIVE DEDICATED TO JESUS. IF THE TIME COMES THAT JESUS TAKES ALL OF HIS PEOPLE AWAY FROM THIS WORLD, I DO NOT WANT TO BE LEFT BEHIND BUT I OFTEN FEEL LIKE I FALL SHORT OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY EXPECTED OF ME. THAT IS WHY I FEEL LIKE I NEED PRAYER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. I PRAY THAT I WILL SOMEDAY HAVE A SIMILAR KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH AS YOU.

V. , TEXAS

Dear V.,

Thank you for your email and the kind words of encouragement. I want you to know that I am with you in prayer. We all fall short my sister. The Bible tells us that no one is righteous, not one. But God is not interested in perfect people. He is not asking you to be perfect, when He forgives you then you are perfect in his eyes. He is not interested in people who can stand in righteousness 100% of the time, no one can do that. What hurts Jesus and our relationship with him is that when we stumble and fall we don't turn to him and get back up. No, we can't do that by ourselves , but in faith he lifts us up. Unfortunately when people fall they rarely humble themselves in prayer and admit their unworthiness of God's attention and then repent of their wickedness. It is only then that God forgives us and gives us the grace to go on in righteousness. Most of us just kind of feel bad and then shrug off our rebellion thinking God is a forgiving God and will look the other way. This is why we can't seem to stop repeating the same mistakes. If you do not hate your sin then it will not leave you! When this happens then we feel oppressed in our spirits and the joy and peace Jesus promised only comes occasionally if at all. Freedom, joy and peace only come when we live a life of humble repentence. The scriptures tell us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. If we do not humble ourselves in obedience to God then we do not receive his grace and he opposes us - horrifying isn't it? If not then the fear of God has left you and you are in danger. Remember that we all fall short of the glory of God, but through humble repentence God brings us into his glory.

You have revealed to me in your email a clue. If your boyfriend is not a true believer in the faith then you are to part from him immediately! It is not enough to claim to believe in Jesus. Our life must show his life inside of us (read 1John 2:3-6). I know that this may be extremely difficult, but if he is not a true believer then you must choose between him and God. Until your deeds in faith match your words of faith you will suffer the doubt you are currently suffering. Romans 8 tells us that life in the flesh is death, but living in the Spirit is eternal life!

What I know comes by faith, it is available to all, but the wisdom of God is only accessible from his Spirit when we are humble, obedient and repentent. There is nothing I know that you couldn't know in short order. Just be humble before him, obey and repent and He will fill you with his Spirit and then you will also have the mind of Christ. I have seen this happen many many times.

My sister, I was a 29 year old hateful drug user when Jesus's blood first covered me and cleaned me of my rebellion, but we must stay under the blood until the end to be saved. That means a lifetime of seeking his forgiveness and a lifetime of obeying him and a lifetime to be humble before him, the holy angels and humanity. I can't do it without him. If I can live in forgiveness then so can you, be encouraged my sister!

I hope I have served you well, feel free to write and ask questions or for prayer requests.

In the love of Jesus Christ,

Randy