GIG

The Elders of my church family told me that the devil would try and test my faith now that I’d been baptized. I just didn’t think that test would come so soon…

I went to a local park around the corner from my house today with Auston, where they have an indoor basketball gym. It’s sort of a daily routine by now that Auston and I go to this park to work out during the afternoon at around 1pm. However, for some reason, today we decided to go a little later at around 3pm.

Normally, the gym is empty; thus, we usually just get shots up and play one on one until we are ready to leave. However, today the gym was packed full of guys playing pick-up ball. Naturally, given our competitive spirits, Auston and I decided to stay and play a few games… Little did we know that the Devil had his hands on this particular situation; thus, things would get a little out of hand.

Basically, to make a long story short, there was one individual on the opposing team who felt a need to get under my skin by making bogus calls in his favor in order to win. Now, if I had received the Holy Ghost, this might not have been a problem; But, I’m still working on it. Thus, as the guy made bogus call after bogus call, I began to grow extremely irritated. I started too elbow, and resort to physicality, which soon escalated the situation. Next thing you know this guy and I are screaming at each other, calling each other out of our given names, preparing to fight. Luckily my best friend Auston was there to defuse the situation, and we left the gym out of harm’s way…

I just came from Bible study, and it comes as no surprise that today’s lesson addressed certain subject matter that correlates to today’s incident in the gym.

As I reflect on the incident, I come to realize that the biggest difference between how I dealt with the situation, and how Auston dealt with the situation, directly relates to today’s discussion of the “Holy Ghost”. What I learned in church today about being baptized is that in the book of Acts, chapter 19, Paul makes it clear to the 12 disciples that the process of baptism is not complete until you have received the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

Contrary to what you may believe, the Bible states that your spot is not secure in heaven until you have received the Holy Ghost; Moreover, I have not received it. The Bible recognizes the Holy Ghost as the Spirit of God; thus, when you have received this Spirit you are given the power of discernment and are able to view life in a godlier manner.

I’m not saying that the Holy Ghost makes you perfect, rather it grants you the ability to see through those ungodly instincts that often cause us to make bad decisions, which often times lead to trouble.

Unlike Auston, I reacted to my opponent’s conduct with anger.

Had my friend not been present at the time, the situation could have escalated even more. Moreover, I could have seriously been hurt; more importantly, I could have suffered within my spiritual growth.

I thank God for having such a friend in my life. More importantly, I thank God for His presence within my life; for, I know that it is through Him that I am able to understand the excess of my actions.

I am not saying all of this to convert anybody from a particular set of beliefs. These beliefs are for me to decipher my own spiritual development, as a man of God. However, there comes a time in every person’s life where you will be called to make better decisions…A time where the wrong decision could drastically change your life for the worst.

Let us take steps in the right direction by recognizing that we each, in our own respects, have been called to do great things while on this earth. It is based on whether we grow enough, soon enough within our spirit that determines whether or not we will achieve that greatness.
Be it through our religious morals, instruction from our family, or simply our God-given judgment, Let us learn how to make righteous decisions whenever our pride is being tested.

And, when in doubt, let us have the strength to simply turn the other cheek because the devil is conniving, and the slightest mistake in one’s judgment can turn God’s greatest blessing for your life, into Satan’s most evil curse upon your soul.

~T$ God Bless