Where does the beginning of destruction come from, the art of losing hope, a child’s poor attitude revealed, health conditions reaching to the ceiling, finances not being maximized to it’s fullest potential? Today I’d like to discuss the reasons for your symptoms of destruction, or for many, the outcomes of your destruction. I’m able to relate to losing hope, having a poor attitude towards my family during a season of my life, my overall health declining rapidly, and my finances not being used very wisely.

Finding My Symptoms of Destruction

The art of losing hope begins with misplacing my trust in others whom I believed could help fulfill me, to give me that assurance of something greater. This includes placing hope in myself and thinking I control anything except my own actions, a thought I believe is absurd. A practical example is seen when placing to much trust in a spouse who is never able to bear the unnecessary burden. Such a burden is unloving because it is not theirs to bear, people were never made to carry that sort of weight. I love the truth and practical application of placing my Hope in Jesus simply by acknowledging to God, “Father, I place my trust in you,” or even meditating on Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” It is God who I can fully place my trust in and not be let down nor unfulfilled. His faithfulness is from everlasting to everlasting. He is able to bear such a burden, in fact, He commands us to, such as in Plasm 55:22.

Poor Attitude and Health

My poor attitude with my family began when I believed I knew everything and was not in need of any advice, counsel, understanding, or wisdom. In this regard I was blind, I could not see the truth around me and pride blinded me towards others, their needs and emotions, so I was unable to empathize with them. I could care less about the needs of others, the way I spoke to them did not matter, the only thing that came out of my mouth were words of death. Scripture attests to this in James 5:6, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Father God exalts those who humble themselves, those who walk in humility shall have honor.

My overall health was in decline due to the poor choices I made, choices made off misinformation, a shade over my eyes. My parents could see my body deteriorating, from lifestyle choices and diet- like sugar, and they continued suggesting options to start taking care of myself, but I simply was not open to their advice. These symptoms of destruction are examples of losing hope, my Heart was sick because I had placed my hope in something earthly and hope deferred makes the heart sick. I had been influenced by the world to think a certain way compared to the higher way of thinking available to me through the power of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Distortion of Sin

Sin distorts my Image while righteousness produces an image of what Father God originally intended. Sin causes death, righteousness produces life, and both are a lifestyle. My ways of living here on earth are a reflection of which path I am walking in, obedience to death or obedience to the Word of Life. My overall health, including physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual, is based on being a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. My mind, body, and spirit are conformed to my way of living, including what I listen to, look at, whom I surround myself with, and what I am eating. Let righteousness give you life as Jesus has fulfilled it for you to simply walk in and be.

My finances were not always maximized. Waiting to save up a certain amount of money for my dreams were always interrupted in the middle of my journey. Have you ever noticed that it seems impossible to save for something worthwhile because of some many things calling for attention. It is like trying to save money for a season but it not panning out or getting rid of debt faster than usual but being dragged into yet another year of just paying off interest. I’ve come to learn to switch my thinking with this idea of maximizing finances. The process begins with redemption by the blood of Jesus, a process of getting more value out of that person than what they were producing. It’s the same principle with finances, the idea of making money is to increase the value of that money.

The Reversal of Destruction

How does one compare the symptoms of destruction to a victory of healing? Well, how do we increase the value of money? Giving is the answer and “to whom much is given much is also required,” says Jesus in the gospel according to Luke (Luke 12:48). It is more blessed to give than to receive. It is out of giving that our value as an individual is found. Receiving is still important because when we receive we are then able to give more, to give what we have been given, the two work together. This can include time with what’s most important in life, or giving knowledge that is then multiplied to others, or the giving of money to others for their gain. The dollar does not give us value but the giving of such dollar does give us value.

God gave because He loved and because of His giving we can believe and not perish but have everlasting life. God’s “giving” gives even Him value because He gave. Because He gives we can give as well.

The art of losing hope can begin by misplacing trust in someone other than Father God. My poor attitude started when I believed I knew everything and now I know that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. My overall health was in decline because of my obedience to sin rather than to a lifestyle choice of living as a slave of righteousness. For this we now know Jesus paid a price for us to walk in. My finances were never maximized to its greatest potential because of my poor degree of giving. To give is to obtain value.