preliminary shortened truths concerning the faith

i am able to fight no battle save the one raging inside my heart, that 77 year war between Christ and self.

all problems, regardless of my influence or control over them, should be firstly consigned to Christ in prayer. i should only give daily thought, focus, and energy to those problems and or situations in my life over which i have direct influence, knowledge, and control.

influence or control is defined as my will exercising proper authority in an area without violating the wills of other humans or, especially, the will of God. an example would be personal discipline in areas such as fitness, skill, or talent. the direction in which i take my life (again, without violating the will of God) is also an area over which i have direct control.

any beneficial change i observe in a situation over which i am in control can only be attributed through the grace of God working through me. none of the credit is mine. i can will nothing good outside of His grace.

i should endeavor to treat all humans with the love that i lavish upon myself. this act, possible only through grace, is what takes an intrinsically selfish act and renders it unto the service of Christ. by turning the love outwards to my neighbor, it becomes no longer self-referential but instead the imitation of Christ.

i should expect no loyalty, love, compassion, or grace from any person on this earth. insofar as it is possible, i should never expect anyone to have my best interests at heart. if they do give me the gift of true friendship, it should be received as the greatest blessing from God (outside of salvation itself) and viewed with a delicate but overwhelming gratitude.

i should give this gift as often as possible to other humans while never expecting it in return. this gift should never be clung to, but held loosely. the Father's hand is the only thing which must be held tightly.

no one owes me anything save God, and that is only because He has chosen to give His word. all good things come from the Father. He is the provider, and He will take care of me as He wishes in His own good time.

no earthly circumstance can change what Christ has said - firstly, love God with all that i have, and secondly, love people with the same degree of fervor i love myself. He gives us no other primary things to do.

i have no obligation to any organization, country, or people except that which Christ has commanded. i am firstly a citizen of heaven, and my life's primary course is dictated by that citizenship.

the responsibility for my life is solely placed between God and myself - it is for us to work out.

i hold responsibility only over those whom God has placed in my care, and who consent to it. i have no responsibility for the choices of others not in my care, whether they damage me or not.

nothing is my responsibility except for that which God makes my responsibility.

any earthly hurts, disloyalty, betrayal, or damage which cannot be resolved between the parties concerned in a Godly manner should be consigned immediately to the Lord in prayer, and kept there. there is nothing which i can do about people who have hurt me except take it to the Father.

it is my duty to love and forgive, not to fix. i can fix nothing - that is the job of the Great Physician. i should not ever attempt to fix anything save that thing which God has empowered me, through His grace, to correct. even then it is all to His glory, none of my own.

there is no conceivable system to compare one life with another life, only the mind of God can comprehend such things. it is not my duty to compare my path with the paths of others - my duty is merely to ensure that my path is the narrow road which leads to salvation.

there is nothing good in me save that which Christ has founded, built, and completed. i must simply allow Him to do His good work, and trust that He will complete it as He sees fit.

any good which follows from my life is a direct result of the work of Christ.

there is no greater freedom, joy, or moral good than the giving up of oneself to the potter's hand. however, whenever, wherever, and from whoever that often painful shaping must come, it is always for the best.

it is not my duty to figure anything out, save that which Christ has revealed to me through His word or His still, small voice.

fin.