Living for God is a good thing. I can't say that I'm always living for Him--no one is perfect--but I am consistently trying now. The nice thing about God is that He will give us the strength and wisdom we need if we sincerely intend to use that power to become more like Christ.
Walking down the path God has laid out is a hard road. I feel that I am more aware of my shortcomings than ever before. Yet at the same time, I am encouraged that God is making them more prevalent so that I can allow Him to remove them. I am overcome by His patience and benevolence, thinking about all the ways I hurt Him every day and how He chooses to love me anyway. I think Brad Stine said it best when he noted that the great thing about Christianity is that it takes you in spite of yourself.
My greatest prayer is that when God calls on me to act so that His will can be carried out, I will simply obey. Thankfully, God makes that possible when the time comes, as long as I don't resist. I want to be like the people in the Bible who just allowed God to work through them without worrying what others would think of them. That would be awesome.
Anyway, since I last wrote, things have taken a turn for the better. I just need to keep relying on God, since that's the only way progress can be made anyway.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A New Beginning
It's been awhile since I've written here...and I think it's time for a rethinking of this blog's purpose.
At the risk of sounding dramatic and self-absorbed, I've come to a crossroads. I've discovered that I do not truly love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thankfully, I do want to. But there are things within my life which I have refused to give up for years now that are standing in the way of God's will.
So, I have three choices. First, I can abandon myself to the desires of the flesh, reject God, and attempt to seek happiness and fulfillment elsewhere. I could try to fool myself into believing that I am master of my own life, but in reality, I would be a slave to sin. I cannot choose this.
Second, I can turn to God and try to live by His standards, but leave some strings attached. If times are rough, I can turn to Him, but when all is well, I can pursue my own desires. Basically, I would be a volunteer for God--serving Him when it suits me, and going my own way when it does not. I believe I have been on this path for several years now. I could say that God has been Lord of my life all this time, but if I ever wanted something badly enough, I would turn off the path that God laid down for me.
Finally, there is submission. I can give myself up. I can offer myself to God not as a volunteer, but as a slave. Regardless of my feelings, His word would be law. I would walk in His steps without wavering. There would be no strings attached.
It would be difficult. It would require complete denial of self, something which I cannot do under my own power. But I have tasted, even if only for a short while, the peace that comes from living such a life. It is not always the happiest path, but it is the true path, and living in the truth trumps everything else that this life has to offer.
I've tried again and again to live this kind of life, and I have failed each time. I am discouraged and disappointed in myself. But I will not give up. God, in His blessed, infinite mercy, continues to give me another chance. Despite the grief I cause Him when I fall, He always offers forgiveness. I do not want to grieve Him anymore.
I am trying again. I ask for your prayers as I begin this new life, and I encourage you to join me, whether you would be just starting on this path yourself or you have been walking it for some time and have advice to give me.
I apologize for the tone of this post--I feel like it is far too focused on myself. I will try to fix that in the future. For now, I can only thank God that He has forgiven me yet again, and I pray that He will give me His strength so that I can truly love Him.
And with that, I'm going to go do some homework. I don't want to, but God wants me to. :-)
At the risk of sounding dramatic and self-absorbed, I've come to a crossroads. I've discovered that I do not truly love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thankfully, I do want to. But there are things within my life which I have refused to give up for years now that are standing in the way of God's will.
So, I have three choices. First, I can abandon myself to the desires of the flesh, reject God, and attempt to seek happiness and fulfillment elsewhere. I could try to fool myself into believing that I am master of my own life, but in reality, I would be a slave to sin. I cannot choose this.
Second, I can turn to God and try to live by His standards, but leave some strings attached. If times are rough, I can turn to Him, but when all is well, I can pursue my own desires. Basically, I would be a volunteer for God--serving Him when it suits me, and going my own way when it does not. I believe I have been on this path for several years now. I could say that God has been Lord of my life all this time, but if I ever wanted something badly enough, I would turn off the path that God laid down for me.
Finally, there is submission. I can give myself up. I can offer myself to God not as a volunteer, but as a slave. Regardless of my feelings, His word would be law. I would walk in His steps without wavering. There would be no strings attached.
It would be difficult. It would require complete denial of self, something which I cannot do under my own power. But I have tasted, even if only for a short while, the peace that comes from living such a life. It is not always the happiest path, but it is the true path, and living in the truth trumps everything else that this life has to offer.
I've tried again and again to live this kind of life, and I have failed each time. I am discouraged and disappointed in myself. But I will not give up. God, in His blessed, infinite mercy, continues to give me another chance. Despite the grief I cause Him when I fall, He always offers forgiveness. I do not want to grieve Him anymore.
I am trying again. I ask for your prayers as I begin this new life, and I encourage you to join me, whether you would be just starting on this path yourself or you have been walking it for some time and have advice to give me.
I apologize for the tone of this post--I feel like it is far too focused on myself. I will try to fix that in the future. For now, I can only thank God that He has forgiven me yet again, and I pray that He will give me His strength so that I can truly love Him.
And with that, I'm going to go do some homework. I don't want to, but God wants me to. :-)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Hearts and Banjos
Haven't posted here in awhile. The whole "habit" thing obviously didn't work out, but thankfully, my walk with God has been improving as of late. I just need to spend more time in prayer and the Bible.
Today's devotion was titled "Hearts and Banjos," and to sum up, it talked about how we need to ask God to repair and restore our hearts. Over time, things of the earth have a way of working themselves into our souls. Things such as obsession over relationships, entertaining but crude videos and comics, and an overabundance of video games have been (and to some extent, still are) problems in my own life and are good examples. These things aren't necessarily sinful, but they do get in the way of a life completely devoted to God. I find that prayer and constant realignment with God's will helps here.
It's so amazing to know that God is always there, straightening out the messes that we are. I picture us as badly tangled fishing line. It makes more sense to throw us out and start over, but God's love is so great for us that He sits there for a lifetime and makes us usable for His purposes. That's pretty awesome.
Today's devotion was titled "Hearts and Banjos," and to sum up, it talked about how we need to ask God to repair and restore our hearts. Over time, things of the earth have a way of working themselves into our souls. Things such as obsession over relationships, entertaining but crude videos and comics, and an overabundance of video games have been (and to some extent, still are) problems in my own life and are good examples. These things aren't necessarily sinful, but they do get in the way of a life completely devoted to God. I find that prayer and constant realignment with God's will helps here.
It's so amazing to know that God is always there, straightening out the messes that we are. I picture us as badly tangled fishing line. It makes more sense to throw us out and start over, but God's love is so great for us that He sits there for a lifetime and makes us usable for His purposes. That's pretty awesome.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Ebenezer
Wow...today has been one of the craziest days of all time. I never thought I could work so hard.
Anyway, I'm taking a breather to write. Today talked about the word "Ebenezer," which immediately sparks images of Michael Caine as Scrooge in "A Muppet Christmas Carol" in my mind. However, in the Bible, the Israelites named a stone Ebenezer, which means "Stone of Help." It referred to the Lord, and it is very true. God has been helping me a heck of a lot lately, and I am so thankful for it. I certainly couldn't be doing everything I'm doing now without Him.
Alright, back to work. Yay!
Anyway, I'm taking a breather to write. Today talked about the word "Ebenezer," which immediately sparks images of Michael Caine as Scrooge in "A Muppet Christmas Carol" in my mind. However, in the Bible, the Israelites named a stone Ebenezer, which means "Stone of Help." It referred to the Lord, and it is very true. God has been helping me a heck of a lot lately, and I am so thankful for it. I certainly couldn't be doing everything I'm doing now without Him.
Alright, back to work. Yay!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Absolutely Nobody
Okay, so here's Day 1. Sadly, the rest of yesterday didn't go as planned, so today's the official first day. I pray that God be with me every step of the way.
Today's devotional was on how humility is a good thing, but we are not to consider ourselves unworthy as an excuse for not doing what God wants us to do. I think this is a problem I have. Too often, I don't do things that I feel God is prompting me to do because I don't feel spiritually strong in that area, when in reality, all the strength I need comes from God anyway.
In general, I need to rely on God more in every area of my life. It's something I've really been struggling with lately, since I want to do my own thing, despite the fact that I know His way is best. With His help, I will be able to do it, though.
Today's devotional was on how humility is a good thing, but we are not to consider ourselves unworthy as an excuse for not doing what God wants us to do. I think this is a problem I have. Too often, I don't do things that I feel God is prompting me to do because I don't feel spiritually strong in that area, when in reality, all the strength I need comes from God anyway.
In general, I need to rely on God more in every area of my life. It's something I've really been struggling with lately, since I want to do my own thing, despite the fact that I know His way is best. With His help, I will be able to do it, though.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Marred
Today's Daily Bread was very fitting to the way I feel right now. It talked about how sin damages us, and how Jesus' purpose for coming to earth was to remove those sins. I sure am glad for that, because I mess up A LOT.
Lately, I've been feeling really weak spiritually. It's as if I have no self-control or desire to do the things of the Lord. I suppose everyone feels like this occasionally, but I feel like this has been going on for a long time. I know it's because I don't spend enough time in prayer and reading the Bible, and yet I still refuse to establish habits for these things.
A friend once told me that a good thing must be done consistently for 21 days on average before it becomes a habit. So that's what I'm going to do. I will write here every day for the next 21 days, not only as a means of communicating with God and with others, but as a way to keep me accountable. Keep me in prayer!
Lately, I've been feeling really weak spiritually. It's as if I have no self-control or desire to do the things of the Lord. I suppose everyone feels like this occasionally, but I feel like this has been going on for a long time. I know it's because I don't spend enough time in prayer and reading the Bible, and yet I still refuse to establish habits for these things.
A friend once told me that a good thing must be done consistently for 21 days on average before it becomes a habit. So that's what I'm going to do. I will write here every day for the next 21 days, not only as a means of communicating with God and with others, but as a way to keep me accountable. Keep me in prayer!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sin Crouches At The Door
As prompted by Kay, I am writing again here. God bless that girl's precious heart; she makes me feel as if this thing is worth writing in. :-)
Today's message was about Cain and Abel, and not giving in to anger and jealousy and such things. I think if I expanded this to encompass resisting impulses to do things that will feel good now and wreck stuff later, then I can relate. Thankfully, as of the past few days, I've been dealing with my thorn very well, but these things have a way of rearing their ugly heads when I least expect it. I guess that's why we're called to wear the full armor of God instead of just a shield, because armor stays on all the time during our battle of life and not just when we think we need it. Anyway, I pray that God keeps me alert and staunch in my decisions.
Today's message was about Cain and Abel, and not giving in to anger and jealousy and such things. I think if I expanded this to encompass resisting impulses to do things that will feel good now and wreck stuff later, then I can relate. Thankfully, as of the past few days, I've been dealing with my thorn very well, but these things have a way of rearing their ugly heads when I least expect it. I guess that's why we're called to wear the full armor of God instead of just a shield, because armor stays on all the time during our battle of life and not just when we think we need it. Anyway, I pray that God keeps me alert and staunch in my decisions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)