Yesterday's devotional was about how God's Word is a help to us by comforting us as we go through difficulties and hardships, also known as "life." This is a fact that I haven't been exploiting recently. I know that the Bible is there to help me through life, but lately I feel like it's convicting me instead. I know that my spirit is not in the right place. I live for myself, and though I try to do the right thing and do in many instances, there are just as many where I succumb to my own will and do things my way. This is wrong.
God's Word is something to be treasured, not avoided. If I find something in it that points out a fault in my life, I shouldn't be discouraged and put off reading my Bible next time. I should take heart, pray for strength, and work to remove the flaw. That's why it's there!
With this in mind, yesterday's Scripture was Isaiah 1-3. The part I got out of it was how God talked to Israel about how obedience was worth much more to him than any offerings they could give. I feel like this is something I need to work on. I read my Bible and pray often, but I do not obey God in everything that He charges me with, primarily in how to use my time. I've fallen into the habit of simply wasting it most of the time. I have to pull myself out of this rut, but I can only do it with God's help.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Day 23: An Audience Of One
God sees everything. Plain and simple. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. That is up to us.
I easily forget that God sees all that I do. That's probably why my integrity isn't nearly as strong as it should be. I want to be trustworthy, and for the most part, I am, but it's usually only when I'll be held accountable by someone if I fail. That trend needs to stop. I need to be reliable even when no one is watching. That's what truly pleases God anyway.
I'll catch up with blogs tomorrow.
I easily forget that God sees all that I do. That's probably why my integrity isn't nearly as strong as it should be. I want to be trustworthy, and for the most part, I am, but it's usually only when I'll be held accountable by someone if I fail. That trend needs to stop. I need to be reliable even when no one is watching. That's what truly pleases God anyway.
I'll catch up with blogs tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Day 22: The King's Colors
Big day for me, so this is gonna be quick...
God's love should always be visible through our own lives. Jesus said that people will know that we are His disciples if we show love for one another. So, it seems that Jesus had the perfect recursive plan when He gave us the two greatest commandments. The first is to love the Lord with all we have; it is the reason we exist. The second is to love others as ourselves; it shows our love for the Lord to others, and encourages them to show love to God, perpetuating the cycle. Brilliant!
The Scripture today finished up Song of Songs. I think I ought to read some commentary on that book, 'cause I don't really understand it. The language is beautiful, but I'm not certain how it pertains to our Christian walk (besides the observation that the book gives us an idea of how much God loves the church and how the church should pine for God).
God's love should always be visible through our own lives. Jesus said that people will know that we are His disciples if we show love for one another. So, it seems that Jesus had the perfect recursive plan when He gave us the two greatest commandments. The first is to love the Lord with all we have; it is the reason we exist. The second is to love others as ourselves; it shows our love for the Lord to others, and encourages them to show love to God, perpetuating the cycle. Brilliant!
The Scripture today finished up Song of Songs. I think I ought to read some commentary on that book, 'cause I don't really understand it. The language is beautiful, but I'm not certain how it pertains to our Christian walk (besides the observation that the book gives us an idea of how much God loves the church and how the church should pine for God).
Monday, August 25, 2008
Day 21: Foundation Of The Heart
Today's devotional struck a chord with me today, as it seems these devotions always do. It likened people to the great cathedrals of Europe: while magnificent to look at, they are weak at the core and must be supported from the outside. People certainly are great and capable of amazing achievements--just look at the Olympics--but without God to support us, we crumble into nothing. It is through personal prayer time and reading His word that we can strengthen our support from God. The stronger our relationship is with Him, the stronger our life can be.
Lately I've been struggling with my thorn again. I rarely give a second thought to this sin anymore, engaging in it because "I feel like it." The problem is that God never said we'd always "feel" like doing the right thing, but we should do it because it is beneficial to us and because He said so. I think that's what I'm missing the most: a fear of God. I don't mean a fear of fire and brimstone or lightning bolts thrown from the heavens or anything like that (although God certainly is capable). I mean respect, reverence, and awe for Him. I would never do some of the sins I commit if my parents were over my shoulder 24/7, so why should it be different with God? I guess there are no tangible consequences for stepping out of line with God...in the immediate sense, I mean. I will be judged for my actions one day, so I really need to develop this sense of respect NOW.
Anyway, the Scripture today was Song of Songs 1-3. The language that the lover and the beloved use for each other is extremely sweet and poetic; it's pretty obvious that they are crazy about each other. I suppose it's the kind of love that God feels for His church. I wish I knew love like this for someone. There's a girl that I do care for and have cared for more than anyone, but...well, it's kinda scary to fully devote your feelings to someone when you don't think they feel the same way. But anyway, I've never read the whole of Song of Songs, so this should be interesting.
Lately I've been struggling with my thorn again. I rarely give a second thought to this sin anymore, engaging in it because "I feel like it." The problem is that God never said we'd always "feel" like doing the right thing, but we should do it because it is beneficial to us and because He said so. I think that's what I'm missing the most: a fear of God. I don't mean a fear of fire and brimstone or lightning bolts thrown from the heavens or anything like that (although God certainly is capable). I mean respect, reverence, and awe for Him. I would never do some of the sins I commit if my parents were over my shoulder 24/7, so why should it be different with God? I guess there are no tangible consequences for stepping out of line with God...in the immediate sense, I mean. I will be judged for my actions one day, so I really need to develop this sense of respect NOW.
Anyway, the Scripture today was Song of Songs 1-3. The language that the lover and the beloved use for each other is extremely sweet and poetic; it's pretty obvious that they are crazy about each other. I suppose it's the kind of love that God feels for His church. I wish I knew love like this for someone. There's a girl that I do care for and have cared for more than anyone, but...well, it's kinda scary to fully devote your feelings to someone when you don't think they feel the same way. But anyway, I've never read the whole of Song of Songs, so this should be interesting.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Day 20: God's Restraint
The things that we go through in life are not always fun. In fact, God tells us that if we're living correctly, there will be trials and tribulations. But He does assure us that He will never give us more than we can handle...as long as we rely on Him.
Many times, I've felt that God was sending me through a particularly difficult time. I wondered why things were so difficult and if they would ever change. In those times, however, I found that obeying God and seeking His will gave me an inner peace. It did not dissipate the circumstances around me, but it enabled me to deal with them. Now, looking back, I can see that those trials made me a better person overall. The point is that God will send obstacles our way, but He will always provide a way through them and He will always be there to comfort and aid us as we overcome them.
Psalms 99-101 were today's Scripture. Psalm 99 emphasizes God's kingship, and Psalm 100 is a brief passage which gives thanks to God. It is Psalm 101 which grabbed me most. It talks about keeping one's eyes on the things of God and removing all evil from his house. I wonder how good I am at doing this. It's easy to become callous to secular things without thinking about how they are affecting our walk with God. It's hard, but I think I should give some of the things I watch or do some extra thought.
Many times, I've felt that God was sending me through a particularly difficult time. I wondered why things were so difficult and if they would ever change. In those times, however, I found that obeying God and seeking His will gave me an inner peace. It did not dissipate the circumstances around me, but it enabled me to deal with them. Now, looking back, I can see that those trials made me a better person overall. The point is that God will send obstacles our way, but He will always provide a way through them and He will always be there to comfort and aid us as we overcome them.
Psalms 99-101 were today's Scripture. Psalm 99 emphasizes God's kingship, and Psalm 100 is a brief passage which gives thanks to God. It is Psalm 101 which grabbed me most. It talks about keeping one's eyes on the things of God and removing all evil from his house. I wonder how good I am at doing this. It's easy to become callous to secular things without thinking about how they are affecting our walk with God. It's hard, but I think I should give some of the things I watch or do some extra thought.
Day 19: Pascal's Prayer
Still catching up...
Today's devotion had one of the coolest prayers I've ever read. Attributed to Blaise Pascal, it says, “Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name.” I think that this is a prayer for me. I tend to get puffed up when I'm doing things that are important, forgetting entirely that it is only because of God that I am able to do them at all. Also, when it comes to the small things, I try to avoid them or pass them off to others, because they simply aren't important enough for me to bother with. This is a horrible attitude to harbor, and an area in which I need work.
Saturday's Scripture is usually long, and this week's was no exception: the entire book of Phillippians. Phillippians 2:3-4 hit home the most: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." I definitely struggle with this inwardly. I am aware that God has blessed me with a strong mind, and often, I may think myself above others without even realizing it. The pride that stems from this is appalling to God, and it is something I must work on.
I will definitely get caught up later today.
Today's devotion had one of the coolest prayers I've ever read. Attributed to Blaise Pascal, it says, “Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name.” I think that this is a prayer for me. I tend to get puffed up when I'm doing things that are important, forgetting entirely that it is only because of God that I am able to do them at all. Also, when it comes to the small things, I try to avoid them or pass them off to others, because they simply aren't important enough for me to bother with. This is a horrible attitude to harbor, and an area in which I need work.
Saturday's Scripture is usually long, and this week's was no exception: the entire book of Phillippians. Phillippians 2:3-4 hit home the most: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." I definitely struggle with this inwardly. I am aware that God has blessed me with a strong mind, and often, I may think myself above others without even realizing it. The pride that stems from this is appalling to God, and it is something I must work on.
I will definitely get caught up later today.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Day 18: The Foot-Washing God
Yes, I know...I missed a day. I'm going through a slightly hard time right now, and prayer would be appreciated. But I'm not going down without a fight, so I'm writing about yesterday's devotional first, and then I'll post again later with today's.
Yesterday talked about the passage where Jesus washes His disciples' feet. The more I think about it, the more awestruck I am. We're talking about God here doing the most demeaning of tasks. It was necessary, however, if Jesus was to make a point. If He can do the lowliest of tasks, then we have absolutely no excuse. We are to be servants to others, with no regard for ourselves.
Ecclesiastes is hard to read, since Solomon is the writer and he's the second-wisest guy ever to walk the earth (the first being Jesus, naturally). Things tend to float over my head when I read this book. The end of chapter 11 really grabbed me, though. Solomon advises the young to start living for God now: "Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment." So there it is. The whole "Jesus died for me, so I can do whatever I want and be forgiven later" argument doesn't work. Sometimes I forget this, which is sad, because it's important. We may be forgiven, but we are not free from judgment.
Solomon sums up everything in one sentence at the end: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Yay for simplicity! If we do that, we should be fine. And Jesus makes that even easier: if we live for Him and fear Him, then the following of the commandments will naturally follow.
Yesterday talked about the passage where Jesus washes His disciples' feet. The more I think about it, the more awestruck I am. We're talking about God here doing the most demeaning of tasks. It was necessary, however, if Jesus was to make a point. If He can do the lowliest of tasks, then we have absolutely no excuse. We are to be servants to others, with no regard for ourselves.
Ecclesiastes is hard to read, since Solomon is the writer and he's the second-wisest guy ever to walk the earth (the first being Jesus, naturally). Things tend to float over my head when I read this book. The end of chapter 11 really grabbed me, though. Solomon advises the young to start living for God now: "Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment." So there it is. The whole "Jesus died for me, so I can do whatever I want and be forgiven later" argument doesn't work. Sometimes I forget this, which is sad, because it's important. We may be forgiven, but we are not free from judgment.
Solomon sums up everything in one sentence at the end: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Yay for simplicity! If we do that, we should be fine. And Jesus makes that even easier: if we live for Him and fear Him, then the following of the commandments will naturally follow.
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