Have you ever been here? On a spiritual high, loving life and everything that comes with it, knowing that God is totally in control! (Sounds great, doesn't it?) I think all believers have been there at some time or other. . .after church camp and whatnot. But does it bother anybody else that those "highs" don't really occur the rest of the year? Maybe it's just me that feels this way, but it seems to me that God and I are super close during the summertime, but then i'm struggling to find Him the other 9 months of the year. It feels like something's wrong. . .
I think something IS wrong. I think the way I've been approaching God is wrong. I'm in college, so during the school year everything (literally, everything) revolves around my homework and my education. It generally sucks. But during the summer my focus is work, friends, Jesus, and how I can serve in my church. I always feel a lot more connected to Him during this time, and I think I see why now. My attitude is different.
I'm probably not being clear, so let me explain. When I'm focusing on Jesus I see life as I truly should: through the perspective He gives. But when I have a ginormous stack of homework in front of me, Jesus seems to be my "go-to guy" for help. So I pray for survival through finals, and I read my Bible like a good little Christian, and I completely miss the point of my life. The point is Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord, not my GPA. (Now I'm not saying we always have to "feel" something. Relationships aren't build on emotions. I just think that we are only fully connected with God and can be of the best use to Him when our focus is Him alone.)
So my challenge for myself this fall is to ultimately keep my focus on Jesus. Hard it will be, but totally worth it. Maybe you need that challenge too. :)
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Thoughts on Psalm 73
v.2-3
There are just days when I look around and see people who seem to have life made and everything goes right for them. It's hard sometimes to remind myself that just because I don't see the problems and pain and everything going on in their lives doesn't mean it's not there. And no matter how bad off I seem to have it, God is always working in my life for HIS good. Sometimes He is working silently, sometimes it's only a little bit at a time. But He IS working.
v.21-22
Before I realize (or more like when God shows me) what He is doing I often feel like the writer of this Psalm: bitter and hurt, and like a stupid animal. Here God is doing all this great stuff in my life and because I'm too short-sighted to see it I get upset and feel like i'm not being treated fairly. How ridiculous is that? That human nature is so selfish that we want everything to go well for us, and if it doesn't we must blame someone as if it is a problem that needs to be fixed. Just because life isn't going "great" doesn't mean there's anything wrong. God is still in control.
v.24
But despite acting like this and constantly forgetting His promises, God will still receive us with honor. Even when i've acted like a spoiled child and really don't deserve it.
v.25-26
I must rely (depend on with full trust or confidence) on God completely, because he is all I really have to hope in. He is truly "all I ever need."
There are just days when I look around and see people who seem to have life made and everything goes right for them. It's hard sometimes to remind myself that just because I don't see the problems and pain and everything going on in their lives doesn't mean it's not there. And no matter how bad off I seem to have it, God is always working in my life for HIS good. Sometimes He is working silently, sometimes it's only a little bit at a time. But He IS working.
v.21-22
Before I realize (or more like when God shows me) what He is doing I often feel like the writer of this Psalm: bitter and hurt, and like a stupid animal. Here God is doing all this great stuff in my life and because I'm too short-sighted to see it I get upset and feel like i'm not being treated fairly. How ridiculous is that? That human nature is so selfish that we want everything to go well for us, and if it doesn't we must blame someone as if it is a problem that needs to be fixed. Just because life isn't going "great" doesn't mean there's anything wrong. God is still in control.
v.24
But despite acting like this and constantly forgetting His promises, God will still receive us with honor. Even when i've acted like a spoiled child and really don't deserve it.
v.25-26
I must rely (depend on with full trust or confidence) on God completely, because he is all I really have to hope in. He is truly "all I ever need."
An All-Powerful and Intimately Tender God
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way." - Ephesians 1:18-23
"God is both all-powerful and intimately tender with His people."
I feel like this quote from my Sunday School book* sums up these verses pretty well.
In these verses you can see both aspects of God character: His power and authority and His closeness to His people.
"and His incomparably great power" This in itself shows the magnitude of God's power through Christ, but he goes on in a greater, detailed description saying, "[it] is like the working of His might strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead". How amazing to have a God of such "incomparably great" power! Nothing is like it, and no one is like Him!
What is even more amazing is that He is also a tender God who choses to be close and be a part of His people.
"and God. . .appointed Him to be the head over everything for the church, which is His body" Jesus is the head of the body, the leader of the church. He is an integral and intimate part of our everyday lives. He is always there, leading and guiding us in day-to-day living and within the church. But what is so cool, is seeing how He leads us so closely with His divinity and great power. Both aspects of God (and all other aspects as well) in play at once. All working in our lives for His express purpose. :)
*Suh, Halim, et al. "God's Story, Part 1: The Old Testament." The Gospel Project for adults. The Gospel Project. 2009
"God is both all-powerful and intimately tender with His people."
I feel like this quote from my Sunday School book* sums up these verses pretty well.
In these verses you can see both aspects of God character: His power and authority and His closeness to His people.
"and His incomparably great power" This in itself shows the magnitude of God's power through Christ, but he goes on in a greater, detailed description saying, "[it] is like the working of His might strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead". How amazing to have a God of such "incomparably great" power! Nothing is like it, and no one is like Him!
What is even more amazing is that He is also a tender God who choses to be close and be a part of His people.
"and God. . .appointed Him to be the head over everything for the church, which is His body" Jesus is the head of the body, the leader of the church. He is an integral and intimate part of our everyday lives. He is always there, leading and guiding us in day-to-day living and within the church. But what is so cool, is seeing how He leads us so closely with His divinity and great power. Both aspects of God (and all other aspects as well) in play at once. All working in our lives for His express purpose. :)
*Suh, Halim, et al. "God's Story, Part 1: The Old Testament." The Gospel Project for adults. The Gospel Project. 2009
Challenged by Romans 12:10-12
"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." - Romans 12:10-12 (ESV)
I love these verses. They really stood out to me this morning as a call for the kind of love, support, and general action a couple (or any relationship for that matter) should have for/toward each other. And also just as an encouragement to me for the things I need to improve upon.
"Love one another." Easy to say, not always so easy to do. It takes constant work and devotion to the Father. What an amazing challenge: to love, not just love, but love consistently, unswervingly, and without condition.
"Outdo one another in showing honor." Just the idea of this is noble. Not as a competition, but as a constant desire to honor and respect one another more and more. Again, I am challenged.
"...Serve the Lord [with zeal]." Chase after God. Pursue Him more than you ever would your earthly love. Do anything, serve in ANY way when He calls you. That is my goal, the desire for my life. Though I am far from attaining that level of servanthood, I still hope for it and pray for it.
"Rejoice in hope," There is always hope that God provides in every situation, and we must seek it out and make the effort to rejoice in it. This is something with which I personally struggle. #challenge4
"Be patient in tribulation," Sooo hard, but oh, so worth it. They say patience is a virtue...sometimes I think it's a lifeline.
"Be constant in prayer." Something at which I also fail miserably. But I am encouraged again to make Christ a part of my every moment. To continue talking with Him and actually have conversation. LISTENING as well as speaking.
So now I begin trying apply these things to my life and my relationship(s).
I love these verses. They really stood out to me this morning as a call for the kind of love, support, and general action a couple (or any relationship for that matter) should have for/toward each other. And also just as an encouragement to me for the things I need to improve upon.
"Love one another." Easy to say, not always so easy to do. It takes constant work and devotion to the Father. What an amazing challenge: to love, not just love, but love consistently, unswervingly, and without condition.
"Outdo one another in showing honor." Just the idea of this is noble. Not as a competition, but as a constant desire to honor and respect one another more and more. Again, I am challenged.
"...Serve the Lord [with zeal]." Chase after God. Pursue Him more than you ever would your earthly love. Do anything, serve in ANY way when He calls you. That is my goal, the desire for my life. Though I am far from attaining that level of servanthood, I still hope for it and pray for it.
"Rejoice in hope," There is always hope that God provides in every situation, and we must seek it out and make the effort to rejoice in it. This is something with which I personally struggle. #challenge4
"Be patient in tribulation," Sooo hard, but oh, so worth it. They say patience is a virtue...sometimes I think it's a lifeline.
"Be constant in prayer." Something at which I also fail miserably. But I am encouraged again to make Christ a part of my every moment. To continue talking with Him and actually have conversation. LISTENING as well as speaking.
So now I begin trying apply these things to my life and my relationship(s).
Just A Prayer
God, I give this day over to You. Direct it in the way You see fit and help me to accept what You bring my way. I love You, and I want to love You and know You even more. <3, Your child
Job, A Child God is Proud Of.
Job 1
I pray that my dedication, faithfulness, and eager quest for godliness make God just as proud of me as He was of Job.
In the midst of great chaos and loss Job kept his head and was able to recognize God's sovereign hand in the situation. Now thatis true prospective.
Job 4 & Being a Listening Friend
In Job 4, Eliphaz, a good friend of Job, tries to explain to Job why he thinks all these bad things are happening to his friend. He means well, but he is totally off base, and has no idea what's going on with Job.
So as a friend, I need to listen as much as they (my friends and family) need and not be so quick in trying to give my opinion. I don't know what's really going on because God is the One controlling the situation. I don't need to give advice, I just need to listen.
As the old saying says, "You have two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you speak."
If God calls someone to do something, and they have confidence. . . nothing can stop them.
"If God calls someone to do something, and they have the confidence to go forward, nothing can stop them."
I know that God is calling me to work with youth. I have been feeling it for a while, and now I see finally that path that He has set out for me. It's very exciting! I love the quote above (from Joyce Meyer). It is a great reminder of truth. That God haslaid out a plan for me, and because I am doing my best (with God's help) to fulfill this purpose for me. And because of Him, I will succeed. Not might, or maybe. I definitely will! As long as I can keep my heart and mind on the things above and strive to live every day for Him success is guaranteed.
So I pray today that I have confidence in God's call on my life. Not just with youth, but at school, and with my family and friends as well. I want to live boldly for Jesus.
A spirit of courage where God is calling me.
"Fear does not mean you are a coward. It only means that you need to be willing to feel the fear and do what you need to do anyway."
I guess I never really wanted to admit it, but I am a bit afraid of what is ahead of me. God has laid out a path before me, and it is very clear to me what I am to do, but I know it is going to take courage to do these things. I will be dedicating so much of my time and energy for God's work. That really excites me, but at the same time it makes me a bit anxious. I don't want to mess up, or lack the bravery to do what God is telling me to do. I want to live my life for God's glory, and if that means sacrifices and standing up for what is right when no one else will, then I will do it. And I will do it with God's help. :)
I must be courageous, and go where God is leading me. It frightens me a bit, but I know that God is with me and the Holy Spirit is providing me with the power to accomplish all I am called to do. I just want to be brave enough and spiritually grounded enough to give it my all.
"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB)
Imprint Your Love
"Imprint Your love into the depths of my heart." <3
I love that. Just the idea of God pressing His love into me and feeling Him near me. It's exciting.
I am a pleasing sight to God. Not because of how I look but because of who I am. :) I am His daughter, and He loves me like a Daddy. He loves me even more than any earthly father ever could, which is awesome! I am not fatherless, I have the best Dad in the entire world! (Actually He's not of this world, which is even better I guess. ha)
He is flawless, and yet he does not condemn me because of my flaws. He still loves me the same no matter what happens or what I do. And when I fall He gently picks me up, embraces me and sets me back upright upon the solid Rock. How real that feeling is to me right now, after the twists and turns my life has seen these past few months. Devastation has become a blessing. What I thought was just a crazy idea has because a ministry opportunity. God is constantly moving in my life, and I am seeing it more than ever right now. I want to continue like this. I really like this feeling of glorifying God with my life. It gives me such pleasure to know that God is happy with what I am doing with my life. I want Him to be proud of me. But I want it to be more than just a feeling, en emotion, I want it to be a solid secure part of my life. I don't want to lose it like I did before...
I really just want to follow God with my life and I want Him to direct EVERY step I take.
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