Today is Tuesday and after my last post, I realized I have been more recently writing about my journey through the scriptures and what they are telling me. Though God has been showing me a lot in his Word, I would like to take some time to reflect on how my faith has changed in more recent months. I do not have a scripture reference today because I want to look back at where I left off in my personal journey. Essentially, my faith has been solidifying because of my prayer life. I wrote a while ago about an idol, and the doubt I was dealing with. Mainly, those feelings I was experiencing were mainly related to a girl and the trust that I had in the relationship. Just when I thought I had everything worked out (I think she felt that way too), God took us both in different directions and I have not seen her since. From that time, I had experienced a closeness with God, due to me questioning him and my frustration of the situation. How could He not let things work out for me like I wanted? Everything made so much sense with her in the picture. That was the problem though, God allowed me to see that I was trusting in my own feelings and my own path for my life. It was all about what I wanted, and certainly did not want God interfering in this relationship since I was not putting Him first with that. The relationship ended simply due to God bringing us both in a different direction. Without me being able to release that burden to Christ, I would have never been able to renew my faith in Him and be where I am now in my faith.
As far a change in occupation since the first entry, I have not been given a new opportunity for a paid job and I am still volunteering (maybe more) time to lead the small youth group that God has established for me. My prayer life has been more focused on what he wants me to do, and I have been able to see the areas that I need to step up and trust him to carry out his plan for. Even though sometimes things do not work out the way I would like them to, He gets the glory at the end of each day. If there is one thing I always pray for, it is that He will continue to have the lead in the youth group, and the church that I am working for.
Lastly, I am in a different relationship (it has been about 6 months), and we both are more committed to serving the Lord with that more than myself in the last one. I plan to keep updating this with any job updates, or changes that God is leading me to make.
May God bless you and guide you in your ways, whichever way that may be. Amen.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Spirit and Conduct
And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.
– 2 Samuel 6:14
As I am beginning to write this, the time is 6:14 AM. I still get up early (some days are better) and read, pray, and drink coffee before I start my day. I hope to encourage you with this post to do the same, because it has really made a difference in my faith.
I have been through 1 Samuel and am working on 2 Samuel now, after Samuel has passed and after Saul has passed. We are now left with (now king) David who is still a character of great faith to the Lord. I cannot say I have made it even close to the same level of faithfulness that David had on this earth, yet I know the Holy Spirit is working in me and my conduct has changed because of that.
The reason I referenced this verse is that God has been showing my through the scripture stories of David that a good faith really comes down to having God's Spirit and conduct. David could have stood around giving thanks to God, avoiding criticism from his wife, yet he chose to dance "with all his might" before the Lord knowing that it may look foolish to some. David was not concerned about his appearance toward other people because he knew he was praising God with his dancing.
Sometimes as a manager at my job, I am in situations where I do have to conduct myself in a professional way because I am representing the company. When it comes to representing the Lord, look to the scriptures for spiritual conduct. However, when we are worshiping the Lord, we are only worshiping the Lord, and we are not worshiping our social media presence or a group of people watching us. If you feel self-conscious or intimidated, think of David's example here. He was recently appointed the king of all Israel, and brought himself to this lowly point so that he could worship the Lord for the blessings he received. When his wife eventually told him not he should not have done that, he rebuked her because he knew God's Spirit was with him, and David wanted to conduct himself in a way he knew how to honor God; "with all his might", unconcerned with a public opinion.
May God guide you in spirit and conduct today, so that you may experience his blessings and may your faith not be hindered by those who judge you and the Father. Amen.
– 2 Samuel 6:14
As I am beginning to write this, the time is 6:14 AM. I still get up early (some days are better) and read, pray, and drink coffee before I start my day. I hope to encourage you with this post to do the same, because it has really made a difference in my faith.
I have been through 1 Samuel and am working on 2 Samuel now, after Samuel has passed and after Saul has passed. We are now left with (now king) David who is still a character of great faith to the Lord. I cannot say I have made it even close to the same level of faithfulness that David had on this earth, yet I know the Holy Spirit is working in me and my conduct has changed because of that.
The reason I referenced this verse is that God has been showing my through the scripture stories of David that a good faith really comes down to having God's Spirit and conduct. David could have stood around giving thanks to God, avoiding criticism from his wife, yet he chose to dance "with all his might" before the Lord knowing that it may look foolish to some. David was not concerned about his appearance toward other people because he knew he was praising God with his dancing.
Sometimes as a manager at my job, I am in situations where I do have to conduct myself in a professional way because I am representing the company. When it comes to representing the Lord, look to the scriptures for spiritual conduct. However, when we are worshiping the Lord, we are only worshiping the Lord, and we are not worshiping our social media presence or a group of people watching us. If you feel self-conscious or intimidated, think of David's example here. He was recently appointed the king of all Israel, and brought himself to this lowly point so that he could worship the Lord for the blessings he received. When his wife eventually told him not he should not have done that, he rebuked her because he knew God's Spirit was with him, and David wanted to conduct himself in a way he knew how to honor God; "with all his might", unconcerned with a public opinion.
May God guide you in spirit and conduct today, so that you may experience his blessings and may your faith not be hindered by those who judge you and the Father. Amen.
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