There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. – 2 Samuel 3:1
I have read so much since my last entry, and even the one before that. The Lord has been showing me much with the scriptures that relates to my own life. Yes, even in the Old Testament. David was the king of Israel and this story shows he had much patience to wait for the Lord to place him on the throne of Israel (1 Samuel). Where I am reading, we find with David even being anointed by God and elected to rule Judah, there was division between David and the last son of Saul.
David, being such a man of God by avoiding to kill Saul (in defense) in many opportunities, represents the Spirit in this story. Saul, though he is now dead at this point, represents the flesh because of the multiple times he chose to serve himself over the Lord. The ending of 2 Samuel 2 and the first verse of chapter 3 have shown me that, even among the Old Testament people of God, there was much division between the flesh and Spirit.
Between my full-time job, and working for my church, I have felt this division in my own life. To some I say, "if I were not a Christian, I would be working every Sunday to make the extra money". Yet my belief in Christ allows me to see the benefit of having a day of rest, and to attend church where I continue to grow in my faith in the Lord. Though I do not have every Sunday off of working, I am working to change that and want to put more time into serving the Lord, so that I can show He has won the war over the flesh and so that I can fulfill my calling as a Christian.
If you are experiencing this division in your own life, you are not alone. Now, I encourage you to keep moving forward toward a more Christ-centered life so that others can see Him in you, and so that one day we, through the power of Christ, can finally win the war against the flesh.
May the Spirit lead you today, so that you may be closer to Him, and further from the flesh that easily entangles us from seeing what God truly has planned for our lives. Amen.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
King and Counsel
When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. – 1 Samuel 19:18
At this point in David's legacy, he had become favorable among the Israelites and king Saul. However, Saul had become less favorable to God, and therefore began to resent young David. After multiple attempts on his life, David fled to seek counsel from Samuel, a prophet and his mentor prior to David's time in the kingdom.
In my own life, though I am not in a similar situation as David (fleeing for his life while anointed to be the next king of Israel), I have still been learning to seek counsel from the Godly people during uncertain times. I cannot say that I have felt discouraged in the same way that David did feeling betrayed by his close friends, yet I have felt discouragement not knowing what I would do in a certain situation. Despite my anxiety in these situations whether it was stress from a past relationship or a work-related issue, my faith has certainly been growing among the trials God has allowed me to go through. All praise be to Him who gives me strength.
As I closed on chapter 19 and am going through chapter 20, God has been showing me how his Holy Spirit was at work in David's life during his time on earth. In any circumstance, God is able to work through a mentor or spiritual leader so that they can guide you (or me) in the direction that God is guiding us. As a word of encouragement from the example of David, continue trusting that God has a purpose and that He will support you in his will for your life. Know that the future king of Israel did seek the King and counsel from those who God put in his life to aid him. Eventually David even humbly receives advice from a woman named Abigail, in chapter 25, who helps him to look back to the Lord instead of his own intentions.
In the past two or three years (and most of my life), God has been working in my life in ways that I would not have expected. He has led me to understand how to be closer to him and to trust him more in daily circumstances when I am not sure where to turn. Prayer and scripture have been a bigger part of my faith and routine as I have learned to look to him each morning. I am at a point where I feel incomplete on the days I cannot set aside time to spend with the Lord, reading scripture or praying. In any circumstance, trust in the Lord and bring all things to him so that he may lead you in His glory.
May God lead you in all that you do. Amen.
At this point in David's legacy, he had become favorable among the Israelites and king Saul. However, Saul had become less favorable to God, and therefore began to resent young David. After multiple attempts on his life, David fled to seek counsel from Samuel, a prophet and his mentor prior to David's time in the kingdom.
In my own life, though I am not in a similar situation as David (fleeing for his life while anointed to be the next king of Israel), I have still been learning to seek counsel from the Godly people during uncertain times. I cannot say that I have felt discouraged in the same way that David did feeling betrayed by his close friends, yet I have felt discouragement not knowing what I would do in a certain situation. Despite my anxiety in these situations whether it was stress from a past relationship or a work-related issue, my faith has certainly been growing among the trials God has allowed me to go through. All praise be to Him who gives me strength.
As I closed on chapter 19 and am going through chapter 20, God has been showing me how his Holy Spirit was at work in David's life during his time on earth. In any circumstance, God is able to work through a mentor or spiritual leader so that they can guide you (or me) in the direction that God is guiding us. As a word of encouragement from the example of David, continue trusting that God has a purpose and that He will support you in his will for your life. Know that the future king of Israel did seek the King and counsel from those who God put in his life to aid him. Eventually David even humbly receives advice from a woman named Abigail, in chapter 25, who helps him to look back to the Lord instead of his own intentions.
In the past two or three years (and most of my life), God has been working in my life in ways that I would not have expected. He has led me to understand how to be closer to him and to trust him more in daily circumstances when I am not sure where to turn. Prayer and scripture have been a bigger part of my faith and routine as I have learned to look to him each morning. I am at a point where I feel incomplete on the days I cannot set aside time to spend with the Lord, reading scripture or praying. In any circumstance, trust in the Lord and bring all things to him so that he may lead you in His glory.
May God lead you in all that you do. Amen.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Pride and Support
Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God." So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord. – 1 Samuel 15:30-31
At this point in the book of 1 Samuel, Saul's right to be king over Israel has been taken away from him. God has had enough of his pride. Although Samuel had to deliver this message to Saul, Samuel turned back toward Saul, that his soul might be saved, if he were to truly repent.
In my own life, I'm finding the need to look to God more often as I grow in my faith. Reading the scriptures, on the prideful fall of Saul has shown me that I do not want to end up the way he did. Though I have not been given rule over an entire nation, God has put me in a leadership role at my current job, and it is easy to be prideful in that position. However, there is more to the story.
In the passage, Samuel turns back to Saul in hopes that he will have meaningful worship with God, and that God may save his soul. In chapter 15, we find that Saul actually never truly repents of the sin that lost him the kingdom, yet Samuel grieves over that. Samuel is a faithful servant of the Lord, and not a "dispassionate messenger of God's word" (Trapp), meaning he knew there was value in support of others' faith, as little as it may be.
God may not have plans for me to be a great profit, as Samuel was, yet I know that (through Christ) my soul has been saved, and he wants me to set aside my pride and support the faith of those who need it. I will pray for anyone reading this; that your faith may increase each day and you may support those in your life who are lacking faith.
At this point in the book of 1 Samuel, Saul's right to be king over Israel has been taken away from him. God has had enough of his pride. Although Samuel had to deliver this message to Saul, Samuel turned back toward Saul, that his soul might be saved, if he were to truly repent.
In my own life, I'm finding the need to look to God more often as I grow in my faith. Reading the scriptures, on the prideful fall of Saul has shown me that I do not want to end up the way he did. Though I have not been given rule over an entire nation, God has put me in a leadership role at my current job, and it is easy to be prideful in that position. However, there is more to the story.
In the passage, Samuel turns back to Saul in hopes that he will have meaningful worship with God, and that God may save his soul. In chapter 15, we find that Saul actually never truly repents of the sin that lost him the kingdom, yet Samuel grieves over that. Samuel is a faithful servant of the Lord, and not a "dispassionate messenger of God's word" (Trapp), meaning he knew there was value in support of others' faith, as little as it may be.
God may not have plans for me to be a great profit, as Samuel was, yet I know that (through Christ) my soul has been saved, and he wants me to set aside my pride and support the faith of those who need it. I will pray for anyone reading this; that your faith may increase each day and you may support those in your life who are lacking faith.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Before and After
Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. – 1 Samuel 12:24
My faith has been growing, yet I am still experiencing "spiritual warfare" as some warn against. As I find myself leaning on the scriptures, I keep hearing more excuses in my own thoughts as to not get up early to read and pray. In the midst of a new relationship I find myself staying up later than we both would like to, yet somehow I still find the energy (most days) to get up before work to spend time with the Lord.
Before I began keeping this "journal", I was at a point where I thought things were going great and I had everything figured out. Little did I realize, God was at work to bring me closer to him. Though I am not perfect at serving Christ first, I have seen my desire to spend time with the Lord increase over the past year. I know that the only way I can overcome the desires of my flesh is by trusting in Him.
At first, I wanted to address a verse from 1 Samuel 13 where God tells Saul (through Samuel) that he lost his family's right to continue ruling over Israel. God informs them that he will find someone after His own heart, and not someone who is selfish like Saul was. God has a plan for us all, and intends on getting us to a point that we can serve him, yet what prevents us from getting there is simply, ourselves and our desire to do what we want before God's will.
Though it is not the easiest to deny our own desires to serve God, that is the calling we all have. God's will for us may be different in our circumstances, yet is the same in the fact that he wants us to "fear him and serve him faithfully with all our heart", and to remember the great things he has done for us. That is the main reason I started this journal. Though I may not be doing much different than leading youth, while working in a grocery store, I have learned a lot about the Lord, since this journey began.
May God speak to you through his Word today, and may you fear and serve him with all your heart.
Amen.
My faith has been growing, yet I am still experiencing "spiritual warfare" as some warn against. As I find myself leaning on the scriptures, I keep hearing more excuses in my own thoughts as to not get up early to read and pray. In the midst of a new relationship I find myself staying up later than we both would like to, yet somehow I still find the energy (most days) to get up before work to spend time with the Lord.
Before I began keeping this "journal", I was at a point where I thought things were going great and I had everything figured out. Little did I realize, God was at work to bring me closer to him. Though I am not perfect at serving Christ first, I have seen my desire to spend time with the Lord increase over the past year. I know that the only way I can overcome the desires of my flesh is by trusting in Him.
At first, I wanted to address a verse from 1 Samuel 13 where God tells Saul (through Samuel) that he lost his family's right to continue ruling over Israel. God informs them that he will find someone after His own heart, and not someone who is selfish like Saul was. God has a plan for us all, and intends on getting us to a point that we can serve him, yet what prevents us from getting there is simply, ourselves and our desire to do what we want before God's will.
Though it is not the easiest to deny our own desires to serve God, that is the calling we all have. God's will for us may be different in our circumstances, yet is the same in the fact that he wants us to "fear him and serve him faithfully with all our heart", and to remember the great things he has done for us. That is the main reason I started this journal. Though I may not be doing much different than leading youth, while working in a grocery store, I have learned a lot about the Lord, since this journey began.
May God speak to you through his Word today, and may you fear and serve him with all your heart.
Amen.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Wants and Needs
And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them." – 1 Samuel 8:7
The Lord always works in ways that are for our good, but only if we let him. This is what we see here in the book of 1 Samuel, when Israel is at a point where they want to be independent from God. Their wants exceed their needs... I read from chapter 9 today, and Saul is about to be appointed king of Israel, yet he is questioning to Samuel why God wants him to be king.
Today, there are a lot of people rejecting God in their life and want to do things their own way. I find that it is pretty easy to say we want something our way, and neglect to let God have full control of the situation. However, as Israel will find out, doing things "our way" does not always end up with the best results. If only they (and we) had submitted to God's plan in the beginning, all the strife could have been avoided from the start.
My wants included moving somewhere else and finding a girl I could settle down with, however after two dead-end relationships, I found myself right where I had been in the beginning. Now, after months of prayer and an effort to wait on God, I am slowly seeing things work out for my good that I would have not expected, all while staying in the same town.
Sometimes in life we look for change to avoid problems from the past. Yet if only we had faced them (with God's help) from the beginning, could we have saved ourselves from the stress we know now.
The Lord always works in ways that are for our good, but only if we let him. This is what we see here in the book of 1 Samuel, when Israel is at a point where they want to be independent from God. Their wants exceed their needs... I read from chapter 9 today, and Saul is about to be appointed king of Israel, yet he is questioning to Samuel why God wants him to be king.
Today, there are a lot of people rejecting God in their life and want to do things their own way. I find that it is pretty easy to say we want something our way, and neglect to let God have full control of the situation. However, as Israel will find out, doing things "our way" does not always end up with the best results. If only they (and we) had submitted to God's plan in the beginning, all the strife could have been avoided from the start.
My wants included moving somewhere else and finding a girl I could settle down with, however after two dead-end relationships, I found myself right where I had been in the beginning. Now, after months of prayer and an effort to wait on God, I am slowly seeing things work out for my good that I would have not expected, all while staying in the same town.
Sometimes in life we look for change to avoid problems from the past. Yet if only we had faced them (with God's help) from the beginning, could we have saved ourselves from the stress we know now.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Sorrow and Love
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – Matthew 28:19
Today I am beginning a study of the book of 1 Samuel, as I have just finished studying Matthew. With the intention of reading all four gospels, I could have been well educated on the ministry of Jesus. Yet the past few weeks, I have felt called to study Samuel after teaching a couple lessons in youth group from the book of 1 Samuel. I have been learning so much from the word of God these past four months, and God has brought me through the sorrow of my past and, until recently, I was unable to see the magnitude of His love for me.
My scripture reference from today is known as the Great Commission, given by the resurrected Christ to the remaining eleven disciples, in Galilee. It took me some time to finally get to this point, yet God has worked so much in my life following the sorrow brought on by my past. I could explain things, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, I want this to be less about my personal life than about ministry.
The sorrow I had was mainly from broken relationships, and unfulfilled promises. However while reading the gospel of Matthew, I simultaneously began to see the Lord working in my life and was able to be more willing to carry out God's will for my life. When we rely too much on other people for fulfillment of life, we will always be disappointed. Yet, when we begin to trust in God alone, we can begin to understand (and experience) the love that he has for us.
The passage I read today was 1 Samuel 1:1-7; setting the scene for the development of Hannah's faith through trials. Here is the main point: when God allows trials in our life, it is not because he wants us to suffer, rather he wants us to lean on him and be joyful for the work he is doing (James 1:2). When we begin to look to him, instead of our sorrow for comfort, we can finally start to see the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives. Our sorrow can finally be turned to joy, and the living water (John 4:10) will begin to pour out of us... God has recently blessed me with new situations in my life, and I can only credit His love and the trials he allows me to experience for the blessings.
If you happen to be struggling in a situation today, or this week, ask God what he wants you to see in that, and to open your heart to the things you need to change. After all, when we experience discomfort in life, it is not because of the imperfections of Christ's love for us.
Today I am beginning a study of the book of 1 Samuel, as I have just finished studying Matthew. With the intention of reading all four gospels, I could have been well educated on the ministry of Jesus. Yet the past few weeks, I have felt called to study Samuel after teaching a couple lessons in youth group from the book of 1 Samuel. I have been learning so much from the word of God these past four months, and God has brought me through the sorrow of my past and, until recently, I was unable to see the magnitude of His love for me.
My scripture reference from today is known as the Great Commission, given by the resurrected Christ to the remaining eleven disciples, in Galilee. It took me some time to finally get to this point, yet God has worked so much in my life following the sorrow brought on by my past. I could explain things, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, I want this to be less about my personal life than about ministry.
The sorrow I had was mainly from broken relationships, and unfulfilled promises. However while reading the gospel of Matthew, I simultaneously began to see the Lord working in my life and was able to be more willing to carry out God's will for my life. When we rely too much on other people for fulfillment of life, we will always be disappointed. Yet, when we begin to trust in God alone, we can begin to understand (and experience) the love that he has for us.
The passage I read today was 1 Samuel 1:1-7; setting the scene for the development of Hannah's faith through trials. Here is the main point: when God allows trials in our life, it is not because he wants us to suffer, rather he wants us to lean on him and be joyful for the work he is doing (James 1:2). When we begin to look to him, instead of our sorrow for comfort, we can finally start to see the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives. Our sorrow can finally be turned to joy, and the living water (John 4:10) will begin to pour out of us... God has recently blessed me with new situations in my life, and I can only credit His love and the trials he allows me to experience for the blessings.
If you happen to be struggling in a situation today, or this week, ask God what he wants you to see in that, and to open your heart to the things you need to change. After all, when we experience discomfort in life, it is not because of the imperfections of Christ's love for us.
Friday, August 9, 2019
Old and New
Today, I read from the book of Matthew, where the Pharisees paid the Roman guard to lie about what happened to Jesus' body the night of his resurrection. If you're interested, it's chapter 28.
I have been posting a verse with the past few entries, but today I want to focus on one main point: redemption.
That's mainly what the Gospel is about, turning from our old ways and being brought to a new life in Christ. I think a lot of people never really get there. Sure, there are people out there who have been Christian all their life, yet still seem to give in to whatever the world may be tempting them with. I have been there myself. I have believed in God about two-thirds of my life, yet I cannot say that I have always followed Christ. Sure, I accepted His son for salvation, but I only in this past month or so, have I began to truly understand its meaning.
In my case, girls and popularity have always been a focus for me. I never had a lot of money growing up, so having whatever was cool at the time was never really an option unless I hung out with one of my friends who had what I wanted. Also, I felt that if I had the right girl around, everything would be great, yet I could never seem to make it work with them. Even my most recent, dead-end relationship, was supposed to last a long time, and she thought the same thing. Turns out God had different plans.
Today, I have a car that I bought for $800, I live with my mom because I owe money from college, and I just entered into a relationship with a girl I barely knew, yet she went to the same high school. However that stuff is not that important. The girl is great, and we get along really well. I have a good job, but because of my loans, I do not need an expensive car. Not to mention, I am capable of living on my own, though my mom offered me cheap rent, so I just plan on saving for a house eventually.
At the end of the day, I made some poor choices in regard to my faith, and would take them back if I knew what was coming, yet the results have brought me to where I am today. God has shown me so much in my life that needs work. I do not have it figured out yet, though I know there is no reason for me to have any of the old habits I did growing up. I have recently began to understand what it means to have a new life in Christ, and mainly because of my previous relationship, I was able to see the definition of that change in someone's life. She is doing well, and ultimately, I'm proud of her for being where she is. I cannot take back the choices her or I made, though I know God has used them to prepare me for a life of serving Christ.
Thank you for reading, and may God bless you in your life, as he has blessed me.
I have been posting a verse with the past few entries, but today I want to focus on one main point: redemption.
That's mainly what the Gospel is about, turning from our old ways and being brought to a new life in Christ. I think a lot of people never really get there. Sure, there are people out there who have been Christian all their life, yet still seem to give in to whatever the world may be tempting them with. I have been there myself. I have believed in God about two-thirds of my life, yet I cannot say that I have always followed Christ. Sure, I accepted His son for salvation, but I only in this past month or so, have I began to truly understand its meaning.
In my case, girls and popularity have always been a focus for me. I never had a lot of money growing up, so having whatever was cool at the time was never really an option unless I hung out with one of my friends who had what I wanted. Also, I felt that if I had the right girl around, everything would be great, yet I could never seem to make it work with them. Even my most recent, dead-end relationship, was supposed to last a long time, and she thought the same thing. Turns out God had different plans.
Today, I have a car that I bought for $800, I live with my mom because I owe money from college, and I just entered into a relationship with a girl I barely knew, yet she went to the same high school. However that stuff is not that important. The girl is great, and we get along really well. I have a good job, but because of my loans, I do not need an expensive car. Not to mention, I am capable of living on my own, though my mom offered me cheap rent, so I just plan on saving for a house eventually.
At the end of the day, I made some poor choices in regard to my faith, and would take them back if I knew what was coming, yet the results have brought me to where I am today. God has shown me so much in my life that needs work. I do not have it figured out yet, though I know there is no reason for me to have any of the old habits I did growing up. I have recently began to understand what it means to have a new life in Christ, and mainly because of my previous relationship, I was able to see the definition of that change in someone's life. She is doing well, and ultimately, I'm proud of her for being where she is. I cannot take back the choices her or I made, though I know God has used them to prepare me for a life of serving Christ.
Thank you for reading, and may God bless you in your life, as he has blessed me.
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