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.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Flesh and Spirit
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.
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.
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.
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