Obedience

Obedience is something that I struggle with. The world thinks I am a wonderful Christian, who came from a rough start with the odds against her but was able to turn her life around. The odds were against me and I was able to pull through because of my faith in God. The world sees me the way I want God to. Unfortunately, the world isn't what matters.
I am going to be brutally honest in this post and try not to sugar coat anything:
-I am an unwed mother living with my boyfriend who I continue to have sex with.
-I lie when I feel that it will benefit me.
-And most importantly I allow people to think much different of me.
Yeah I have been with the same man since I was 14, I don't drink or party, I tithe the church and overall I am a good person but I am not obedient. And that's what this post is all about.
For those of you who have read Radical by David Platt, "We have a master who demands radical obedience." this means we don't get to pick and choose what demands we follow or ignore. Our God demands us to follow everything he says. Not just what we feel is directed towards us.
I don't get to say that God didn't mean me when he says we must not have sex out of marriage. I don't get to say God didn't mean me when he says all lying is bad, even just leaving out some of the truth. and I certainly don't get to say God didn't mean me when He said He is the only one with the right to judge, not anyone else.
But, I also know that this is a big problem in churches everywhere. Think about it, how obedient are you?
Reading:
-Exodus 4:10-14
Reflect:
-How obedient are you?
-Do you ignore things God has said because "they don't apply to you" or "that's not relevant Anymore?"
-Are you doing everything in God?
-How can you ask God for guidance to help you be more obedient?

Daniel 6:1-28

Daniel in the Lion's Den is one of my favorite bible stories ever. The message is so great (not that all stories aren't) and I just really enjoy reading it. Let's say you're in Daniel's situation.. would you be like Daniel and still trust God and pray? Or would you just not pray to God for fear of being thrown in the lion's den? I would like to say that I have the faith to do that. The truth is I'm not sure if I'm quite there yet. I know that I am definitely getting there and will be there soon. I'm being completely honest here and I hope you will too.

Even though the King warned the people of the consequences they would endure if they prayed to God, David didn't listen. He believed and trusted that God would take care of him, no matter what. When David was thrown into the lion's den, nothing happened. Why? Because he obeyed God in the beginning and never stopped trusting in him. So God kept him safely in there until morning. The three men that told the King about David praying to God were thrown into the lion's den, along with their wives and children. The lions killed them before they hit the ground. God protected David because David never stopped worshiping Him.

Reading: Daniel 6:1-28

Reflections:

-What would you do if you were in Daniels situation? (Please be completely honest here)

-Do you think the King was at fault in this story? Why or why not?

*I'm only asking two questions because I really want you to go in-depth with your answers.

 

Stress!

One thing I am battling so bad, at this very moment, is stress. I have 2 essays, a math assignment, and a history assignment due tomorrow. On top of school, work, my family to care for, and errands to run everyone around me just seems to need more and more out of me. I feel as if I am torn in a thousand directions with no where to run until I remember I do always have somewhere to run. I always have someone who doesn't expect anything from me and I always have someone who wants to listen to me, no matter how crazy I am.
I am laying in bed attempting to relax listening to Building 429, writing this and praying from my heart. I am beginning to feel solace with myself and the things going on around me. I will keep God in my heart and everything will get done just as it needs to.
Reading:
-Luke 10:41-42
-Matthew 11:28-30
-Phillipians 4:6-7
-Psalms 52:22
-Proverbs 16:3
Reflections:
Each of these verses show us by simply handing our problems to God everything will be taken care of. By coming to God he will take our burdens, can it get any better than that?! God is good.
-Are you allowing God to take your problems or trying to handle the, yourself?
-In each of your plans are you keeping Christ involved?
Goal:
-Let's all focus on keeping God in our plans and actions. When things get hectic and out of our control let God take the reigns. Let's focus on trusting in God. Stress is not something we need to feel with the God that we have. Let's pray on omitting this emotion from ourselves for it is unnecessary.

Worry; Matthew 6:25-27

I think worry is one of my biggest struggles in my walk with God. I am always needing to reassure myself that I do not need to worry, that God is in control and will take care of everything. Sometimes I can't believe that. Sometimes I struggle with the fact that God is in control. I know that it is true and He would do nothing to put us in danger, everything He does is part of a greater plan. When we hand Him our worries, He will take them away from us. Worry is hard to overcome, but when hand over our struggles to God, He will take them away from us. We need to trust in Him and we can beat the battle of worry!

Reading: Matthew 6:25-27

Reflecting:

-When is it hard for you to trust in God?

-What do you do when you're having trouble giving Him your worries?

-What does He say about worry in these verses?

James 3:14-18: Jealousy

Lately I have been struggling a lot with jealousy. I'm not normally a jealous person and I really don't like the feeling. There are so many verses on jealousy and how awful it is.

Proverbs 14:30 says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bone." This verse really influenced me. I interpreted it that when you're feeling peace, and at peace- your body is at peace. But when you feel jealous and envy, it rots you down to the bone.

"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." James 3:16

Every evil practice? Sexual immorality, impurity, hatred, rage, selfishness, lying, cheating, and so much more. Jealousy is a horrible feeling. I am praying that God will take these feelings away. James 3:14-18 has really helped me realize how bad jealousy is & how I can fix it.

Reading: James 3:14-18

Reflecting:

-Do you get jealous? If so, how does this make you feel?

-How do you stop your feelings of jealousy?

-Do you think jealousy is one of the worst sins you can commit?

Drowning in Our Misery

When is the last time you truly felt sorrow for your sins? How about the worlds sins? As a father to every single one of us on earth think of how much sorrow God must feel watching us sin time and time again after He's set up such a wonderful world for us. God does so much for us by providing everything we need and giving us a hand to always hold yet we are able to sin against Him time and time again.
If we were to sit in prayer and ask God to allow us to feel what He does imagine how that would feel. I feel like if I sat and prayed and asked to see my sin and the worlds there is no way I could look God in the eye. He deserves perfection, something none of us can achieve, but something most of us aren't even trying for.
As Christians I believe we need to be more focused on the bad in the world and the sin rather than the good. God will always celebrate one lost man repenting over many good men who do not need to do so.
Please don't misunderstand me to think that I think bad overrules good, because that's not what I, saying. A good tree will bear no bad fruit, so we don't need to worry about the people who are already doing well. Rather we need to focus on the people who need help and need God and need to be shown they still can bear good fruit.
Reading:
Book of Mormon: 2 nephi 4:17-25. In case you don't have the book of Mormon here is a link to the reading if you'd like :)
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/4.17-25?lang=eng#16
If not here are some related Bible verses :)
Exodus 34:5-7
Romans 7:24
Romans 7:21
Hebrews 12:1
2 Corinthians 4:16
Psalm 3:7
2 Chronicles 26:5
James 5:16
Moses 1:1
Reflect:
-Have you ever taken time to think about how God feels?
-Have you ever been able to feel like a wretched man for things you've done?
-How can you help lessen the worlds sin?

Matthew 14:22-36: Jesus Walks on Water

Today, I was having trouble deciding what to post. I went on to Google and typed in popular Bible stories. A list of the top 10 most popular bible stories came up. The ninth most popular story was when Jesus walks on water. I was kinda shocked to see that story in the top 10 most popular, I didn't think it was one of the most important. I took a closer look at it and read it and was shocked. I never really realized how important the message was.

"Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"

When Peter started to walk on the water, he had complete faith in God. When the wind started, his faith started to dwindle. This relates to how my day sometimes look. I'll wake up feeling really great and trusting God. Then as my day continues and something bad happens.. my faith will dwindle a little bit. Then something else happens.. and it goes down a little bit more. Then something good or faithful will happen and it will rise. It will continue to rise and fall all day. It's a constant battle trying to keep 100% complete faith in God. Some days, that'll happen. Some days, it won't. With God's strength and guidance I know I'll get to the point where I can 110% trust God, always.

Reading: Matthew 14:22-36

Reflecting:

-What do you do when your faith starts to dwindle down?

-Do you have complete faith in God 110% all the time, always? If not, what can you do to get to that point?

-If you were in Peters situation what would you do? Do you think you would have been able to trust God and walk to Him?