Isn't this a great truth? "The lives that we have lived were always intended to be a preparation for the present. In God’s overall plan each of us is being prepared for the opportunities that come our way." - WOL Quiet Time Diary Expanded Commentary for July 25, 2014. As I read this today, I couldn't help but be thankful. Knowing that all I've gone through, done (good and bad), finished, accomplished, failed at, endured, etc. will be used by God in my future gives me a sense of peace. Even though I can rarely make sense of the things that I have experienced, God knows. He is even now weaving all the seemingly disconnected threads of my past into something so beautiful that He will use to bring glory to His name and advance His kingdom. I am grateful that He chooses to use all things from my past to help me perform better today. Aren't you? |
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The right attitude within this self-afflicted workout helped me to finish. Finishing will help me grow stronger and have more muscle mass. More muscle mass will help me burn more fat and help my body function at a better level. Less fat and better body functioning will help me live longer and more fully, which will allow me more time to impact the world and glorify God. Most importantly, I will not be giving into my cravings of the flesh, but will be able to dominate and have dominion over what God has created and commanded me to rule.
Sipping on my coffee and protein shake after my workout and during my devotional, I was struck by the message God had for me today. In Psalm 119, God spoke to me, and again tears came to my eyes, only this time during my spiritual workout. Psalm 119:67 records David's poetry proclaiming his love for God's rules and precepts. He states, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word." I was crying because this was true in my life, as I'm sure it is in yours. I've dealt with affliction in the form of rejection and verbal abuse which left me broken, bitter, and insecure. However, as I was healing from that affliction, I was growing closer to God. I grew in my faith, my compassion, my humility, and my love. I loved God more and felt closer to Him after that affliction than I did before being afflicted. What David said was true. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, I did my own thing, but now I trust that the Lord's way is best. I seek to follow Him more. The real emotional impact came when I read verse 71: "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." When I read that, I realized that I too now believe that. As painful and life-altering as that event was for me, I am glad it happened. God became real to me. He was my comforter, my healer, my redeemer, my Savior, my lover, my friend, my shelter, my rock, my deliver, etc. He was and is everything. But without that affliction, I would probably never have realized this at the level I do now. He is my all in all. That's when I made the connection between my physical workout and my spiritual workout. Without affliction, my muscles have no real chance of improvement. With affliction plus the right attitude, my muscles build themselves up, becoming stronger than they were before the affliction. Hear this: they are better than they were before! The damage to them helps to improve them. There is some healing that needs to happen, and I need to help take care of them. BUT they are better! The same is true after a spiritual affliction. With the right attitude, God can use this horrible, painful experience to strengthen our faith. Healing must happen. But with healing correctly, in the truth of God's grace and love, comes strength and knowledge, wisdom and understanding of who we are in light of who God is. Are you facing an affliction? If not, you will. According to financial planner Dave Ramsey, if you have a pulse, you will face trials and tribulations. It's inevitable. You need to be prepared. If you increase your spiritual muscles by soaking in God's Word ahead of time and preparing for the affliction, you will make it through better and stronger than you were before. And best of all, you don't have to face those afflictions alone. God will be your workout buddy, encouraging and comforting you until healing occurs. And one day, you will be able to say, "I'm glad for that affliction." Just like hopefully one day soon I will be able to say, "I'm glad I afflicted my physical muscles." Turn to Him, and I am confident that one day, like David, you will be able to thank God for your affliction.
As I read the devotional copied below, I couldn't help envisioning that I was Brutus, well-intentioned at times, and Christ was Caesar (but much more loving and pure). Whenever I sin (even for what I would claim as the "right" reasons), I can't help picturing Jesus' face or his angels' faces (as Spurgeon mentions below) as I betray him. "YOU too, Sarah?" The emphasis placed on the you speaks of my betrayal.
God, help us to seek you first and your goodness and not our own version of what is good. Morning and Evening Charles H. Spurgeon July 23, 2014 Morning Reading "Even thou wast as one of them." —Obadiah 1:11 Brotherly kindness was due from Edom to Israel in the time of need, but instead thereof, the men of Esau made common cause with Israel's foes. Special stress in the sentence before us is laid upon the word thou; as when Caesar cried to Brutus, "and thou Brutus"; a bad action may be all the worse, because of the person who has committed it. When we sin, who are the chosen favorites of heaven, we sin with an emphasis; ours is a crying offence, because we are so peculiarly indulged. If an angel should lay his hand upon us when we are doing evil, he need not use any other rebuke than the question, "What thou? What dost thou here?" Much forgiven, much delivered, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed, shall we dare to put forth our hand unto evil? God forbid! A few minutes of confession may be beneficial to thee, gentle reader, this morning. Hast thou never been as the wicked? At an evening party certain men laughed at uncleanness, and the joke was not altogether offensive to thine ear, even thou wast as one of them. When hard things were spoken concerning the ways of God, thou wast bashfully silent; and so, to on-lookers, thou wast as one of them. When worldlings were bartering in the market, and driving hard bargains, wast thou not as one of them? When they were pursuing vanity with a hunter's foot, wert thou not as greedy for gain as they were? Could any difference be discerned between thee and them? Is there any difference? Here we come to close quarters. Be honest with thine own soul, and make sure that thou art a new creature in Christ Jesus; but when this is sure, walk jealously, lest any should again be able to say, "Even thou wast as one of them." Thou wouldst not desire to share their eternal doom, why then be like them here? Come not thou into their secret, lest thou come into their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, and not with the world.
Chip Ingram encouraged listeners of his "Ancient Paths to Intimacy with God" series to pray this verse back to God in adoration, asking God to bring to mind how He has made this true in your life. I highly encourage you to do so. God is amazing. The very fact that He loves me is so humbling. I'm still trying to comprehend and fully believe this. If you are hiding from God, stop. First, you really can't hide from an all-seeing, all-knowing, everywhere-present God. He already knows you. And unbelievably, He loves you despite what and who you are. Second, you will never be truly free and at peace until you submit yourself to Him and His love and leading in your life. It's one of those great mysteries: surrendering yourself to Him and humbling yourself before Him is actually freeing and uplifting! Contact me if you want prayer or if you want to know more!
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Why?The purpose of this blog is to share what God has been doing in my life and teaching me through my Bible studies. Of course, He is teaching and shaping far more than I am sure that I will take the time to report on my site. Unfortunately, life and living will probably stand in the way of sharing and posting. But as they say, that's life. Share back! ArchivesCategories
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