I have been thinking a lot about how easy it is to get depressed because of sin, and feel unable to move on or change. Especially going back into school (or into a work world, or any unfamiliar setting), it's easy to be afraid of the world--will they just pull me down? Look at all this sin; how could I ever get out of it?? I've really been convicted of this lately, and spoken to about it--GOD is able to give us all the power we need! But here are some verses:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6)
God promises to be with us as long as we desire to serve Him--He is not going to let us go! But we must cling to Him! Press into spiritual discipleship, read His Word, memorize verses! He promises to protect us and be with us!!
"You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." (Revelation 2:3-5)
Ok this is more of a warning: Don't leave the revival in July and August! Persevere for the glory of Christ, and He will bless you! Don't forsake the love you have for Christ now. How easy it is to be dulled by the world!
I wanted to share these last two verses as encouragement:
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
"And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?'—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)
Christ knows what you are going through--He was tempted to feel depressed, to go against His Father's authority, to not want the will of the Father. Yet through it, He did the will of the Father. And think about this--sometimes I feel like God has forsaken me and then I realize my sin is inhibiting me from talking to and communing with Him. But Christ was on the cross, TRULY forsaken, like we could never know, for OUR sake. Living in a way that pleases Christ is glorifying to Him and so small compared to the great work He did for us on the cross!!
P.S. I was really convicted because I had a couple words of each of these verses in my head but didn't have them memorized and didn't know really where they were in the Bible...thank goodness for technology and biblegateway.com, but phew I really need to memorize!!
Love you all! Happy Monday!
Showing posts with label Mark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark. Show all posts
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Talking versus Praying
Have you ever noticed (I know I have, that's why I'm asking) that your voice changes when you pray out loud? It doesn't happen when you pray alone or silently, but in a group or a prayer meeting, WOW people can hear that seriousness in your voice! All of a sudden you're using "God talk", remembering verses, phew!
Or are you sitting here thinking, "Oh that's not me. I totally know the kind of people you're talking about though. Those self righteous people."
Ok I want to challenge you on a couple things:
*First, for those of you who know the kind of people I'm talking about: Stop it! Who are we to judge the heart of another person praying? Who's to say what their motive is? We are being self righteous when we think that not praying eloquently means we are somehow more spiritual. God does not want us to pray in a dead way. We are speaking to Him!
*Second, let's all consider our motives when praying out loud. Are we talking just to hear ourselves talk? Or are we really coming in reverence and delighting to speak to our Lord and Savior? Have you ever thought about not praying in a prayer meeting? I know to some of you, this may sound like an excuse to not pray. But I mean it more for those people who pray once, twice, three times in a meeting. If our motives for praying are to appear more righteous to someone else, or to sound good, then we are just Pharisees. If God is putting it on your heart to pray three times, then pray three times! But I think there is also a place for humbly listening to what others are talking to Him about.
*Third, we can talk when we pray. What do I mean by that? Well, something I was thinking about lately is that I don't sound eloquent when I pray. I sometimes have a hard time putting words together, and I sometimes use the wrong word. Sometimes I even insert a 'like' in there! You know what, though, girls? It is not about the words we use. It is about a heart attitude. And that's not saying that the worse we talk, the more holy we must be. But don't be jealous of those who can pray so eloquently! Instead, be encouraged! Come to God with a holy reverence and speak to Him what is on your heart--bring to Him your fears and doubts and praise and questions and everything else. First of all, He already knows it! But a real relationship is just that--real and genuine. Imagine if all your friends came talking to you with British accents and speaking in Victorian language because they thought it would impress you. Would it?
*Lastly, a verse from this morning's reading:
(Mark 1:35) "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed"
Things that struck me about this: VERY EARLY, He was by Himself, He left the distractions and even His closest friends to go commune with God.
Do I have the same kind of communion with God? Am I seeking Him on my own? With the very best of me? What is my personal prayer life like? Or am I just willing to pray in front of others and get their praise?
P.S. Girls, I hope you know I write these posts because they are things I struggle with. I don't mean to preach sermons or give you the impression I have it all figured out. I don't. Even with praying in groups, I go to all extremes--judging people for talking too long, for being too eloquent, for not being eloquent enough, praying just to hear myself talk, trying to find big words and remember verses so I'll sound more holy...all of the above. So these posts are just thoughts :)
Or are you sitting here thinking, "Oh that's not me. I totally know the kind of people you're talking about though. Those self righteous people."
Ok I want to challenge you on a couple things:
*First, for those of you who know the kind of people I'm talking about: Stop it! Who are we to judge the heart of another person praying? Who's to say what their motive is? We are being self righteous when we think that not praying eloquently means we are somehow more spiritual. God does not want us to pray in a dead way. We are speaking to Him!
*Second, let's all consider our motives when praying out loud. Are we talking just to hear ourselves talk? Or are we really coming in reverence and delighting to speak to our Lord and Savior? Have you ever thought about not praying in a prayer meeting? I know to some of you, this may sound like an excuse to not pray. But I mean it more for those people who pray once, twice, three times in a meeting. If our motives for praying are to appear more righteous to someone else, or to sound good, then we are just Pharisees. If God is putting it on your heart to pray three times, then pray three times! But I think there is also a place for humbly listening to what others are talking to Him about.
*Third, we can talk when we pray. What do I mean by that? Well, something I was thinking about lately is that I don't sound eloquent when I pray. I sometimes have a hard time putting words together, and I sometimes use the wrong word. Sometimes I even insert a 'like' in there! You know what, though, girls? It is not about the words we use. It is about a heart attitude. And that's not saying that the worse we talk, the more holy we must be. But don't be jealous of those who can pray so eloquently! Instead, be encouraged! Come to God with a holy reverence and speak to Him what is on your heart--bring to Him your fears and doubts and praise and questions and everything else. First of all, He already knows it! But a real relationship is just that--real and genuine. Imagine if all your friends came talking to you with British accents and speaking in Victorian language because they thought it would impress you. Would it?
*Lastly, a verse from this morning's reading:
(Mark 1:35) "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed"
Things that struck me about this: VERY EARLY, He was by Himself, He left the distractions and even His closest friends to go commune with God.
Do I have the same kind of communion with God? Am I seeking Him on my own? With the very best of me? What is my personal prayer life like? Or am I just willing to pray in front of others and get their praise?
P.S. Girls, I hope you know I write these posts because they are things I struggle with. I don't mean to preach sermons or give you the impression I have it all figured out. I don't. Even with praying in groups, I go to all extremes--judging people for talking too long, for being too eloquent, for not being eloquent enough, praying just to hear myself talk, trying to find big words and remember verses so I'll sound more holy...all of the above. So these posts are just thoughts :)
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