This past Sunday morning, our pastor gave a message that really spoke to my heart. Matthew 10:32 So I will acknowledge in front of my Father in heaven that person who acknowledges me in front of others (God's Word translation). We need to have a revelation knowledge of Jesus, not just a head knowledge. Each one needs a personal experience with Jesus. That is the only way we can show Jesus to others and He draw them to Himself.
I'd been thinking on this for a while. Time should be spent each day praying, reading God's Word, just spending time in His presence. I made a decision Sunday morning to give it all to God: my money, my job, , my worship, my kids, my husband, my relationships with friends, my writing, my bass playing, learning to play the harmonica, my life. We just finished Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace and he says it takes 90 days for a new habit to become automatic. So, I am prayerfully turning over these things that I haven't already. Proverbs 16:3 states-Entrust your efforts to the LORD, and your plans will succeed (God's Word translation). If I am praying, listening for God's voice, following God's Word and will for my life, then what I am doing would be in accordance with Him. And if I fail one day, I will ask for forgiveness and start over the next day. So many times when I skip a day of reading the Bible, it can turn into many skipped days. But each day that I read, is a day God can speak to me through His word. He's my best friend and what better way to get to know Him better than to spend time in His word where He speaks?
Reading the Bible is more than reading words on a page. They open up who Jesus is, His heart, His mission, His will for my life. He places great value on me, on each of us, so I can surrender my all to Him in love and trust. I want to spend my time with Him, learning all I can about Him, what He wants me to do, listening for His will. I want to spend time reading His Word, praying to Him, worshiping who He is. Each time I read, there is something there for me, no matter what I'm going through. God's Word speaks to my heart. When I pray, I feel His peace surround me. I don't want to lose that feeling of closeness.
As I consciously made this decision to grow closer to God, and turn it all over to Him, I had a bout with headaches again. I figure these came from eating the wrong foods, caffeine, and not sleeping well, all known migraine triggers for me. So, it appears I should give my eating habits over to God as well. It would make me more healthy. He looks out for us, cares for us. He doesn't want us to suffer. I love eating out. They put something in that food so I'll have to go back for more. But sometimes it gives me headaches when I go out to eat. Drinking coke just makes me want more coke. And when I don't drink enough caffeine, I get headaches. So, I looked up what foods are considered migraine triggers and what foods aren't. Pretty much I can eat grass, as long as there are no bugs in it, because meat can cause headaches too. I found a list of foods that I can eat for a few days and then after that I can add my regular foods back a little bit at a time to see which foods are causing the headaches. This is a plan. But I will need God's help because I like food. I should already be eating more vegetables, but do they come in chocolate? No.
So, as the sermon ended on Sunday morning, I was thinking of the song that says something's moving, something's changing. Then I was thinking I give it all to you, Lord. All that I am and all that I have. And such peace surrounded me it reminded me of the verse I have claimed as my verse for the year, which is fitting since we are getting close to the end of the year and I'll need to find another one for next year. This is the verse: Philippians 4:6-7 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.
As we get ready to start a new year, let's make a renewed effort to lean on God, let Him lead us, and turn our everything over to Him.
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