Day 25: Reader becoming the writer!

Abba, before I read and write today, I pray that you visit with me. Be with me as I read your word and reveal yourself to me. Give me confirmation and affirmation that seeking you and understanding your words is the only way for me to live. Confirm my path and when necessary, redirect me. Allow me to experience your presence today.

Amen

-Read Proverbs 25 and Psalm 119-

This is a very hard day for me to write, because Psalm 119 is SO very important and personal to me. I'm finding it impossible to separate myself (and my past feelings and notes) from this passage in order to write something that everyone could receive something from. 

But isn't that the beauty of scripture and our own personal experiences with it! That we can learn from each other and see things we might of missed in the past. So today, here is what we are going to do. I want to learn from you.  I want to read this scripture through new eyes, and I can't seem to on my own. So I'm going to ask that you write a little something on Psalm 119 and what you hear and feel when you read it. This is not required, but if the point of this study is to stretch ourselves, then I'd go for it! I'm going to write something personal myself and include it as a comment in the section below. Feel free to do the same, or if you'd prefer it stay private, you can email me at steenjones@gmail.com. But I'd encourage everyone to stay public, because you NEVER know who might receive truth and something new from your perspective. God could use you to reveal truths to someone else. 

P.S. I've read this chapter in the TNIV, The Message, and The Voice. I highly recommend it in The Message version if you have access to one. 

I can't wait to hear what y'all get from this wonderful chapter :)

Day 18: Undivided Heart.

Art by Karenee-art

Today we are reading Proverbs 18 and Psalm chapters 86-90. Before reading, pray that God reveals something new to you today!

-Read Scripture-

We've all heard that David was "a man after God's own heart." But was does that mean? I've grown up my whole life hearing that and wishing I could have that kind of heart, but never understanding how. About a year or so ago, I was reading about David in the message version of the bible and it read "...my servant David who did what I told him and lived from his undivided heart, pleasing me." 1 Kings 14:8. That is when it clicked for me! I want an undivided heart! A heart that is not divided between heaven and earth, but solely focused on God, 100%. That is what is a "man after God's own heart" looks like. Now that is something I understand and can strive for!

Since then, I've received confirmation after confirmation of this idea and principle. Let's look at Psalm 86:11 in ALL different translations.

"Teach me your way, O LORD; I will walk in your truth; Unite my heart to fear your name." NKJ

"Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness, give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." TNIV

"Train me, GOD, to walk straight; then I'll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear." The Message

"O Eternal One, guide me along your path so that I will live in your truth. Unite my divided heart so that I will fear Your great name." The Voice

We live divided. My heart is all over the place, divided between my children, husband, family, friends, work, money, and God. It is possible to live with an undivided heart. David did it, even with all the baggage and screw-ups. We just need to take all the things that divide us and look at them through the lens of God. How can I glorify him in all these areas? See the need to seek his guidance in these different areas. Be willing to surrender all of them to him.

I try to pray everyday for God to unite my divided heart, to make it 100% focused on him. The truth is, even though I'm not sure how to accomplish this, he knows how to. And very slowly I'm seeing my focuses change. I'm able to let go of the things that divided me and my attention. I am able now to focus on the things that I know he has called me to. It's been a very rewarding journey thus far.

We all have hundreds of things that divide our hearts. Today, think about how that looks for you. Are there things that need to be cut out? Are there important issues that need to be addressed through God's filter rather than the world's? Is there something you need to surrender? Or perhaps you just need to ask God to help you maintain your life but put him front and center. Whatever this looks like for you, I pray that God gives you the next steps.

Abba, I pray you unite our hearts today. Allow us to see our lives as they truly are, divided between heaven and earth. Thank you for Christ bridging the gap and the Holy Spirit that helps us accomplish what you have for us. Show us how to refocus our hearts and minds so that we can focus on you. 100%. Show us how to work, be in school, and live our lives with you at the center. Unite our hearts with yours so that they may beat together. Make your will our will, your cause our cause, and your desires our desires.
Seriously, I mean it. :)
Amen.

Day 3: The Dark Side

Today we are reading Proverbs chapter 3 and Psalm chapters 11-15. Before reading, clear your mind of all distractions and allow yourself to truly focus on what you are reading. Giving God all of our attention is the best gift we can give. :)

 -Read Scriptures-

No one likes to be disciplined or corrected. We like to be right, and don't like it when we are proved wrong. Why is this? We like to think ourselves capable, independent, and able to provide for ourselves and those around us. We want to make it on our own, proving to those around us that we can succeed in this life.

It is counter-intuitive, but the bible tells us to, "Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions." Proverbs 3:5 (The Voice) And let me tell you the truth, from my own experience, God's ideas and plans are far superior to ours. They are more grand, more creative, and have more impact than we can even comprehend.

Relying on ourselves can be, not only ineffective, but dangerous. When you ignore God and trust only in yourself, then you begin to give yourselves the credit when something works or is successful. You feel you've earned it. You feel entitled, and entitlement can lead to a very dangerous path. It can lead to an abundance of pride, anger, bitterness, hate, and greed. You earned that promotion but didn't get it. Anger and pride. The person who got it didn't deserve it. Bitterness and resentment which eventually turns to hate. You get the picture. Even Hollywood gets this right, remember Star Wars and the path to the dark side, "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering..."

When you forget that it is God that provides, it's a slippery slope to a dark place. People don't become foolish or wicked overnight, it is a gradual hardening of one's heart. What do you do if you find yourself in this dark place?

"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:11-12 (TNIV) 

God loves you enough to intervene when you are heading down a dark road. Don't resent it or fight it. If you saw a child heading toward the street, you'd run after them and scold them for running towards danger. Yes you scolded them, but you did it to teach them the importance and gravity of the situation. God is constantly saving us from the multitude of worldly dangers.

Sometimes God's discipline and correction is simply Him shielding us from hurt or pain. We don't always see the future results of our decisions, (no matter how seemingly insignificant), but he always does. And many times, he steps in to prevent trouble. Don't look at His rebuke or discipline as a failure or punishment. In reality, he could be saving you from suffering, or course correcting you to somewhere better!

I want to leave you to meditate on one of my absolute favorite verses, "God's business is putting things right, he loves getting the lines straight, setting us straight. Once we're standing tall, we can look him straight in the eye." Psalm 11:7 (The Message)

Today, and anytime in the future you find yourself in a dark place, I want you to picture God coming down, picking you up off the floor and standing you in front of him, so you're looking him in the eye. Face to face. No shame, just an overwhelming sense that he loves and is proud of you. Picture and meditate on this for a few minutes, and the weight of it's meaning.