[S] Proverbs 4:23 --
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
[O] This verse summarizes all of today's reading because it covers what's at the core of it all. What type of heart I foster will define who I am. Instead of worrying about this area and that area of my life I need to keep my heart saturated in His wisdom such that His wisdom will overflow out of all I do and my decisions also be in sync. The rest of Proverb chapters touch on how I need to live a morally upright life as well as to be an upright parent to my children. Then Romans 8 covers how Jesus had to deliver us from the bondage of our own sin leading us into victory that we do not deserve. It's all about my heart's condition.
[A] Especially applying this to my parenting these days, I believe the following sequence of events much take place in order to have the heart mentioned in this passage: 1) get my heart in order by immersing into God's word daily; 2) get my children's hearts into God's word daily so if their hearts are "squeezed" nothing but His word will spill out; 3) victory in Christ.
[P] Dear Father, please continue to shepherd my heart so it will be molded into the shape of Your love and grace. May my life be a reflection of who You are for our fallen world. In Jesus' name. Amen.
From my Life devotional journaling and more (Read Today's Passage)
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
Showing posts with label Reflection of God's Face. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflection of God's Face. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Bringing Out the Purity
[S] Psalm 12:6 --
6The words of the LORD are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
[O] This concept of how our walk with God is refined much like refining silver grabs me every time I read it from the Bible because my mind loses the intensity of the refinement process God puts me through in order to bring out the pure image of Him. This process is much more than a casual wishful thinking of becoming refined. I can see that the pure words of the LORD entering my mind and then becoming polluted with my own impurities so I need to through the refining process bring out the purity of His word in me ... seven times (i.e., until I'm purified). This story of The Silversmith's Reflection amazingly parallels God's way of refining me.
[A] Usually this refining process is a challenging one and I tend to focus on the toughness of the process, but I should shift my focus about how passing through such a process will allow my life to reflect God's image because that'll be an indication that my refining process is progressing towards completion.
[P] Dear Father, even though I know this is what I had asked for, it just isn't fun going through it but I want to thank You per 1 Thessalonians 5:18 for refining me. May my life reflect Your smiling face to others through this on-going process. In Jesus' name. Amen.
6The words of the LORD are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
[O] This concept of how our walk with God is refined much like refining silver grabs me every time I read it from the Bible because my mind loses the intensity of the refinement process God puts me through in order to bring out the pure image of Him. This process is much more than a casual wishful thinking of becoming refined. I can see that the pure words of the LORD entering my mind and then becoming polluted with my own impurities so I need to through the refining process bring out the purity of His word in me ... seven times (i.e., until I'm purified). This story of The Silversmith's Reflection amazingly parallels God's way of refining me.
[A] Usually this refining process is a challenging one and I tend to focus on the toughness of the process, but I should shift my focus about how passing through such a process will allow my life to reflect God's image because that'll be an indication that my refining process is progressing towards completion.
[P] Dear Father, even though I know this is what I had asked for, it just isn't fun going through it but I want to thank You per 1 Thessalonians 5:18 for refining me. May my life reflect Your smiling face to others through this on-going process. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, January 17, 2011
The LORD Was With Him
[S] Genesis 39:2,23 --
2The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
23The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.
[O] Success and prosperity in the society are two top objectives people pursue, however, most people fall short of reaching them because just like in a race not everyone can come in first. Furthermore, even for those who had reached a satisfied level of success or prosperity they will not be satisfied and keeps going for more and more thus they end up feeling like they never succeeded. Contrary to that, Joseph's life even in hostile and unpleasant circumstances reached success (v.2) and prosper (v.23) because the LORD was with him. Not because he came up with a brilliant business plan of a killer app or not because he had a wealth line of heritage. It was this recognition by others of how God was with him brought forth these results.
[A] Am I trying so hard to "succeed" in certain goals in my life? I just need to make sure God is with me and fully give credit to Him for working through me for bringing forth amazing results.
[P] Dear Father, please make my life like Joseph's where Your presence reflected clearly in his life. Just like how the mirror reflects everything, I want to reflect the awesomeness of You rather than trying to reveal myself. When I die, I would like for people to say "The LORD was with Yoon." I humbly ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
2The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
23The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.
[O] Success and prosperity in the society are two top objectives people pursue, however, most people fall short of reaching them because just like in a race not everyone can come in first. Furthermore, even for those who had reached a satisfied level of success or prosperity they will not be satisfied and keeps going for more and more thus they end up feeling like they never succeeded. Contrary to that, Joseph's life even in hostile and unpleasant circumstances reached success (v.2) and prosper (v.23) because the LORD was with him. Not because he came up with a brilliant business plan of a killer app or not because he had a wealth line of heritage. It was this recognition by others of how God was with him brought forth these results.
[A] Am I trying so hard to "succeed" in certain goals in my life? I just need to make sure God is with me and fully give credit to Him for working through me for bringing forth amazing results.
[P] Dear Father, please make my life like Joseph's where Your presence reflected clearly in his life. Just like how the mirror reflects everything, I want to reflect the awesomeness of You rather than trying to reveal myself. When I die, I would like for people to say "The LORD was with Yoon." I humbly ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Labels:
Devotion,
Prosperity,
Reflection of God's Face,
Success
Monday, June 28, 2010
Restoring the Shiny-ness
[S] Psalm 80:3 -- 3O God, restore us
And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.
[O] This passage reminds me of restoring a tarnished silverware which over time turns from a shiny, sparkling silver to dark and black-covered surface. What's also interesting is that even though this process takes place over time, I usually notice it one day almost thinking the tarnishing took place overnight. I enjoy applying the cleaning solution to tarnished silverware because as the original shiny and sparkling surface emerges from beneath, I get a sense as though I've just made them fresh. And on top of that when I can see myself reflecting on the newly restored shiny surface, it brings me a truly refreshing sense. This psalmist must have been thinking about the same concept when he wrote this phrase -- how our lives can over time gets covered with "tarnish" and stops reflecting God's face and how we need to request God to restore us to the original state of letting His face shine upon us.
[A] The tarnishing takes place over time, little by little. Instead of waiting until I'm "hopelessly" tarnished, I need to apply the cleaning solution on daily basis to keep my shiny-ness in order to have His face shine off my face. I feel this cleaning solution for me is my prayer time with God and I need to dedicate more of my personal prayer time.
[P] Dear God, I request that You would restore me and cause Your face to shine upon my face as I approach You during my personal prayer times. In Jesus' name. Amen.
And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.
[O] This passage reminds me of restoring a tarnished silverware which over time turns from a shiny, sparkling silver to dark and black-covered surface. What's also interesting is that even though this process takes place over time, I usually notice it one day almost thinking the tarnishing took place overnight. I enjoy applying the cleaning solution to tarnished silverware because as the original shiny and sparkling surface emerges from beneath, I get a sense as though I've just made them fresh. And on top of that when I can see myself reflecting on the newly restored shiny surface, it brings me a truly refreshing sense. This psalmist must have been thinking about the same concept when he wrote this phrase -- how our lives can over time gets covered with "tarnish" and stops reflecting God's face and how we need to request God to restore us to the original state of letting His face shine upon us.
[A] The tarnishing takes place over time, little by little. Instead of waiting until I'm "hopelessly" tarnished, I need to apply the cleaning solution on daily basis to keep my shiny-ness in order to have His face shine off my face. I feel this cleaning solution for me is my prayer time with God and I need to dedicate more of my personal prayer time.
[P] Dear God, I request that You would restore me and cause Your face to shine upon my face as I approach You during my personal prayer times. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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