[S] 2 Kings 19:14 (NIV) --
Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.
[O] This letter most likely drained every strength he had in his body. However, he mustered up his last strength and went up to the temple of the Lord and surrendered it before Him. When I hit a crisis I am not sure if I would first go up to the temple of God and surrender my circumstances or not. Even though Hezekiah may have felt like he was total loser, he still hung on to the promise of God.
[A] When my life passes through crisis I still need to surrender my situation to God by spreading it out before Him. I may feel like I could spend the last strand of strength to find a way out of that situation but God wants me to use that last breath to spread my situation before Him because He is in full control despite where I may be passing through.
[P] Dear Father, Your name is above all things and that's the truth I should never neglect or forget. May Your trust always shine through my life as I surrender my desperate situations before You in humbleness. In Jesus' name. Amen.
From my Life devotional journaling and more (Read Today's Passage)
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
Monday, July 21, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Insignificant Portion of Infinity
[S] James 4:14,15 (NIV) --
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
[O] In some ways this verse is discouraging because my life is just a mist in the timeline of infinity. So, what does it matter how I live my life? Is it going to have an impact in the course of eternity? But verse 15 explains that is the wrong question to ask because how I live my life here on earth will not change God's ultimate plan but how I will spend the eternity in relation to God is going be impacted by how intimately I spend my life here.
[A] I need to start each day by seeking what God's will is for my life through a consistent devotional time with God in the Word. I've been lazy to actually write down the journaling lately after reading the passages but I need to get back into that. This means re-arranging my daily schedule to setting aside that time of appointment with Jesus as a highest priority and make it happen daily.
[P] Dear Father, forgive my laziness to take the easy way out of keeping my relationship with you. I will re-align my 24 hours you've graciously provided for me so I will start out with a standup meeting with you to hear your instructions for my day. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
[O] In some ways this verse is discouraging because my life is just a mist in the timeline of infinity. So, what does it matter how I live my life? Is it going to have an impact in the course of eternity? But verse 15 explains that is the wrong question to ask because how I live my life here on earth will not change God's ultimate plan but how I will spend the eternity in relation to God is going be impacted by how intimately I spend my life here.
[A] I need to start each day by seeking what God's will is for my life through a consistent devotional time with God in the Word. I've been lazy to actually write down the journaling lately after reading the passages but I need to get back into that. This means re-arranging my daily schedule to setting aside that time of appointment with Jesus as a highest priority and make it happen daily.
[P] Dear Father, forgive my laziness to take the easy way out of keeping my relationship with you. I will re-align my 24 hours you've graciously provided for me so I will start out with a standup meeting with you to hear your instructions for my day. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Cave is a Dead End
Psalm 142:1-2 NIV
I cry aloud to the Lord ; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.
The comment at the beginning says this was written by David when he was in the cave as a prayer. He was able to lay all this to God as he was at the dead end of his current journey. Such intimacy with God is something to model after because it is not if but when I will be in my cave also crying out to God.
Where is my cave that I can go to in order to retreat and spill my guts in front of the creator of this universe with a conviction that He will hear me and guide me? I need to identify my own cave to refresh my joy of living my life for Him.
Dear Lord, I treasure to have my intimate and personal time with you especially when my life hits the wall. Please allow my heart to stay soft in Your presence that I will humbly cling on to Your grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Build up, not puff up
1Corinthians 8:1 NIV
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
I don't want to be just puffed up without much content because I will pop like a balloon when I run into a sharp situation. I want to be building up my life from the bottom up with a solid foundation. This verse teaches me that love is the right ingredient in building up my life.
As I'm in the positions of building up others I need to keep this closer to my heart because without loving them first I will only puff them up and that is almost dangerous and negligent. I need to figure out how to build up my children and my high school students.
Dear God, Your grace is what keeps me going even in the position of building others up in You. Would you please allow Your Love to fill up my heart and life so whatever I do I do with the overflowing love coming from You. In Jesus' name.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
I don't want to be just puffed up without much content because I will pop like a balloon when I run into a sharp situation. I want to be building up my life from the bottom up with a solid foundation. This verse teaches me that love is the right ingredient in building up my life.
As I'm in the positions of building up others I need to keep this closer to my heart because without loving them first I will only puff them up and that is almost dangerous and negligent. I need to figure out how to build up my children and my high school students.
Dear God, Your grace is what keeps me going even in the position of building others up in You. Would you please allow Your Love to fill up my heart and life so whatever I do I do with the overflowing love coming from You. In Jesus' name.
Sunday, March 09, 2014
Preparing an ark for myself
DEU 10:1 NASB
"At that time the Lord said to me, 'Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.
Like Moses how many times have I destroyed what God has prepared for me to keep in my heart? Too many to keep track. Many times this happens because I do not prepare a place to store it ahead of time and my circumstances overpower my emotions to throw away God-given jewels.
First I thank God for giving me the second chances. Second I need to prepare a special ark for myself to keep God's commands for me so that when He speaks I can preserve them in this ark I crafted out for myself.
Dear God, please allow your wisdom and skills in my life so I can successfully prepare an ark to hold all that come from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
"At that time the Lord said to me, 'Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.
Like Moses how many times have I destroyed what God has prepared for me to keep in my heart? Too many to keep track. Many times this happens because I do not prepare a place to store it ahead of time and my circumstances overpower my emotions to throw away God-given jewels.
First I thank God for giving me the second chances. Second I need to prepare a special ark for myself to keep God's commands for me so that when He speaks I can preserve them in this ark I crafted out for myself.
Dear God, please allow your wisdom and skills in my life so I can successfully prepare an ark to hold all that come from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Just like the former one
DEU 10:1 NASB
"At that time the Lord said to me, 'Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.
Like Moses how many times have I destroyed what God has prepared for me to keep in my heart? Too many to keep track. Many times this happens because I do not prepare a place to store it and my circumstances overpower my emotions to throw away God-given jewels.
First I thank God for giving me the second chances. Second I need to prepare a special ark for myself to keep God's commands for me so that when speaks I can preserve them in this ark I crafted out for myself.
Dear God, please allow your wisdom and skills in my life so I can successfully prepare an ark to hold all that comes from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
"At that time the Lord said to me, 'Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.
Like Moses how many times have I destroyed what God has prepared for me to keep in my heart? Too many to keep track. Many times this happens because I do not prepare a place to store it and my circumstances overpower my emotions to throw away God-given jewels.
First I thank God for giving me the second chances. Second I need to prepare a special ark for myself to keep God's commands for me so that when speaks I can preserve them in this ark I crafted out for myself.
Dear God, please allow your wisdom and skills in my life so I can successfully prepare an ark to hold all that comes from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Questions from God
Mark 9:33 NIV
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”
Why does God ask me questions when He already knows the answers? Does He want you see how I answer it? Since my answer really doesn't matter my heart condition of answering is what He must be looking for. Am I honest? Am I fearful? How close do I feel toward God? He wants me to come to Him to solve the question together.
His never stops asking me questions which means He never stops giving me chances to work with Him even when I completely mess up. I should replicate this type of attitude toward others when it comes to building a truly collaborative relationship in doing His will.
Dear God, thank you for being a God of second chances for a reckless follower like me. May my heart be overflowing with Your unending love which may touch many others around me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”
Why does God ask me questions when He already knows the answers? Does He want you see how I answer it? Since my answer really doesn't matter my heart condition of answering is what He must be looking for. Am I honest? Am I fearful? How close do I feel toward God? He wants me to come to Him to solve the question together.
His never stops asking me questions which means He never stops giving me chances to work with Him even when I completely mess up. I should replicate this type of attitude toward others when it comes to building a truly collaborative relationship in doing His will.
Dear God, thank you for being a God of second chances for a reckless follower like me. May my heart be overflowing with Your unending love which may touch many others around me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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