We all go through rough patches and down times. I have been going through some myself. And today I finally admitted to myself that I am and can be in a vulnerable state. But this vulnerable state is only an emotion. Emotions are changeable, wouldn't you agree?
I am willing to open up to this change and allowing the Holy Spirit to take control, to lead the way, to give me strength and show me how.
“But because you, my brothers, are not living in darkness the day cannot take you completely by surprise. After all, burglary only takes place at night! You are all sons of light, sons of the day, and none of us belongs to darkness or the night. Let us then never fall into the sleep that stupefies the rest of the world: let us keep awake, with our wits about us. Night is the time for sleep and the time when men get drunk, but we men of the daylight should be alert, with faith and love as our breastplate and the hope of our salvation as our helmet. For God did not choose us to condemn us, but that we might secure his salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. He died for us, so that whether we are “awake” or “asleep” we share his life. So go on cheering and strengthening each other with thoughts like these, as I have no doubt you have been doing.
Reverence your ministers: regulate the conduct of church members“We ask you too, my brothers, to get to know those who work so hard among you. They are your spiritual leaders to keep you on the right path. Because of this high task of theirs, hold them in highest honour.
“Live together in peace, and our instruction to this end is to reprimand the unruly, encourage the timid, help the weak and be very patient with all men. Be sure that no one repays a bad turn by a bad turn; good should be your objective always, among yourselves and in the world at large. Be happy in your faith at all times. Never stop praying. Be thankful, whatever the circumstances may be. If you follow this advice you will be working out the will of God expressed to you in Jesus Christ." ~1 Thessalonians 5:4-15 (J.B. Phillips New Testament)
Have I thanked You LORD for showing me the right ways?
Here is what I have learned, rough patches are how we grow and learn who God is… We can be greatly encouraged, as well as greatly discouraged. We have a choice. Here is how I chose to be encouraged. This page, right here... started because I told God, "I need to be encouraged..."
He said, "Encourage others, put others first, and you will be greatly encouraged." Just because you are educated, scholarly and "book smart", it does not make you wise - learning through the Holy Spirit is where the true wisdom resides.... I will take my high school education and God's inpouring to me any day over years of education and self-involvement alone. I love education, and educated people... but trust God's Word more.
Just saying.
Are you waiting for God to fix you? Well, He is waiting for you to trust His presence and do for yourself what you can do, and trust that He will be there when you need Him.
© 2012 Shawn Boreta, Giving Thanks Daily
Web: http://shawnsgivingthanksdaily.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150327530757809
*****************
We are Wonderfully Made (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wonderfully-Made/130178720330362), living to encourage and Equip His People (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Equip-His-People-Ephesians-411-13/170487976325407) and completely committed to believing greatly Psalm 139 with purpose (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Psalm-139-with-purpose/183264461708034).
No comments:
Post a Comment