Patience is key

For the past few days I had been feeling pretty distant from God. It seemed like I wasn't as "on fire" as I was the past few weeks. So as I was sitting in my room, I had decided to really focus on what I was reading in the Bible, instead of just reading it and checking the verses off my list. I'm currently doing the "30 Days With Jesus" in the back of my Bible where it gives you chapters to read in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for 30 days about all that Jesus did. I've really been enjoying the Book of Luke during my study. So I decided to go back and read everything that I had highlighted, which was a lot of stuff, and rewrite them in a journal in my own words. So this way it would stick to my brain more, and I would get more out of it, instead of reading it and forgetting about it as soon as I moved on with another verse or chapter. Basically I'm taking notes so that I can have references for later on. Anyways, so I'm writing down the story of how Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert for 40 days. Then all the sudden, it starts raining like crazy, and it wasn't even suppose to rain! Thunder so loud and lightning so bright, how could I not be close to God? I went outside to see the storm for myself, and it was so powerful. Wind blowing the seat cushions off the furniture, and huge rain drops slamming into the windows. It felt like God was telling me, "By the way, I'm still here." Even when I can't feel Him, or I don't feel close to Him, He is still there...and He has made that known to me. Whether it's a storm full of power and beauty, or a simple answered prayer, He is there, because He is God. Just be patient, because He is always at work. Sometimes that's all He wants from us, is patience.

My God is Your God, cool huh?

When we think of God we think of our own God. I mean, yeah it's still the same God that everyone else is thinking of, but in our heads he is our own personal God. Which isn't a bad thing at all. But something I came across a few days ago as I was reading my Bible, is that my God is the same God who spoke to Moses, who was with David through the battle of Goliath, who literally spoke through Jeremiah, told Adam to name everything, and commanded Noah to build an arc. I think that's incredible!! I always thought of God being MY everything, and nobody elses. But when I look back to when it all started, God made everyone and everything, therefore, he is everyones God, not just mine. It really boosts my faith level up a few notches knowing that the same God I talk to everyday has done these great things for people, and through people. Amazing.

Pull your own weight.

So this morning the LAST thing I wanted to do was get up and go to school. As soon as my alarm went off I became so angry. The minute I woke up I decided that I would not be looking nice for school today. I was thinking some nice comfy sweats would go perfectly with this crappy day. I somehow managed to get out of bed, a few minutes after my alarm went off. I'm pretty sure my eyes were still closed when I turned the shower on. It was not going to be a good day. During my shower I started praying. I found myself praying the whole time I was in the shower. Finally when I got out, I felt so different, so much better! I wasn't tired or grumpy that I had to go to school, and I ended up wearing jeans and a nice sweater thing. I was so amazed by how quickly God answered my prayers! This probably doesn't seem like a big deal, but it was for me. I have felt so distant to God this entire time I've been saved, which has been for 5 years. But now, I feel like I'm talking to someone when I pray, and not only that, but I can tell that someone is there listening! I have come to realize that God doesn't just come to you without you making an effort. Which is how I thought it went down, but I couldn't have been more wrong. "Come near to God, and God will come near to you." (James 4:8) It's all about the effort that you put into it. I was just waiting for Him to make me feel different, without me doing anything. But now, He has been making himself known to me. When I pray now, I always say "Everyday I want to grow closer and closer to You, and I pray that I would never be satisfied with our relationship until it's time for me to go with You." Seems to me that He's been listening, and answering.

Focus on the real stuff!

It feels like each day is getting better and better. When I pray, I feel like God is right there next to me listening. I was reading 1 Kings 3 and its about how Solomon is the new king. One night God came to Solomon in his dream and said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." So then Solomon prayed for the wisdom and knowledge to be a good king. He didn't pray for riches or a long life, and God was pleased by this. So not only did Solomon receive knowledge and wisdom, but God also gave him riches and a long life. This story really spoke to me because in Matthew there is a verse that says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22)." People really take advantage of this verse a lot. But Solomon didn't, and because he didn't, God gave him more because he was very aware of what he needed rather than what he wanted. We should stop focusing our prayers on the lottery or having a wealthy future. Our prayers should be all about God, we should be thanking him more than asking from him.

Life could be so much better if...

So I'm just sitting in my room, reading my Bible. Then the thought of homework crosses my mind...great. The homework is for dual credit government. I have to read from pages 3 to 42, that's a lot of reading for me. Let me tell you, going from reading the Bible to reading an enormous book about politics is no easy task. I read the first paragraph and was already so bored. I couldn't stop thinking about the differences between the Bible and the politics book. Life could be so much better if I was just assigned to read the Bible for government class because the Bible is truth, it's our sword, our weapon. But no, I have to read something that is brain washing all my beliefs. I know that politics are a big part of the way we live, but sometimes I wish that we could all be on the same page, just once! Anyways, that's my dilemma at the moment. I mean, it's great that I'm even reading the Bible because I hate to read! So lets do the math here: reading + politics + a lot of pages = the worst homework assignment ever. Here come the prayers.

No Worries

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. For I am the Lord, your God, your Savior." -Isaiah 43:2-3

This is the verse I came across as I began my new life. I have learned that you can't do it by yourself. I was kidding myself. I would share bible verses to my team, but not for God. I did it for me. I tried so hard to keep a Christian reputation. I realized that you truly love God when you start doing things in his name. I'm starting to figure out that when you are sold out for him, you don't have to prove anything to anyone else. I used to doubt my love for God. I used to doubt my prayers to God. I used to doubt the fact that I was even saved by God. But now that I think about it, I wasted so much time worrying about myself, and I didn't even have anything to worry about! I had a bed to sleep in every night, food to eat for every meal, clean clothes to wear everyday. So what was my problem? I've recently figured out that worrying is nothing but a wasteful thought eating at your soul. Before I was even brought into this world, God had my life all mapped out, and the best part about that is, everyone who believes in him will have a "happily ever after" kind of life. So I'm done worrying. When I go through deep waters, he will be with me. When I go through rivers of difficulty, I won't drown, because he is God, and that alone should be enough.