Thursday, May 16, 2013

Day 89: Receptive to Him



Reading: Psalm 38:13-22

Through David, we are able to see someone who suffered through all kinds of trial and hardship. It can be quite easy to relate to David when we are facing troubles of our own. Maybe you can even relate with how he cries out to God in overwhelming emotion. David shows us a certain pattern of crying out to God when he is in need of rescue. He:
A- Asks: He cries out to God in the first place, asking for His help and rescue. This is an important first step in waiting for God's rescue. I think a lot of Christians especially assume that God will just come, and that is a great act of faith, but remember that faith without actions is dead. Asking God for help is an act of humility we all need to take.
C- Confess: We need to come humble before God, confessing our downfall and the traps we fall into. 
T-Trust: Finally, we need to put our trust in The Lord to get us through the trials. 

An example of this was when I was trying to decide if I should go to the Dominican Republic this year on missions, and it had become an agonizing decision for me, as the human mind can't grasp the greatness of God and His work. I finally asked God to make it clear what I should do, and prayed fervently over it, as well as had some close friends and relatives pray for me too. I confessed to God that I was scared and didn't know what would happen if I did go, especially now that I'm leaving my husband at home. Finally, after much prayer and advice, I decided to take the leap and go. It was a tough decision for me but I told God, "alright, I trust in You to take care of the things I'm worried about and to do Your work through me." I am so glad I went as I got to experience God in new ways. Just be sure to go to Him in times of hardship and direction.


Reading: Luke 8:1-18

Jesus compared His ministry a lot to the sowing of seeds and harvesting. In this reading, we see the different types of hearts that the Word encounters. The seeds are the Word and the ground it lands on is the heart. We see what happens when the seeds fall on different types of soil. 
People who hear the Word, but quickly write it off as fiction or nonsense are like the seeds that land on the pavement or the road. The fruit will never have a chance to grow.
People who hear the Word and are excited about it for a little while, but it wears away from their lives are like the seeds that land among rocks. They might begin to grow, but never have that deep enough root to maintain fruit. The people here may just move on to the next fad and find something new to excite them.
People who hear the Word, but are too busy with life's agendas and worries to consistently stay in it, are like the seeds among thorns. The seeds grow, but they are chocked out by thorns and weeds. I feel as if this is the most common form of seed in America, as we are a land of busyness and worry. 
But then there are people who are like the seeds who land in good soil. The Word is receptor by a willing, open heart that casts it's worries on God and sets proper priorities. They stay with it through all of life's trials, and they begin to produce fruit. 
Which type of ground are your seeds of God's Word getting sown onto? Be receptive and open to God's Word, and make sure you make it a priority. 


Reading: Numbers 27:12-29:11

Celebration of holiness and sacredness of The Lord was indeed a form of worship in Moses' time, and it shows how worshipful we should be towards our God today. Many of our Christian holidays have become so commercialized and seem to have lost their original meaning. Leaving Christ in Christmas and Jesus in Easter is a way of worshiping what He has done for us. When we start making it about ourselves, we lose the sacredness of of what it's truly about. Don't let the commercialism take over the true meaning of the celebration meant for Christ and what He's done for us.


So where are you in the faith? Where do you turn in times of trouble? What kind of heart do you have when you take in God's Word? What does He mean to you during worshipful celebration? Allow Him to work in you by turning to Him.




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