Verse of the Day

Since my brother Michael posted Micah 6:8 for his verse today, I thought I'd post mine... Mainly because I'm having issues with it. Since the beginning of June, I've been having real issues with reading my Bible daily - heck, reading it WEEKLY - and it's getting me down. My nasty, sordid sins are creeping back into my life, and I haven't been in the Word so it can lead me to the Cross for forgiveness and cleansing... [headdesk]

Not. GOOD! [gives self a Jethro slap]

So... I thought I'd give myself some scriptural help. First, from John's first epistle:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And then from the magnificent book of Romans:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reading my Bible, turning to my Father for help and forgiveness... These aren't things that I have to do as much as they are things that I get to do because of His love and sacrifice.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to occupy myself the next little while by catching up on my Father's love letter to me, and having a good, long talk with Him.

Comments

[David]

1.

"I'm going to occupy myself the next little while by catching up on my Father's love letter to me, and having a good, long talk with Him."

Good idea.

You might try putting Micah 6:8, the Romans verses you cite and... Matthew 22:16-21. It's amazing how Matthew 22:21 really sheds light on the other verses ("render... to God the things that are God's", i.e., that which is stamped with HIS image--our very selves--belongs to Him and should be FULLY recognized as His property.)

[Denita TwoDragons]

2.

Oh man, I just got the demonstration of a lifetime from God right now. I was reading this post, just a few minutes ago, and had it up on the browser. At the bottom of the page is your "You Might Also Like:" section, with three links to other posts you've done. One of them led to a link to Fail Blog. A few clicks of the mouse and I was engrossed in reading the Fail Blog. Which would have been great and all...but most of the Fails involve subjects I really shouldn't have been laughing at. I start getting a little antsy about all the implied and explicit body parts I'm seeing...and the page starts having problems refreshing...so I click it off. Which instantly brings up the page of the next tab--which happens to be THIS VERY PAGE. And highlights in the center is "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

OK, I get it, God...I'm sorry... *sheepish*

--TwoDragons

[Kat]

3.

God is so good - and I am so glad! If He didn't love me (all his kids) like He does, I'm sure He would have cast me off ages ago!

As you may also have noticed, I've been playing with my theme and banner, as well as finishing up the priming on the shelves fr our "library."

But God's Word that I read this morning is percolating in the back of my brain, particularly that selection from Ps 56 that I incorporated into the banner design. And the reading in the NT for today was Romans 1, so...

Yep, God's definitely giving me a very firm, but very loving "WAKE UP, CHILD!"

[Denita TwoDragons]

4.

I've been struggling a lot myself, so I sympathize. I've been keenly aware of my inclination toward sloth and distraction, something that has caused me to drift from Him in the past. I've had to cut myself from pretty much every computer game I love to play (including a $50 game Eric got for me for Christmas that started consuming every aspect of my life...), and limit my time on the computer in general--which is why I've been even less of a presence online than I was--in order to focus on my time in the Word. I feel like an addict desperate for a fix (just being online right now is making me twitchy,) but when it gets really bad, I pray and grab my Bible or my crochet work and take a breather.

The Scripture that's been popping up for me has been Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." For the last three weeks it's literally popped up everywhere. I've also been dwelling on John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

If He can overcome the world, I know that by His limitless grace and strength I can too. And so can you, Kat. I'll pray for you--and I know you're praying for me, too. *hug*

--TwoDragons

[Kat]

5.

Actually, Romans 8:28 kept coming up in Hawaii the day our wallets went missing... But what is really comforting and encouraging is that He follows it up with:

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30, ESV)

We've just got to keep trusting in Him, staying as close as we can to Him, doing our best to worship Him, and knowing that it is HE who will complete his good work in us - He will fulfill His promises to us, and no one and nothing can take us from His hand... Including *US!*

[Man of the West]

6.

...inclination toward sloth and distraction...

Amongst BLOGGERS? No! Can't be! :)

Kat, I think we all have our issues with spiritual disciplines from time to time. FWIW, I sometimes liken it to how I approached running (I don't run anymore, I do karate instead, if you're wondering): getting started is the hardest part. The first three or four minutes I ran (or the first few minutes I do karate, for that matter) were just awful. It was only after I got into it that I started to think, "Hey--

This is pretty good."

Anything in my life that needs discipline benefits hugely from reminding myself of the things I truly want and how good they really are. Keeping the end goal in mind helps me maintain the motivation to get something done. Remembering how good it feels to perform the disciplines that have been laid out for me helps me to get through those first few minutes.

Just some thoughts, for what they're worth. I certainly hope not to come across like a spiritual know-it-all. As I said, we've all got our issues...

[Kat]

7.

Oh, no, MotW - I truly appreciate your input; I don't really have a godly man, aside from my pastor, who can speak into my life with knowledge and wisdom (you might want to keep that in mind, and my beloved husband in prayer), so comment ahead, LOL!

And my spiritual discipleship seems to go on waves - but several things (like travel) tend to knock it completely off kilter. I brought my Bible and Tabletalk devotional to Hawaii with me, but [smacks self] didn't open them once! How pitiful and stupid is that, and what a BAD example for my darling daughter!

My fickleness and inconsistency (is that a redundancy?) is incredibly frustrating to me! I am SO glad that I'm not God, because if I were, I would have kicked me out of the family long ago!