Daily Bible Reading - Friday Jan. 30
The Devotional really spoke to me this morning. Have change in your life. As everyone knows we can’t keep doing the same thing over and over that we’ve done in the past to lose weight, we really do have to change, change our eating habits, change how we cook, change what we eat, etc. Without this change this surgery will pretty much be a waste. For me, this change has been well worth the sacrifice. I’ve come to realize that old habits tend to want to slip back in our lives but we really do have God to help us through it all. He is always there to give us that extra push. Even 2 years out those old habits want to come back; crazy things just never want to give up do they? Thank the Lord that He is our refuge and strength, I know for me without His help I would not of been able to do it. Thank you Lord! I pray you all are staying warm in this crazy winter. Have a blessed day!
Today’s Reading
Exodus 10:1-12:13
Matthew 20:1-28
Psalm 25:1-15
Proverbs 6:6-11
Daily Devotional for Dieters
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
My grandmother had a favorite picture that showed Jesus stretching out His hand to Peter while they were walking on the sea. It gave my grandmother great comfort to know that if she ever failed in her faith, Christ would stretch out His loving hand to lift her up. Whenever she dieted, she kept that picture close at hand. When the diet got too hard for her to cope with, she looked at her picture and felt God present with her. When we attempt to sacrifice anything, it is good for us to admit that we will have a hard time doing it on our own. When we stretch forth our hand to God, He will always reach back.
Today's thought: When my diet gets toughest, God will be closest.
I Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I was reflecting on Pharaoh and how many times he admitted he had sinned, asked Moses to pray and then when he received the answer he would not let them leave. It struck me that he was putting stipulations on God. If God does this, then I will do this. Only the men could go...nope, another plague. Ok...men, women & children can go but the animals stay...nope, another plague. Finally Pharaoh's heart becomes so hard that Moses is threatened with death and God pronounces the same judgement.
How many times have I put stipulations on God? I am learning thru my sessions with Shelia that I have built a cave around me and crawled inside. I thought I have cried for God to destroy the cave but He hasn't. Why? Because I really had put stipulations on God. My heart really wanted to pretend to serve God from the cave, I didn't really want to be set free. My heart really wanted God to come into the cave with me and stay in there with me. Now that I am seeing these stipulations, I can finally begin to poke my nose out of the cave and let the light of His word lead me. Trusting. (whew, that's a tough one!) One step at a time. With lots of praying...may my heart never become hardened, and may I never put stipulations on God again.
I am so so so thankful that He is faithful.
Life isn't about about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
As has been from the first of the year the Lord continues to have a recurring theme for me... at no other time in my life have I felt it so strongly... and that of coarse is discipline and how important wisdom is in our lives... A couple of days ago Proverbs said... despise not discipline.... how many of us do? If we didn't wouldn't we be better at it? As the word has repeatedly talked about discipline... and we have seen the effects in the Word thus far of having it and not having it.... wow the rewards are wonderful and the price of not having it is well I don't have to look any farther than my own life to "feel" it. I have always thought I was a "fairly" disciplined person and the Lord is showing me just how much I have failed at this... and in that one area that has been my "thorn in the flesh so to speak...~ "FOOD" is how He is bringing so many "life" issues to my attention.
As we know the Word is "sharper then any two edged sword" the Lord has brought to my mind the past few days the scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16...
All Scripture is God~Breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (again right living) so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
This let's me know that even though the Word may be piercing (thoughtfully chosen word) my "life" so to speak... I AM on the right track! I will do myself much good to humble myself and listen and trust God to "correct, rebuke and instruct" me in the ways I should go... and for me that seems to be producing alot of repentance of late... I'm encouraged to know that my Lord loves me enough to deal with me and "require" obedience of me as it will make my days long and much more profitable in the long run.
I have a book called, "The School of Discipline"... boy do I feel like I'm being dragged right thru it! Sometimes kicking and screaming! ~tee hee
Today my mind lends to "surrender"... I've failed so many many times that I "just know" I cannot do this in myself... I don't want to be hard (headed or hearted) but soft clay... mouldable into the perfect vessel for Him, for with that will come contentment, joy, peace, and personal happiness! Amen and Amen... I have succeeded in preaching my self a sermon again this morning...~ha
Have a good and prosperous day.
Bec
