One more to go!

As I sit here and try to justify that I don't need to be using this time to study for my exam at 10:30, I decided to open up my devotional "My Utmost For His Highest." It is a great devotional for me personally, and it seems to always speak the truth that I usually describe as "daggers" or a "slap in the face." Those types of truths. Well today I got stabbed again with another dagger.

Romans 8:28 - "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God..."

Many of you have heard this verse or probably have it memorized, but for some reason the last part of the verse stood out. "...to those who love God." Well I love God. Don't you?! The very next line reads, "-to those who remain true to God's perfect will..." Obviously it's hard to be perfect. If you don't believe me, try taking 5 finals. But we are humans so duhh, we're not perfect. But the very next line in the devotional said this: "God's permissive will is the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters." I don't know if it hit you, but it hit me. When I see that word "testing" I think about all the times where God has challenged and tested my patience, my anger, my words, my heart, my desires, my love, my actions, my faith. I wish I could say to you that I'm successful at following God's perfect will every day in every way, but there's no need to lie. And when I read "the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters" I think about what God would consider me. Am I and are you, one of his TRUE sons? His TRUE daughters? When trials and testing come my way, do I stand strong in the firm foundation of my faith in Jesus Christ, or do I rely on earthly, imperfect, uncertain, physically attainable matters?

I heard a story once, don't really remember the details, but it's about a group of Christians that were meetings in a small house in China, and all of a sudden, someone barged in and waved his AK-47 around and yelled, "Who here will say that they love Jesus? If you don't want to say it, I'm giving you a chance to live." After a few people ran out of the room and out the door, the man with the mask dropped his gun and said, "Ok, I wanna worship with real Christians."

Are you one of God's TRUE sons and daughters?

When I am having trouble, or a bad day, or am in a bad mood, who do I run to? Do I go to my friends? Do I call my parents? siblings? And then finally God? Why is God my last resort? I've done it so many times to God, yet He still loves me and cares for me. How would you feel if you were a last resort? Someone only came to you because no one else was available? Now I have to be careful with examples because I'm not saying that anything should go to me before God or that I am pretending to be God, I'm just trying to say that I need to go to my heavenly Father before anyone else. He made me. He knows me better than I know myself. Why not go to him?

"We don't have to wrestle with God, but we must wrestle before God with things. Beware of lazily giving up. Instead, put up a glorious fight and you will find yourself empowered with His strength."

Psalm 105:4 - Look to the Lord and his strength, seek his face always."

I hope some of that made sense. Let me know if it didn't. I always love comments! =)

Well... back to studying for my LAST FINAL!!!! Can't wait to go home!

Have a great day! Remember to SMILE =)