Post by cspain03 on Sept 22, 2014 12:42:36 GMT
Good morning !!! I wish you all the very best on this last day of summer. I pray we each enter into autumn refreshed and excited about what God will do through and with us in the new season !
The verses that stood out to me from today's readings were:
Job 22:
2 "Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?
3 Is it of any special benefit to the Almighty that you should be righteous, or is it any gain to him that you make your ways blameless?
I know I have found myself "feeling myself" thinking that I was doing God a favor by following His word or serving His people, whatever the case may be. WRONG! I am bringing God no benefit, God doesn't need me. But what a God we serve that He WANTS me, each of us!!! I think we have to remind ourselves that we should follow the word of The Lord because it pleases Him, because we show Him love and appreciation by being obedient. Yes we know that if we are faithful He will be faithful in return but that shouldn't be our motivation. Yes we know that His word says He wants good for us and He wants to bless us, but that shouldn't be our motivation : imma do this so I can get this. We find ourselves Unsatisfied in that mindset - trust me I know! I don't agree with much from Elizaph but he's got a point with this statement.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent,
24 and throw your gold in the dust - your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines -
25 then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you.
26 Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God.
I See this as a reminder to not put material things and wealth before God. I can admit I've done this before. True love isn't based on how rich we are and are what we have and when we place more value in riches than in God WE are the ones thy loss out. This also, for me, ties back to why satan mentioned to God about why Job was such a good servant - Job had riches and lots of children and land and servants - it's easy to praise God and follow Him when you love comfortably and don't have real worries about your needs (and wants) being met. But are we willing to cast all those earthly things away and put true value in God and only Him?!?!
Job 23:
3 O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence!
11 My feet have followed his steps closely; I have kept to his way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion.
13 But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does.
14 For he fulfills his decree against me, and many such things are his plans.
This reminds me of those moments when I've run down the list of all that I've done right and find myself wondering why things seem so wrong and difficult and what it feels like God has left me. It's so easy to find myself in that self righteous position when times get tough and I am frustrated my my situation. But that's not the mindset to have. Yes, we are working to do the right things but we are still sinners and imperfect. But even with that we can't always connect that with why we are going through a hard time - there might just be a lesson we need to learn or growth we need to develop so God can bless us with more/answer those prayers or protect us from something. And the case may be like Jon where we are set as an example and we just need to trust God and keep the faith and know we will make it out because God is always there and we need not feel as those He has left or ignored us when things are difficult or confusing or frustrating or can't be explained. It's not our job to know everything or have all the answers - we just have to know the Father we serve does!!!
Have a fantastic day!
The verses that stood out to me from today's readings were:
Job 22:
2 "Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?
3 Is it of any special benefit to the Almighty that you should be righteous, or is it any gain to him that you make your ways blameless?
I know I have found myself "feeling myself" thinking that I was doing God a favor by following His word or serving His people, whatever the case may be. WRONG! I am bringing God no benefit, God doesn't need me. But what a God we serve that He WANTS me, each of us!!! I think we have to remind ourselves that we should follow the word of The Lord because it pleases Him, because we show Him love and appreciation by being obedient. Yes we know that if we are faithful He will be faithful in return but that shouldn't be our motivation. Yes we know that His word says He wants good for us and He wants to bless us, but that shouldn't be our motivation : imma do this so I can get this. We find ourselves Unsatisfied in that mindset - trust me I know! I don't agree with much from Elizaph but he's got a point with this statement.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent,
24 and throw your gold in the dust - your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines -
25 then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you.
26 Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God.
I See this as a reminder to not put material things and wealth before God. I can admit I've done this before. True love isn't based on how rich we are and are what we have and when we place more value in riches than in God WE are the ones thy loss out. This also, for me, ties back to why satan mentioned to God about why Job was such a good servant - Job had riches and lots of children and land and servants - it's easy to praise God and follow Him when you love comfortably and don't have real worries about your needs (and wants) being met. But are we willing to cast all those earthly things away and put true value in God and only Him?!?!
Job 23:
3 O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence!
11 My feet have followed his steps closely; I have kept to his way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion.
13 But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does.
14 For he fulfills his decree against me, and many such things are his plans.
This reminds me of those moments when I've run down the list of all that I've done right and find myself wondering why things seem so wrong and difficult and what it feels like God has left me. It's so easy to find myself in that self righteous position when times get tough and I am frustrated my my situation. But that's not the mindset to have. Yes, we are working to do the right things but we are still sinners and imperfect. But even with that we can't always connect that with why we are going through a hard time - there might just be a lesson we need to learn or growth we need to develop so God can bless us with more/answer those prayers or protect us from something. And the case may be like Jon where we are set as an example and we just need to trust God and keep the faith and know we will make it out because God is always there and we need not feel as those He has left or ignored us when things are difficult or confusing or frustrating or can't be explained. It's not our job to know everything or have all the answers - we just have to know the Father we serve does!!!
Have a fantastic day!