IBS ROMANS 5:3-4

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope 

In my time in Uganda I have gone through some suffering, not a lot, but some. Some of it was physical, but most was a suffering I brought on my self, torturing my mind to dark places. When my heart was in the wrong place my mind and my thoughts into a place of spiritual punishment. But God, in His incomprehensible ways was always there when I needed Him, just waiting for a cry of help. And after escaping the suffering the Lord has allowed my spirit to soar. I have made things right with my team and with God, and am depending more on Him. And recently with my newfound trust in Him, He has convicted me to step up and do more, as much as I can, and draw closer to this team he has chosen for me to serve with. And through it all I can see many benefits, an operation He used to make me trust Him more. Everything He does is for my benefit, I just need to see the dark valleys as an opportunity to let God shine. 

Application 

Today I will write this verse in my bible bookmark, as a reminder for those days

1 Chronicles 22:19

Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord. 

I read this verse the other day In my devotional and it stuck with me the rest of the day. What caught my attention was the first part. And I started to think about the second half, and what it meant to me.  After spending some thought I moved on, but the verse stuck with me. Yesterday I got the opportunity to go to a high hook and share something for their chapel. And as I was thinking about what I should share, I was thinking about what I would have wanted to hear when I was younger. And lord reminded me of this verse, and what I should share. That our bodies are temples for the lord and a dwelling place for Him (like the ark). I shared with the students the importance of keeping the Lord's temple pure by devoting our hearts to the lord, something He has really been showing me, and by being careful of what we let enter our minds. In the past, I let things like this slide thinking that it didn’t really matter, been the lord has been showing me that I need to be careful with what I watch, listen, and dwell on. Before I would have denied any effect on me, but he has been showing me I have been lying to myself been and have been distracted and dissatisfied. My prayer for those students was that the Lord would speak to them. After I shared Colin shared about the power of the spirit and tied his message into mine, and after prayed a baptism over the students. I know that growing up can be hard, and my hope is that those young people truly knew what they were praying for and that it was a real thing for them. 

Application 

This week I will pray for those students this week, that the Lord would remind them of His will for them. 

IBS 1 Chronicles 14:10

And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.”

David inquired of God. He spoke to God, with nothing to hide or hold him back. A man after God’s heart. As I was reading this I recognized in me that I don’t spend enough time praying. Even when I need it the most. Take a look at David, he was going into battle, and with thousands of men running around, the clashing of metal and thumping of wood, he somehow finds time to talk with God. He’s not thinking about “How am I going to beat this?”  But “ How can God display His power, again”. But most importantly, God answers. Sometimes I pray feeling God can’t answer or won’t listen. But really God is always listening, even when I’m not praying. And grants David he prayer by giving him victory. But what really gets me, is later on David seeks after God again. He goes back to the lord, even after his recent victory.  David knows the power is from the Lord, and not from him. The lord has the power, and he lends His power to those who inquire. 

“God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” (Verse 11).  

David conquered His enemies by Gods power alone. And how did he do this? Prayer. Just speaking to God and having faith he will move. If David found time to pray in the middle of all that chaos, then I can find time in my day today. So if my day to day is to muddled to pray, then my priorities are off 

Application 

This week I will take a tech fast

IBS Proverbs 6:20-22

My son, keep your father's commandment,

and forsake not your mother's teaching.

Bind them on your heart always;

tie them around your neck.

When you walk, they will lead you;

when you lie down, they will watch over you;

and when you awake, they will talk with you.

In a men’s bible study going over Proverbs, God showed me this verse, a verse that coincided with what I been feeling. God has been showing me that throughout the day I tend to drift my focus away from Him and focus more on petty little things. And after having our study and reading this verse I realized what was wrong, I was forgetting His promises and His word throughout the day. I focus less on what He wants and says and more on the microscopic insignificant things of the moment.  I have always read the Bible but rarely lived it, and never to the fullest that God wants for me. God is showing me that all I need is Him and His word and that I need to center myself even more on His word, and more importantly not forget what he is showing me. Because sometimes I feel like God is not speaking to me, even when He is and I’m not listening. I need the word more present on my mind and to dwell on the words He is directly speaking to me. 

Application

This week I will make reminders to read my devotional again at noon and at night