IBS Romans 15: 5-6

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These first four months of field time have been incredible. But as our time draws closer, I’m seeing how myself and my team can improve, finish the race strong. One thing that has been hard for me is truly being one unit, of being open with my brothers and encouraging them when moved too. But the Lord has granted me and moved me to make more opportunities like that, of late nights, fellowshipping and praying in the lord. And even though it’s been great there always still more. When we get out of sync you can tell, when one part is off it’s easy to follow in that way. But it’s encouraged when I read this verse, as some of us are tired, the God of endurance is there for us. He encourages and strengthens us. He brings us closer, through thick and thin, to finish our race strong. When we allow ourselves to be in the center of His will is when we glorify Him as one. My prayer is that for those who may feel distant, that the Lord shows them that this relay race isn’t over, and everyone needs to be in it to win it. And that we aren’t just a team, but a family brought together by the lord. 

Application 

I will write in my bookmark family as a reminder to pray for the next two months

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

IBS Acts 17:6

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,”

God has given me this great opportunity to go to a foreign country to serve Him. And it’s been such a blessing, but sometimes I feel like I’m not doing as much as I can. I feel a great need to do more. More for the one who did everything for me. And when I read this, someone that turned the world upside down, it makes me want to do more, to be more on fire. I need to stay one hundred percent focused on him because the distractions are everywhere. I need to cast aside the things holding me back and step into the shoes I was created for, to be obedient in the little things and disciplined and cool under pressured. Paul was on fire because he was constantly filled and prepared ready for any situation. God I know is doing a work in me, but sometimes I just get in the way. I want to do the most that I can, but lord helps me to grow in your guidance. 

Application 

This week I will get up earlier, reading in a passage of scripture I haven’t yet read, to get more focused on God

IBS Psalms 138:7-8

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and your right hand delivers me.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Even when I am making foolish decisions the lord is always watching over me. I’m constantly acting selfishly, only thinking about myself. But luckily God da watching out for me. He’s keeping my well being in mind even when I’m not. And he sends someone like it says in Proverbs 17:17 “which says A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity”. I’m thankful for this team and the way we can grow each other. God put us together for a reason, and I’m thankful for my brothers and sisters, who are not afraid to speak up when someone’s in the wrong. The lord has a plan for me and he gives me trials to see how I handle myself. God is helping me see where I’m faulting and helping me grow. This last week I’ve seen that I need grow more, that I can’t fall back, that I can’t let up. Because the flesh is willing to take a break. But oh lord thank you for being our strength and for building me up with your strong hands. 

Application

Today I will memorize this passage