Monday, April 21, 2014

Making the Choice to Live So That

It is a quiet day at home today. The busyness of the Easter weekend is over and today is a day for rest, relaxation and reflection. I am just starting week 3 of "Living So That" by Wendy Blight. This book is changing me from the inside out! I feel like the contestants do on "The Biggest Loser" when they reach make-over week. God is making me over from the inside out! I want to share with you what I have read so far. Today's post focuses specifically on Chapter 1.

Chapter One - My life should not be one that is self-centered! I should be active and be centered on others. God's Word is alive and living today, not just when it was written! It is for you and for me! Is your life messy? Mine is. The Bible was given to us so that we are equipped to live out our lives for Him! I am not perfect, but I strive to make faith-filled choices and not faith-less choices. Not always easy to accomplish because  am generally a reactive person and will often act on my emotions. This often leads to making the situation worse than it already was. The grace that God give me everyday is totally undeserved. It is a freebie that I am given.

It was in this chapter that I read about conviction. Wendy wrote that "Conviction, on the other hand, is about God. It's a productive emotion. God's Holy Spirit convicts us to know that we have not pleased Him. He then speaks truth into our hearts and empowers us to change so that we can do what is pleasing to Him (pg. 30 in "Living So That)." Did you know that the Bible is a love letter from God to us? Wow! What a thought that is! If you got a love letter in the mail, I bet you would read it over and over and over. That is exactly what God wants us to do with His Word! He wants us read and dig deeper into His Word over and over. Love letters give us warm fuzzies - God's Word does the same! There will be times when what I read will be a conviction of what I have done wrong, but it is said in love. God's love and forgiveness are there for me and you each and everyday.

What I am truly taking to heart, even though I have known it since I was a child, God's forgiveness is always there, I just need to ask! I need to pray more for me, for others, in thanksgiving for the blessings He showers upon me. I have tried several times to use a prayer journal, but I never keep at it. I am on the search for a new journal to use and I am going to start by praying Scripture and verse mapping verses He places upon my heart.

Will you join me on this journey? It won't be easy. There will be times that will seem like two steps forward and four steps back. But I am not going to give up this time! If you are looking to make a change and want to grow closer to God, I encourage you to read Living So That by Wendy Blight. Her style of writing is so easy to read and each chapter is divided into five parts so you can read and take it in a little at a time. If you are looking for support, you must (yes, MUST!) check out Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies! This is an online community of Jesus Girls who will love on you right where you are in your faith journey and encourage you to keep going! I hope to see you there!

Come back tomorrow as I will post about Chapter 2!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   
John 3:16

4 comments:

  1. I LOVE this Deje!!! I want to read more and more of God's Word, and feel the warm fuzzies <3 Great blog post!

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    1. Thank you Sarah! :) I appreciate you taking the time to read it for me before I put it on the main blog today! <3

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  2. Deje, I love the journey you are on. God is so good & He delights in us. Good job sister-friend!

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    1. Thank you for your words of encouragement Stela! God is good and for that I am forever thankful!

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