Trying to Understand Life

Trying to Understand Life

2 Peter 1: ¹⁹ So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures. ²¹ For no prophetic message ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.

 

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Going through difficult circumstances, I asked GOD “Why?” I did not get an audible answer and wondered if I was being punished or possibly forgotten. But then I read the scriptures and an example in the bible gave me peace that I wasn’t the only one going through difficulty and there is an enemy orchestrating war against believers.

 

• I did not like having to face difficulty again, but I felt inspired by reading the Bible.
• My situation had not changed, but something inside me felt at peace.
• Each word I read changed something inside me.

 

Peter explains that all scripture originated by the HOLY SPIRIT and can only be understood by explanation from the HOLY SPIRIT. He implicitly urged people to believe in CHRIST so they would receive the HOLY SPIRIT who would in turn be a guide to life.

 

My Observations:

• Humans can lie to me to get their own way, BUT GOD gave mankind scripture that revealed HIS love through HIS SON.
• I can believe scripture will guide me in making large and small decisions in life.
• Each example I read in scripture parallels a foundation in scripture.

 

Skeptics would say that scripture was written to enslave people to do work, or that scripture is no longer valid because technology has provided new ways of thinking. BUT GOD is in control and has provided a way to cope with life to this very day.

 

HE spoke to various men and women and had each carefully document their encounter with GOD. As unbelievable as each encounter was, there were several people who were eyewitnesses to the experiences. These experiences still hold true to this very day and can provide me with direction to keep moving forward. I am glad GOD said “I will never leave you nor forsake you, because I can hold onto this truth in the middle of a storm.

 

Challenge

• What gave the writer confidence?
• Have you ever wanted to ask GOD “Why?”
• Will you “lean not unto your own understanding” and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you through the difficult time so you can give GOD the praise HE deserves today?

Protected

Protected

Ephesians 6: ¹⁶ At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. ¹⁷ And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 

 

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“Why is this happening?” has been the question I raised up to GOD many times. During several points in my life, it seemed like wave after wave after wave of calamity was happening. Peace could not be found.

 

• I was down.
• I felt like things were hopeless.
• I did not see any relief any time soon.

 

“Carry faith” was Paul’s analogy in the armor of GOD. He warns that the Evil One will try to attack everyone and a way to thwart the attack is through faith. He also gives us protection of the mind by belief in JESUS for salvation. He lastly provides the only weapon used in the armor of GOD, namely GOD’s word.

 

My Observations

• Despair, doubt and disappointments can be fought against with faith in the LORD.
• Fear, insecurity and uncertainty can be erased from my mind with salvation in JESUS.
• Lies, twisted words and manipulation can be destroyed with the Word of GOD.

 

Protection against the Evil One is highly important to GOD. HE knows we are simply sheep amongst wolves, so HE gives us a way to protect ourselves against a foe that seems relentless. Our fight is not against humans, rather against “wicked spiritual forces” according to the scripture.

 

Salvation keeps our minds clear and focused on the LORD. The world will keep coming up with things that can pollute our mind to turn away from GOD. Since our sin nature wants what it wants, GOD provided HIS word to guide our desires back in alignment with HIM. I am glad GOD gave me the whole armor to protect me daily.

 

Challenge

• When does the writer feel you should use faith as protection?
• Have you ever felt helpless, worried or overwhelmed?
• Will you seek GOD’s protection through faith in HIS power, belief in HIS SON and understanding of HIS word today?

Check It

Check It

Acts 15: ¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. ¹⁵ The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁶ “‘After this I will return
    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
    and I will restore it,
¹⁷ that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’—
¹⁸     things known from long ago.

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Going with my gut, I began to assemble the complex item. I mean, I had put a lot of things together before, what would be so hard about this thing? While I had a good start, somewhere towards the middle of my assembly, I discovered I did not have the right parts available. I had to take everything apart and look at the instructions. I had used the wrong parts too early.

• There were times when I went with my gut feelings.
• There were times when I did what I “thought” was right.
• There were times when I acted on something before checking to see if I was doing it correctly.

Barnabas and Paul explained how they began to speak to other races about JESUS. They also explained how amazing GOD worked through them. James explained how Simon, also known as Peter, had also been charged to speak to other races. James checked what they were doing by looking at what the prophets wrote.

• GOD wants me to check my actions to see if they align with HIS desires.
• GOD wants me to understand I may think of things that seem right but they are not.
• GOD wants me to follow HIS ways by reading HIS word first.

There is a way that seems right humans but its end is death. GOD wants me to check the thought that seems so right, so comfortable and so pleasurable, against HIS word. If the thought conflicts, HE wants me to have enough fear of HIM to obey what HE wants me to do rather than what I want to do.

Obedience to GOD may mean I am stretched to speak to people who do not look or act like me. The person may vote a different way or listen to music that I may not understand, BUT GOD wants me to reach the person anyway. I am grateful JESUS gave me purpose from long ago.

• Is GOD telling you to expand your heart to speak to other people?
• Do you see hurt across every nation?
• Will you allow GOD to give you abundant life by caring for the people HE sends to you today?

Getting Prepared

Daniel 7: ²⁵ He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

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“Where is my phone?” I asked myself as I looked around the house frantically. When I found it I had to ask a similar question, “Where are my keys?” I retraced my steps and found my keys on top of a chest of drawers where I had laid them down to find my phone. That day did not make me feel prepared.

• Sometimes I do not feel prepared for what is coming.
• Sometimes I do not feel prepared for the many situations that will pop up in a given day.
• Sometimes I do not feel prepared for many of life’s happenings.

After losing these same items a few more times, I decided to be prepared. I would locate my keys and phone before I went to bed and put them in the same place, this way when I left for work, there they were. I wonder If GOD is the same way? I mean, do I need to get prepared for something of HIS? Yes!

• GOD says to me “Keep watch, for you do not know the day or the hour.”
• GOD says to me “No one knows the day or the hour of MY return.”
• GOD says to me “I WILL come like a thief in the night, so be prepared”

How can I be prepared for something that has been looming for thousands of years? GOD wants me to communicate with HIM on a daily basis so I will not be surprised. Each day as I read and pray, I get prepared for JESUS’s return. HIS kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, free of politics and full of HIS love and peace. I look forward to those times immensely.

• Are you looking forward to CHRIST’s return or are you too distracted?
• Will you continue to focus in on your distractions of will you start looking for CHRIST daily?
• Can you start looking for GOD’s kingdom by giving HIM your worries daily?
• Will you start getting prepared by helping your neighbor?