Kathryn, Verla, Beth, and Lea, thank you so much for your willingness to share your incredible realizations with us! I love when I can learn something new and see something fresh because of my community of searchers. Thank you for sharing your heart, ladies. Wow! Great thoughts! And, I think that it is so like God to move our hearts on the same words and passages, yet teach us totally different things. This is why we can be certain that these words are living and active.
Please congratulate yourself because you are sticking with this! You allowed the Lord to draw your heart to Him and you came back to pursue Him, even after a weekend break. I encourage you to hang in there and continue seeking Him with all of your heart.
Okay, let's press on through Day 4.
Day 4
- Pray - Submit this time to the Lord.
- Read 1 Peter 1 - In order to get a fresh perspective, you might read it in a new translation. Try the Amplified Version (available online at www.biblegateway.com). This adds additional thoughts.
- Go back and read 1 Peter 1:13-25 - As you read, make a list of all of the instructions that are given in this passage.
- APPLY - Hone in on one instruction or concept, and reflect on how you can make a change in your life, based on your new understanding.
- Comment - If you feel comfortable, share your insights with us.
(You can thank Blogger for that spacing. I have no idea, guys. Sorry :(
Oh, I can't wait to hear all the wonderful insights that you have to share. You guys are incredible!
I am glad you encouraged us to read this in the Amplified Version. Sometimes I forget how insightful it can be to pick up more than one translation and look at the text from more than one angle. I actually read today's text in about six different ones. I wrote out my list of instructions, adding and noting things as I read each version. Through all of them, one thought just kept jumping off the page at me. that was verse 17.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes forget that "THIS" is not my home. I am a stranger here. This is my temporary residence. I am on a journey. I'm a sojourner. Realizing that begs the question: Why do I spend so much time, energy and resources on making this home, this world just so? I am leaving it all behind someday.
Indulge me. I just read this quote from C.S. Lewis and thought it fit with my previous comment:
ReplyDeleteIf I have a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the explanation is-I was made for another world.
In looking at the list of instructions, I've struggled with following each and every one... especially lately. Then I realized the bottom line was my lack of reverent fear for the God of the universe. I had reduced Him to fit an image that I created and that God was more like a kitten than the Lion of Judah. I had become a mouse who foolishly stole dinner from the lion. I have battled a specific sin because I lost sight that our God is a consuming fire.
ReplyDeleteI pray God will continue to reveal to me His true character.
Self control . . . why is it so hard to have self control? So often we say things like "I have no self control", but here we are called to have self control. No questions asked, no excuses. I make excuses way too often, and I need to start exercising a lot more self control in every area of my life. I know, however, that I can only do this with the power of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDelete