This is a test

 

Whenever our week of prayer here brings the focus inward, one of two things inevitably happens: either God uses that time to test my resolve, or Satan steps up the spiritual warfare. 

     I talked to a Pastor last weekend about that and asked him how do I know which is happening? He said to ask God. Why didn't I think of that?!

     So when this week ended up being one of those times, I took his advice. Yesterday I got down on my knees and asked God what was happening. First off, there's something about praying on your knees, or bowing, or laying in the prone position that seems to strengthen our prayer. I confess I hardly ever do any of those things (I talk to God in the car a lot), but I'm going to make it part of the daily prayer life now. I want to totally submit to Him, and to do that, my physical person needs to be in a position of submission as well as my heart and mind.

     As a result (I believe), God answered me right away. "This is a test." Well, I'm just the brown-noser, the push-up-my-glasses-nerd-type person at heart. If it's a test, then I want to get an A+. Anything less might as well be utter failure. My resolve strengthened, I faced my day with a renewed sense of trying hard to be Christlike in whatever situation God threw at me. 

     Honestly, if I'm being generous, I got a D- yesterday. Outwardly I behaved okay when faced with adversity, but inwardly I was angry and resentful and a little bit bitter. I talked about it with my husband and some friends. A Twitter friend said I was doing a good job (thank you, Elizabeth), but I didn't feel like I was. It made me feel depressed. Actually, I've felt depressed all week. So last evening, I did my best to do things for others, which helped me feel better. 

     Today is a new day, and I'm going to try-try-again. Has your week been any different since you've been praying for guidance, for God to show you your sin and/or where you're at fault?

     God loves us so much. The least we can do is try to do right by Him.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, 

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

About the above photo:

Back in the day, this was a thing that randomly showed up on our TVs. There was a loud noise, this picture, and then the announcement, "This is a test." Or, "This has been a test of the emergency broadcast system. If there had been an actual emergency..." I can't believe I remember all of that from my childhood, but yet I can't seem to remember what day it is.

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance. Let's ask our Father to show us our sin, to show us where we're at fault and how we can make things better in our everyday interactions with others. Let's also pray for softened hearts, discernment, and wisdom in all situations. Pray that God helps us become more Christlike so that nonbelievers will see us and respond by seeking Him.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #sin #humilty #test #Christlike #question #blame #betrayal #wisdom #guidance #prayer #decieved #deception #basicallygood #theFall

Psalm 32:5

 

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Psalm 32:5 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance. Let's ask our Father to show us our sin, to show us where we're at fault and how we can make things better in our everyday interactions with others. Let's also pray for softened hearts, discernment, and wisdom in all situations. Pray that God helps us become more Christlike so that nonbelievers will see us and respond by seeking Him.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #sin #humilty #question #blame #betrayal #wisdom #guidance #prayer #decieved #deception #basicallygood #theFall

Are we basically good?

 

I believe we get caught up in other people's worldviews even when it comes to Christianity. We start to go along with the latest trends even when they're perpetrated by non-believers and even when those trends/beliefs contradict the Bible.

     I know I've talked about this before, so I won't rehash the whole thing (I'll share links in the "You may also like" section below), but one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that people are basically good. Just because I didn't kill anybody, does not make me good. The Bible says, "as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;" (Romans 3:10 ESV). 

     It's my thinking that we take this concept and double down on it when it comes to ourselves. I'm definitely not speaking about everyone, and it seems to be a lot more prevalent in non-believers and there are a lot of people who go to the opposite extreme, so take some of these general statements with a grain of salt, and stick with me for a minute:

     What occurred to me was that some people just cannot see that what they do or say is "bad." For example, let's say "Don" is one of those people. He spends his workday cursing, yelling, pushing his weight around. Everything has to be his way or the highway. The thermostat is set to his liking. The office organization is based on how he works. If someone doesn't answer his call, he leaves threatening messages. 

     In his mind, he's just doing what needs to be done. If any of his employees take offense, he turns it back on them. There must be something wrong with them if they're cold. There must be something wrong with them if they can't understand his filing system. He even lets his clients know that there must be something wrong with them if they don't return his calls. 

     A lot of this type of behavior is because no one ever corrected him when he was growing up. No one told him it was wrong to be threatening. No one taught him how to work with others, to discuss matters, to compromise. So he has always lived under the assumption that he's good. He's right. He's behaving normally. 

     As sinful man, we need to be taught right from wrong. The major things, like killing, we all know are wrong, but the less obvious things like pride, selfishness, deceit, and betrayal need to be cleansed from our hearts also.

     I guess what I'm saying is that we need to own up to being sinful creatures; we are the descendants of Adam and Eve. The result of their sin still fills us today. We, as Christians, need to be in the word so that we know truth amid the lies the world would have us believe.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8 ESV

You may also like:

- Show me my sin

- The hard truth

- Are you fooling yourself?

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance. Let's ask our Father to show us our sin, to show us where we're at fault and how we can make things better in our everyday interactions with others. Let's also pray for softened hearts, discernment, and wisdom in all situations. Pray that God helps us become more Christlike so that nonbelievers will see us and respond by seeking Him.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #sin #humilty #question #blame #betrayal #wisdom #guidance #prayer #decieved #deception #basicallygood #theFall

Good vs evil

For God shows no partiality.

Romans 2:11 ESV

Paul is saying that God cares about whether a person does evil or good, BUT it doesn't matter if they are Jew or Greek; God shows no partiality in that respect. As a stand-alone verse, though, it also works as a reminder for us to not judge people based on superficial aspects, like race, gender, etc., but rather to look at what matters in a person. Do they do evil or do they do good? Verse 7 (ESV) describes good work:  to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;  and contrasts that with those who do evil (verse 8 ESV):  but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
I might as well finish that section with verses 9-11 (ESV):

There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

The Pastor reminded us last Sunday to question everything we do with, "Does this honor God?" That is really tough to live up to. I've been praying like crazy for the past two weeks because my thoughts and emotions have not been where they should be. My heart and mind have been taken hostage in a spiritual battle that can only be won by unceasing prayer, staying in the word, and praising God the Father for all of His glorious blessings.

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Please join me this week in praying for an accepting and understanding heart. Pray that we focus on why we're here and not get caught up in the things of man. Pray for harmony and a united front as members of the Church.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Faith in God

A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances would always say "My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect. He makes no mistakes!"

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king.  His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty from losing a finger.

Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman asked "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger."

The slave replied:
"My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows why these things happened. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!"

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

Later, the King left for another hunt, this time alone. He was captured by savages who engaged in human sacrifices.

On the altar and ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages discovered that their victim did not have one of his fingers. According to them, only a whole person with all his/her parts intact could be offered to the gods. The King without a finger was deemed an abominable sacrifice for their gods. So they released the King.

Upon his return to the palace, the King authorized the release of his slave.  He received the slave affectionately.

He asked his slave, "my dear, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?"

The slave answered, "my King, if I had gone with you on this hunt, I would have been sacrificed instead because I have no missing finger. Remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong. He made you to keep me in jail so I would not be with you on the hunt."

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

Every morning, offer your day to God, don't be in a rush.

Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong!

You know why this message is for you? I do not know, but God knows, because He never makes mistakes...

The path of God and his word are perfect, without impurities. He is the way of all those who trust in Him.

God is never wrong!