Do not be cast down

Well, it's been exactly 2 months since I last posted, so I thought I'd make all your dreams come true, and write a new note. Juuust kidding. I'm not THAT conceited. 


Moving on, I recently read a very encouraging verse: Psalm 42:5,12 and 43:5. You'll notice all three of these verses say the exact same thing: "Why are you cast down, o my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my Salvation and my God." And normally, when the Bible repeats a phrase 3 times, it means that it is very important. And this is no exception, in my opinion. 


I will admit, I go through periods in my life where I don't feel close to God, and, as a result, become very dejected and "cast down". And when I'm in the midst of this trial, I get really stupid and think that nothing will help me, and I start having little pity parties and saying "Oh, woe is me!", and I don't even consider that there are other people out there who are going through WAY worse things than I could even imagine! Anyway, in reading this verse, it tells me EXACTLY what to do! Put my hope in God, and I will be able to praise Him! How many times have I blindly read that verse, and not even seen that obvious solution? 


I know the only way I can even praise God is by His help, and that is demonstrated here: once I put my hope in Him, THEN I can praise Him! I am nothing without Him. I can't even do the simplest things without His grace and mercy. And I am so grateful. 

All That I Need

"Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you." 


I was reading the above passage last night, as a devotion (from Matthew 6: 31-33), and I started thinking... God promises to give us food and clothing, so why are so many of His people hungry and abused? It just doesn't make sense that He would promise this, and not follow through. Again, in Philippians 4:19, He promises to supply our every need... So why are there starving people in the world?


But Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 


God's grace is SUFFICIENT for us... HE then, in essence, is all that we will ever need. His grace is described as food, and as a fountain of life, and even as clothing (the armor of God). He is ALL that we need, or ever will need. And He is always there, to listen and supply what He deems as best for us. So if we seek Him first, He will supply ALL our needs, which is Christ. 

Giving Him my whole life

I had a conversation with a good friend yesterday, concerning music, and the influence it can have on your life. I was thinking about that last night, and I realized that a lot of the music I listen to really isn't a good influence on my life. I was absolutely convicted. God tells us to dedicate our lives to Him; He tells us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37), and this includes the music we listen to. I began to realize that every time I would pray that God would show me sins that I needed to confess, I blocked that particular one from my mind. And it's because my music is so important to me. Like I said to my friend, I love the rythym and the melody of those songs that have a bad influence on me, not necessarily the words. But no matter the reason I listen to those songs, the words still stick in my head, and cause my mind to think in those directions, and to use words that don't bring honor to the Lord. It's hard, but I'm trying to purge that sin from my life. I would appreciate prayers as I do that. I am not posting this as a condemnation, because I know everyone has different convictions, and some people may not be affected by music as I am. I'm posting it because it taught me a lesson, and I'm hoping it will help others as well. Thank you to my friend for showing me the wrong in my life.

http://grooveshark.com/s/All+I+Need+Is+You+cape+Town+South+Africa+/2ccaId?src=5

Reflections on Grace

I thought my first post should elaborate on the title of my blog: Abounding Grace. It is inspired by Romans 5:20-21:


"But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life."


This passage has always been so encouraging to me, just because, knowing that I sin, Christ will always graciously forgive me. ALWAYS. Crazy stuff right there. But if you read on, into the next chapter of Romans, it asks the question "Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1b). And the answer is, of course not! We need to strive with every fiber in our being to be more like Christ, and to purge sin from our lives. It says in verse 4: "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Christ died for us, so that we can live with Him forever, and so that we CAN purge sin from our lives! We cannot waste this precious gift!


Well, that is my interpretation :) If anyone has any other thoughts, I'd love to hear them!!


(Oh man, I've always wanted to cross out my words on the computer!!)