called + healed

I've been away from Indiana Wesleyan University for almost a year. This last year has been hard. I've worked through some issues I wanted to ignore, Through facing them, I've grown and matured. I'm not the same person as I was last year. The conditions of my heart and mind have been transformed and renewed.

 

To help me face each day, I look to Psalm 30:2, "I called to you for help and you healed me." This is a great encouragement to me. Whenever I face something (situation, emotion, struggle, temptation, etc) that I can't handle on my own, all I need to do is call on God for help and He will heal me.

 

As I reflect on my time off from school, I've seen healing that only God could do. I'm consciously aware of the choices I'm making and how they have the potential to tear me down or build me up. I'm also intentional about the relationships I have: are they healthy? Are they glorifying to God? If not, I need to cut them off.

 

I'm continually on the path toward healing. Only God knows when I'll truly be healed. And I'll be a stronger person in Him.

one thing

One thing have I asked of the LORD

   that will I seek after:

     that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

   all the days of my life

   to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

  and to inquire in his temple. -Psalm 27:4 (ESV)

 

Life changes. One thing will always remain: my desire in my heart to seek God and His beauty. I have heard the saying "beauty is only skin deep." Society puts emphasis on what clothes we wear, how we look on the outside. I hate to confess this but sometimes I judge someone based upon what they're wearing instead of their personality.

 

I want God to change the way I see beauty: the way I am attracted to Him because His love is beautiful. The beauty of God never fades. That's what I want in life: to see His beauty radiated through me.

 

The last part of the verse says, "...to inquire in his temple." "Inquire" refers to cognitive thinking. It's not "empty knowledge." Following after God is not something that I can just breeze through. I must think about what I'm reading in His word.

 

Everything changes. God remains the same. That's the one thing I know. It's a sure foundation.

Fall Summit 2013

I had the privilege of returning to IWU for Summit. I have always loved Summit. What started out as a source of a "spiritual high" is now a source of encouragement.

 

Wherever I'm at in my walk with God, the speaker says exactly what I need to hear. This leads to conviction and to evaluate where I need to go in Him. Last night he talked about meaningful relationships and  how we are meant to live in community with others. He also gave an illustration of marbles and grapes. "Marbles" symbolize the people who tend to scatter and isolate themselves when they've been hurt, betrayed, etc. in their relationships. "Grapes"  symbolize the people who tend to develop deeper connections with others amidst difficulty, pain, hard times.

 

Today he spoke on sexual purity. Sex is God's idea. What begins in the mind, the body will eventually follow. I was convicted by that because I know what I think about needs to be daily surrendered to the things of God, not worldly things.