God’s commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us. Consequently, to our human nature in which God’s Son has been formed (see Galatians 4:19), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey.
Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).
God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God …” (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.
Oswald Chambers
I just finished reading 1 Peter and was so encouraged, especially by one of the last lines in the book. Peter says, “My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in his grace.” 1 Peter 12. How awesome is it that our God would be good enough to include such a crucial book in the bible. The fact that He would put it in there is spectacular in it’s own, but it’s wonderful because it gives us hope. It gives us reassurance that we aren’t alone in what we suffer and face in this life in the means of trials. We are surrounded by many others that experience the same thing as us. And we are not to drown in suffering, but we are to stand firm in God’s grace. Knowing that He will rescue us in His own timing. We need to get through the valley to see that there is a mountain. If it weren’t so, we wouldn’t be able to see God’s goodness and His grace. Things have been tough lately but I trust with all my heart that God will deliver me from this present trouble and He will love me all the days of my life and give me a peace that overcomes all understanding in the mean time. I have a good God and He is working in my life.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer” Romans 12:12
This verse could not be more of a perfect verse for my life right now. God asks us to be joyful in hope, not hope to get good grades, or to consistantly be happy, but to be hopeful that He will return to this earth soon! He asks us to be patient in affliction, that means to be patient while enduring struggles in this life, and while enduring these struggles, he asks us to be faithful to him by praying often, praying neverceasingly, and through these things, we will be bringing God glory!
This season in my life is a struggle to say the least. But God I pray that you would lead me to bring you increasingly more glory by following you through these rough times in my life. God I pray that none of the attention would be on me but it would go straight to you. And God I pray most of all that when i am weak, that You would be strong. Sometimes praying gets hard, and sometimes we are nudged by the devil to just give up because it is too hard. But God I pray that I would constantly push him away and turn to You. Because Your love is greater than any I have ever known. And I want to spend forever with you when it is my time. But God while it is my time to be here I pray that you would use me in mighty ways.
I pray that if you don’t know HIM, that you would take the time to see that he sent his one and only son to die for YOU. And that He loves you more than you will ever know.
I encourage you to watch Letters to God if you haven’t already. It is an amazingly inspiring movie about using your life to bring glory to God and to use your life to bring others to Christ. And to just stay positive, even through the roughest of times. He has a plan.
