The God who is

I’m reading Jack Hayford’s “Manifest Presence”. At one point he talks about how we worship God simply because of who He is. Hayford references Exodus 3:17, in which God tells Moses, “I Am Who I Am”. I Am—well, I thought, if that’s good enough for Moses, it’s good enough for me! Then I read the whole third chapter of Exodus. This is the burning bush episode where God reveals Himself to Moses and sends him to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. And “I Am” definitely wasn’t enough for Moses: he spends most of the chapter going, “but…”
 
Several things strike me about this section. The first thing is that God alone is reason enough to be obedient. The second is that we always second-guess this. The third is that even when we do, instead of picking someone else for the task, God equips us—with staffs that turn into snakes and well-spoken brothers. But He equips us: He never does pick someone else to send.
 
You have been chosen. That’s the long and the short of it. There are things that God wants only you to do. Yes, there’s probably someone else out there who is better qualified, readier, more faithful, less doubtful–but they aren’t you. And it’s you God needs.

No ifs or buts about it. He Is.

Reblog: Content With Discontentment « How To Fight Like A Girl

The thing is you know all about discontentment, don’t you? You know what it is to long and to want. To be consumed with the desire for something. Maybe it’s something new. Maybe it’s a change in circumstances. Maybe it’s wanting that new season of life. Whatever it is, we all identify with that feeling of wanting more.

Unfortunately, when it comes to contentment, we are typically content with far less than we should be. It could be contentment with average grades or a kinda clean room. You’re content with being just alright with your parents.

Worse is being content with our relationship with Jesus. Being content with a lukewarm faith or one that is moving at a snail’s pace. You figure it’s okay just going to church and reading your Bible every once in a while. After all, it’s better than nothing.

via Content With Discontentment « How To Fight Like A Girl.

Advent

“Let it be with me just as you say.” –Mary

Knots

Some rabbis say that, at birth, we are each tied to God with a string, and that every time we sin, the string breaks. To those who repent of their sins, especially in the days of Rosh Hashanah, God sends the angel Gabriel to make knots in the string, so that the humble and contrite are once again tied to God. Because each one of us fails, because we all lose our way on the path to righteousness from time to time, our strings are full of knots. But, the rabbis like to say, a string with many knots is shorter than one without knots. So the person with many sins but a humble heart is closer to God.

—A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans.

Gifts

Paul teaches that both suffering and faith are gifts of God; for both, Paul says, have been granted to you.

{Footnote for Philippians 1:29-30, ESV Study Bible.}

Inspiring Quotes

Prayer

When you least expect it, something happens that makes you realize that God’s up to something. We serve an awesome God. —@Godstagram

If God answers your prayers, He is increasing your faith. If He doesn’t, He is training your patience. —@Godstagram

Prayer is not designed to change God; it is designed to change us. –Richard Blackaby (via @iamnotafan)

A concentrated mind and a sitting body make for better prayer than a kneeling body and a mind half asleep. —@CSLewisDaily

Good things come to those who pray. —@Godstagram

Have you asked God what you can do for Him today? Instead of giving God a list of what He can do for you today, ask what you can do for Him. —@JoyceMeyer

Life

God does not make bad people, people make bad decisions. —@Godstagram

If I have a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the explanation is – I was made for another world. —@CSLewisDaily

Wisdom has two parts: 1. having a lot to say 2. not saying it. —@Godstagram

Which is worse: the pain of change or the pain of never changing? –-@JoyceMeyer

You know it’s a problem when you start rationalising it. —@greigski

Relationships

If God takes someone out of your life he did it for a reason, stop looking back trying to put them back in it. —@Godstagram

God loves us too much to allow us to stay tied to anyone or anything that does not bring out the best in us. —@Godstagram

If you place your heart in God’s hand, He will place your heart in the hands of a worthy person. —@Godstagram

Don’t let one bad apple ruin the fruit of your relationship. —@NightlyNoodle

REBLOG: Will You Follow Jesus Even If Your Life Doesn’t Get Any Better? | RELEVANT Magazine

Somehow people get the notion that when God blesses, it means that He will give us great things and perfect circumstances—and right now. Or, if God’s blessing is upon us we can expect to have better lives than those who do not believe in Jesus. Blessing equals easier and better. Conversely, sometimes people believe that extended discomfort means there is something they have done wrong, or a lack of faith which inhibits God’s blessing. But what if this is a misconstrued concept of blessing? Can’t the blessing of God involve pain, suffering, waiting and holding on to a truth in spite of our circumstances? Isn’t it a blessing to be disciplined by our loving Father even if it causes discomfort?

Read more: Will You Follow Jesus Even If Your Life Doesn’t Get Any Better? | RELEVANT Magazine.

Aint that the truth

“If there is one theme about our faith that should be communicated more freely, it is that we all fall short of the mark. That is why we need a Savior.”
—When Bad Christians Happen to Good People, Dave Burchett

Reblog: Spiritual Disciplines for developing a heart for God « WisdomForLife

Check yourself regularly by these disciplines. Where do you need attention? Intentionally stretch yourself in these disciplines and you will develop a heart for God.

via Spiritual Disciplines for developing a heart for God « WisdomForLife.

I Don’t Feel Like Showing Grace To Those Who… | Ragamuffin Soul

I Don’t Feel Like Showing Grace To Those Who… | Ragamuffin Soul.

But we do it, anyway.