So then, rid yourselves of all evil, all lying, hypocrisy, jealousy, and evil speech. As newborn babies want milk, you should want the pure and simple teaching. By it you can grow up and be saved. 1 Peter 2: One NCV
How important are the words we speak? More important than we realize. Our words have echoes that extend beyond place or time. If our words are encouraging, we can lift others up; If our words are hurtful, we can hold others back.
Do you seek to be a source of encouragement to others? And, do you seek to be a worthy ambassador for Christ? If so, you must speak words that are worthy of your Savior. So avoid angry outbursts. Refrain from impulsive outpourings. Terminate tantrums. Instead, speak words of encouragement and hope to your family and friends, who by the way, most certainly need all the hope and encouragement they can find.
Book: Download Devotions to start your day.
I think differently due to my relationship with Jesus.'
I Have Trust Issues!
The Israelites were learning to trust God as they moved from Egypt (their broken past) to Canaan (their promise future). While they were depending on Moses, Moses was depending on God. As Moses moved closer to God, the Israelites would stand still and watch with fear. When Moses wanted to teach the Israelites how to establish their own relationship with God. They had enough faith to pray to Him but they needed to develop their faith to trust Him. While they place their trust in Moses's relationship with God. It took 400 years for them to learn how to trust Him for themselves, not taking responsibility left them wandering until and generation was born who would do so.
The Israelites did not want to take responsibility for themselves and their actions (a bad habit of the blame game). Their bodies were walking towards the promise land but their minds were stuck in Egypt. And instead of learning to trust God with every problem or issue they had. They blamed Moses for trusting God while Moses sought God for what to do. Every time they blame him, he sought God. He sought God to lead them and he would pray for them when they messed up. He even tried to do their repenting for them. But eventually all of this had to come to an end.
The goal of a bible teacher\spiritual leader should be to magnify your walk with God, not take the blame for your lack of trust in Him. It' Ok to be inspired by someone Else's relationship with God but don't let fear keep you from cultivating your own. Your spiritual leader should not go to God for you. They should go to God with you. Their goal should be to edify you and teach how have your own personal relationship with God. Moses invited the Israelites to have their own relationship with God but when it was time, fear won and an dependence started. They missed out on the experience they could of had because they were to busy blaming instead of trusting.
Accountability is a sign of maturity and maturity shows growth.
So while you are seeking God, don't let the fear of not having your own personal experience keep you from establishing one. It's OK to have admiration for someone Else's relationship with God but don't let your bible collect dust in the process. Take responsibility, open your bible and find your personal way of spending time with Him. You'll be amazed at what He can teach you when you start seeking Him and not Him through them.
Don't just have visitation on Sundays and Wednesdays, seek something more intimate.
What are you planting???
A man decides to plant a special type of bamboo. He goes to his yard and measures an area 20 feet by 20 feet. Over several days, he digs down two feet to break up the clay earth, sifts the dirt, adds manure to fertilize the soil, carefully plants the bamboo, covers it, and marks off the boundaries. Every morning, before breakfast, he carries water from the stream to his plot. He weeds and waters and waits. Every day.
After a year, no shoots have appeared. A neighbor who has observed the man's daily efforts stops as the man works away and asks, "Why are you working so hard for nothing?"
"It takes time, the man replies.
The next year, the man does exactly the same thing. Every day, he walks to the stream at dawn, carries the water, carefully soaks and weeds his plot. At the end of that year, still nothing has broken the surface. The same neighbor walks by. " Why are you wasting your time? He asks. " I have some good seeds I'd give you" "It takes time," The man replies.
The third year, the man builds a small fence around the plot to keep out animals. Each morning he walks to the stream and carries water to his plot. He continues to tend it with care. At the end of the third year, when no shoots have appeared, his neighbor asks, " Are you crazy? Why do you keep doing that?"
"It takes time." the man replies.
Three weeks later, the first small, green shoots push through the soil. They grow. And grow. And grow! Six weeks later, the man's bamboo towers over 60 feet high.
It takes time. During those years when it seemed the bamboo was doing nothing, critically important things were happening: The roots of the bamboo spreading, branching thickening, developing the strength and vigor to support the bamboo's future phenomenal growth and size. Only with watering and careful nurturing could the plant develop the root structure to support the towing stalks of bamboo. Every bit of the man's effort, every ounce of water, was needed.
After a year, no shoots have appeared. A neighbor who has observed the man's daily efforts stops as the man works away and asks, "Why are you working so hard for nothing?"
"It takes time, the man replies.
The next year, the man does exactly the same thing. Every day, he walks to the stream at dawn, carries the water, carefully soaks and weeds his plot. At the end of that year, still nothing has broken the surface. The same neighbor walks by. " Why are you wasting your time? He asks. " I have some good seeds I'd give you" "It takes time," The man replies.
The third year, the man builds a small fence around the plot to keep out animals. Each morning he walks to the stream and carries water to his plot. He continues to tend it with care. At the end of the third year, when no shoots have appeared, his neighbor asks, " Are you crazy? Why do you keep doing that?"
"It takes time." the man replies.
Three weeks later, the first small, green shoots push through the soil. They grow. And grow. And grow! Six weeks later, the man's bamboo towers over 60 feet high.
It takes time. During those years when it seemed the bamboo was doing nothing, critically important things were happening: The roots of the bamboo spreading, branching thickening, developing the strength and vigor to support the bamboo's future phenomenal growth and size. Only with watering and careful nurturing could the plant develop the root structure to support the towing stalks of bamboo. Every bit of the man's effort, every ounce of water, was needed.
This is the same with your faith. Your faith is the bamboo and you are the man that's watering and nurturing it as it grows. That takes time. Patience is the key when you're waiting for the root of your faith to take hold and continue to grow. Don't let impatience still your hard work, don't dig up with doubt what you planted in faith. Your hard work will pay off. Don't listen to what someone else has to say about your process, continue to do what the man did in the story. Be diligent, patience and as your faith continues to grow. And when someone says "why are you working so hard for nothing?" just reply back "it takes time."
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