Nehemiah 9:15-38
The Levites retell in great detail the story of God bringing the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt to the Promised Land. As I took in this story I was reminded once again of the similarities between our attitudes and actions today and those of the Israelites way back. Two verses really hit home for me. "So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back. . ." (verses 25-26).
So what can we do to make sure we aren't falling into this same mindset of taking advantage of God's goodness but disregarding His instruction and guidance? In other words, how can you delight in God and at the same time obey? Tami W.
I think that by keeping an eye open for others and their needs around us in the world, we can be thankful to God for the blessings we have by sharing what we have with the needy to glorify Him. Much as God has done with me through His grace. That may be one of the best ways to remain obedient to Him.
Repent and move on! quit repeating the same mistakes. To truly repent means to recognize we are in the wrong, ask God to forgive us, stop what we are doing that is wrong and go a different direction. I am so thankful that God forgives us over and over. He keeps His part of the covenant!
I believe we have to look to the blessings of our past, continue to thank God for each and every blessing and know that by obeying God he will give us his riches blessings not because we deserve them but because he delights in us. This should drive our passion to obey the Father
As humans we are vey forgetful. We forget what others do for us and most of all we forget what God has given and done for us. God has always provided for each one of us. Sometimes, the blessings come in small packages but we say of no that is not what I wanted. God sent the best gift of all, His Son Jesus Christ our Lord who shed His blood and died on the cross for the sins of each one of us. Yet we behave as if we are large and in charge. We must recognise that without God we are nothing, without love we are nothing. Yet no matter what, He still loves and cares for us.
We must therefore give God thanks and praise everyday and read His Word. Let not worldy things take us away from Him but keep closer and closer to Him each day.
My God, I love you with my whole heart and mind and soul and I pray that you will walk with not just me but my family, our friends and our friends through BTTB and P by 4. Thank You Father. Please keep us away from evil and temtation. Amen.
I friend said to me, I don't like it when I stumble. When I do, I usually pray for forgiveness and then try really hard to not stumble again. God is so awesome; His light helps my stumbles to be far and few between. I can remember a time when I stumbled so many times during one day; I couldn't keep track of them. Isn't it interesting that the scripture above links our attitudes to stumbling? If you have anger in your heart, you don't reveal light to others and can stumble. If you have nasty negative thoughts, you lose the light and can stumble. If you live in any kind of darkness (sin), you stumble. No wonder we stumble so often. We try to live without the light of God's love in our hearts. No wonder we become so weary and tired, we are always stumbling.
It may sound simple to love and receive light. However, we are weak and allow the light to deplete from us throughout the day due to our thoughts of others. If we focus on God, ask Him to change us, begin to accept those changes, pray for those that drain us and see them through the eyes of Jesus, our light will shine. Then we will have less and less stumbling. If you just begin to pray for your attitude, and focus on God, you will find forgiveness and begin to love your brothers and sisters. God is almighty and can change your heart and their heart. He is calling us to repent of anger, judgment, frustration and all other thoughts of darkness. Won't you receive His light today? Open your eyes and your heart to see others as God sees you. I want less stumbling and want to flourish in the light, how about you? God bless.
Thank you for the wise and encouraging words from God through the faithful participants of this study. I needed to read what I've read today and read the comments as well for further enhancement. Thank you all. Thank you God.