1. What word or phrase in today's reading speaks to your heart?
(v.14) "Make every effort to live in peace with all men..." (NIV)
(v.3) "Think about Jesus' example...do not get tired and stop trying."(NCV)
(v.7) "so hold on through your sufferings...God is treating you as children." (NCV)
(v.12) "You have become weak so make yourselves strong again." (NCV)
2. How does today's reading directly relate to your life right now?
(v.14) my differences/current relationship with home church and parents
(v. 3) my future "career path" in nursing
(v. 7) strained relationship with mom. All hardships I reaped after the sins I sowed.
(v. 12) my relationship with God
3. How is God calling you to respond to what you've read today?
(v. 14) stop being so indifferent to believers. Stop judging. Be more loving and open up. (even to non-believers).
(v.3) put more effort into Nursing because He keeps providing.
(v. 7) don't focus on the negative/problem. There are daily blessings, too.
(v. 12) Get your act together and stop putting God after desires.
4. Your own additional thoughts/meditations:
(v. 14) I have definitely become more distant with the church and family in general. I don't really have any personal battles or anything. It's just that I don't always agree with their methods so I choose not to participate. CLEARLY, I need to stop being stubborn and prideful. I need to learn to open up my heart and see past the differences. See them through God's eyes and love them the way He loves us all. BASICALLY, avoid conflict that makes matters worse.
(v. 3) I still have no idea how I got to where I am with Nursing. I barely did my part when God CLEARLY delivered each and every time. Then why am I so tired and lacking confidence and initiative? This verse is just a continual encouraging reminder that what I'm going through is cake compared to what He did. As long as I never give up and look/lean to Him for strength/endurance, ALL things will be possible.
(v.7) I've been allowing stress, fear, and paranoia to control me on a daily basis. My pessimistic outlook on life has reached it's peak. I'm too busy worrying. I miss and overlook countless blessings. I don't take the time to reflect on God's purpose in dealing/disciplining me in this way. I need to stop making miniscual situations magnify/dominate my life and vision. God is GREATER.
(v. 12) It was a slow and gradual fade. I let little things slide. I easily got distracted. i didn't prioritize You. I procrastinated and pushed back my quality time with God. All this piled up until God ended up being at the end and hanging on a thread. I've been slacking in all aspects of life and now I need to change and address it at the source. It all starts with Him.
