August 16, 2009

Ok...

Romans is officially my new favorite book in the bible. I just got done reading it today and I would have to say that God really pressed into me during that time.

There is so much I wish I had known earlier... and I know I can't regret anything so I'm definitely soaking it all in now for the future. I called myself a christian all my life but I feel like I'm JUST now understanding what it means to be a follower of Christ. I'm having daily revelations of concepts that I have heard all my life. I used to think that I "got it" but when I look back, just these past 6 weeks I have learned more than I have my entire life.

I tried to base most of my relationship with God off emotions. But I failed to remember that I am in a covenant with God and it doesn't matter how I am feeling... I should have unceasing prayer and press into Him daily. I can't count how many times I heard how much I should do a daily devotional but honestly... that makes it sound so watered down. I'd rather say I'm having a daily conversation with my Father who loves me so much that not even the angels or demons can separate His love for me [Romans 8:37-39].

Having a stable relationship with God gives me more hope than having scattered "God highs" that only lasts for a day or weekend. Although I'm sure those are nice, I am happy with where I am in my relationship with Him because it explains in Romans how Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God. Instead he was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Basically it shows he was human and wanted to doubt the power of God but didn't and through that God was able to be glorified through him. How great of a honor is that?!

I hope that one day God will trust me enough to give me an opportunity like that. I know right now I am still a baby and can barely be trusted with the little nudges He gives me. But hopefully I will be persistent with learning to walk in His truth and live a life full of faith that overcomes fear of man.

I made a beautiful illustration of something that stuck out to me that one of the speakers talked about:

:: We are the guy in the middle ::
:: Walking on a log (life) high above the rocky ground (death) ::

I am trying to use this illustration in my everyday thinking. Basically when we try to walk in our faith with Jesus Christ we have to be looking towards the truth... constantly. If we are looking anywhere else we lose our balance and fall off the log. So if I keep looking back at my emotions and worrying about them... of course I'm going to fall off the log because I wont be able to keep my balance. If we live off of trying feel all these emotions, our relationship with God will be a crazy roller coaster ride. Eventually we will just give up and that's when a spiritual death happens. But when I walk in faith and seek truth daily my emotions will always be following behind me and they wont be able to drive me anymore.

This is SO key, I believe. It makes for a more stable relationship with God and people will see the change in you because it's not so back and forth on your ideas. I wish I had known this before because I'm sure I have confused a lot of non-believers through my search for a constant "God high." I asked God for forgiveness and can't dwell on how bad I probably screwed how people viewed Christians. But I can say that I will never be the same after this whole experience.

I can already feel God starting to transform my heart and the way I thought a Christian should be. I think I'll just end like this...

It's only by God's grace that I stumbled into this adventure.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Katie, I love you so much. I'm so thankful that God loves you even more to reveal himself to you. Even if it took going to Australia to do it. xox mom

britta said...

Katiekins,

Thank you so much for that.
Just something I needed to be reminded of.

have tons of fun and love you!

britt

Anonymous said...

Katie - WOW! What insight! And it was something I needed to be reminded of just now. You know, you have your dad's gift for explaining things...praying God continues to show you new things, stretches you and molds you.

Be well...your mama's friend, Valerie

Tim said...

"It's only by God's grace that I stumbled into this adventure."

I love that. So true.

Sometimes God blinds people on the road to Damascus. Sometimes He sends them to Australia. Sometimes He sends them to Nashville. All grace and mercy.

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