EXPAND TO READ: DEUTERONOMY 30 (HCSB)
PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN (verse 1): I find You speaking to my heart and the mistakes of my past in this verse, Father. Specifically, when You said the words “come to your senses” I was thinking You were actually talking to me in that moment, which maybe You were. This was probably my biggest issue since coming to faith. I often allowed myself to keep digging into a hole instead of coming to my senses to realize what I was doing. I often allowed myself to even sit in the holes I dug, instead of coming to my senses to escape them with Your help. When I joined the Real Men 300, I slowly but surely began to come to my senses in my faith, in my marriage, and in life in general. Please forgive me for taking so long to do this, Father, but thank You so much for opening my eyes and heart to what living with open eyes and ears towards You truly means! Thank You for opening my heart to reveal what love between my wife and I truly mean! It is because of You that I am in a FAR better place mentally, relationally, and spiritually than I could have ever imagined! Thank You!
PROMISE (verses 1-3): There are many promises made in today’s scripture, but I feel like they all align right around the one made in these verses. If we come to our senses by giving all that we are to You through our obedience and trust in You, Father, then You promise to have great compassion towards us along with many blessings both in this life and the next. I know that I do struggle with the “giving all” portion of this, Father. I know I am not perfect, but in the last year since joining the Real Men 300 I have truly been committed and trying my best to be obedient to Your will for my life and to truly trust You, Father. Please help me through this process, Father, so that I can truly continue to grow closer to the phrase “giving all” when it comes to my faith, Father. I don’t know if I’ll ever truly be there, but I do know that I want to continue getting closer to that goal instead of away from it. Help me, Father! Continue to direct my steps so that I know I am walking in the path You want for me.
ATTITUDE (verse 19b-20): I found these two verses combined to be rather profound. At the end of 19 You tell me to “choose life so that you and your descendants may live...” Then in the next verse You say that You ARE my life! Although I already heard this through conversations in church and such, it is amazing to find a revelation in scripture to see it stated with Your own words. Essentially what You are saying is that if we want true life, eternal life that only You can give, then we must CHOOSE You. Although You do give it freely, it is our choice to make and we must choose You to gain that amazing blessing from You! Help me to be willing to make the conscious decision daily to always choose You, Father! To always have an attitude of choosing You above all else!
COMMAND (verse 16): When You start off a verse by saying “for I am commanding You today” I guess that pretty much makes it clear as day that You are issuing a command, Father. In this verse, You specifically state that the commands you’re giving me today are to love You, to walk in Your ways, and to keep Your commands, statues, and ordinances. I need to love You more. I need to recognize the steps You want me to take more easily/frequently so that I may walk in Your ways always. I need to become more knowledgeable on all that You have spoken so that I may become better and more consistent at keeping Your commands, Father. I know I do struggle with all three of these at different times, but I also know that Your grace is always sufficient and You will always be there to help me get back into Your will for my life.
EXAMPLE (verses 1-3, 6, 10, 14, 16, 20): There are so many amazing examples You gave in today’s scripture, Father. All tying to the same overall topic, but so many examples given so that must mean You felt the need to “foot stomp” these to ensure I am getting it. All of these verses include something similar to we are to love, follow, and obey You with all that we are. If we can do that, then great blessings for eternity are promised; even more than I can possibly imagine with my little brain! That’s amazing, Father. Although all on the same topic, the emphasis put on these examples of how to live reassure me that I’m on the right path in my life, finally. I may not be perfect, but I do know that the more I lean on You throughout my life the stronger my faith becomes and the better my overall life becomes. Thank You, Father!
*DAILY NOTE: Wow! Such an amazing quiet time today, Father. Deuteronomy 30 is definitely a strong chapter in the loving You and receive Your blessings topic. I must remember, however, that not all blessings are in this life; in fact I’d venture to say that the vast majority of the blessings You are giving to me are actually after I pass from this life and enter Your holy Kingdom in Heaven! This is a tough reminder at times because sometimes I do feel like I’m doing so well in my spiritual journey, but nothing is changing and nothing new is coming. It can feel a bit discouraging at times, but then I read scripture like this and am reminded that it’s not all about me and what I receive in this life, because there are things I can’t even fathom nor imagine awaiting me in Heaven! Thank You for showing compassion towards me, Father. Thank You for all that You are and for all that You have done in my life. Thank You for rejuvenating and restoring my heart! I love You, Father!
EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES
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