Have you ever felt that your life was going nowhere? Stuck. No ways to walk out. Trapped in a pit without sunshine to shine on your face? Read your Bible, praying and do your Christianity to-do lists without finding anything that gets you out of there?
Yeah.. I have been going through that situation. Reading my Bible without understanding what was God speaking to me, praying without any clue that my prayers will get answered. I have no idea why God seems to leave me. He appears to walk away from me. He has been silent for .. I don't now, it seems forever for me. A long, long time without good connection with God. As I know, I've been trying to do anything good, but I always failed. God seems to be nowhere, don't care how hard I push myself to approach Him.
I just felt I couldn't stand it any longer. I told God this morning to speak to me through anything. I would open my laptop, checked my emails, my daily devotionals, and I was hoping that He heard me and would get me into a place I could meet Him or at least, heard His voice. And you know, I didn't know how, I arrived at Lysa Terkeurst's blog (you can read the post here) where she wrote about her experience with God, and the same feeling as I've been feeling for months.
Here's what she wrote ..
There have been many days in my Christian journey where God was reduced to something on my to do list. Somewhere along the way I picked up a checklist of sort of what good Christians are supposed to do: Pray. Read your Bible. Go to church. Don't cuss. Be nice.
Being the rule following girl I am, I subscribed to that list and waited with great expectations to receive the zap of contentment and happiness good Christians girls are supposed to exude.
And then I felt something was wrong me.
I still felt restless. I still got angry. I still felt a bit hollow.
I was going through all the motions but didn't feel connected to Jesus. Others around me seemed very connected. They would talk of being 'moved by the spirit.' They would hear from God himself. They would clap their hands and shout amen in the middle of a sermon that sounded like Greek to me.
I often felt like a weightless soul grasping at the air hoping to somehow snag this Jesus that was just out of reach.
Have you ever been there?
(You can continue reading by clicking the link above).
And this was exactly what I feel! And yeah.. I also found that this post had 74 comments! It means that almost 74 people once in their lives ever felt this way, too. I continued reading the comments and found this encouraging comment from Joyful (you must read her encouraging blog!).
I read once that the Lord can only be silent with those He knows will continue to seek His face. He sees you. He loves you. He is with you. His word never returns void. Keep spending time with Him. I just really feel He is molding something very special within your heart. I know sometimes it's hard. I know sometimes it's frustrating. Don't give up. He sees the longing of your heart and His Word promises that those who diligently seek Him will find Him.
It got me thinking. Could it be me? Could God be silent with me because He knows that I will continue to seek His face? I don't know. So far, I persevere :).
And this one from Anonymous..
Although life gets hectic, there are reminders all around us. If we look up and see the changing sky, the clouds dancing and changing color. We are experiencing a reminder of the One who created it all.
Okay. I have to admit. Perhaps God has been showing me His clues and direction for me to find, but probably my eyes can't see it clearly, because of all pains and sorrows I've been bearing these times had become my main focus. Hopefully, we all can see His directions through anything He puts around us to remind us that He, God of the universe is there, not leaving us alone..
Forgive me, Lord. Please, let me see You. I want to know You deeper. I want to see Your glory revealed through and in my life. Use me according to Your will. Take my whole life, Lord. Please, don't leave me alone. I can't handle it myself. I need You.
Thank You for speaking to me through certain blogs and its comments.
Blessed be Your Name..
Showing posts with label walk with Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walk with Jesus. Show all posts
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, July 31, 2008
How To Have A Quiet Time
For all of you who have been asking question about how to have a quiet times, this article (written by Dr. Richard J. Krejcir) is very simple to understand and easy to follow..
I. GETTING STARTED
A. GOAL: Understand your GOAL. Your goal is to become complete in Christ, (Col. 1: 28), or to say it another way, to become a mature person, i.e. a person whose attitudes and actions are like Christ's. (Eph. 4: 13)
B. PROCESS:Understand the PROCESS. An essential step toward reaching the above goal is to spend personal, daily time with God.
C. PLAN:PLAN ahead. Sit down on Sunday and decide exactly what paragraphs or chapters you will be studying during each of the next seven days. Doing this will eliminate the problem of spending half your altar time trying to decide what you will study that day.
D. CONTENT: Put VARIETY and CONSISTENCYin what you study. One month you might study an Epistle. Then you might spend a month or two in a biographical passage such as I Samuel. Then you might go back to the N. T. to study a doctrinal passage such as Romans. Then maybe switch again to a Minor prophet. In your study of a year or two be mindful of dealing with the entire Bible and not just one section, such as the Epistles.
E: FOCUS:Usually it's good to spend most of your altar times closely examining a few verses. Some find it best to set aside one day a week to switch from taking detailed notes on a few verses to reading a chapter or two from a different section of Scripture without taking any notes.
F: MATERIALS:Buy a three-ring notebook that can be used exclusively for things to do with your relationship to God and to other believers. Make a special section in that book entitled " Altar Times."
G. PLACE OR LOCA TION:Select a quiet place where you can study. Remove all distractions, e.g. close the drapes, shut the door, clear all busy work from your desk, take the phone off the hook, whatever. Be serious about meeting God.
H. TIME:Select a time. Usually the early morning is best, because outside distractions are least during this time.
Set aside "x" number of minutes to study, and "y" number of minutes to pray. Be flexible to the Spirit's leading within this framework. !
II. HELPFUL HINTS
A. Desire versus will. Often you will not desire to spend time studying the Word. At these times, remind yourself of your goal; then will (determine) to do what you know is best rather than what you feel.
B. Realize that you cannot force God to bless you. Approach your altar realizing and confessing that even in this area you are totally dependent on Him (Ps. 127) for His blessings.
C. Keep a mental dialogue going between you and God as you study; e.g. "Lord, I don't understand this," or, "Lord, I praise you because. . .," or "Lord, how can I apply this?"
D. If you feel your altar time lacks life (is dry, boring), share that fact with the Lord (Ps. 62) and with a friend, asking him or her to pray for you.
E. Discipline yourself to do much writing. Doing So will deepen your understanding of the passage as well as bring organization to your though ts.
F. Use Webster's Dictionary. It will help you understand many words like grace, forbearance, humility, and propitiation.
G. Buy a good Bible commentary such as "The New Bible Commentary I" D. Guthrie, ed., Eerdmans, 1970. Do not become depending on this commentary for your personal nourishment; just use it to clarify hazy points.
III. PROCESS - USING YOUR STUDY TIME TO THE MAXIMUM
A. Praise the Lord for who He is - pray, sing, write, etc.
B. Confess known sin.
C. Select a process you will use to study the passage, See book, "Into Thy Word".
Here is a simple inductive approach: "2 PROAPT." *
The 2 PROAPT process:
1 . Pray.
2. Preview - read the entire passage rapidly.
3. Read the entire passage slowly.
4. Observe
What does the text say? Copy verbatim the words of the text. Biblical Principles are here.
What does the text mean? Write any and every thought the Lord gives you on the meaning or implications of the text. Ask who, what, why, where, when, how, of the text. Biblical Implications are here.
Apply these principles and implications to your life.
Summarize the passage with a brief phrase.
Pray in thanks, or confession, or praise, or supplication.
Tell at least one friend what you learned from the Word.
IV. VARIETY- Try using different methods of study. Remember - you are working on developing a relationship.
Make the process enjoyable. Suggestions:
A. Take the first five minutes of your altar time to read a Psalm. Whenever the Psalmist states who God is as a person or what God does as God, pause and praise God for that fact.
B. Take a day or two each month to study in a different environment, e.g. study in a local library, or in a park, by a lake.
C. Do a character study, e.g., .'What do I learn about David in I and II Samuel?" or, "What did Jesus do to demonstrate compassion for people?" or, "How did Paul speak of other people?"
D. Do a topical study, e.g., .'What does the Scripture teach about dating? About possessions? About leadership?"
E. Do an attitude study, e.g., "What was Jesus' attitude toward the Pharisees? Toward interruptions?"
V. APPLICATIONS
A. You'll never come to experience the full value of an altar time until you discipline yourself to apply what you've learned. Study with the determination that God will give you an application.
B. Make your applications measurable. Think through the when, where, what, why, and how, e.g., "1 will begin showing more love to my neighbor, Elma Jones, by asking her if there is anything I can pick up for her from the store when I go shopping Monday."
C. At times you will see 4 or 5 specific ways the passage you studied can be applied. It is better to select one way you want to apply the Word that day and do it than to select three ways and fail. Work first on the area where you need most help.
D. Make most of your applications short-range, e.g. things you will do within the next 24 hours or within the next three days. Periodically God will give you an application that you'll need to work on for a longer period of time. When that happens, rejoice; but at the same time, continue to work on fresh, short-range applications.-Let God do a new work in you each day, and be thankful.
Resource: www.intothyword.com
I. GETTING STARTED
A. GOAL: Understand your GOAL. Your goal is to become complete in Christ, (Col. 1: 28), or to say it another way, to become a mature person, i.e. a person whose attitudes and actions are like Christ's. (Eph. 4: 13)
B. PROCESS:Understand the PROCESS. An essential step toward reaching the above goal is to spend personal, daily time with God.
C. PLAN:PLAN ahead. Sit down on Sunday and decide exactly what paragraphs or chapters you will be studying during each of the next seven days. Doing this will eliminate the problem of spending half your altar time trying to decide what you will study that day.
D. CONTENT: Put VARIETY and CONSISTENCYin what you study. One month you might study an Epistle. Then you might spend a month or two in a biographical passage such as I Samuel. Then you might go back to the N. T. to study a doctrinal passage such as Romans. Then maybe switch again to a Minor prophet. In your study of a year or two be mindful of dealing with the entire Bible and not just one section, such as the Epistles.
E: FOCUS:Usually it's good to spend most of your altar times closely examining a few verses. Some find it best to set aside one day a week to switch from taking detailed notes on a few verses to reading a chapter or two from a different section of Scripture without taking any notes.
F: MATERIALS:Buy a three-ring notebook that can be used exclusively for things to do with your relationship to God and to other believers. Make a special section in that book entitled " Altar Times."
G. PLACE OR LOCA TION:Select a quiet place where you can study. Remove all distractions, e.g. close the drapes, shut the door, clear all busy work from your desk, take the phone off the hook, whatever. Be serious about meeting God.
H. TIME:Select a time. Usually the early morning is best, because outside distractions are least during this time.
Set aside "x" number of minutes to study, and "y" number of minutes to pray. Be flexible to the Spirit's leading within this framework. !
II. HELPFUL HINTS
A. Desire versus will. Often you will not desire to spend time studying the Word. At these times, remind yourself of your goal; then will (determine) to do what you know is best rather than what you feel.
B. Realize that you cannot force God to bless you. Approach your altar realizing and confessing that even in this area you are totally dependent on Him (Ps. 127) for His blessings.
C. Keep a mental dialogue going between you and God as you study; e.g. "Lord, I don't understand this," or, "Lord, I praise you because. . .," or "Lord, how can I apply this?"
D. If you feel your altar time lacks life (is dry, boring), share that fact with the Lord (Ps. 62) and with a friend, asking him or her to pray for you.
E. Discipline yourself to do much writing. Doing So will deepen your understanding of the passage as well as bring organization to your though ts.
F. Use Webster's Dictionary. It will help you understand many words like grace, forbearance, humility, and propitiation.
G. Buy a good Bible commentary such as "The New Bible Commentary I" D. Guthrie, ed., Eerdmans, 1970. Do not become depending on this commentary for your personal nourishment; just use it to clarify hazy points.
III. PROCESS - USING YOUR STUDY TIME TO THE MAXIMUM
A. Praise the Lord for who He is - pray, sing, write, etc.
B. Confess known sin.
C. Select a process you will use to study the passage, See book, "Into Thy Word".
Here is a simple inductive approach: "2 PROAPT." *
The 2 PROAPT process:
1 . Pray.
2. Preview - read the entire passage rapidly.
3. Read the entire passage slowly.
4. Observe
What does the text say? Copy verbatim the words of the text. Biblical Principles are here.
What does the text mean? Write any and every thought the Lord gives you on the meaning or implications of the text. Ask who, what, why, where, when, how, of the text. Biblical Implications are here.
Apply these principles and implications to your life.
Summarize the passage with a brief phrase.
Pray in thanks, or confession, or praise, or supplication.
Tell at least one friend what you learned from the Word.
IV. VARIETY- Try using different methods of study. Remember - you are working on developing a relationship.
Make the process enjoyable. Suggestions:
A. Take the first five minutes of your altar time to read a Psalm. Whenever the Psalmist states who God is as a person or what God does as God, pause and praise God for that fact.
B. Take a day or two each month to study in a different environment, e.g. study in a local library, or in a park, by a lake.
C. Do a character study, e.g., .'What do I learn about David in I and II Samuel?" or, "What did Jesus do to demonstrate compassion for people?" or, "How did Paul speak of other people?"
D. Do a topical study, e.g., .'What does the Scripture teach about dating? About possessions? About leadership?"
E. Do an attitude study, e.g., "What was Jesus' attitude toward the Pharisees? Toward interruptions?"
V. APPLICATIONS
A. You'll never come to experience the full value of an altar time until you discipline yourself to apply what you've learned. Study with the determination that God will give you an application.
B. Make your applications measurable. Think through the when, where, what, why, and how, e.g., "1 will begin showing more love to my neighbor, Elma Jones, by asking her if there is anything I can pick up for her from the store when I go shopping Monday."
C. At times you will see 4 or 5 specific ways the passage you studied can be applied. It is better to select one way you want to apply the Word that day and do it than to select three ways and fail. Work first on the area where you need most help.
D. Make most of your applications short-range, e.g. things you will do within the next 24 hours or within the next three days. Periodically God will give you an application that you'll need to work on for a longer period of time. When that happens, rejoice; but at the same time, continue to work on fresh, short-range applications.-Let God do a new work in you each day, and be thankful.
Resource: www.intothyword.com
Thursday, May 08, 2008
QUIET TIME
I've just read I admire that. If only I have that closeness to God..
To be honest, I've often passed my quiet times. There were many things came to distract me. I thought they were normal. We use to get distracted in this hectic life. But I've just realized that it was
I wonder how might God is. He can use anything to get us back to the track. Yeah, probably, it doesn't mean anything for you, but it does lots for me. Am looking for God's will in my life. Have been walking to and fro and got nothing. But when eventually I totally gave up my life, He shew up. He reveals Himself through anything and everything. That's why I wrote on my previous post that I can see His fingerprints everywhere on my journey. He is working, even when I don't see Him, I know He's there besides me.
Thank you
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