I want to change my story

Hello all! :o)

I just had the urge to blog about my life. So, so the last time I spoke (before my devotional about the devil and his worksmen) I talked about how I was doing my own thing, got checked by my mother, confirmed it with a friend (unbeknownst to him of course! All God's handy work!), and started to fast about it. The fasting and praying went well in my opinion, I don't know about the other party; I haven't spoken to him.

This leads me to today's update. I was talking to one of my friends earlier today and I was basically complaining about my life, as usual. Then I said something along the lines of, "Blah, blah, same ol' story. I wish I could change my story". It was simple, yet profound, "I want to change my story". It really got me thinking, "Well, how exactly do I change my story?". I know that I don't have control over what happens in my life, but I do have control over how I view my story. Today? Yes, I complained, but I woke up and I did something. Now, normally, I would wake up and sit on the computer all day without doing anything constructive. No reading, nothing edifying that is, no exersising, no nothing. Today I cleaned. Now, that may not sound significant, but it was for me. It was almost like I was symbolically cleaning and organizing my life. My mind felt so much more free. I'm just praying that it last a while.

Today, I choose to change my story by first directing my focus on my Creator; that is to continue to fast and pray because the battle is not over, I know it! Like I said in my last post, the devil and his workman are not sleeping and are seeking to serperate us from God by any means possible.

Next, meditate on the love letters. God's word constantly reminds us to meditate on His word and write it on the tablets of our hearts so that our way is porperous (Proverbs 3:1-4) . And that, I will do.

The Word also instructs (or examples rather) to be clean before coming to the Lord; we must repent before He answers prayers. It says in Isaiah 59:1-2 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separted your from your God; your sins have hidden his face form you, so that he will not hear. In context, the people Israel (Judah) were rebillious and were going through "troubled times". The profit Isaiah urged them to repent and to keep the Law. From this example, we see that it is our sin and disobidence that keep God from answering our prayers. Think about it, it's sin that kept the people of Israel from finding the promise land; they turned a year long trip into a 40 your expedition! REPENT. Finally, persitant prayer in accordance to His will. 1 John 5:14-15 says "
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." If i pray, I want to make sure it is aligned with His will.

So I will continue to repent, fast, pray, and meditate.

What's the point of this entry? Well, many times we complain about our situation, yet, we never make any attempts to change it. It's not all the time that we have control over or circumstance, but we do have control over how we tackle it. If we have a more positive attitude today, we might just have a better tommorrow. Now in order to maintain this positive attitude is a different story. As Christians, Christ is our Rock and our Foundation, He is the froce that gives us peace of mind (in this case positive attitude). Fasting and praying is the quickest way to get in touch with God, but like I said we must have a clean heart before He hears us; we must repent. We also must be persistant. And fianlly we must meditate on His word. Afterall, we need SOMETHING to fight the enemy. :o)

Peace and Love

~Jay

Let's get it! Commune with Christ; it's easy to fall off.

"Communing with Christ is going to take some W.O.R.K. Satan and his workmen are on their P's and Q's!"

Recently it occurred to me that Satan and his workman are NOT sleeping. It is so easy to fall into his trap and simply FORGET ABOUT GOD! It’s important that we are constantly and steadfastly praying, reading our bibles and allowing the Word to make imprints on our hearts. If not, we are no longer under God’s protection.

Today, take some time out to commune with your Creator. Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV) . Don’t allow Satan and his workman to blind you from constantly seeking fullness in Christ. It’s one of Satan’s tricks. All he wants to do is blind you from the truth and distract you with foolishness (i.e. pressures of life), but Christ wants to give LIFE.

Saints, do not be fooled! Galatians 6:7-10 says: 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Remember that separation from God starts with the small stuff. First you miss one Sunday at church, then you stop reading your bible consistently, then you stop fellowshipping with the saints. By the time you know it you are in full communion with Beelzebub (Satan). So today, not only understand that Satan is out to separate you from God, but also understand that this Christian walk is a DAILY struggle and we MUST live with a “Battlefield” mindset. It says in Ephesians 6:11-13 “11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (read 14-18 for the full illustration)

Finally, forget your past transgressions (wrongdoings), you have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (JESUS), so long as you have accepted that He is the son of God and died for your sins and press toward the goal of fulfillment in Christ.
The Apostle Paul says to the people of Philippi, in Philippians 3:13-14 “13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Be encouraged brothers and sisters in the faith!

Lord help me to be "Avaylable"

Currently Listening to "Avaylable" by MaliMusic

So here's a little update. As usual I've been doing my own thing in life. I'm so stubborn. Thank God for His Will and outstretched hand on my life. To sum it all up, I haven't been humble. I've been rude to my parents, shutting out the rest of the world immersing myself into social networks (haha, counter intuitive, huh?,) tv-youtube, physical appearance--make up, and a myriad of other life follies that the devil distracts us with.

Interestingly, someone unlikely person called me out: my mother. Wow. What a shocker. She came to me in a calm fashion definitely not likened unto her normal approach. She told me that I needed to get humble and reconnect with God. Of course I didn't agree with everything she talked about, but she was definitely right about that.

Within the days to come, I had a conversation with a friend of mine. We were talking through IM (instant messaging) as usual. And he asked me how I was doing. Of course i automatically said. "I'm ok". But then, I started to rethink. In actuality, I wasn't ok. Sadly at the time, I was too numb to even notice that there was something wrong with me.

As we continued to talk, he took the time out to do what a Christian is supposed to do: To love and encourage. He suggested that we fast and pray together.

So, here I am fasting, praying, and allowing God to reveal Himself in His mighty power.

It's interesting how things are unfolding:
1. mother calls me out on my faults
2. friend encourages me to fast and pray about it
3. fasting and praying with my friend, aka reconnecting with God.

After the conversation with my mom I had no intentions of taking immediate actions, but clearly God had another plan and placed someone in my life at the right time to convince me otherwise. It feels good to reconnect with Abba.

I would end off in a scripture, but right now I can't. So here's a song that basically encompasses the way I feel and what my heart is singing.



Lyrics

So May time in my life
Have I tried to do it all by myself
but after numerous failures I realized
That the glory is due to God and no one else
I was runnin to and fro tryna make things happen (Slow down)
That's what I'd hear Him say until something bad happens (that turned my life upside down)
Or will I give up Jesus
It's all in your hands now Father
Do what you will with me, have your way

Chorus

Lord please keep me in your will
Lord help me to be still
I just wanna be available to you
I will do whatever you
You instruct me to do
I just wanna be available to you

Not once, not twice, not three times
Have i dropped the ball when i was on the line
But please believe the last time was the last time
Cuz I'm gonna let your will be done and not mine
Things have gotten better, the sun's a little brighter
Adn since I cast my cares on you I'll feel a little lighter
Now i can hold my head up high, stick my chest out
Because your will will surely be carried out (no doubt about it)

Chorus

Lord please keep me in your will
Lord help me to be still
I just wanna be available to you
I will do whatever you
You instruct me to do
I just wanna be available to you

I won't move, I'll wait (I'll still sit here and wait)
Until you show me the way (Lead me in the right direction)
The safest place (it's in the will of God)
Patiently I'll wait (Jesus)

Chorus

Lord please keep me in your will
Lord help me to be still
I just wanna be available to you
I will do whatever you
You instruct me to do
I just wanna be available to you