Out to Get Me

Y’all don’t believe the devil is real? Let me tell you something.

The devil is so real and He is out to get you.

This week, I finally started to feel content in one area of my life. As soon as I was feeling content, temptation came and pulled me away from that contentment.

I struggled through for a couple days. I didn’t do well. (Heck, I'm still struggling with it.)

But as I was struggling and doing things I knew God didn’t want me to do, I kept feeling more and more lonely when I thought what I was doing should help me not feel so alone.

See that’s what sin does. It pulls us away and blocks our view of God and who He really is. The devil loves to do that to us. He loves to get in any crack he can and wreak havoc in our lives.

Thankfully, we can always come back into the light, out of the darkness of the lies of the devil, into God’s glorious light, and seek forgiveness and restoration.

Devil, you ain’t got nothing on me. I got Jesus. He defeated you a long time ago, and just wait, cuz your time is coming again. I’ll fight you, with Jesus living in me. And you might win a battle, but you won’t win the war.

Claim that truth for yourself. Use it when temptation comes. RUN from temptation, don’t dance with it. Trust me, dancing with it only leads to trouble.

Sin might look good right now... the devil might be whispering lies to you. But one day, sin will be locked up with the devil.

Don’t be one to get locked up with the devil. Get with Jesus. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins. Tell someone. Seek to follow Him the rest of your life. Read your Bible (and apply it in your life). Fellowship with Christians. Pray. Practice spiritual disciplines. All those things are good, but the most important thing is a relationship with Jesus Himself.

Don't know what to pray? You can follow what I've written below.

Jesus, I'm tired of living in darkness. I don't like feeling lonely. I want to have a relationship with you. Please forgive me for my sins. Help me to seek you and live my life for you. Help me grow to know you more each day. Thank you for your sacrifice and for your forgiveness. Help me in my day to day life. Help me to forgive myself too. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Please tell some other Christian if you've prayed that prayer. Our relationship with God is most important, but we need relationships with others too.

Have no one to tell? Feel free to comment on this post so we can celebrate with you, or send me an e-mail at augustinegidney@gmail.com

Be Blessed y'all.

Trusting... Well... Trying

Trust.

Such a simple word, but a hard action.

People say, "oh, you can trust me." You soon find out whether you can or not.

You trust yourself to make decisions everyday. Everything, great or small, you trust you can make the right decision. Everything from deciding what shirt and shoes you want to wear to how you want to spend your time and money. But there are some things we don't know if we will make the right decision, so we ask opinions and trust others to give us some good advice. I'm talking decisions like... college.... relationships...  moving...

Sometimes we trust the wrong people. We take their advice and trust them when we really shouldn't.
There is one Person Who we can actually trust, who will make the right decision every time.

That's Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

I don't know about you, but when I read that, I feel a tremendous amount of pressure that was on my shoulders go away.

It isn't up to me.

I'm not alone to make these decisions.

I can go to Jesus and ask Him, "Hey, what should I do here?"

I can look to the Bible, read it, and see what I can do in certain situations.

Trust.

Trust God with your plans.

I'm a control freak. I love making plans and figuring things out. When I was a teenager, I had a plan for my whole life. I was going to be engaged by this time, have my degree by this time, married by this time, have children by this time, own a house by this time, etc. etc. etc.

Oddly enough, every plan I made got flipped upside down.

At the time, it was so disappointing. Looking back now... I am so glad my plans didn't work out. Cuz God had much better ones, and I am just beginning to understand what those plans look like.

Proverbs 16 has some stuff to say about plans....

"We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer." (verse 1)

"Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." (verse 3)

God has the best plans in mind for us. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to do well. He has our best in mind.

God is the one person we can trust. Though it may seem like life is out of control, that God is nowhere to be found, He is right there beside you, trying to help you, if you'd just let Him.

Trust Him.

Trust Him with it all. Your dreams... your desires... your life.

Trust Him to help you make the right decisions.

Find out what He wants for you and for your life by:

1. Reading the Bible - lots of good info in there to show you how to live, and what God wants of you.

2. Praying - prayer is a two-way conversation. I often forget that. God is there to listen to you, and there will be times He will want to talk to you too. You just have to listen.

God knows all our dreams and our desires. Psalm 38:9 says "You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh."

God knows more about us and our lives than we or anyone else could ever know. Let's learn to trust Him with our lives and everything in our lives. It'll make things easier.

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You." - Isaiah 26:3 -

A Child, a Memory Verse, and a Revelation

Sometimes, you have a lightbulb moment from God, and you just think, well, duh! But it is a profound revelation to you.

This happens to me all the time.

See, sometimes your head knows the answers, but your heart needs an extra nudge.

I’m not going to lie; these past couple weeks have had rough patches. I’m looking at my “to do” list for today, tomorrow, and Friday of assignments due; part of me wants to laugh, the other part wants to cry. Ya’ll know what I’m talking about.

Yesterday while helping out at a children’s ministry program, I had a child who told me he was stressed and worried because he had some choices to make and he didn’t know what to do. We had just gone over one of their memory verses, so I recited it back to him; “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.” (Philippians 4:6, NLT).

Throughout the time, he would come back up to me and keep asking. I would read it back to him and try to encourage him a little.

This morning I was thinking about it, and everything clicked.

Duh.

Here I am, worried about my assignments, worried about getting everything else in, and the answer is literally right in front of me. God used that child. He wanted me to keep reciting the verse to him; it was not just for him; it was for me too. It was to help me remember it and commit it to memory.

That clicked as I stood at my sink, in the process of getting ready for the morning.

So, two things:

1) Reflect on things. Your Bible reading, your devotional reading, your prayers, and sometimes, even your interactions with others. (Now, don’t overthink interactions with others. So be careful with that one.) It’s amazing some of the things we can pick up on after the fact, especially with our devotional time.

2) PRAY. Prayer is literally the answer to anything. Worried? PRAY. Scared? PRAY. Overwhelmed? PRAY. Happy? PRAY. Depressed? PRAY. You get where I’m going with this. Don’t believe you should always pray? Well….

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV; emphasis mine).

Look back at the verse we quoted earlier, Philippians 4:6 … it says to “…pray about everything.”

I’m sure there are more verses on this. Why don’t you check it out for yourself?

All in all, I know this was something I needed to hear. I hope that it helps you in some way.

Love ya’ll! <3

 

Faith During the Hard Times

Job was a man who had it all. He was the richest man in the land where he live, as Job 1:3 tells us. He was a man who feared God, and verse one of chapter one tells us that he was a "man of complete integrity," (NLT). As we read Job 1:1-5, we see that Job has everything going for him, in all he does.

Moving into verse 6, we switch gears, and are given insight into what is going on in heaven at this time. From verses 6-12, we read about Satan approaching God, and God telling Satan about Job, and how dedicated of a servant Job was to His Lord God. Satan stood up against the Lord, telling Him that Job just followed Him so faithfully because God protected him, and allowed Job to prosper in all he did. Satan reasoned with God, telling Him that Job only followed Him because God protected and provided so well for him. "Take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!" (Job 1:11, NLT). The Lord told Satan to do what he would, but not to harm Job physically.

The story continues, telling about how Job lost everything he had, all in the same day; first his animals and farmhands, sheep and shepherds, camels and servants, and even all his sons and daughters.

Job was distraught. The Bible tells us he stood up and tore his robes because of his overwhelming grief (1:20). However, even though he had lost everything, he did not curse God, but praised Him! (1:21). He never blamed God for anything, but praised God through everything He went through.

How quick are we to blame God when things do not go our way? I know I am quick to become angry with God when I do not get my own way. But, is that the way we are supposed to be? I don't think so. Is this difficult, praising God through trials? Definitely!

I attended a church service over the weekend, and the pastor was preaching on the people of Zion, and their wondering about where God was in the midst of their trials. He said something that stuck with me, and it will be something that I will often think about; "Despite what we may think or feel, God is with His people," (Benjamin Pass).

Job knew that God was with him in the midst of his trials, and tribulations. Can we trust God will do the same for us?

Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

(Suggested reading: Psalm 23).

Trusting God

I'll be very honest. Trusting God is not easy. I have a very difficult time with this. It is hard to trust God with everything; finances, relationships, education; it's hard. But you know what is harder? It is harder to try to figure things out by yourself. Let me explain a bit.

I have tried so many times to try to figure things out on my own. I have done things that I regret because I was doing what I thought was right, or what I was feeling like I wanted to do. However... each time I have found out that my plan... well, it sucks. Every time, I let myself down, and I always let the people around me down too. And I'll be honest... I don't like doing that.

I'm in the process of learning to lay things down and let them go, giving them to God. Cause honestly, God knows all of it, and He knows everything that is going to happen. And I believe that God has the best plan for my life. I also think He has the best plan for your life.

The best thing that one can do to learn how to let go and trust God is to grow closer to Him. In every relationship, as you get closer to someone, you trust them more. If we grow closer to God, we will learn to trust Him more, and then we will be able to let things go. And how do we get closer to God? Well, how do you get closer to anyone? You spend time with them. You talk with them. This is what you need to do with God. You need to take time to spend with Him, praying and listening for Him to answer. You need to read His Word, and reflect on it. Just like when you think about what your friends say, think about what God says.

I'm not saying that this is going to change things completely. This is a process, and it is going to take time. The best relationships are formed over time. Your relationship with God will form. It takes time and work, just like any other relationship, but it will be worth it.

You can and will learn to trust if you want to. So, what do you want to do?

Crazy Life

Life gets crazy sometimes. This past week has been a testimony to that fact. There are times when we question God on where He is and what He is doing in our lives. We shed many tears, and almost lose our faith. During these times, we learn who our true friends are.

When I was feeling that way this week, my best friends in the whole world gathered around me to help me back up. It didn't matter that I was an emotional disaster... they just were there to help me, give me words of advice and wisdom, and get a laugh out of me once in a while. They were also there to point me back to the One Who controls everything... God. They told me stories of how God had been faithful to them in the past, and encouraged me that God had everything under control.

God reminded me this week of how much He loves me. He showed me that His plans are always for my good, and for the good of those around me, even if I don't understand. When I was struggling to understand why God allows young people to be really sick and in some cases die, God reminded me that our breath belongs to Him... He has the right to give it, and the right to take it away. We cannot question Him on His ability to provide for us. He always comes through. This morning while I was in church, God pointed me to this verse,

 

Psalm 32:7

 

You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.

 

This verse reminded me that God has been there all week, in the good and bad times. And I am so thankful that even when I was angry with Him, He stayed with me and never gave up on me, and showed me this promise that I can hold on to. He reveals things to us as we need to learn them, and He is always faithful to provide for us.

 

I just encourage you to lean in to God no matter what is going on in your life. He's the only One who can fix the mess you are in. And you can tell Him anything. Even if you are mad, tell Him. You'll be surprised how He can work in your heart and life. 



Easter-- What's its meaning?

     Today is Easter day. Today is a special day for all Christians. It is the day that Jesus Christ arose from the dead! He defeated sin and Satan by dying on the cross, and rising from the dead on Sunday, completing the job. Have you ever heard the poem "Sunday's a Comin'?" (Search on YouTube) If you haven't, listen to it. It will explain everything!
     Jesus' death and resurrection made a way for all people to come to Him and be saved. He is willing to forgive you if you ask. Read the story of His life and death in any of the gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John have all the stories. They really are fascinating. Mark 14 on to 16 has the story of Jesus's death. Check it out. And while you are reading, really pay close attention. There is a lot of information in there. And I guarantee, if you have never read it, it will make a huge difference!
    

     Check out Keith and Kristyn Getty's song, "Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed" It is another awesome Easter message!

Convictions vs Friends

     Conviction. Such a small, simple word with such an important meaning. Dictionary.com says it is a "fixed or firm belief." Everyone has convictions of some sort or another. It can be as simple as believing that cats are better than dogs, or can be as big as believing whether dating is right or wrong. A conviction is a conviction.
     Are some convictions (such as dating is not right for me to do) easy to stick to? No, of course not! There will always be someone who will try to belittle your convictions, and maybe even make a big deal of it to embarrass you. Are they your real friends? Are they the people that you really trust to respect and help you through life?
     Some people say it is too hard to have convictions because of some of the reasons above. But God promises us, as Christians, that we "can do all things through Christ..." (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)
     In 1 Samuel 18, David (who would one day be King David) and Jonathan (King Saul's son) became really good friends. The story tells us in verse 1 that "the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David." In other words, they became very close friends very quickly.
     Friends like David and Jonathan support each other. If you read through the story, you will see what these friends faced together. They both had convictions, and each respected the other. This is real friendship. They stuck together through the good and bad, and respected each other.
     These are the kinds of friends we should seek out. They may not agree with you on everything, but they should respect you and what you believe. Aren't those the kinds of friends you want?

Suggested reading-- 1 Samuel 18-20

God bless!:D

Where Is God?

     Elijah was depressed. Jezebel was threatening to kill him because he had killed the prophets of Baal, the false god she worshipped. Elijah's complaint to God was this; "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life." (1 Kings 19:10 NKJV)
     God answered Elijah's complaint. He told him in verse 11 to go out and stand on the mountain before Him. What happened next is amazing. A strong, powerful wind came by that tore the mountains and broke rocks; but God was not in the wind. Then came an earthquake. But, God wasn't in the earthquake either. Finally came a fire. God wasn't in that either.
     There was one more thing that happened however; God spoke in a still small voice; and He was really there!
     God doesn't always reveal Himself by awesome works; sometimes it is by the voice like a child. Still-- small-- quiet. One really has to listen to Him to hear it. Ecclesiastes 4:6 says this; "Better a handful with quietness than both hands full together with toil and grasping for the wind." Sometimes trying to listen for something loud and powerful is like grasping for the wind. We have to listen for quietness and a still, small voice.
     I think something we need to remember to do is to take time especially to listen for God's voice. No, it is not always easy. We are all busy. But even one minute could help you to have a special revelation; try it some time. And don't give up just because it didn't work the first time. Keep at it. God will reveal something to you; it may be through the Bible, music; it could be anything. Remember, keep your eyes, ears, and mind open; and mouth closed.
SUGGESTED READING-- 1 KINGS 19 (especially 11-13)