Anticipate #1: Solid Foundation
TGIF! While at a Christian bookstore, I discovered a small little book called Anticipate, which has 15 devotionals to help prepare someone for an upcoming mission trip. I was struck by the small size, the elastic band that wraps around it, and the thought-provoking words on each page. It also includes space for journaling, which has become one of my favorite disciplines. Megumi and I have been reading the devotionals together, and below is the last portion of Chapter 1, which was about building a strong foundation based on God's Word (seems like a wise idea - see Matthew 7):
______________
"God is calling you to new heights. He longs for you to be all that you can be for His Kingdom. He also knows that along the way you will face trials and temptations, and if you are merely hearing the Word and not putting it into practice, you are destined for a terrible wipeout.
Jesus flat-out tells us that if we will take the time to build on His rock-solid foundation, we will not fall. No matter what may be thrown at us, we can know for certain that we will still be standing on the other side of the storm. Of course, the other option is a guarantee as well. So the choice is yours--will you stand or will you fall with great crash?
You are getting ready to head on a mission trip. You'll probably be in a placee you have never been before, meeting new people and experiencing new things. It would be really easy for you to simply say the right things and pretend to be someone you are not. Those around you may never know the truth.
However, you are called to be so much more. God has opened doors for you to go on this trip. He is calling you to grow in your faith, to become someone better than you are right now. He is opening your eyes to live differently than ever before. The challenge for you will be not just to know the right things to do but to put them into practice. And to do this, not just on your upcoming trip, but from now on.
By putting God's truths into practice, you are building on a foundation that is bigger than you, stronger than you, and will last for all of eternity. When storms come, when challenges arise, you will have a strong launching point to make it through. It will not be empty words that you don't actually live by--it will be the eternal truth of God taking root in your heart. People will see a difference, you will experience joy, and you will take another step toward become the disciple of God that you are meant to be.
What kind of storms have you face in your life? What did they reveal about your foundation?
Take some time to pray about God's plans for you on the trip to come and for your daily life. Ask Him to help you put into practice the things He is teaching you. Pray that God will give you the strength to build a foundation based upon Him rather than your own ideas."
______________
"God is calling you to new heights. He longs for you to be all that you can be for His Kingdom. He also knows that along the way you will face trials and temptations, and if you are merely hearing the Word and not putting it into practice, you are destined for a terrible wipeout. Jesus flat-out tells us that if we will take the time to build on His rock-solid foundation, we will not fall. No matter what may be thrown at us, we can know for certain that we will still be standing on the other side of the storm. Of course, the other option is a guarantee as well. So the choice is yours--will you stand or will you fall with great crash?
You are getting ready to head on a mission trip. You'll probably be in a placee you have never been before, meeting new people and experiencing new things. It would be really easy for you to simply say the right things and pretend to be someone you are not. Those around you may never know the truth.
However, you are called to be so much more. God has opened doors for you to go on this trip. He is calling you to grow in your faith, to become someone better than you are right now. He is opening your eyes to live differently than ever before. The challenge for you will be not just to know the right things to do but to put them into practice. And to do this, not just on your upcoming trip, but from now on.
By putting God's truths into practice, you are building on a foundation that is bigger than you, stronger than you, and will last for all of eternity. When storms come, when challenges arise, you will have a strong launching point to make it through. It will not be empty words that you don't actually live by--it will be the eternal truth of God taking root in your heart. People will see a difference, you will experience joy, and you will take another step toward become the disciple of God that you are meant to be.
What kind of storms have you face in your life? What did they reveal about your foundation?
Take some time to pray about God's plans for you on the trip to come and for your daily life. Ask Him to help you put into practice the things He is teaching you. Pray that God will give you the strength to build a foundation based upon Him rather than your own ideas."
posted by ERuss at
11:01 PM
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