Day 2 Deny Yourself

John, in regards to your reflection from yesterday, I totally agree. I always try every year to read the bible in a year. By time I get to the 3rd, I have fallen behind and I try again around the end of January. I am very pleased to say that I am trying something new this year. I found a website that actually allows you to choose how to read your bible in a year http://www.ewordtoday.com/year/31/cjan01.htm and I have chosen to do so chronologically (per advice of Cheryl Precourt-thanks Cheryl). I love it. I am actually ahead of the game. Here it is the 4th of January and I am about to start the January 7th reading. It gives me a whole new way of reading the bible and it is enjoyable for me.
As I read Day 2 and the Dare that came with it, Jess is right. It is high time that I let the Lord lead my life and for me to DENY myself. This has really put a fire under me. I need to make sure that even in my classroom and around my co-workers, I am living righteously for Him. He died for me and it is the least I can do. I hope all is going well for the rest of you. God Bless!
Jan 05, 2010

Jean Taylor said...
Day 2 - Deny yourself. I am a strong-willed individual! (SURPRISE!) I THINK that I am following His will -- but I have to wonder sometime if it's not my own??!! Have I convinced myself that it is His?? So, I will need to be in major connection mode (connecting with Him) to make sure!!
Sometimes we make things SO difficult. If you boil it all down -- I am obligated first to Christ, then to my husband and children.... after that, it gets a little gray. Extended family, friends, job, church, community, education, additional activities.... in what order does the Bible suggest they fall??

It would probably be easier to follow His will if we would remind ourselves of our God-given responsibilities and that there is a season for all things. Finally, that, IN ALL THINGS, it is our responsibility to allow Him to shine through us and touch the lives of the people that are around us.

I desire to live out God's plan for my life -- but desire ALONE will not accomplish it! Faith without works is DEAD!

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Jan 05, 2010

Angie Foust said...
As I read this passage I was reminded of Matthew and how he, litterally and figuratively, dropped everything to follow Christ. No questions asked. When he left that tax collector's booth Matthew, unlike some of other disciples who could return to fishing, guaranteed his own unemployment. There was no turning back for Matthew. Wow. While we will probably never be put in a situation as life-impacting as that, for me it puts into perspective just how trivial it seems to give up much smaller things in my own life. Things that don't even compare to a livelihood.
The other thought I had is that self denial is almost non-existent in our world today. We all hear the siren song of "if it feels good then do it". We live in such a self-centered society! What's really tough is when you decide to live a certain way i.e., not cussing, trying to give people the benefit of the doubt, having an upbeat attitude, not participating in rumors, not over-indulging......... Society usually lashes out at you in an attempt to make you conform and to assuage their own guilt. Resisting that pressure graciously is often a challenge for me.

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Jan 05, 2010

John Bowman said...
To live out God's plan for or lives can be very scary. We sometimes find ourselves asking God to open doors in our lives and when He does we stand at th entrance of the room because we can't see into it. We ask God to push us into the room (but He won't), it is our faith that leads us into the unknown(darkroom) because we know that He is there. There is a cost to denying ourselves and picking up the cross and following Him. Sometimes the road may be a smooth paved road and sometimes it will a rough road with rocks that cut our feet. This is the road that our Savior walked and it leads to the cross. It is here that we crucify ourselves and are risen in new life with Him. Matthew 6:10 says "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Maybe we should say "your will be done in me". When we bow our will to His will then and only then can we do His will on earth. Only those that do His will inherit the kingdom of heaven,Matthew 7:23. What can we deny ourselves in to allow His will to be done?