Get Up And Keep Going

This past week God has used people to remind me, and His Word to remind me, of many things.  I am thankful because I can't always get myself out of the pit I allow myself to get into.  You see I had let many things get my attention off of the Lord and my life with Him.  Events in life can get you down....people in life can get you down.  But most of all for me....what I see as my own defects....for lack of a better word....can really get me down.  One thing I hope I have learned from this time is....

These things should never pull me away from God.  They should always push me closer to Him.  I was reminded this week that whatever circumstance you find yourself in....when you think you just can't keep going....you have to, and you can, because of the Lord....because He is with you and won't leave your side.  One thing that was hard for me was to read the Word.  I stared at it....finally read it....got nothing from it.  In fact it was just like a blur of words.  But I was also reminded that I must read it anyway....no matter how it made me feel or not feel.  I tried it.  Good advice.  At first nothing much had changed but eventually the blur went away and the Word started to break through....the Lord started breaking through.  So I am making a new habit in my life....

This week I have started taking a Bible to work with me and I am reading at lunchtime.  It's a good time because by then I need to hear something good and positive. 

I was also reminded that you have to work out your own salvation.  No one can do that for you.  I like the way the Amplified Bible says this verse.  I don't always understand so this one explains to me....more fully....exactly what the verse means. 

Philippians 2:12-13

¹² Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

¹³ [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

I am thankful for faithful Christian friends that God has placed in my life.  God speaks amazing things through them.  We just have to listen and be willing to accept the words He has given and then act on them.  

Most of all I thank the Lord for the grace and forgiveness He gives us.  He forgives us....loves us....and is for us.

until we see JESUS....face to face