Hey there! It's been a week since I've last visited you. I can finally write down everything that had happened to me. This is basically the continuation of my previous blog and how I am now. :)
Well, it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. There were some twists of events, but.. Yah, things went back to normal again - to where things should be, again. :)
For 3 days, I convened with the Lord. For 3 days, He gave me answers, direct answers. For 3 days, He gave me comfort. For 3 days, He drew me back. :')
When I prayed to the Lord that I wanted to get back to my regular quiet time, He told me one book that I could read - Philippians. I did not know why. But I pursued reading it, and this is how He talked to me through it.
Background: The book of Philippians is one of the Apostle Paul's Epistles in the Bible. It is about how thankful he is for the Philippians for their continuous love, support and prayers to him since he was staying in prison by then. He also expressed his longing for the Philippians and gave some reminders about their faith and love for Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:27 "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.."
This is the verse that struck me the most. The gospel is so precious. It is precious because it has cost the life of Jesus Christ. It has cost His blood. This is the reason why He left His majesty and deity in Heaven. This is how costly and precious the gospel is.
What is the gospel? The gospel is God's love story to us - to mankind. How He made every way possible to reconcile everyone back to Him. And that reconciliation was made possible through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. He gave His only son to the world, to die and pay the penalty of sin just so we would be saved and cleansed from our unrighteousness. That's how God loves. Though while we were still sinners, He chose to save us, because He wanted us to be with Him forever - and that forever is not the "forever" we hear from love stories or temporal relationships - forever means for eternity - life after death. And that's true!
And the Lord told me to be worthy of the gospel. What does that mean? The Lord wanted me to act, think and live in such a way that I can count myself "worthy" of the gospel of Christ, worthy of all the sacrifices Christ has done on the cross, worthy of Christ's life and blood that was shed from the cross 2,000 years ago. "Worthy" in such a way that what Christ did will not be counted as useless in my life.
How can I be "worthy"? I am not perfect. I disappoint too many people. If I fail to please people a million times, how, then, can I ever please God? He is the God of the universe! The God of all!
Well, "worthy" basically means living out my life for Christ - choosing to stand for Him; choosing to do what's right; choosing to follow His commands; choosing to refrain from leaning to what's wrong; choosing to read the Bible; choosing to regularly talk to Him; choosing to listen to Him; choosing to be the kind of Christian I should be. Because that's how He wanted me to be. I'm pretty sure of that.
He reminded me that I should stop being so careless, so childish and so relaxed, it's time to man up and be "worthy" of the Lord's calling! And yes.. it's been a while.
Below are some of the verses that also struck me that day:
Philippians 1:10-11 "..so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:20 "..Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death."
Philippians 2:15 "That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."
Philippians 2:13 "..forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."
This is the same verse that God told me as I was writing my previous blog. Seems like there is only one message the Lord wanted me to know. ;)
God is such a sweet God. He makes sure that He shows me the right way each time I get lost. No matter how stubborn or proud or disobedient I have become, He never gives up on me. He sees to it that I'll get back to where He wants me to be.
The Lord is very visionary. He has such huge plans for me (which I forgot since the revelation of "the truth"). I have totally forgotten everything and got blinded by the "happiness" I thought I could have forever. This is how the devil got me. But no use to regret and look back, the Lord told me to strain forward to what lies ahead.
And I wonder what are those that lie ahead! Greener pasture? Bigger opportunities? A more peaceful life? Whichever it may be, one thing is for sure - that if I choose to stop dwelling in the past, there is a prize waiting for me. Yes, I can still feel the pain and all the ruins of my past, but what matters most now is how I would get up and win that prize that the Lord has set out for me.
I was reminded by the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. That when the wife of Lot looked back at the city while they were coming out, she turned to salt. "Looking back" could be interpreted as the inability to let go, the inability to discipline yourself, the inability to master your weakness, and the urgency to repeat the same mistakes all over again.
So I should stop looking back. Yes it may hurt. Yes it may haunt me. Yes it may even cripple me. But who cares? My God is bigger than my fears! My God is much stronger than anyone who would try to be against me.
Look ahead. Stop looking back.
Below are the verses that had also struck me that day:
Philippians 3:1 "Finally brothers, rejoice in the Lord."
Philippians 3:8 "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."
Philippians 3:20 "But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
This is the most powerful answer I have received by far. :) The Lord wanted me to be at peace. After fighting for what's wrong for the past 5 months, after choosing to fight for what I think is best for me, now the Lord wanted me to have peace. It's as is if God speaking to me.. "The fight is done my child. Lay down your arms. Come here. Let me hug you."
If only I could see the face of God, if only I could wrap my arms around Him and embrace and thank Him and fall face down on His feet to worship Him. That's how great my gratitude is to Him. He is so good. :')
Whenever my past clouds in, this is the verse I use to combat the devil. Although I have failed a while ago, but it doesn't matter. What's important is that I should stand up again, look ahead, and choose peace.
Whenever I worry too much, the Lord just wants me to pray. Whenever I get too pre-occupied with those that I cannot control, the Lord just wants me to pray. And His peace, will guard my heart and my mind. It's a tough battle though. But the pain and the struggle will be worth it since I am fighting for what is right now. I am fighting for what I know who will not turn His back on me. I am fighting for what I know will stay no matter what. I am fighting for the God who would never leave me nor forsake me. I am fighting for the God who is true to promises. I am fighting for the God who truly loves me. No to "blindedness" anymore. ;)
Below are the verses that struck me that day:
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord, always; again I will say, rejoice."
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Philippians 4:9 "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 4:11 "..for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
I am proud to experience all these things. :) It's been a while since I get to really, personally talk to my Savior. And if there may be readers I hope and pray that the Lord has spoken to your hearts.
Remember, only He can satisfy all your longings; only He can make you happy; only He can make you feel complete; only He can turn your mournings into dancing; only He can make you feel loved unconditionally. The world may deceive you by trying to be all that God can. You just have to be wise and firm in saying "no". If not, huh, then braise yourselves for a life full of lies, heartaches, emotional breakdown and fake foundations. Because no matter how hard they try to mimic God, they just can't. And you'll end up defeated and hopeless because of trusting the wrong "God".
Though it may really be hard to choose Him. Because the world's offers are far more attractive in the eyes, but destructive on the inside. Just like what happened to Eve. The fruit did appear very appealing, but it caused sin to be passed on from generation to generation. The damage was so great!
It may be hard to choose God, but regardless, choose Him. Warning, your choice may be tested. You just have to stand firm, look ahead and choose peace. And He will guard your hearts and your minds.
The battle belongs to the Lord. We cannot win the battles of this Earth.
Surrender. Believe. And live the lives you have never imagined! ;)
All glory and praises belong to my Lord!!
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