When I lay down to sleep and the thoughts in my mind are tumbling around like old shoes in a dryer I need something to bring my mind to rest. Here's one of my favorite things to do:
Think on the attributes and names of God and Christ in alphabetical order! (You know, I don't usually get past M before I fall asleep.) Here are just a few ideas that come to mind.... hopefully I won't fall asleep!
I'd love to hear other attributes that you come up or even other "slow your mind" exercises :)
A- awesome, Alpha, Adonai, Abba, author (of our salvation)
B - beautiful, benevolent, blessed
C- Creator, counselor, cornerstone
D - deliverer
E - everlasting, eternal, Elohim, El Elyon
F - Father, faithful, fortress, forgiving, friend
G - gracious, good, God
H- holy,
I - indescribable, infinite, invisible, immutable
J - just, justifier, judge, jealous, Jehovah
K - King of Kings
L- Lord of Lords, loving, living, longsuffering, Lamb of God, lovely
M - Master, majestic, magnificent, merciful, Messiah
N - near (to those who are His)
O - Omega, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent
P - perfect, patient, powerful, Prince of Peace, protector
Q - Qedosh Yisrael (had to look this one up)
R - (El) Roi, Rock of Ages, restorer, righteous
S - Savior, sovereign, self-existent, Shepherd
T - trustworthy
U - undeniable, unchanging
V - victorious
W - wonderful, wise
X - Xcellent ;)
Y - Yahweh
Z - zzzzz zzzzz.......
Showing posts with label longsuffering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label longsuffering. Show all posts
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sluggishness and Faith
Hebrews 6: 11-12
11 "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Beloved friends, as I have been studying Hebrews, the Lord has been opening my eyes, challenging my heart, and teaching me deeper truths. Today I wanted to share some of that with you from Hebrews 6. I pray this will be a great encouragement to you in your walk today and in the days to come.
In this passage the author encourages his audience not to be sluggish but what does that word mean? In the Greek, sluggishness actually means "an inborn sluggishness which makes a person unfit for activities of the mind or spirit". This reminds me of the wrestling match I have with my sin nature to do what is right; my regenerate heart desires to do God's will but my flesh wants to live an easier life. This battle is resonated in Pauls words in Romans 7:15 , "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."
Instead of just telling them what NOT to do, he puts before them the example of those who have gone before, those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. That faith he speaks of is confidence in certain divine truths, especially those of the gospel. Yet faith does not stand alone, it is coupled with patience. Patience in this context is is actually self-restraint of the mind before it gives room to action or passion... so I see a forbearance of nature as a lifestyle.
This, dear friends, is the Christian life... active, faithful, patient, focused on God's promises. Our walks are exactly that, they are a walk... an active life, one that is lived out by applying the truth of God's Word to every aspect of our lives. We do not do what we do without purpose, by His grace we demonstrate faith and patience as we hold on to the promises of a faithful, changeless God, One who is not slack concerning His promise (II Peter 3:9).
Be encouraged today, whatever your trial or joy may be... God is faithful, you are firmly in His grip.
~G
11 "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Beloved friends, as I have been studying Hebrews, the Lord has been opening my eyes, challenging my heart, and teaching me deeper truths. Today I wanted to share some of that with you from Hebrews 6. I pray this will be a great encouragement to you in your walk today and in the days to come.
In this passage the author encourages his audience not to be sluggish but what does that word mean? In the Greek, sluggishness actually means "an inborn sluggishness which makes a person unfit for activities of the mind or spirit". This reminds me of the wrestling match I have with my sin nature to do what is right; my regenerate heart desires to do God's will but my flesh wants to live an easier life. This battle is resonated in Pauls words in Romans 7:15 , "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."
Instead of just telling them what NOT to do, he puts before them the example of those who have gone before, those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. That faith he speaks of is confidence in certain divine truths, especially those of the gospel. Yet faith does not stand alone, it is coupled with patience. Patience in this context is is actually self-restraint of the mind before it gives room to action or passion... so I see a forbearance of nature as a lifestyle.
This, dear friends, is the Christian life... active, faithful, patient, focused on God's promises. Our walks are exactly that, they are a walk... an active life, one that is lived out by applying the truth of God's Word to every aspect of our lives. We do not do what we do without purpose, by His grace we demonstrate faith and patience as we hold on to the promises of a faithful, changeless God, One who is not slack concerning His promise (II Peter 3:9).
Be encouraged today, whatever your trial or joy may be... God is faithful, you are firmly in His grip.
~G
Monday, January 12, 2009
Fruit of the Spirit
While perusing my old journals, I came across this excerpt from a newlsetter from by Dr. Paul Chappell, teaching pastor at Lancaster Baptist Church.
"Joy is love singing
Peace is love resting
Longsuffering is love enduring
Gentleness is love's true touch
Goodness is love's character
Faith is love's habit
Meekness is love's self-forgetfulness
Temperance is love holding the reins.
...Wise is he who continues learning to hear that still small voice of God and obeys His every impulse."
"Joy is love singing
Peace is love resting
Longsuffering is love enduring
Gentleness is love's true touch
Goodness is love's character
Faith is love's habit
Meekness is love's self-forgetfulness
Temperance is love holding the reins.
...Wise is he who continues learning to hear that still small voice of God and obeys His every impulse."
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