Journal week 25

- Samson was an idiot! But his account makes it obvious that God will use us, whether we do what He wants or run in the opposite direction. In all situations, God is in control.

- The primary role of prophesy is not to tell the future but to reveal the person on Christ.

- Christ must be preeminent in my life, not prominent (one among many)

- Living the Christian life is not what I’m being delivered from but who I am being delivered to and that is Christ.

- When Daniel had to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the first thing he did was call his friends to prayer and fasting. In the same way, I need to view prayer as a first resort not as a last ditch effort.

- God reveals things to me, not so that I may have more information, but so that He can transform me.

- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were obedient to God even though it meant a trip through the fiery furnace. They based their obedience not on the perceived results, but rather simply trusted that God’s plan was best. Also, they knew God could save them from the flames, but they trusted that God would bring about the outcome that would bring Him the most glory, even if that meant death for the three friends.

- When I go through the fiery furnaces of life, the only thing that God burns away are the sins that keep me from intimate fellowship with Him. The safest place was the fire because that is where God is.

- Am I in complete submission to God? Who decides where I live, what I do, who I date, who I marry, what I eat, what I wear, what I say, what I think, what I read, what I watch...

- Brokenness, what God desires from me, is simply ‘no will of my own,’ total submission to and dependence on Christ.

- Children should be included in prayer meetings so that they can learn how to pray. Also, children should be taught to ‘eat’ and memorize scripture and the truths contained in God’s word should not be dumbed down for them.

- The role of the tribulation is not judgment but mercy because it will bring a great multitude to Himself.

- When I complain, it is basically saying that I think that what God is doing is not good enough

- Christ needs to be my sufficiency: everything I need to sustain, support, and nourish myself should be in Christ. I need to abide in Christ through moment by moment decisions to rely fully on Him, not simply doing a one hour quiet time each day. It must be a lifestyle, not a ‘good habit’

- I look forward to seeing my family again because I know and love them, how much more should I then be looking forward to the appearance of Jesus? Do I have eyes only for my bridegroom or am I distracted by the world?

- Pride is the sin that cause Satan to fall. If I aim ‘up,’ God will make it His aim to bring me down. Instead, I need to humble myself (meaning “no will of my own”).

- I need to recognize that I am in a spiritual battle. But God is not simply an equal but opposite opponent to Satan, He is ultimately in control and even Satan can do nothing that God does not allow Him to do.

- Demons first agenda is to tempt us to sin, but God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle through His strength (but not all temptation is from demons). Demons can also possess (but as a Christian, I cannot be possessed because I have the indwelling spirit of Christ).

- Demons can deceive unbelievers (causing them to worship idols), but an unbeliever cannot be deceived until they first reject the truth. As a believer, I can also be deceived. Demons will attempt to sidetrack Christians by corrupting the truth.

- When it comes to angels, we have a completely passive role. I am not to pray to them or to worship them in any way. They never initiate anything, they are simply God’s messengers in carrying out God’s will.

- I need to respond to these spiritual truths, not with fear, but by firmly planning myself in God’s truth (Eph 6:10-18)