Today's post stems from what God has been impressing on my heart over the past week (and in reality for a much longer time, over and over again). It is basically 3 points to remember in my walk with Him. First, press on - be about moving forward, second is to be encouraging others to do the same and lastly to remember it isn't in my own strength.
God has been using Philippians 3 and 2 Peter 1 as sort of a 1-2 punch this past week, not to knock me down, but to keep my attention and strengthen my walk. Maybe I was trying to avoid acknowledging or trying to walk in my own strength and confidence, thinking it wouldn't be a big deal, but I found this past week was difficult for me. Thursday was Thanksgiving, and though I have much to be thankful for, I was also alone in a foreign land. Yes I was with friends - some locals and other ex pats and tourists, but alone, having left behind much to be here. Maybe, looking back likely, it was an unseen yet experienced battle - an attack prompted by the enemy of my soul, in an attempt to take away my confidence and joy in Christ. Fooey on him, for my God is Greater all I needed to do was turn to Him.
In Philippians 3 I was reminded that what I had before apart from Christ is worthless. Anything that would keep me from Him is rubbish. I desire, like Paul penned, to forget what lay behind and on press on toward that which Christ took hold of me for. And that led me to 2 Peter, or I should say prepared me for 2 Peter.
I have been meeting with a group every morning for a Bible study in a local park - it's in Spanish, but God has been good and given me understanding while also using it to help me learn the language. This past week we delved into 2 Peter 1 and spent two days focusing on moving forward with diligence, adding to our faith .... growing. The purpose? That we would not stumble and we would be productive and effective in our walk. Verse 9 calls out one thing we should not forget about our past ..... we sinned against God, but further we should not forget that all who have placed their trust in Christ and sought forgiveness of our sins have been forgiven! This incredible truth, the very Grace of God, is to compell us forward. Continuing on in verses 12-15 I was greatly encouraged to press on in encouraging others in their walk .... while I have breath, may I be about praising our Great God, sharing His love and encouraging my brothers and sisters in Christ to walk ever more closely with Him.
And lastly God reminded me that it isn't in my strength, for in it I will surely fail. But in Him I am more than a conqueror. Where I am lacking in adding to my faith all I need to do is to pray and ask for Him to help me - that I may see the reality of that which He has already done for me, what He has already given to me and secured for me ... that I may participate in the divine nature He has set in me. He has rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of His Son, may I ever walk in the Light that He has brought me into to and may my weakness and humbleness be used to bring Him Glory.
My prayer for you - may you be looking to Christ, looking forward to what He has for You, adding to your faith - building upon in more and more daily, that you be encouraged and encouraging to others and always relying on Him who has saved you and know that He is your strength - your strong tower or righteousness. He has given us His very great and precious promises .... and He is faithful and abel to bring them to be.
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