For: The Essentials Formation Online Worship Values Course with Dan Wilt
Week 1 is done and I've done all of my assignments...except for the optional reading of "Devotional Classics" by Foster and Smith. I had read quite a bit in that book before the class, and I plan to return to it at some point but 120 pgs were just too much to read this week!
I had stated that Earth was one of my stronger elements and of course, after reflecting and studying this week, I now feel I have much growing to do! Isn't that how it usually works? You feel like you've got things figured out, only to find that you have barely made a dent in all there is to 'figure out'?
In the past 15 months (since my youngest was born), I have fluctuated in my patterns/routines quite a bit - to the point that my daily devotions have fluctuated and suffered as well. But, at the beginning of this year, I wanted to reestablish some of my older, better habits and also refresh them by pushing myself just a little bit harder. For example, I have done scripture memorization in the past. I got the routine a number of years ago from Tim LaHaye's book "How to Study the Bible for Yourself" and, with the Spirit's help, got quite a few verses memorized in a short amount of time. Then I took a couple of years to review and ruminate on those verses...but, I did not add any new verses to my regimen and found the habit grew stale because of that. Now, I've started memorizing again and was motivated to do longer passages to help stretch my Spiritual muscles. I've been doing the Master Track on Nancy Leigh DeMoss' website http://www.reviveourhearts.com/.
While I know I have much to learn still, I have been encouraged through mentoring a younger gal for the past year because I have seen how far I'm come, by God's grace, since I first became a believer. Now, don't think I'm sitting with my mentee thinking "I'm so much better than you" in a pompous sort of voice! haha I just mean that I remember going through many of the same struggles she is and how God worked those out in my life. And, I can see how she sets herself up for mistakes/falls that I also used to do to myself in my selfishness and sinfulness.
I am obviously not perfect now nor will I be in this life, but isn't it helpful to reflect on how far we've come on the path with God...to see all He's done in us, through His power and mercy? Instead of constantly beating ourselves up for messing things up again or making another mistake, we should take the time to stop and reflect on the work God has done in us. And then take time to thank Him for His faithfulness in guiding us, helping us, pushing us, and forgiving us. Reflecting on what God has done in us, we can be encouraged to continue on, through His power to fight the good fight and keep the faith.
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
