Being Lead

Good evening my fabulous followers and readers. As I mentioned a few posts back I have been spending quality time with God and it's been such a breath of fresh air. The coffee has been traded for hot tea, water, diet coke and as of last night a glass of wine but He's still been faithful in guiding me to where I need to be lead throughout the Bible.

1 Peter was the first book I felt called to take time in and what perfect timing did He have with that. Joy through suffering was the theme that was laid out plain and clear for me to see. Although I have not gotten to the point where I have been able to full comprehend what that looks like on me or in my situation I have found comfort in knowing that it is possible to rejoice in times of such darkness and sorrow.

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps." 1 Peter 2:21

After the service at church yesterday I decided to take a deeper look into Ephesians and the verse that captured my eyes right away was;

"In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ." Ephesians 1:11-12

Now, I don't know about y'all but I was always taught in english that if you were going to add anything extra into your sentence with commas your sentence still had to make sense if you took out the extra part all together. For example, "In him we were also chosen so that we might exist for the praise of his glory...". I read and read and then reread the shortened verse again last night, this morning and right now. It somehow clicked for me that we were chosen by God, He chose me, to exist for one thing and one thing only and that is to praise His name and His glory. I believe that right there is joy, praising our God. And if we are to be joyous during our sufferings than that to me means knowing there is a brighter future for you and you may not see it until you get to heaven but until then you continue praising your Father no matter what because He chose you to do just that.

This is the prayer I pray for myself as well as every other human being who looks in the mirror and is blinded by our societies scandals from what God created you to be, perfect and beautiful in every way.

Father, help me to live in the reality of this moment and accept the truth about myself. Guard me from self hatred, and teach me to love myself as You love me. Allow this love for who You are, who I am, and who You created me to be, to motivate me today to love myself more. Today I need the reality of Your love to replace the perceptions of this world. Amen.

- From the book, "The Body God Designed" by Gregory L. Jantz

Also, it's this pretty ladies 21st birthday today. If you haven't already told her happy birthday now would be the time :)