I know I have been falling short of my blogging duties.
However, college is a pretty large time commitment, even when you have no idea what you want to do or be.
Well today is a beautiful Sunday.
I just finished studying for tomorrows math test , and I am really praying I can do well. I am not naturally good at math, terrible at it actually. But I thank the Lord I am able to have a college education, which makes radicals and uniform motion applications seem not so bad!
Since today is Sunday, I went to church this morning.
We have been studying the book of Nehemiah, as I have probably already mentioned.
Now, I really enjoy the Old Testament, but sometime I find it difficult to understand what exactly it is talking about. Also, it is filled with names words that I cannot pronounce, so that doesn't really count as light reading either. But I know that it is inspired by the Lord and every last word has significance and meaning.
So, going through the book of Nehemiah has been especially interesting. Who knew that the story of the man who rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem has so much more spiritual meaning for life with Christ today?
Every one of the gates that were rebuilt stands for something specific within the common Christians walk with the Lord.
Two specifically caught my attention today.
The Valley and the Dung Gates.
The Valley gate obviously is centered around a valley, however it is positioned at a good distance from any other gate. Definitely spaced longer than any of the others. This gate signifies trails and tribulations, the difficulties that every Christian faces. And after that comes the Dung gate, which was a place for the waste and trash to be taken out from the city.
The reason I find this so interesting is because about two weeks ago my dad and I had a similar discussion, although it wasn't about Nehemiah.
My dad told me that sometimes we go through difficulties in our lives because the Lord is going through the process of cleaning out our spirit of the worldly and fleshly desires. Even when we may not realize they are there.
"Count it all joy, brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
James obviously understood that trials don't occur just because we are followers of Christ. Or so that we can have our prayers answered in the end. This is a true testament of God's love for us. He seeks to burn out of us the desires of the world, and in turn give us true peace and rest in God.
The lacking in nothing that James mentions doesn't talk about worldly possessions.
He is talking about being at peace, and even having JOY, because we are in Him and Him in us. That we may not have to worry or doubt in His goodness. And that we may also see the blessing of our current situation.
For example, I had been facing my own difficulties.
It was frustrating seeing my entire life in front of me and being completely at a loss of what to do with it.
I knew more than anything I wanted to serve the Lord, but after months of praying I still was unsure of where to go or what to do.
Through this time the Lord revealed to me that it wasn't about seeing a physical manifestation of my prayers, it was about the changing of my spirit.
I began to understand that I needed to look at my own life, right as it is now, no matter how difficult it can be, and know that I am blessed.
So that whenever the physical manifestations do occur, I can be content with what I have then, and not search for something else to make me happy.
And there is JOY in that!
The Lord Is Good!
