משיח הסלע המוצק אני עומד

Trusting God

     Many Christians I know have the wrong concept of trusting God.

     Trusting God does not mean that “as long as I try my best at school, pray, and love God, he will provide me with comfort, resources and happiness.”

     When we say that, we are expecting God to do us a favor because we think that it is a fair trade for our works.

     But rather, we need to acknowledge that even if we do everything in our best of abilities, God may not provide us with resources or a comfortable life. 

    Trusting God means staying faithful no matter what is thrown at our way. Even if we are stripped of all we have physically after living the most Godly life one can imagine, trusting God means staying faithful and being able to endure because we know that God is in control and he is advancing his kingdom.

     When we choose to follow God, he does not promise us a comfortable life here on Earth. It is evident in Apostle Paul’s life; although he lived a life worthy of every Christians’ admiration, he was always suffering, both his body and mind. 

     But when we trust God, when we know that victory is already ours through Christ’s death and resurrection, we must not fear hardships on Earth but be joyful that God is advancing his kingdom through our struggles and failures.

Heartbreak

     While I was killing time in on campus, I decided to give out “life’s most important question” booklet to random people.

    I was feeling unusually nervous to talk to people, so I spent about 20 minutes just mentally preparing/praying before I started.

     Finally I made a move to my first target, but I was rejected and was asked to take the booklet back. I was not at all prepared for it and I felt my heart sink. Although she was someone I didn’t know, I was greatly afftected by it and My heart was filled with sorrow.

I really don’t know what to do about this heartbrokeness, I cannot seem to overcome it.

People are so beautiful when they smile.

This made me wonder, would God agree?

I think he would; I’m convinced that God designed our smiles to look beautiful rather than hideous for a reason.

The brightest smiles are the ones that reflect God’s love for us, for His love is the brightest light. 

People who find joy and comfort in Him and nothing else, have the most dazzling smiles. And I’m convinced that this is by God’s design, His perfect design.

Praise Report 4/24/13

   While I was having breakfast at the dining commons, I saw a few people eating alone and saw it as an opportunity to give them the booklet I bought last week.

   The booklet is called “Life’s most important question”. It summarizes the gospel in a very comprehensible yet thought-provoking way. Several weeks ago, I decided to order a box of these booklets so I can always carry them and be ready to share the gospel every opportunity I get especially on campus.

    My first target was a girl who was eating by herself. But as I was mentally preparing myself, she left and I missed my chance. 

    My second target was a guy who was also eating by himself. As I was walking towards him, I suddenly lost the courage and walked past him, and I saw two middle-aged women who appeared to be workers in the dining commons. On the spur of the moment, I started talking to them and gave them the booklets.

   I was so focused on reaching out to the students, I didn’t even consider talking to the workers. God led me to them specifically to show me that they need God as much as anyone else. 

‘Desiring God’ by John Piper; Chapter 1 reflection

    This book showed itself to me; I heard many good things about it throughout my life, and when I wanted to read it, I found the book in my room when I visited home. I didn’t have a clue where it came from and I still don’t. The only thing I know is that God is sovereign and does his will in mysterious ways.
    John Piper starts the book by explaining how he became a Christian Hedonist; quoting C. S. Lewis, Jonathan Edwards and many others who influenced him.
    He writes that this book aims to persuade us that ‘the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever.’
    Piper reflects his college days and before he was enlightened, he used to think that the goodness of his moral action was lessened to the degree that he was motivated by a desire for his own pleasure. I too share the same dilemma and I could directly relate to Piper’s thoughts. I tend to think that even if I am making sacrifice to do good deeds or to serve others, it is no good if I was motivated by self fulfillment and satisfaction (which is the case for most things I do for others). But the bible says all of us not only seek, but also ought to seek our own happiness.
    God commands us to be delightful and to seek comfort. This does not mean that it is good to seek worldy things because those are not happiness nor comfort; the only comfort and delight is in Him.
    This particular quote by Jonathan Edwards which Piper included spoke to me loudly: “God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in”
    Duty and delight, in Christian Hedonism, can coexist. We are ought to enjoy God forever for it is what God is most glorified in.