Ecclesiastes 12:13

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8

 

 

Good morning everyone! I hope everyone has had a good weekend! For me, the weekend was very long, but very fun. I was babysitting 3 children from Thursday night through Monday morning. It was very out of my element to be at someone else's house for 4 nights and taking care of 3 children (13, 11, and 7) but we had such a fun weekend. We went to Boston on Sunday (and we brought Mike with us too) and they were just so well behaved. Having the little bit of extra money for Christmas shopping isn't too bad either!

 

 

This morning I opened up my bible app for the first time in a week and was hoping to see the verse that I need today. I wasn't sure what the verse would be, but I knew I needed something today. The verse of the day today was Ecclesiastes 12:13 which reads

 

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind."

 

 

I really had to take a few minutes and reflect on this verse because I wasn't really sure why this would be the verse God gave me today. I do fear God and try to keep his commandments, so why is God leading me to this passage today. With all that has happened in the world the past few days, and really over the past year or so, I think God is giving me this verse because of the last two words of the verse. All Mankind. I don't know about you, but I don't see all of mankind keeping God's commandments. I don't see all of mankind fearing God. I see people in this world killing others FOR fearing God. I see people in this world following after false God's and after their own hearts rather than after God's heart. I see people in the aftermath of these attacks and tragedies who don't know where to turn. People who want things to change, but don't know how to change them other than just electing someone else to run their country and hoping they can change this.

 

Change isn't going to come from one person.

 

I hate to admit it, but even living in the free world that is the United States, we aren't safe. And it doesn't matter if our next president is Democrat or Republican, we won't be safe. We can have the best military defense system up, but if people aren't following Christ and praying for healing in our world, things are going to keep happening. People are going to keep bombing. People are going to shoot other people. We can physically try to prevent these things, but we need to be praying to God about preventing these things, and how to move forward after events like Paris, 9/11, and so so many other times of attacks on countries.

 

In verse 14, Solomon writes "For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." I think this is why God gave me this verse today. Not for verse 13, but for verse 14. When we die and go before the Lord, we are going to be judged on what we have done in our lives. Hidden things and things that we did that everyone saw. If we are on the outside fearing God and keeping his commandments, but on the inside are not following these things, God knows. But likewise, we may have so many good things in our hearts that we didn't share with others that God will see and rejoice in.

 

I was scrolling through the verses from the past few days/week and I saw that Jeremiah 29:11 was one of the verses. I love this verse, I don't care if it's cliché or very well known, it's so powerful. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  For anyone who knows what I'm going through with PCOS knows that this verse means a lot to me. God has a plan for me and it's a plan that will not harm me and that gives me hope.

 

Now, when I write that God's plan won't harm me, I don't mean that I won't be safe from harm. I can still be hurt, I am not invincible. But it's meant in more of a Big Picture kind of way. God's there. He doesn't want to see me fail, he wants me to be filled with hope about a future. A future with him!

 

And through my travels through the verse of the day's I found a new favorite verse. The verse I put at the beginning of this post. "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:8-9. Guys I can't begin to express to you how much I love this verse. I am receiving the end result of my faith, which is the salvation of my soul.

 

At church a few weeks ago we talked about just this. Salvation isn't just for when we die, salvation is ours to claim today! Salvation is now AND forever! Sometimes it can be hard to follow God because you can't see him. It can be hard when you don't see all of the amazing things he's laid in front of you today. But even when I can't see those things, I'm still filled with that glorious joy every day! EVERY. DAY.  I am joyous because I have a great God by my side and that will never change. That will never waver. I have salvation through him, and so do you!

 

I think the thing I have the hardest time with as a Christian is spreading his word. I have such a hard time going up to people who I know aren't Christians, or who aren't following Christ, and explaining to them how I have such joy even in turmoil. I have such a hard time saying "Yes, I have PCOS. No, I don't have any children yet. No, not all my dreams have come true yet. But I have a great God who I know is always with me and he can always be with you too." I think this blog has helped me so much in being confident in my walk with God, with being able to vocalize my journey and to help encourage people. It's definitely helped me to be more vocal with people around me and not be afraid to share my faith with them. It's still very easy for me to hide behind my computer screen and not be vocal outside of this comfort zone, but I'm working on it.

 

I hope that this post encourages you to have faith in Christ, to keep the Lord's commandments, and that this world needs our prayers.

 

God Bless,

Amanda