Open Book

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Y’all I’ve been trying all day to get in the word and somehow I’ve ended up doing everything but that. Sometimes it’s hard because we are going through dark times and running to worldly things to try and feel better. Sometimes we are angry with God. And sometimes it’s hard because we feel like the world is overwhelming us and pulling us away from Him. It can be hard to face the Father when that’s the case. But here’s the deal, we have to be intentional. It’s not enough to worship or pray or go to church or listen to someone on TikTok or Instagram no matter how the fulfilling that feels. You can do all of those things, but alone they cannot sustain you. You will still leave empty and hungry. You only get fed spending time with him. It’s not up to anyone else but you. Your relationship should not rely on depending on someone else to feed you. Sometimes it’s so much easier to do these things than it is to actually open your Bible. Why is this? Opening your Bible puts you face to face with Him and in turn, makes you face yourself. Sometimes I fall so far that I’m ashamed to come back. But I’ll tell you this- He wants you back no matter how far you’ve run away from Him. He will always welcome you back. And it’s never too late. It’s never too late to open that book. It doesn’t matter if you strayed and messed up in every way possible- you are His child. He created you with purpose. He loves you. Heaven will celebrate every time you run back to Him. No one wants to fall short of his expectations, but it happens to all of us every day. There is a difference between doing things that are not pleasing to Him with intention and falling short with the intention of obedience, but He’s the only that can judge that. And sometimes choosing to follow Him is a moment by moment thing. It doesn’t always come easy. I believe that loving some is a choice. Because you don’t just show someone your love for them once. You love them over and over again consistently and that’s how they know. Choosing to pursue someone daily is a choice. And it’s not always easy. It’s the same way with your relationship with God. I feel like I’m pulled back into the things of this world. But here’s the thing- the enemy wants to see you fail. And he does not fight as hard when he does not see you as a threat. He wants to separate people. He wants to separate those that come together in Christ. Because that is a threat. When you have a relationship with Him and when you are walking with Christ you have to be so aware of that. Be vigilant and be ready to fight. You have to be ready. Opening your Bible and spending time with Him (just you and Him) is the meat and potatoes when it comes to the depth of your walk with him. Spending that time is going to teach you some many things, it will open your eyes in a whole new way. It’s going to prepare you to for that fight. Do whatever you have to do to make that happen- turn off the tv, put your phone away, close the door (lock it if you have to). Whatever you have to do sit down and open that book, especially when that’s the last thing you want to do. This is the fight for your life.

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:7, 10-11, 13‬ ‭NIV‬‬