Just as I was beginning to become discouraged and disheartened, God provided me with inspiration, truth, and ammunition. At Confluence (BCM's yearly gathering of all the BCMs in the area), God placed the first spark. The Sunday of that weekend's gathering allowed us to join the host church's morning service and in his message he brought up the verse Galatians 1:10. I know that I was supposed to hear this verse cus I had been drowsy alllllll during the service, but around the time that verse popped up, I had finnaly gained full consciousness. :)
Galatians has been my jam ever since then, in particularly 1:10 has been my theme. 1:10 says, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." This kinda put things in perspective for me. It boosted my spiritual moral because it solidified my confidence in my conviction. This has the same application as the Armor of God. Equipping my self whith this verse has allowed me the ability to rebuke the doubt that comes along with a heavy heart.
Since then, God has had me just soaking up every little bit of information in Galations I can get. I got a comentary from Vernon McGee focused on Galatians that walks through verse by verse. As sad as it sounds, I still haven't finnished the comentary, but I also dont take it lightly. I will sometimes read the sections over and over untill I sopp up every little theological nugget.
Recently I was feeling as though I was in a little bit of a spiritual drought. The key indicator was that I felt my spiritual gifts sort ot dry up and they didn't seem to flow out of me as they usually did. This last weekend the sermon at JFBC had the verses 2 Timothy 4: 1-9.
It says...
1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
These verse have provided me with a spiritual revitalization and I feel back on track. Thats all I have for now. Next time I think I am going to write about the term "Paidigogos". Its really quite an intriguing verse that WILL help you understand your faith.~Dan