"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever." Psalm 86:12

Thursday, August 19, 2010

To Be Counted Worthy

Thank you all so much for the prayers you have sent up for me. I decided last night to go to bed super early (8pm) and get a good nght's rest. I woke up this morning still feeling a little defeated. But today is a new day. I stayed at the guest house rather than going to the school, and am going to work on Bible studies today! But first, I spent time with my sweet Jesus. Telling Him how I feel and asking for His help. I know a good attitude won't just magically appear. I can't ask God to simply give me a good attitude. Having a good attitude is a choice I have to willingly make.

As I was writing my prayer this morning, the "Desert Song" was playing on my iPod. "I will bring praise! I will bring praise! No weapon formed against me shall me remain... God is my victory and He is here!" So I have chosen to rejoice in this day. Here is what I wrote in my journal: (And please know I never write in my journal with the intention of making it public. My journal is a very private prayer journal between me and the Lord. I sometimes just feel led to completely open my heart and share it with the body of Christ - whether that is to ask for encouragement, or to be an encouragement)

Father, my God, my Savior, my Comforter, my Guide. I need you to come lift my head this morning. Today is a new day. A day where I don't have to laminate books. I get to work on the Bible studies and I might even get to go to the orphanage! Today is a new day. Today is a better day. Today is the day that you have made. I will choose to rejoice and be glad in it. I ask that you would use today for your glory. Use today to sanctify me. Help me to make the most of today. I have 12 days left in Africa. 12 more days of being in the desert. 12 days of just me and you. 12 days of less distractions. 12 days to make the most of. I will not sulk in these 12 days. I will choose to trust you.


Last night and this morning I found a lot of verses which speak of being counted worthy of the calling of Christ.

"As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Philippians 1:27

"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:15

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." 2 Corinthians 5:20

And this is what it means to live a life worthy of the calling we have received:

"...we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring... and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are now suffering." 2 Thessalonians 1:4,5

And this is the exact prayer I would ask each of you to send up for the remainder of my time:

"... With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

2 comments:

  1. hey girl-
    So glad its some better today...and I agree so much with what other comments were made. (Especially Kristin!) You know it is all such a faith endeavor every day. I told your mom that what you have written at times reminds me of things Lottie Moon wrote and things also expressed by Elisabeth Eliot. I think it is truly all about faith...the faith that God knows what He is doing, the faith to believe it is all part of the most amazing bigger plan you can't imagine, the faith to trust that because God gave you the dream and you showed up, it is right, and the faith to believe that YOU are being changed and molded by the very things that frustrate you...all in preparation for the rest of your life. And yes, it is a test, and yes, praise God, you can handle it!!! You have studying all your sweet little life for it.
    Sometimes, my girl, God lets you have a glimpse of what it all is (but not always) and if He does, it will amaze you. Either way, the promise that it is all for good is, well, hmmm "plain as black ink on white paper"!! :)
    Oh, and my Mary is off to college!!

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  2. I'm praying for you Jordan! Continue to trust in Him. Can't wait to see you when you get home in 9 days!

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