Sunflower Faith

Assignment 6

Reading-Read Chapter Four. Read pages 91-114.

Questions
I have decided not to give any discussion questions this week. This chapter is lengthy. For your posts next week, share what is on your heart at that time for Chapter Four

As I read this, Psalm 10:6,11,13 REALLY just stood out at me and reminded me how often we tend to live our lives like, once we leave church and go home and close the door, we act like God can’t see us. I was told once when I mention that I hope I could download my pastor’s sermons so I can re-listen to them later, that I should just “take a break” and I was “getting too much churchy stuff.”

Too much churchy stuff?

It’s almost like saying…if it’s not Sunday, God doesn’t want to spend time with us and we shouldn’t care about spending time with God.I feel that people tend to approach sin with that same attitude of they measure their relationship with ow many times they go to church and so long as they “meet this dosage”, it’s enough.

Once we live the church parking lot, some of us live our lives like God is on vacation from us. We have to be very careful how we conform and interact in the world, because the truth is that sin is everywhere. The enemy wants us to believe that we don’t have to choose,we can have both, but the truth is that we must choose and stay with it.
Ecclesiastes 8:12; 12:13-14 (New International Version) is a very haunting reminder that we can act like God doesn’t know and He isn’t watching, but the reality is that when we come home, and close the doors, what we do and say, still matters to Him:

Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God……Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

The downfall with this, is this reminded me so much of trying to convince ourselves we really need that chocolate cake even though we know for a fact, it’s not good for us and won’t make us feel better…we still do it and think, if I don’t tell anyone…it’s okay.

The reality is that we are consumed with guilt, maybe a stomachache and regret and our Heavenly Father wants to free us from that; He is like a tough parent…who loves us…but lets us make our own choices but not before being truthful and going, “I know you want to do this, but this isn’t good for you and I’m not saying no just to spoil your fun.”

As I read the illustrations, it just stood out that facing the truth is the hardest thing for anyone to do it, but there is well…truth, that the truth will set you free; God doesn’t promise an easy walk and there are times that the walk is so hard that there are tears, but in the end, the liberating freedom of walking in His way, is one of freedom; We just have to choose to allow Him to guide us and remember that yes it’s human to try to have it our own way, but God really does know better and not for ill, but for good.

© 2008, Sunflower Faith. All rights reserved.

Sunflower Faith is a quiet, sometimes silly, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes serious, follower of Christ sharing words of devotion, encouragement and hope that is always about our Father in Heaven. So grab a cup of coffee and join Sunflower Faith in words of growth, hope and more all in the spirit of 2 Peter 1:5-8.

Sunflower Faith

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