The Daniel Fast Begins

So, yesterday I started my week long Daniel Fast. It's going great so far.  I'm doing a Daniel bible study and I have been learning that we need to go to God in prayer for everything.  It doesn't matter what we go to God for just that we go to God.  We need to be spending time daily with God, even if we feel that we don't have anything to talk about.  Because we do have things to talk to God about, whether we know it or not.  God know it and we need to talk to Him about it. 

We also need to spend time with other Christians praying to God together.  I think that may be something I need to start doing.  Now I just need to find another Christian woman who will spend time praying with me who will keep me accountable.  Because I know left to my own devices it won't happen.  But I know it's what God wants for my life, and it will bring me closer to Him.  And isn't that the whole purpose?

TNT,
Words by Ali

Fasting

I have been reading about fasting, and how it can have an amazing spiritual effect in a persons life.  There are of course many different kinds of fasting that a person can do.  No food, only water, any many other different types.  The one I have been learning the most about is the Daniel Fast.  You basically can only eat fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and drink water. 

I have been really giving so thought, and prayer, into whether I should do this fast of not.  How long I should do it for.  And also spiritually what I would do as well.  It's a tough decision, but I think it's something that God wants me to do.

Now I just need to continue to ask God, and also maybe I should talk to my Christian friends.  If this is something that God is asking me to do.  Then I will do it, and be blessed for it.

TNT,
Words by Ali

Keeping At It

I've been doing my quite times every morning, but I don't seem to be hearing any certain message.  At least not in what I'm specifically reading in Proverbs.  I think what God is trying to teach me is to keep doing my quite times even when I feel like it's not doing anything.

It's just a fact that sometimes our quite times are going to get stale, and there isn't really anything much we can do.  Of course, we can change it up and try something new.  What I've been learing is that even when I feel disconnected I still need to spend the time every morning reading God's word.  I know that if I don't stick to it every morning I'm going to stop entirely.

That is something I can not do.  It would be so easy for me, for it happens more than I want it to, but as long as I keep at it I know God will change my heart and teach me what He wants me to learn.  And if God can do it for me He certainly can do it for you as well.

TNT,
Words by Ali

The Way We Act

 ³ Those who are careful about what they say protect their lives,
but whoever speaks without thinking will be ruined. 
  ¹⁶ Every wise person acts with good sense,
but fools show how foolish they are.  (Proverbs 13 New Century Version (NCV))

These verses are from Proverbs 13.  As I was reading these verses a few days ago I realized something.  The things that we do and say effect those around us, and our lives more than I think we'll ever realize.  I already did know this, but this is different.

God says we are fools if we act unwisely.  We didn't just make a mistake but have become a fool.  Also our actions, everything we chose to do, if not done with wisdom has the possibility of ruining our lives.  That is terrifying, if you ask me.

I need to gain wisdom and knowledge, but not just any wisdom will do.  The wisdom of the world isn't going to do anything to help when it comes to my spiritual life.  I need God's wisdom, and I can only gain that by seeking God more, and learning His ways.  It will be hard, and it will probably take my entire life time, but I know that with God's help, and that of my fellow Christians, I can can win.

TNT,
Words by Ali

It's Not About Me

This Saturday after listening to the message, at church, I realize (not that I haven't before, but I've realized again) that it isn't about me.  It can't be about me, because if I make it about me everything I do is going to fail.  Ultimately, Everything has to be about God. 

I've come to this conclusion many times before, but always seem to find myself right back at the corner of Me and Me.  I turn the world into my own personal universe and I don't like that very much.  I know you'd think, my own universe?, that sounds pretty awesome.  Trust me it's not, and it's bound to come crashing down around you.

We, as Christians, need to keep our focus on what really matters.  The God of the universe.  For if we keep our eyes on Him we will win.  We will find peace, comfort, and unconditional love.  And during those times when we feel like we have no one, and feel as if everyone is ignoring us (this probably isn't true by the way), we'll always have someone there for us.  God, of course.

So, I'm going to try to be more focused on God, and less on me.

TNT,
Words by Ali

I Am A Slacker

For those of you who follow my blog you know exactly what I mean.  I'm not sure how long it's been since I last wrote a post, but I know I need to get myself together and get back to it.

I haven't just not been writing I also haven't been doing my morning quiet times.  I know I need to start reading my Bible again, because it is already affecting my life.  I need to have that time first thing in the morning with God and his word to center my day.  When I was doing my quite times I was more: focused, calm, centered, and God-minded when I did.

I need to get back to that, because I know if I don't it will be a bad thing for me.  Especially now with the Fall semester fast approaching, and if I don't have my quite times back in my schedule by then it will be even harder to get them started.  I need to start my day with God, so that the rest of my day will follow him. 

Starting tomorrow I'm going to start my day with something from the Bible, even if it's only one Proverb.  I need to start somewhere. And if I don't start anywhere, I'm going to get nowhere.

TNT,
Words by Ali

Worship

Who but God deserves our worship?  The answer to that question is no one, but God.  That comes out in spending time with God, whether it's in quite times studying God's word, in prayer, through songs, poetry, or any form of writing. 

Praising God throughout every time in our lives is what God Has been trying to teach me recently.  Through reading the psalms.  In them David praises and prays to God in every and all circumstances, no matter how great or horrible his life seems to be going.  Even when David was going through the worst things in his life: hunted by Saul, trying to be killed by his enemies, sick and feeling near death.  It didn't matter what was going on in David's life.  He never stopped going to God for everything.  Talking to God about his hardships, and what he needed (no matter how small they may have seemed), and praising God for all the blessings He had given David.

What I've been realizing is that I need to have a faith more like this.  I need to go to God for everything.  Not just when it's convenient for me, but for everything and during everything.  I also need to praise, and worship, God in everything I do.  I'll leave you with a poem I wrote:

Fallen, broken down
No hope, no strength, no safety
Without, an eternal love

Alone, in the stifling black
Suffocating in its vastness
Until You pour Your light upon me

That, Loving Grace wraps around me
Rescuing, saving, freeing me
From my own damnation

Love Eternal, how You shine
Make my ways Yours
In worship of our God


TNT,
Words by Ali

An Observation

Something that I have noticed since I have started doing my quite times in the morning is that if I don't do it right away it's more likely to not happen.  Also the longer I wait in the day the smaller the chances that I will make the time to get it done.  Why is that?

The days that I start my day with my quite times, with God, impact the rest of my day.  And it is definitely for the better.  So, why than is it so much more difficult to do my quite times once my day has started?  You would think that I would do anything to spend that time with God, in His word, so that my day can change to reflect Him and His ways.

Yet I have noticed that my motivation to do my quite time lessens the longer that my day goes on.  It's crazy I know.  So, on the days I have class I get up at 5:30 so that I can spend some time with the Bible and with God.  It is super early in the morning, but those times with God are certainly more than worth it.

TNT,
Words by Ali

Obedience

Obedience seems to be a word that none of us really want to hear.  It is seen almost like a swear word in today's culture.  It is something that every single human being wants to rebel against.  But I've been learning that obedience when it comes to God gives us so much more in life.

Christ was obedient to God the Father even when it meant His horrible death on a cross.  But it is that obedience to death that has conquered death.  Because Christ gave his life on the Cross we, as human beings, are given life for eternity with God.  How much greater can it get.

If we believe that Christ died on the Cross for our sins then we have that eternal life, because God loves us more than we could ever realize.  If Christ was able to be obedient to God and die, than we as Christians should be able to be obedient to God with our lives. 

This has been a struggle for me, because I seem to push against the rules set for me, but God has been helping me to follow Him.  Through my daily quite times in God's word, and with the strength of God I have been becoming more obedient to Him.  And I pray that God will continue to grow me in His obedience, for my life belongs to Him.  Because I wouldn't even have the life I do if it wasn't for God.

TNT,
Words by Ali

Quiet Time

This week I have been realizing the importance of my Quiet Times with God.  It's something every Christian should do.  It's more than just about reading the Bible.  Not that that isn't a good thing, because that is also very important.  The Bible is God's word, God's truth, and to understand God's word is to understand God. At least as much as we, as human beings, can understand God.  My Quiet Times are also about being close to God.  It's not just reading but talking with God, having a conversation through prayer.

I have been doing my new Quiet Time for almost 3 weeks now and I can already tell how it is affecting my life.  I can see where God is leading me, in my trusting Him more.  And I can see where prayers are being answered, no matter how small they may seem.  God has been leading me to a deeper relationship with Him, and I can't wait to see what else He has for me.  To learn, to know, to understand, to be blessed with, and what prayers of mine will be answered.

TNT,
Words by Ali

Trust

This past week God has been teaching me about trust, faith, in Him.  God knows what it is I need to work on in my life.  It has always been difficult for me to continue to read The Bible once I've started, I just seem to get lazy about it.  Its not just studying God's word but praying as well.  Prayer is a sign of one's faith in God.  So if one doesn't pray what does that say about their faith?

To have faith in God we must have trust in God.  Trust that He loves us completely and unconditionally.  Trust that He has a plan for our lives.  Trust that He knows what is best for us.  Trust that He is the only one who gives true life.  This is what God has been teaching me this week through my new quiet times.  That includes:

• 1 Proverb
• 1 Psalm
• 1 New Testament chapter

I have been going through the first chapters of Matthew and everyday I read something about trust, faith.

• Matthew 2:13-15  God asks Joseph to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt to escape Herod.  Joseph leaves that very night.  Joseph trusted and obeyed.
• Matthew 4:18-22  Jesus asks Simon and Andrew to leave everything to follow Him.  Jesus asks James and John to leave everything to follow Him. They trust in God and leave to follow Jesus.
• Matthew 6:25-27  Jesus tells us not to worry about our needs, because god knows what we need and He provides.  We need to trust in God to give us the things we need.
• Matthew 7:24-27  Everyone who hears the word of God and obeys is wise.  Those who don't obey are unwise.  Trust in God gives us wisdom, the wisdom of God is better than any treasure.

These are a few of the verses that God has used to make me realize that I need to place all of my trust in God.  I need to continue to read God's word, to know his truth.  I also need to bring everything to God, in prayer.  The good and the bad.  For prayer, our conversations with God, shows our trust in God.  For God is able to do all things.

TNT (Till Next Time),
Words by Ali

Getting Started

This blog is a place where I want to share what God has been teaching me throughout my quite times. To share what I have been learning. What I may need to work on in my walk with God. Or any other thoughts or problems I may be having amist all of this.

I'm hoping that I will be able to share every week. But I know my life sometimes gets busy and I can't find the time. Bare with me though.

Also feel free to leave comments. Share your thoughts, questions, or opions on the subject matter. I'd love to hear what you have to say.

TNT (Till Next Time),
Words by Ali