Well, Father, Thursday, November 15th is the big day! I have put so much time, effort and especially prayer getting ready to take my school bus drivers test. I would covet the prayers of whoever reads my blog today, that I would have a clear recollection of everything I need to say and do and that Your peace that passes understanding would fill me through and through. Fill me and use me. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:5 (<<click here)

“…act religious…reject the power…”

As I have read and worked through the first part of this chapter, Lord, this particular verse has brought to my mind images of someone who was maliciously religious – someone who was manipulative and deceitful. And that may be the case many times. But there are other applications. Looking back over my own life, I see myself as guilty, too. I sit here and I am trying to rationalize my actions – trying to set myself apart. But in many ways, it is only a matter of degrees by which I can separate myself. I realize that there are those whose goal is to use religion as a means to power, wealth and control, including using You, Lord, only to achieve their agenda. But sin is sin, right?

I must admit that I struggle – we all struggle. I truly strive each and every day to seek Your face and to abide in Your will, Lord. But how many times have I attempted to accomplish that in my own strength…in essence, rejecting Your power. Living that way is failure – it is defeat. In and of myself I will fall. Only when I trust in You, only when I live in Your strength and power can I be victorious.

It comes to mind, too, that in my own “power” I block myself off from what You can do through me – I block other people’s views of You by standing in their line of sight. I guess I’m sort of like a clogged artery in the body of Christ. Your love can get through some but if I would let You clean me out, how much more of Your life-giving blood could get through to those who so desperately need it.

Lord, I am sorry that I try to live in my own power too often. I acknowledge that You are at work in my life and that in later years of my life I am submitting myself more and more to Your power. I see Your hand at work. Draw me closer to Your side so that I can be used by You to accomplish Your will, to touch people for You. Amen.

Dec 6th, 2016, Sun, 6:13 am