Personal Faith and Renewal- Why Being Intentional Is Important
In life we can often times place more focus on work, the kids, our husbands, financial gain, our outward appearance, relationships, or the past issues and circumstances. And often times we spend time focusing on being the “hero” in the the lives of others which can take up a great deal of time and energy. This can often take away the time that we need to nurture our personal faith and our spiritual well being.
What happens when we don’t allow time for God to build our faith and get renewed in Him? We can become discouraged, easily irritated, depressed, anxious, self absorbed, loose hope and courage, and become overwhelmed to name a few.
It is important that we take the time to get in the presence of God, allow God to speak to us, and offer guidance in our situations when we need it. This should happen daily.
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee wherever you go.
Situations in life has a way of causing us to focus on everything but the voice of God. God is telling us to stand strong in our faith and to not fear. We have to remind ourselves that no matter what we are dealing with He is with us. In this we should focus more in praising God for being with us through the fire than being concerned about what the fire will do to us.
Psalm 71: 1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Without allowing the Lord to anchor us confusion can set in our hearts and minds. We lack direction and instructions. We find ourselves looking for answers from people and everywhere else but God. We have to allow God to be our anchor, and allow Him to stabilize our hearts, minds, and our spirits.
Psalm 119: 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
There can be times when we are quick to judge, or even clap back at someone. Spending time with God allows us to gain that self control that we need so that we can react in situations in a Godly manner and not based on how we feel. For example, its really not fair for people in our lives, including the people on our jobs, to feel the wrath of what we are going through. If we spend time with God in the word, God’s word will direct what we should do and what we should say.
Why is this important because we have to keep in mind that when we offend people God is holding us accountable.
Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
If we do not take time to renew our minds in the Lord and get refreshed we are going to probably offend someone at some point and time.
Lastly ladies we enjoy spa days, and get aways but if our hearts and minds are not renewed in the Lord by taking some time each day to spend with him we are wasting our money because we will return as the same person that we left as. God is in the business of making us new, restoring us, and reviving us mind, body and spirit.
Isaiah 43:19 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.