Vigilant Devotion to God.

In studying and developing my own personal relationship with God, I find that I need to shut myself away from the cares of the world and my daily work to truly hear God's voice as I seek after him with all my heart.  God's ways are higher than our ways and there are truly moments where my patience runs thin and I have to go to God, submitting myself to Him and allowing His perfect will and works be done in my life. 

 

For instance, in my current life situation, I have high expectations for this year for certain events to happen that have not yet come to pass.  The year is half over and those expectations were starting to feel lower and lower.  I had to refresh myself by reconnecting with God through prayer, studying and personal devotion time. Turning the TV off, shutting the door on the world and taking the time to praise God for his goodness and thank Him for his many blessings.  God doesn't always come through when we want him to, more often than not in my own life, God comes through at 11:59pm, BUT right on time.  He certainly cuts it close, but God is on on-time God and a God that shall not lie or go back on His Word. 

 

This is why I must continuously exercise my faith and act on my faith; for acting on faith is pleasing to God.  Obedience is far better than sacrifice and God will honor our obedience as a result. I know this from my own personal experiences.  That is why when tribulations and hardship comes, I know to stand firm upon God's Word, for when He promises to do something, it may not be when I want it, but it will be in the right timing and in my best interests.  When we try to do it, we mess it up, when God does it, our lives are blessed. 

 

My bible study today concentrates on 1 Peter.  I pray you will be blessed and testimony or thoughts are always welcome.  God bless!  

Prophetess Abrams
 

1 PETER 5:6 (KJV)

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he might exalt you in due time." 1 Peter 5:6 (KJV)

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) states: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 

The Devil will always seek to oppose those that walk with the Lord, and that is why we must humble ourselves to God and submit ourselves to Him in all ways, leaving no door open for Satan and his demonic army to attack.  For we are not immune to Satan’s attacks, he will come and when he does, we must be ready and keep ourselves close to God and in the center of His will.  We do this by praying, studying, having daily devotional time with God and fasting.

1 Peter 5:9 (KJV) states that when the enemy comes to attack we must resist: “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1 Peter 5:10 (KJV) further tells us that “the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 

How does God strengthen and settle us? The Bible states that if we have patience to wait on God and submit ourselves to Him in all things that he will raise us in rank, to another level in due time, in His timing.  But before he can do this, we have to be stripped of our pride, our unstable ways and our thinking.  We must take His chastisement and have faith that God has His best for us! God loves us and wants each of us to prosper and reach our destiny. God will honor us if we honor Him!

When talking about “due time”, God will bring us up when we have reached that point of maturity in Christ, when the time is owed, when we have been obedient and have taken God’s discipline, submitting ourselves to Him.

We submit ourselves through pursuing a personal relationship with God, putting on the whole armor of God by studying the Word of God and using the authority God has given us by speaking God’s Word when Satan comes to attack and oppose us.     

Definitions: (taken from dictionary.com)

“Humble” means: “not proud or arrogant”; small in size; low in rank or status; submissive; meek; unassuming; polite; not prideful”

“Exalt” means: “raise in rank, honor, power, character, quality; to praise; to intensify; to stimulate; promote; glorify”

“Due” timing means: “having reached the date for payment”; owed; rightful; proper; fitting; something that is owed or naturally belongs to someone” 

“Chastisement” means: “Rebuke; punishment; to discipline” 

“Adversary” means: “a person, force, or group that attacks or opposes; enemy; foe; an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously and relentlessly”