More Jesus.

After today's devo, I reflected on my own alone time / relationship with God.

Ultimately, I find myself in a spirit of thanksgiving...

In 2015, I finally took measures to vastly improve my Bible reading life.  Regrettably, my reading life was almost non-existent before this year.  I’ve taken the time to do the AMI Devo’s each day, and I’m accepting different forms of accountability from people in GCC that help my reading life.  None of my circumstances have really changed because of this, but what has really changed is my relationship with God; reading the Bible regularly has really upgraded my alone time with God from merely a short prayer each day.  From reading more, I feel like I know God more.  Also, my prayer life is improving because praying now feels more like conversations with a real person. 

This change in lifestyle has also led me to give up something for Lent for once.  I’ve given up TV series and significant Internet time.   At first, I felt like I was going crazy whenever I needed a study break because I didn’t know what to do with myself.  Realizing how much TV shows and Internet have been a part of my life, I knew that I had to fill these newly empty spaces in me with more Jesus.  Practically speaking, these gaps in my time have been filled more Christian music and prayer. I usually don’t spend the 1-2 hours [that would have been spent watching an episode or two] in prayer or music.  If anything, my ‘study breaks’ have simply become richer and shorter as I go back into 'study mode' sooner.  I feel like I’m worshipping the Lord more overall by being a better steward of my God-given time and energy as a student.  Interestingly enough, time management is really not my strong suit...at all.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own, you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies. 

Dear God,

Thank you for the ‘spiritual gains’ that I have experienced this year, and I pray that these blessings would not be limited to this Lent season.  May it even motivate me to continue welcoming you in more aspects and ‘spaces’ in my life.  Amen.