2019 Diamonds part 1

I decided to split this into several posts because the previous years were such lengthy posts I fear people didn't persevere through them.

While, like the farmer, we remain completely dependent upon the mercies of God (i.e. the weather), we are to still remain hard-working, as our joy and peace is at stake. We must not do nothing and wait for God to make everything happen for us. We are to deal with what we need to deal with – He will strengthen and guide us.

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Seek God’s guidance in making decisions wisely and in a way that will honour Him. Ask Him to influence your heart with the right desires.

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Be humble enough to increase your wisdom by learning from others.

Wisdom is the ability to know what to do in light of what you learn, and who to turn to for assistance to guide you in certain areas you aren’t sufficiently experienced in.

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God is the master of bringing us to places in our lives where we realise that where we are at isn’t what it should all be. Inside of us is a ‘God-shaped’ vacuum that God alone can fill.

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Draw closer to God, and ask Him to shape, mould, strengthen, guide and focus you. Pray “Father, make me”, not ‘give me’.

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When we sleep God is still awake, and so we need not fear sleep or the dark.

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“Man was meant to be a gardener, but by reason of his sin he became a farmer.” Thus, work now includes weeding along with planting.

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Wisdom is seeing what is in front of you right now, ealizing what you have and faithfully stewarding that, as opposed to looking for more, or for what you don’t have.

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God uses the ordinary things in our lives to change us over time – this is the process of progressive sanctification (it is seldom a radical change like what happened to Paul).

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We must really believe and embrace in the deep parts of our souls that God is not disappointed in us. He is always for us, not against us.

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We are to tap into the electricity grid of Kingdom power and make a positive difference in the city.

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The deeper you understand God and His Kingdom, the greater your peace, as despair is replaced by hope.

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Humility has everything to do with considering those around you and nothing to do with your view of yourself. Live as if others’ needs are more important than your own, knowing that God will provide for you. Focus on serving others rather than yourself.

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Gentleness is restraint of power, towards the vulnerable, for their benefit.

Gentleness is not condoning sin; it is lovingly correcting sinful behavior.

Gentleness is absorbing hurt to the extent that you do not respond with negative effects.

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Don’t be theoretically dependent on God – draw close to Him always, not only when you need Him.