#forgingafaith

Today urges us not to abandon God when times are good. He is not a bad weather friend, He should always be the driving force of your life. Faith is not just for overcoming hardship. Celebrate your wins with God, for it is he who created them. Allow these blessings to strengthen your bond with the Lord. 

It also gives warning not to dwell in the celebrations, just as it said not to dwell on worry do not get stuck in victory. Give God the thanks he is due and move forward to the next challenge. 

Give obedience to God, even if it means sacrificing something you hold dear. Live each day in the word of God for he is always commanding you. 

This message makes me anxious. I feel like I have already failed this. There were many times last year when I felt I should break up with my boyfriend because we were letting temptation control us, but I could never follow through because having that relationship meant too much to me. Was God the one telling me to end the relationship so that it would stop clouding my relationship with HIM and others? Should I sacrifice the relationship now, even though I am now making efforts to be closer to God? Can the sacrifice be as little as demoting it's importance to second place? If I make my relationship with God first can I keep my relationship with my boyfriend, who I intend to marry someday? 

Let your selfish desires die. 

Do what god asks without wavering. 

Sacrifice self want for God's commands. 

This message reaffirms my idea that Faith is the most important piece of salvation. 

It urges that having faith is all you need to be considered righteous. 

Today's message is about being true to yourself. You should only have one identity. The identity given to you by Christ. Do not change who you are to please others, be who you are to please God. 

I think this could be hard. I have already learned in classes at college that people adjust their behavior based on the situation they are in because each unique situation calls for something unique. But to be a true follower you should always show the same face. I think what this calls for is making all decisions and actions as a follower of God. The ways these decisions manifest themselves may vary by the situation but they should always reflect your beliefs. 

The first lesson from my devotional is Confession. 

The message I received from it's passage (Genesis 3:8-10) and explanation was to Confess to God. 

Things I would like to confess: 

I am flawed

I have sinned

I want to change 

I want to be better

My new year's resolution is to become stronger in my faith, closer to god, and more deserving of salvation.