Allow God to settle you

 

I am thrilled to be back on the blog with you today! I pray that your Holidays were full of blessing. My December was restful and fun. I completed 2 Pinterest projects, dived into 5 novels, and loved on my in-laws over Christmas. I even managed to whip up my grandmother’s traditional cheese ball.

 

 

 

 

 

Chad and I also discovered that we have a knack for bumping into politicians. This is not a political endorsement of one party, as One Degree shall remain a non-political blog. This is just too funny NOT to share! I mean what are the odds?

 

 

 

 

 

This brings me to 2013

As my fingers dance across the keyboard, I am excited. I am ready to dig deeper into God’s Word and to watch Him move in our lives. In my last post I shared that I am focusing on one word this year instead of focusing on a list of resolutions. My one word for 2013 is settle.

 

 

 

 

I sense that God wants to settle, or deepen and establish, various aspects of my life this year. I haven’t grasped the particulars yet, I only know that I trust Him.

 

My friend, I pray that God settles you too. Why?

 

I believe that many of us are unsettled. Last year was full of suffering for many of us. As a result, we feel unsettled in our faith or purpose as we journey into 2013.

 

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

~1 Peter 5:10 NKJV, emphasis mine

 

 What if God wants to settle you in 2013? Will you let Him?

 

 

My challenge to you: ponder your faith and purpose

As I studied the word “settle” I came across the following words in a commentary:

“The tree which should be transplanted every week would soon die. Nay, if it were moved, no matter how skillfully, once every year, no gardener would expect fruit from it. How many Christians there be that are transplanting themselves constantly, even as to their doctrinal sentiments. There be some who generally believe according to the last speaker; and there be others who do not know what they do believe, but they believe almost anything that is told them… men have come to believe that it does not matter what they do believe; that although one minister says it is so, and the other says it is not so; yet we are both right; that though we contradict each other flatly, yet we are both correct… I can never understand how contrary sentiments can both of them be in accordance with the Word of God, which is the standard of truth. But yet there be some who are like the weathercock upon the church steeple, they will turn just as the wind blows.” ~Charles Spurgeon, “A New Year’s Benediction” January 1, 1860

 

Yikes. I do not want to be a weathercock. I want to be settled in my faith. Contradiction and change are NOT facets of God’s Word. Do not believe it. Dig into it yourself.

Become settled…

 

Spurgeon continues:

“There are many Christian people who get a good idea into their heads, but they never carry it out, because they ask some friend what he thinks of it. “Not much,” says he. Of course he does not. Whoever did think much of anybody else’s idea?… See what niche it is that God would have you occupy. Stand in it, and don’t get out of it by all the laughter that comes upon you. If you believe God has called you to a work, do it. If men will help you thank them. If they will not, tell them to stand out of your road or be run over. Let nothing daunt you. He who will serve his God must expect sometimes to serve him alone… Be ye settled.” ~Charles Spurgeon, “A New Year’s Benediction” January 1, 1860

 

You just gotta love Spurgeon…

 

Here are some points worth pondering:

• Have I allowed pain or grief to change my opinion of God? Am I pushing God away, or drawing nearer to Him when life hurts?
• How certain am I about the opinions of God toward the current “hot topics” of today? Not how certain am I about the opinions of a celebrity/politician/pastor/blogger/best friend~ but do I know for certain what the BIBLE teaches?
• Have I consulted God about His plans for me in 2013? Has God answered and now I am filled with fear about the work He wants me to do? Do I feel inadequate, or am I fearful of what others will say when I step into my “niche”?

 

Stand firm my friend and allow some God settle{ing} to happen in 2013!

Excerpts above from: Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. “A New Year’s Benediction.” . Blue Letter Bible. 18 Apr 2001.2012. 31 Dec 2012.<http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm? AuthorID=10&contentID=3466&commInfo=15&topic=Sermons& ar=1Pe_5_10 >

 

Coming up next (because this post got lengthy):

Found your niche yet for 2013? Perhaps it might be right here at One Degree! Next week I’ll reveal ways YOU can serve our One Degree Community. Have a blessed weekend!