Iron Sharpens Iron.

Proverbs 27:17 : “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

As I look on my own faith, I realize that so much of the growth I have experienced is thanks to the people in my life. I have been blessed with so many great friends who are such strong Christians. Those people have inspired me so much, and I know that my faith wouldn’t be the same without them. I have a great family, great friends, and ultimately a great community. I cannot explain how thankful I am for them and the motivation that they have given me.

Reading that verse again makes me want to live in a way that would sharpen the faith of the people around me. Being an example of Christ to others sharpens their faith and helps them grow too. I encourage you to find those people in your life who will help you grow, and to be that kind of person to others.

Struggling.

Lately, I’ve been struggling spiritually. I want so badly to make my faith real and change my life according to God’s will, but I’m stuck. It’s like my faith is trapped in the pages of my Bible and in the words in my journal, and it never goes further than that. I want to make my faith alive, to truly live out my relationship with Christ. I so earnestly want to live out God to the people around me, to be a walking witness for my Savior. The only problem is I need to actually do it. In my head I desperately want this and I know that to do this. I need to daily die to myself and my sinful nature and to live for God instead. If I know all of this in my head, why can’t I live it out in my life?! It’s a frustration and a struggle, but I need to persevere. God will teach me new things and use me in ways I can’t even begin to imagine; I just need to let Him.

God, make me yours.

Back to the Beginning.

So today during church, we were asked to flip through the Bible and find your “life verse”. I flipped through Philippians, trying to find the verse that was essentially the inspiration for this whole blog. I knew it was in one of Paul’s letters, and I was pretty sure it was Philippians, but unfortunately I didn’t know the reference by heart. I was just looking for the word “shine” in one of my underlined verses. I saw a verse in Philippians that started with “do everything without complaining or arguing”, and after skimming over it I continued to look for my verse. I couldn’t seem to find it anywhere in Philippians, Galatians or Ephesians, so I went back to the formerly mentioned verse in Philippians. However this time I actually read the entire verse, and I realized that it was my verse! I had completely looked over it, and hadn’t even recognized it! That isn’t good at all!

That verse was my inspiration for this blog, as well as my motivation in my faith. I know I’ve put it on here before, but the whole verse says:

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

This verse is so powerful, and I have clung to it many times when going through hard times. The fact that I completely forgot what it said, even when I was specifically looking for it, kind of shows how my attitude towards my faith has been lately. I haven’t been focusing on what needs focus, and I have been absorbed with me and my life. Even my devotions have been scarce, and they haven’t received my undivided attention. And complaining and arguing? Don’t even get me started! I feel like every sentence that comes out of my mouth has some complaint or argument strung along with it.

This morning made me realize that I need to refocus. I need to refocus my writings on here, my devotions, and most importantly my dedication to God. He deserves my everything, not whatever left over time and energy I decide to throw His way. I want to start my mornings by giving the day to Him, not just fitting Him in whenever I get the chance.

I am taking this opportunity to refocus myself onto God, and to go back to where I need to be.