Surroundings

Great blessings belong to those

    who don’t listen to evil advice,

who don’t live like sinners,

    and who don’t join those who make fun of God.[a]

2 Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings

    and think about them day and night.

3 So they grow strong,

    like a tree planted by a stream—

a tree that produces fruit when it should

    and has leaves that never fall.

Everything they do is successful. Psalm 1:1-3

Alright guys, I am now sharing with you the next part from the previous post. I had been praying for the Lord to give me a deeper hunger for His word, the Bible, and He answered my prayer one Sunday when I turned on the radio in the car. As I was pushing the button to get to my regular Christian music station I hit the wrong button. Before turning back to my regular station I listened to what kind of station I stumbled upon and realized that it was a sermon. The more I listened the more I was getting fed from this sermon! Since stumbling on that station I've left my radio tuned into it and whenever I have to drive somewhere I hear a different sermon, Christian discussions or encouraging messages. It is amazing!

That same week I started my set Bible study time. I also changed to watching almost all Christian YouTube videos and I take more time to meet with lots of Christian friends encouraging and lifting each other up in the Lord. When I look around me I see my Lord everywhere!

It is now easier to stay motivated to study my Bible daily, to share God with others and walk out my faith. In the past I have been told before that I was "too into Jesus" that I was "doing/talking too much about Him" and was "acting holy" by people in my extended family. Well, I have news for anyone who would say that or label me "too righteous", Jesus is the love of my life and I will show the world who I am in love with! He IS life and without Him I am dead. There is no joy without Him and life has no meaning. I know what it feels like to be without the Lord; I went through the affliction of depression two times in my late teen years and I felt dark, alone, unloved and empty. I knew I had a spirit of depression on me and I didn't want it on me. It took so much energy to make my feet walk to my mom and then ask her to pray for me. When she prayed and commanded that spirit to go it was instant and the freedom I felt was amazing! I didn't feel like weights were keeping me slouched over anymore and I could breathe! My joy was back and a smile came on my face again.

So dear one, what music is playing in your car or on your phone? What kind of TV shows and movies do you watch? Who do you call friends and hang out with all the time? Are there people in your life saying you have "too much Jesus", that "it doesn't take all that"? If you have made Jesus the Lord of your life that means we live for Him. In all we do others should see Jesus, for He is our life.

Don't be ashamed of being a light in this world. When any negative remarks come your way smile knowing that you shine brightly and keep walking with Christ.

I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20