Hi Friends! How are you this week? Our house is full of cookies, lights, christmas music and hallmark movies this week. I just love the Christmas season, and I’ve been enjoying it so much! I’ve also been starting to think about the upcoming New Year and reflecting on the past year.
Something that’s been standing out to me is the way God has opened doors for me to get to know Him better. One avenue He’s used to show Himself to me is Bible Journaling.
On Guard
It hasn’t all been sunshine and roses though. As I’ve been delving deeper into my faith, I’ve had to be on guard from Satan’s attacks against my growth. What I’ve learned is that Satan doesn’t always use the obvious evils to ensnare us and drag us away from God. He takes half truths and seemingly good things with a twist to distract us from true and sincere worship.
Take our example of Bible Journaling, something that allows us to meditate on God’s word. Satan doesn’t like that, so he finds sneaky ways to turn this good thing against us. He plants feelings of inadequacy, or frustration when it doesn’t turn out how we wanted it to look. Pressure to make instagram worthy pages that impress others and make ourselves look good can consume us. It’s these little things, these tiny seeds that Satan wants to use to break the connection we are making with God. These are small things that we don’t necessarily pay attention to, but these ideas change our focus from worshipping God, to worshipping ourselves.
Instead of giving God the praise, we begin to lift our view of ourselves up. We must be perfect, we must be admired, we must create something worthy. It all becom self focused if we allow these ideas to penetrate too deep.
Don’t Give In
I am constantly having to remind myself that the purpose of Bible Journaling is to get in God’s Word. To know Him better and to worship Him alone. Sometimes Satan tells me lies and some days I believe them, others I don’t. My hope is that the more I practice true worship, the easier it will be to discern those lies and disregard them. The more I seek God and His truth, the more I see Satan’s deception.
In case I was about to not practice what I’m preaching, God gave me an opportunity to show that it’s not about me. It’s all about Him. Today’s page was one I was sorely tempted never to show anyone. Those feelings of pressure to create perfection and be frustrated when I don’t were right there. But this page speaks the truth, “Do not abandon the Lord.” I cannot let Satan tempt me into abandoning the Lord. I have to keep worshipping God, and I can’t let myself get in the way.
Am I Doing This Right?
So next time I make a page I don’t love, or I’m bummed my instagram post didn’t get as many likes as I hoped, I will remind myself that it’s ok because I’m still doing it right. As long and I am taking in God’s Word, connecting with Him, and doing my best to turn from Satan’s lies, I’m doing it right. And so are you.
