All the time in between

We're six days into the new year. I don't know what exactly that means for you but for me, it's listening to people talk about their endless goals and ambitions. I guess that's cool but how many of those goals are achieved by the end of the year? I don't mean to be judgemental or a pessimist at all. I've never followed through on a New Year's resolution, and I assume I'm not the only one. Maybe I am? If this cycle of resolution after resolution is something you can relate to then this is for you.

In 2013, I want life change, not just something I tell myself I'll do for a month or so then quit. One prayer I often say but rarely live goes something like this, "God, I'd like to start my day with you, end my day with you, and be filled with you all the time in between." I read that prayer a few years ago and I really do like it. I've just never seen the urgency in living it. The start of the day is easy. I say that prayer and bam! I've got the start of the day down. End of the day is the same. I'm laying in bed, I can't quite fall asleep so prayer only makes sense. The massive in between time is the beast. Fill all the time between morning and night with God? Well, if I'm filling morning, night, and the in between, that's all my time. That's everyday for the rest of my life.

So how will I fill ALL my time with God? First off, I'll let Him fill my time. The time is His, not mine. My life is also His so I should live it for Him. That starts with me giving Him my life. Every small detail of my life is His. He's in control. God's in control. Let's say that again, maybe read it aloud. God is in complete control. That doesn't really tell me how though. I found the how in the book of James. This book is an epistle, or long, instructive letter. I like to think of James as "How to Live for Dummies." It's easy to read, convicting, and very clear in it's message. This brings me to my next blogging idea. I'm going to study James in depth and not just read, but apply and live and change. I'm going to let God change me. He's got control so I'll let Him fill my time and it's going to be great! So I'm breaking it down into 5 sections. One post for each chapter. I hope you'll study through it with me. One chapter a day, it'll be fun! Stay tuned for part one (:

Matthew 24:42

I’ve been coming across all kinds of crazy verses recently. Pray without ceasing was crazy verse number one. Here’s number two: Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Let’s be real, we all sleep a lot. But not just physical sleep. How often do I fill my time with productive activity or conversation? I’d say rarely. Maybe just Sundays. I’m fairly dormant. I’m sleeping. I could applaud myself for having at least one day but I don’t think Christianity works like that. God is active all seven days of every week and month and year. So shouldn’t I be too? I need to be awake and active in my community – working to expand God’s Kingdom constantly. I need to pray without ceasing. Listen without interrupting. Give without sparing. Love without judging. I need to spending a ridiculous amount of time in God’s Word.

I feel a little crazy for saying all of this – It is a pretty crazy idea. But it’s worth a try. Maybe you’ll try with me? Let’s live life AWAKE

Oh hello

Hey, I'm Jessica! I usually blog on wordpress.com but it doesn't work how I'd like it to so I'm going to try blogger. I plan on reposting everything from wordpress so I apologize in advance for the blogging overload. I would love feedback from anyone and everyone that reads this so feel free to hit me up!

1 Thessalonians 5:17 WOAH

I don’t like being negative but today wasn’t the greatest. Nothing seemed to go how I expected or how i’d like. But it’s slowing turning around. I came across 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray without ceasing. Woah. Read that again. Pray without ceasing. I’m sure I’ve heard that before but it’s never hit me like it did today. Just to make sure Paul wasn’t exaggerating or joking around with the church of the Thessalonians, I looked this verse up in every English translation of the Bible.
Pray continually.
Never stop praying.
Pray without ceasing.
Pray constantly.
Pray unceasingly.
Continually be prayerful.
Be unceasing in prayer.
And my personal favorite, continually pray ye.
Paul doesn’t seem to be joking. I was so concerned about my life’s flaws that I missed that. I didn’t even start praying today. I’ve challenged myself with this: continually be prayerful. Philippians 4:6 is a verse I’ve been told many times but it’s time to apply it. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And that’s my plan.