Ezekiel is sleeping, Josiah and Ava Beth are watching a movie and I am about to fold laundry galore. The house is still needing lots of attention after coming back from vacation. But sometimes I have to stop and journal what God is teaching me. I think this blog is much like a journal.
We just finished school for the day and Ava Beth and I worked hard on counting and colors while Josiah read out loud alone. As I focused my attention on Ava Beth, I also listened to Josiah read. It blew me away. After he finished each sentence, he would congratulate himself by saying "I'm doing a great job reading. Daddy will be so proud of me." I was absolutely stunned by his ability to read the words fast. I remember wondering how he would get to that point. How would he go from sounding every letter out to just reading it without thinking twice? He is not able to read all words yet but just about any word he sees, he tries. He has the tools to figure out what the word is. He knows the steps to take as he tries to read. If he gets stuck on a letter, He slows down and starts over. He has yet to quit trying.
God has given me tools in my own life. He has shown me through His word how to approach trials. He has made it clear by His words how I am to treat my husband, my children, my friends and even myself. There are some things I am really good at. Some things in God's word I can do without thinking. Then there are some that I have to stop and really work through. Listening to my five year old read makes me think about what I am currently walking through. God is giving me scripture daily to focus on. I find myself looking at every translation of the verse, just trying to figure it out and carry out with confidence. God is my Father so I know as I stop to take time to "sound it out", He will help me just like I help Josiah and He will be proud. So proud!
This week I have given the kids a memory verse, Philippians 4:13. Josiah knows this one but this week I feel like it's one our family needs to revisit. Just as I have given the kids one to focus on, I thought I needed to do the same. I want this verse to be so ingrained in my head that I am constantly spouting it off in my head and truly believe it in my heart.
Maybe some of you are struggling this week. Whatever it may be, the toughest battle is not with another human being, it's in your mind. Our thoughts can dictate so much of how we live. Thoughts constantly have to be thrown out or we will never be able to fully live in the truth. It's hard to find the truth when the mind has not be renewed. You may think someone is talking about you or someone is "out to get you" because your mind imagines conversations about you or it imagines actions being taken towards you. If you don't renew your mind, you begin to believe the lie and when you believe the lie, you often live it out. Struggling with this has brought me to a verse I am sounding out, a verse I am stopping to really work on and figure out for myself. It's one I know but one I struggle with daily.
Ephesians 4:22-23. Read the different translations below and try to think of an area where you have allowed your thoughts to control. Sound it out, soak it up, take it all in and allow God to walk you through it as you try to live it out. Someday I believe this verse will be something I can do a lot faster than I can now and I know my Father will be cheering me on. He's so proud of me, He's so proud of you.
Ephesians 4:22-23
22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. (NLT)
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; (NIV)
20-24But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. (The Message)
3 comments:
Great analogy!!!!
Amen. And thank you. Your posts as of late have been blessing me.
I think that is an awesome analogy. I get very frustrated with myself sometimes for sounding it out in areas that I should be able to tackle with fluency. But just like with my kids, I have to practice to get fluent. Sometimes I feel so silly for admitting that. Thank you, that was a good reminder of the work that I need to do.
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