Yay!
I get to be the first person to post on the new Youth Music Ministry (YMM) Blog!!! gosh, there are now so many blogs around these days it's hard to keep up with all of them.
To recapitulate (if my memory does not fail me), some of the functions of this blog is to allow persons in the YMM to:
a) Share their spiritual lives (both in good times and struggles)
b) Give words of encouragement / edifying comments
c) Thanksgiving
d) Any other issues pertaining to the YMM
Yep, the above are just a few purposes of the blog and in no way should the blog be limited to them.
Anyway, so I'm suppose to share how things are going for me spiritually. As of today things are still going really swell. God has really been ministering to me through QT, the services and i'm really just amazed by how God is moving in the YM and I am so encouraged by the young people's passion for God (I managed to read some of their blogs today).
However, having said that, we must be extra cautious and careful of attacks from the devil as Adrian and Minwei have shared. It's so easy to feel hyped up for now especially when you hear so many people getting excited for God and expecting really big things to happen. But what would our reaction be when people around us show signs of losing their passion or those "big things" don't come to pass as we thought they would be. I have experienced such things happening in my life and I must confess that they have discouraged me greatly at times.
I still remember when we were all praying for Pris to be completely healed by a certain date but when it did not happen my faith was shaken. However, looking back at that whole saga, I am actually glad it happened because it increased my faith eventually, gave me a more initmate understanding of God being the master of every situation and thought me alot about seeking God for ourselves (big thanks to Ben & Vincent for their sharings here).
Having said the above, I'm not trying to say that we should not expect big things from God lest we feel greater discouragement. Neither am I saying that I have doubts that God is going to do something really awesome (He already is doing such amazing things and I bet there's more to come =)!). But yep, this is just a reminder to myself to be continually vigilant in these areas because I for one usually get very discouraged when I see friends back-slide and feel a sense of guilt that I didn't do more.
Believing in my own abilities and efforts to make things "work" for God is still an area which I struggle in and it's because of this I get easily discouraged when things don't work out as I want them to be. It's especially dangerous when I deceive myself into believing that I've given God control by doing spiritual things when actually I am focussing more on the acts I've done instead of God. For example:"Hey God. I've prayer so many times, I've fasted so much, I've done my QT, I've spent so much time preparing for worship but yet you don't seem to be working!".
Think God has really been continually dealing with me in this area and the more I am willing to let God take control and change my attitude it's amazing how things work out and even when they don't seem to work out that spirit of discouragement is no longer there.
As we look to God to send us revival, there may be times when negative things come our way. Let us not lose track of all the things our God has done and can do and will do because of some discouraging issues. Instead, lets continue to place all our trust in our Saviour, committing everything into His hands.
2 comments:
hey josh,
thanks for the recap about what the blog is for. haha.
thanks for humbly sharing the things God has taught u as well, the stuff about pride and all. it's a common struggle so it's good that now others know of people who've struggled with such issues and come out of it more aware of the relationship between us as created and He as Creator.
keep persevering in prayer for those who have back-slidded (is there such a word?) and all that ya. and hmmm, don't feel guilty la. i think ultimately, yes, we do our part in warning others against falling away or rebelling against God but in the end, it's a personal choice to turn to or away from God. we have to just pray and look for opportunities to draw eyes back to Jesus :)
hello josh!
thanks so much for sharing. when reading about how we should expect "big things from God", i was reminded of this verse. "Now to Him who is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..." (ephesians 3:20)
so for me, i guess what's really exciting is just seeing how God is bringing us into uncharted territory. i feel that many times we impose restrictions on God's power, e.g. we feel that "big things" = growth in numbers/more salvations etc. while these are legitimate things to pray for, i'm personally challenged to leave it all to God. His plans for our youth are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from what His plans are for another church's youth ministry, and the best part is, they are more amazing that what we can ever ask for!
so yes let's give Him the freedom to work, and who knows, in one year's time we might be even more glorious to Him :)
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