What is Friday's Reflection?
Every other Friday, I post a new Scripture, discuss my reflection of it, then give you the chance to do the same. By participating, you will have the chance to win prizes, as well as the opportunity to meet other Christian teens. =)
The Point System
Yes, there will be a point system, just like the Monday's Minute Challenge. =)
Earning Points:
*To make this more simple, please include the amount of points you will receive at the top of your post. Be sure to calculate correctly!
2 points: If you answer one of the questions. (Details below)
5 points: If you respond with your own reflection. (Details below)
10 points: If you post your response on your blog.
10 points: If you pin either the above picture or today's Scripture to Pinterest.
10 points: If you join the Prayer Circle. (Details below)
Points Tracker:
TW Wright: 35
Karina: 99
Sarah: 109
His Princess: 14
Prizes:
50 points: You will receive a badge for your blog saying that you are a participant at Friday's Reflection.
70 points: You can submit your own playlist for Friday's Playlist (see below).
90 points: You can submit a Scripture that will be used for Friday's Reflection.
110 points: You will receive a free ebook of PURPLE MOON.
150 points: You will receive a personalized handmade notepad.
Today's Playlist
I think listening to worship music is a great way to get into God's presence. So every Friday, I will post 3 - 5 worship/Christian songs that are currently on my playlist. Feel free to listen to them as you work on today's reflection!
"It Was Finished" ~Bryan & Katie Torbalt
"Glory Come Down" ~Derek Johnson
"Break Every Chain" ~Jesus Culture
"Whom Shall I Fear?" ~Chris Tomlin
Today's Scripture . . .
"But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world."
~ 1 John 4:4 (NLT)
My Reflection:
Every day, I have a choice: Do I want to seek God's help, or do I want to deal life's daily demands on my own? Many times I find myself facing difficulties through my own strength without even realizing it. But why would I want to do this when the Spirit of God lives inside of me? Besides, I am only human, made up of flesh and bones. Here today, gone tomorrow. But the One who created everything imaginable--life, time, space, eternity--the one who has already conquered death, He lives inside of me! So why wouldn't I want to seek Him for every thing I face? He is Powerful, I am powerless.
Whatever it is that you may be dealing with, keep in mind that you don't have to face it alone. You are completely victorious through Christ. The anxiety you may be struggling with? Jesus died to bring you peace. The depression you may experience? The joy that comes from knowing Him is so much bigger. And the sickness you may be suffering from? Jesus died so that you can be healed! He came so that you could be set free from these chains.
So any time you feel as if you are up against way too much on your own, ask God's Spirit to give you strength. Remind yourself that He is bigger and that He has already won the victory. And since His Spirit resides in you, that means that you, too, can face any difficulty that satan may try to throw your way . . . Because "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Your Turn . . .
Answer the questions below to earn points! You will receive
2 points per question that you answer. And if you post your response on your blog and link back to this post, you will receive an extra
10 points!
*To make this more simple, please include the amount of points you will receive at the top of your post. Be sure to calculate correctly!
- Have you ever tried to take a situation into your own hands, relying on your strength rather than God's? What was the result? +2 pts
- Are there any difficulties you are facing that you need to hand over to God? +2 pts
- How can you face these struggles through His strength rather than your own? +2 pts
- Discuss your own reflection of this Scripture (as I did above -- at least one paragraph). +5 pts
Don't forget to check back to read your responses and interact with others!
Prayer Circle
If you choose to participate in this Prayer Circle, you can email me a prayer request at any point throughout the week. Every other Friday, I will send an email to those in the prayer circle with the updated prayer list, as well as the new Scripture for that week. You will also receive 10 extra points by joining.
Email me at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com if you wish to participate! =)
I:
ReplyDeleteAnswered all the questions and wrote my own reflection: 11 points
Put the beach Friday Reflection picture on Pinterest. (I've put it on there before. Does it still count?)
Posted it on my blog: 10 points
Total: 31 points
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
http://www.foreverchanged13.blogspot.com/2014/05/reflections.html
In Christ,
Sarah
11 points total =questions answered
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried to take a situation into your own hands, relying on your strength rather than God's? What was the result? +2 pts
I'd have to say yes; and almost always unconsciously. I feel that it's so easy to get swept up in what makes way that it can happen instantly without your knowledge or consent! You'll get into a 'problem solving/determined' mode only to find that it will lead to a useless destination of complete failure. You'll arrive to a destination of feeling weakness, weariness, doubt, and even uncertainty. That is... until we set our eyes on Jesus and what he has already done for us. Our path is suddenly lighted before us and we receive a kind of unique perspective on where we're going from this moment on along with coming to know our purpose.
Are there any difficulties you are facing that you need to hand over to God? +2 pts
Yes, definitely. Plenty actually! I need to be constantly reminding myself, as Tessa emphasized, that I don't have to walk my own journey alone, nor am I destined to. Our Lord will never leave us destitute! We only just have to interlock our fingers with His in a way.
How can you face these struggles through His strength rather than your own? +2 pts
By keeping my eyes on Jesus. By reading God's Word and by applying it to my life. Living by it. Using it in every possible area of my life. Thinking of Him in every moment and in everything that I do and say. By actually including Him in my life and always seeking Him and always looking to talk to Him one on one. By allowing Him to train and teach me how to listen to Him better and how to start to! By asking Him to be my teacher and Father at the same time throughout this moment on... I am just suddenly alive and revived in a way by opening myself up to His presence in my life. :) I plan to keep it that way and keep Satan away from getting in the way of that with God' surrounding me and His Spirit living in me!
Discuss your own reflection of this Scripture (as I did above -- at least one paragraph). +5 pts
ReplyDeleteI have learned that when we say yes to God; everything seems to say yes back. The thin air surrounding us. The endless and huge sky above us. Even the little birds. Our clarity seems to expand in a level that is beyond comprehension, because we accept God's truth, Words of life, and His promises, and it just takes over. His love moves and flows through us from there, beaming and pouring out for all to see. It is extraordinary to see this take place even more when you see this process taking place in the moment you are now if it's a difficult time for you. Everything just tends to fall into great perspective when you choose to listen and let Him in.
But when we say no (and this can be unintentionally too, because we're just too wrapped up in what's being thrown at our way); everything just seems to reject us no matter how persistent we may be. We just aren't mean to go on about it alone in all that we do and set our efforts in. Life is just simply meant to be lived with God. Everything will seem to cave in on us, overwhelming us, making us feel so stuck. And it just seems to escalate from there for some in different ways to depression, self-harm, and even suicide. Although the choice is still ours. We get to choose in this moment in time what we will believe and stand firm to. Will we accept that Jesus has walked before us to save us from a pit of never-ending grief, and as Tessa mentioned, that the battle has already been won by Him? -so that we can move on in our lives knowing God is much closer to us and very much present than we think. Or do we let ourselves drift away from God, His love, and His promises that remain constant and infinite? The choice is really ours. The good thing is that the Lord is patient with us and will continue to be (He's so amazing isn't He *smiley face*). But we just need to ask Him to help open our spiritual eyes. We need to ask Him to help us develop and grow into the daughter or son He has destined for us to be. And I promise you... He'll with no doubt answer you. He will reveal Himself to you in ways you never might have imagined possible.
You gain the clarity. You gain purpose. You'll start to realize and see the unseen in a way. You'll gain wisdom and you'll start to be able to discern when God is speaking to you and when Satan is. And there's definitely more where that came from! It doesn't end there. A relationship with God is the most greatest gift ever and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. But that's what I have learned so far ever since my commitment and walk with God. :)
P.S. I've been reading "God Is Closer Than You Think" by John Ortberg. :)