Applying the Truth I Know

I went to Sunday school today for the first time in about a year I’m guessing. I hope to keep it up even when I start on my master’s. TB is the teacher, and he is just finishing a series on prayer.

He mentioned how the devil/demons are able to “push our buttons.” It made me think again of the question about how that happens when the devil cannot read our minds. He is not all-knowing. I talked to TB about this after class a bit. He pointed out that the devil does know the points on which to challenge any believer. Our guardian angel is standing for us against the demons, who want to ruin our testimony and take us down. I need to study more about that, but I gained some new insight.

He also taught about the importance of remembering the good things God has done for us. We must remember specific ways that God has moved in our lives. And we discussed the importance of knowing the Word, memorizing scripture, and meditating on the Word. The devil cannot plant his ideas in places that are already filled with scripture. I must move beyond just reading through the Bible, using the plan our church is using. I must take time to study the Word. I want to know for myself about how the devil is trying to take me down. I have knowledge of that, and I have thought it is enough to know that I should know the Word. But I have not truly been studying the Bible on a regular basis. I have spurts but that’s all. And I know that God multiples my time somehow when I commit to studying His Word. And then I need to apply it.

How can it be applied immediately? I know I do not want to have the idea that I won’t be able to apply the teaching I already know unless I am doing such and such—so many minutes of study, this amount of effort, or that amount of prayer and Bible memorization. But I know that I must meditate on the Word more. And I need to apply what I do know. I need to act on it. I need to stand on the verse that says to resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Here’s the full section, James 4:6–8:

⁶But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

 ⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 ⁸Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Ahhhhh, and this is why it is so important to memorize scriptures. There’s so much more to this than just the portion I knew by heart. I am to submit to God. Overall I would always answer that question by saying I am submitted to God. But I recognize that I conveniently separate out the difficult parts of my life. Well, clearly, those areas have not been submitted to His authority. That needs to change. God help me! What must I do? Get into the Word. Apply what I already know to apply. Get it out of my head and into action!

Getting Back on Track With Diligence!

It occurred to me just this morning that I have not yet recorded the year-end inventory or mileage. Usually I am well aware that it needs to be done but find it difficult to accomplish. This year, it has only just come to mind. I’m also feeling the crunch about taxes, which cannot be done until the bookkeeping is brought up-to-date. I need to watch carefully how I use my time. Yes, it’s been good to have less pressure, but I realize this weekend that I need to step up my effectiveness and diligence. I’ve been working on the second blog, in which I will write of another journey in my life: weight loss. That took several hours over the past week to construct, but the blog is now fully in place, ready to use. However, giving time to blogs has stalled my progress forward for the business. So today is the start of changes all around. Today, I am also starting back to Sunday school, which I should be able to attend at least until the end of this semester. That may change once I start my master’s, but I will purpose to continue even then.

I have not finished the letter to Lucile yet, so I must do that today. I need to do the inventory, which will include adding back in an estimate of product used in 2012. Downton Abbey is on this evening. (I’m not sure how many more of those there are to go.) I need to study Spanish some, including working on flash cards. I want to order a couple of Ramsey-recommended books. I need to cut Bill’s hair soon, maybe today, and I need a cut as well. For the most part, the length of my hair is getting to where I like it, but it needs to be trimmed, especially in the back.