So, over my winter break (Dec. 11-Jan. 18) I did a lot of reflecting on my past-realized how far I have come since high school and what I have endured before coming to Grace, my path through Grace, and then did a lot of thinking about the future and where I might end up. Will I find a good job? Will I find a fantastic girl and start a new stage of life? Will I get these student loans paid off in a timely manner? All these questions flooding my mind one after the other all during break-and pretty soon I found myself doing the exact opposite on my break from school–I was stressing out!!! Then, on New Year’s Day, it was like God just Gibbs-slapped me upside the head (if you have ever seen NCIS, you’ll know what I mean). If you haven’t, just watch the picture below:
Basically, that’s what happened to me. Because the next passage of Scripture I read for my devotions was Proverbs 3:1-8, which says:
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Talk about a lot of meat in one bite. The core of this passage, however, can be found in verses 1 and 3-6:
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments…
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
These are what God wants me to keep on doing, all of us to keep doing. And God also gives us a great biblical example for us to follow and emulate when we are thrust into a world that is hostile to the followers of Christ–the prophet Daniel. Daniel found himself in a strange world a way from his home and on his own with his friends, not sure what they were going to do or what God expected of them in this situation. The only thing that sustained them was their faith and God took care of the rest. So my fellow believers at Grace who are about to graduate and take the first step into a scary world on their own, for future entries I am going to be go through the book of Daniel and how we can lead spiritual and Christlike lives for God in a hostile world. This may seem like a regurgitation of stuff you may already know, but after living in the Grace Bubble for 4 (in my case, 5) years, living at home in between semesters, you may not have an idea of what you may face, and I’m not saying I do, I’ve had some experiences but not enough to say that I know everything. But I do think Daniel has a lot to say in how we should live our spiritual lives in a time of hostility and uncertainty.
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