To go with my year of adventure I have started a new bible app which enables me to go through the bible in a year. Each day I read both old and new testaments as well as a psalm. To be honest I'm not a big reader and have found it a challenge in one sitting. It was because of this that I decided to break the readings up during the day. So I read in the morning, during the day and in the evening too - this has meant I read God's word on and off throughout the day, giving myself chance to consider what I've read. It's not rocket science really, but it's helped me.
Anyway, yesterday's reading in the new testament was Matthew 16. In this chapter Jesus asks his disciples who people think he is, and who they think he is. Peter proclaims Jesus as the "Christ, the son of the living God!" At this point Jesus praises Peter and explains he will be the "Rock" on which the church will be built.
This passage continues with Jesus talking about the death that is set before him. Peter is not so happy now, his friend is facing death and he is not going to let this happen. Jesus' praise changes to a rebuke here - he tells him "you are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."
This verse has been on my mind for 24 hours now. Do I see things from God's perspective or from my own?
I want this year to be a year of adventure - the only way I can accomplish this is to look at things from God's perspective and roll with it. We join God in his mission not the other way around. Let's have the adventure of a lifetime and hand over the reigns to God and see what amazing things will happen! I can't wait to see what God will do this year, what God will allow me the privilege to be part of in his mission!
Over the last few years I've had a struggle with my weight and my fitness. Previously I had lost 4 stone in weight and got my fitness levels up in order to run the GNR. The problems began when I broke my ankle nearly 2 years ago. This took me on a brand new journey in which I had to learn how to walk again and even put some of the weight back on.
If I'm honest this last 2 years hasn't been great for me. I've not wanted to do any exercise and got myself into a slump. BUT, I serve an amazing God who loves me no matter what. Last September (2016) I decided to start to sort myself out and began to eat healthy again. The weight is slowly coming off and I can say that I am not far off my original goal. But there was a still a problem - my ankle!
This week I was at a conference and as it happens my birthday happened while away. On the evening of my birthday a word from God was given for me and my ankle. I was told that God wanted to heal me! I nearly jumped out of my seat! I was so excited! I went for prayer after the service, and to be honest my ankle felt really bad after prayer. It was painful and my lower leg was on fire. That night I prayed and asked God if he would heal me and stop the pain? I felt God tell me that I'd kept hold of the pins in my ankle too long! So I told God to have them and over the next few hours the pain slowly decreased. The following days my ankle felt more secure and the pain was gone however my ankle was sore as though I'd been for physio.
I know if you are reading this you are probably by now thinking when are you going to get to the point - we here is the point. This morning for the first time in nearly two years I went out for a run! I tried about a year ago and it didn't work, so I gave up trying - but this morning I ran! It wasn't far and to be honest it probably wasn't pretty, but nevertheless it was a run. My ankle landed properly for 95% of the time which is a huge thing for me! I want to share the story to give God all the glory. I serve an amazing, healing, loving God and want to share him with you! This year, 2017, is going to be an awesome year! I believe it is going to be my year of Adventure with God by my side. No matter what happens in the year ahead, I'm going to grab it with both hands and have an amazing adventure!
If you don't know my Saviour, his name is Jesus. He died for you and I in order to pay the price for all our sin. Why not start 2017 with the greatest adventure of all and ask him to be your Saviour today? Why not join me in a year of adventure with Jesus and see what will happen in 2017? What have you to lose?
