Natalya Do you see a difference In your payer life after joining the School of Discipleship?
“Before I came here, prayer was difficult at times. I would pray, but I longed for a closer prayer life. I loved when I could feel the presence of God when I prayed, but it was a struggle to stay focused. I never really prayed outside of my personal Bible time or church, and never in public gatherings. I liked to be the quiet one.” – Natalya
Jonathan what shocked you about the times of prayer at Gospel For Asia?
“Their fervency and consistency has impacted me. Never have I seen a big group putting prayer at such a focus. It’s the life ofthe ministry, and they have really impressed upon me the necessity of it.” – Jonathan
Natalya how has being in a new place affected your time with the Lord?
“Prayer is still difficult, but since I came here to a strange place, surrounded by people I really don’t know anything about, I find that my prayer time with God has blossomed! Being taken from everything familiar has made me turn to the One I do know. He has been there; I feel Him. And even when I don’t feel Him, I know He still is there. I honestly feel when I pray now, I’m crawling into my Daddy’s lap, and I feel protected, loved, and very safe. Prayer has become the familiar thing I turn to.” – Natalya
Jonathan how has your relationship with the Lord changed you?
“As I learn more about the love and grace of God, I get so overwhelmed. I have lived my life in a strict works-to-keep-salvation attitude. This has left me in a lot of bondage. But now as I see how much God cares for me, I realize that He isn’t interested so much in my works as He is in my heart toward Him. As I give myself completely to Him, the works naturally follow and my relationship with Him greatly increases.” – Jonathan
“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless.
I pray because the need flows out of me all the time – waking and sleeping.
It doesn’t change God – it changes me.” – C.S. Lewis
When we submit to the Lord and don’t make decisions on our own understanding, God can work in our lives in ways we wouldn’t expect! I am not saying that is will be easy. There will be trials and tribulations because it happens whether you are a Christian or not. The difference about Christianity is that from all religions, God comes down to man, instead of man trying to get to god! The one true living God is the only one who has actually shown us the example of what He expects from us.
One of the stories in the Bible that displays the life of submission is Joseph. He had dreams and decides to tell his father and his brothers that he is going to someday rule over them and this made them furious! How would you like to hear that! Joseph ends up getting beat up by his brothers and sold as a slave. Knowing the dreams he had, he doesn’t give up hope for God’s plan. Since God is the ultimate authority and has placed earthly authorities over us, Joseph submits to Potiphar and does it joyfully. Potiphar finds favor with him and allows him to take care of the whole place. Potiphar’s cunning wife comes along and so Joseph leaves the building to not be distracted – later ending up in jail, as Potiphar’s wife came up with many reasons that weren’t true. Joseph through his heart attitude of submission finds favor with the authorities because of his love for God – they see his honesty and respect. They allow him to pretty much run the place. Next Pharaoh has a dream and Joseph is able to interpret it. He is set free after 13 years from jail and later becomes the priminister for 43 years! Through submission to God’s authorities, even though they weren’t perfect, (they are accountable to God), so we need to just obey and submit with our hearts, unless it is sinning against God. Joseph submitted with a good attitude so God blessed him by having him become the priminister! This whole time he knew he was supposed to be a leader but he had to go through a process of humbling in order to be fit for the job! Submission brings testing and trials but through it all God is molding us into who He has made us to be, and the only way to experience His blessing upon our lives!
The story of David is quite amazing, as God sees his heart in how he handles a little – such as herding sheep, God blesses him through this and later he becomes a King! God told Samuel to anoint David as King because Saul wasn’t submissive – he offered a sacrifice without waiting for Samuel and that was disobedience. Even knowing he is going to become King he faithfully serves Saul; plays his harp and becomes his armor-bearer. Next David kills Goliath and Saul becomes jealous as the focus of everyone is now on David. Saul ends up getting an army together trying to kill David. This went on for years, and through it all he still respected Saul’s authority, even the times he could have killed him, he chose not to, even when his friends were telling him to. David didn’t let outside negative influences run his life, rather his creator, God! Saul’s heart softened when he realized David’s respect towards him.
The life of Jesus and the others in the Bible like Joseph and David show us that we can live godly lives on earth, as long as Christ is the center! Submission isn’t being a doormat but rather we are able to use our skills and abilities God has given us, and use them in the most effective way. Only through submission can God work through us and use our strength for His greater purpose and our spirits are filled. Be open and patient; allow God to direct you in life even when it doesn’t make sense, He never gives us more than we can handle. We can stand against the schemes of the enemy no matter how much we are tempted. Jesus was tempted and that isn’t sin, sin happens when we give in to our wrong emotions and thoughts. We can overcome the strongholds in our lives through the power that Christ gives us!
When I heard of The School of Discipleship, I thought that this would be the last place I would choose. In my own reasoning it didn’t make sense because I kept more to myself which makes me not used to hanging around people. I did not like computers, homework, reading, written assignments, and I have health problems. Literally everything was going to be a challenge, but I was going if God wanted me to. I realized that God spoke though my parents who encouraged me to go. Seeing it through His perspective I realized that at the School of Discipleship, I am able to get discipled, study scripture, His life, and reach out to the lost people of this world in ways I could never have done if I went anywhere else! It is amazing how much peace He has given me away from home, as that was a struggle I thought I would not be able to overcome. My health is actually doing much better, and He is providing in so many ways! It’s not exactly fun or easy, but my spirit is filled, and I know I am where God wants me to be; He always has the best in mind!
Through being at the School of Discipleship, He has also given me a better understanding about what it means to know more of who I am in Christ. It is accepting and loving our weaknesses! If we desire God’s will for our lives, only in our weaknesses will we succeed so much more! The reason why is because then we are humble, having to rely more on Him, and His will is accomplished. This way God will be glorified. The kind person God is looking for is someone with a joyful attitude of submission, and this is how we can be used in a powerful way! When we honor God He will honor and bless us (1 Samuel 2:30b).
It is so cool that through letting go of self-things, allowing God to lead and focusing on Him throughout the day, He reveals so much to me unexpectedly! (Not only here but last year as well) One is about prayer. The only point of it is because He wants to see if we desire Him more than anything and will trust Him, even though it doesn’t make sense. God knows everything but allows us to make that decision to be disciplined. You may have had a question such as “God knows everything so why does it matter what we do?” The answer is trust. We won’t know everything. He made us and He made this Universe, He is closer to us than our own feelings! Everything comes down to faith; we must not try to reason everything out. In the case of living for God, most things won’t make sense; if it did we would not be living by faith. Faith and God must go together.
James 5:15 “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” Prayer is so we can grow in our faith and fellowship with Christ.
1 Samuel 7:3b “Rid yourselves of the foreign gods … and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and He will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistines.” How we live in this world shows who our god is, whether money, our body, stomach, time, or God Himself. Our faithfulness on earth determines our rewards in Heaven, not that is what we live for, it’s not about religion; that is works. But rather being repentant and in all we do is in our love for God.
Another thing He has revealed to me is a deeper meaning of living by faith. It is continually walking in the unknown as God leads. Faith is the unexpected, if we are not living by faith or continually walking out of our comfort zone for God we have not totally accepted what He has done on the cross. Christ died on the cross to set us free from our sins. Disobedience is sin, so when we choose not to be open we are disobedient. We are disobedient and unwilling to be open because we don’t know what the outcome is so we are fearful and worried. Accepting what Christ has done for us at the cross, rising from death to life, means we will be open and obey His Spirits’ leading, because we trust for His best outcome and that He will protect us no matter how uncertain it looks and seems. We can trust Him because He has made us. Only in Him will our souls be filled.
He suffered so we will too, if we are truly following Christ. The Bible tells us that we are to consider it a privilege to suffer for the Lord (see Philippians 1:29). Only then can we experience the quenching thirst that is within each one of us. The question is not whether I want to live by faith, as this life seems difficult, rather it’s what God our Creator wants. He knows us better than anyone and it isn’t fair to make a decision without asking Him and choosing His ways.
When I am confused or anxious, I remind myself to be patient and allow God to lead. Since I know I can trust God and that I want to love Him more than anything, times like these I experience Him in such a precious way. Even though it hurts inside, He knows what is best for me. He sees the future; I don’t, so my intimacy draws near to Him! And he gives me a burden and a heart to pray for others. I just say, “Holy Spirit take over, God has a great plan for my life.” There is no place I would rather be then in the arms of God.
When we live out what we’ve learned, our memories improve. The same is true of spiritual memories. 2 Peter 1:1-10 Peter urges believers to live out what they have learned, he warns us that if we neglect spiritual disciplines we forget what Christ has done and live inconsistently. This only makes it harder to get back on track. So instead of doing our own things, wait so you don’t need to go through the extra struggle, reaping what you sow. Rather be patient in the Lord and realize even though it looks “greener on the other side” most often it’s not. Especially if we aren’t patient because then we rush into things on our own and God is not in the center, which causes more problems on our side. Besides discipline is love, so when the Lord disciplines us it just means He loves us 🙂
We need to also be careful with what we say. I am a quiet person and open with my life. God has been showing me to wait on Him before I speak. We will have many thoughts, as that is where the battle takes place, but we need to keep our thoughts captive and allow God to show us the right thinking. We can say a lot, but our thoughts are all over the place, so “… Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” James 1:19. Often when we are frustrated about ourselves, others, or just confused, we say all that we are thinking. When we do we get more frustrated because we are not letting go of negative thoughts. What we speak will either build us up or bring us down. We make it more difficult for ourselves when we speak up right away, so we need to slow down and wait on the Lord.
I have been learning about the love of God and how it comes down to our relationship with people; our love is the only thing that matters. Self which leads to hate is opposite of love: Being irritated at the way a person does things is hate. Jesus took on the lowest reputation to be an example to me, in how He views the glory of His father. This is what he expects of me, and I want to be able to develop more of His character.
God revealed something to me as I was reading Easter Sunday morning! That I need revival! Revival comes from fully realizing our intentions – through brokenness and giving it to Jesus to cleanse it in His blood. Even though someone’s reactions are wrong towards me, with my actions towards him or her in my heart I am just as at fault. I can say I forgive you, when they ask me to; as they see themselves at fault because their sin was shown outwardly. But I have a greater understanding that I need to ask forgiveness for how I reacted within, so I can continually be filled with the Holy Spirit, and for my cup to be overflowing consistently! My relationship with my father was very separated, due to my feelings inwardly towards his outward reactions. But my way is no better, it comes down to pride, thinking I have the right to be a certain way toward Him, but the reality is, I don’t.
Some people are more stubborn than others, or are being tested in different ways – we all learn at different levels and the Father knows this. This happens to be where I am at and how the Lord is teaching me. Some commit murder by killing whereas others commit murder by hating. No matter how much worse I think God is reacting I can’t judge or question Him, and allow myself to think I have the right for unloving actions towards Him. If I am not showing loving actions toward Him, I certainly am not showing it to others. It is not about God changing, but about ME changing! It is up to God to change the other person, and I need to accept that I can’t be the one to change others, only He can. Through this, love is revealed.
Growing up I used to be very secluded and found it a struggle to be around people. I thought I could still have a good relationship with Christ, and not have to hang around others because I found it such a challenge. I am realizing that the relationship I have with others, the way I treat them, is directed to God first and foremost. I don’t want to seclude myself from everything and everyone. Nor do I want to do things when it is convenient for me because when I do this, I am calling God a liar, as it says in His word, I paraphrase, “what we do for others we do unto God Himself.” (see Matthew 25:40). Seeing others in this new way has encouraged me to be around them more, and choose opportunities that I would not have otherwise chosen before. I am also learning to listen to them and really focus and relate to what they are saying, not just being in my own little world.
Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of God rule in your heart.” Whenever I feel disturbed, anxious, irritated, judged, self-conscious, etc, I don’t have peace and need to ask God where I need to be broken.
Another thing I have learned is that no one causes me to not have peace, everything is between me and God! Even though I feel awkward and it’s hard at times, it doesn’t mean for me to stay away, it means I need to ask God to cleanse that thought or whatever it is in His blood, and see myself the way He does! This has helped me in the way I deal with others and react to them! As I ask God what He wants to change in me and remain open to whatever He says, He helps me in how I react toward others.
I have realized non believers are no different than Christians. The only huge difference is Jesus Christ, but otherwise we are all at fault most of the time in our everyday life. Some of us just keep it inwardly more than others, but we are still just as wrong. It’s amazing how often we are blind/unaware and don’t realize it, until someone comes to us and gives us insight. These few months at Gospel for Asia I have been learning so much and I didn’t know how much more my eyes needed to be opened. Non-believers need us to encourage and teach them so they can be opened to the truth. As we present God’s wisdom we need to be humble, and not think we are better than they are, we just choose to have Christ intervene. Every Christian continually has more to learn in some way.
I am realizing that every negative thought or feeling I am acting upon prevents true fellowship with Christ as a Christian if I don’t continually give Him the sin in my life. Yes He has bridged the gap, but sin still gets in the way. We can have so much more of His fullness if we continually give it to Him! Non-believers deep down do want a loving God, who doesn’t? They don’t realize what they are missing, if we don’t walk by their side as Christ has done with us, as well as Christ through us, they won’t gain a better understanding of His truth. We need to let them know He will take them the way they are, no matter what they have done or are doing! Even if it seems like common sense to us, words are so powerful, and they need to hear the truth of love. God spoke this world into being, how much more are our words of God’s truth to them? We are to be Christ’s ambassadors!
Thank you Lord Jesus for your example and love to me!
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