Growing in Child likeness in God - Week 1 of experiencing God

As mentioned of previous entry, I am trying to grow in this area of child likeness in God. Coming to God without complexity and profoundness. Just simply faith like a child coming to a father. Things hasn't been that great, cause my God wants to offer greater things in His plans for me. Janice fell sick and I really believed in God's power of healing and she is getting better in Jesus' name!

I have been really challenged to really have that simple faith to believe when God speaks. The times when I usually have to battle about is this thought from God or myself. Then very quickly, does this thought go against the principles of the bible, if not, I'll try to put it into action. When I spend too much time debating, doubt will creep in. And prayers lately have been so charged up with faith that when I ask God for something, the space for doubt within is not entertained as much as I used to. Not fully there yet, but will get there soon.

The simply illustration that I keep reminding myself is about a little girl who asked her father for a doll-house and her dad promised her that he'll build one for her. So in the simplicity and expectant heart she goes off to prepare the things required to fill the doll house. She packed her dolls, little print stickers to decorate her future doll house and the little accessories for the doll house. So after seeing the faith of his daughter, her dad quickly sprung into action to build that doll house he promised her.

How many times have I prayed for something and just 'waited' without faith; too many times have I not acted with faith, faith without actions is DEAD! Now I tell myself, if we pray for 8 converts, go and buy 8 bibles in faith to know that you'll need to give it away soon. When we pray for lame, prepare space to take home a wheelchair cause the person is heal and not needing the wheelchair anymore. When I pray, I must have actions to back up the prayer with faith.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

So as the following week approaches, I'll be learning and practising more of my obedience towards God. As I have already started, I must be quicker to obey the call and commands of God. For obedience is better than sacrifice, I'll obey for there is no other way!

What we've been up to

I realised (a while ago) that I haven't quite updated the blog for a while. Facebook has been too easy. So I have been pretty much stuck there whenever I have time on the lappy. For many who don't know yet, I have also resigned from work and will be looking after Janice full time for a season. A SAHM. wow.

I am still finishing up at work, so I still work once a week and here and there from home. That also explains for the lack of entries because on days when I can sit in front of the lappy for longer stretches, I will be trying to get something done.

Janice has quite a couple of allergies, so her diet is more restricted than many other babies her age, so I decided to look after her full time so that I can monitor a bit more to prevent eczema flare ups etc. I realise too that she's been growing so much and soaking up everything like a little sponge, so to be able to be with her and teach her is a big bonus. As with finances and future plans, deserves another entry in itself. God's been so good, His provision, affirmation really helped me to feel at peace in making these steps.

It's been rewarding so far, Janice seems to be really enjoying being at home more. I think we're doing much better because all the rushing to childcare and to work have been minimised. I have more brain capacity to be able to think, plan and also meet up with people. She's been growing so much, imitating me and building her motor skills.

But being a SAHM is physically tiring! I think I am more tired at the end of the day and each day just whizz by because of the intensity sometimes. As I am typing now, Janice is sucking and chewing on my knee cap... ??!!

I am enjoying this phase very much though. Watching her grow and do new stuffs. The satisfaction of being able to complete a piece of work while being able to play with her and talk to her. The serenity on some days when I could be watching her play and I would be praying and reading the bible at the same time.

Thank you Lord for this opportunity.

Receiving God's Revelation

Great stuff from Bill Johnson! Got infected by Mr Li and I have been reading quite a bit from Bill Johnson. So rather than just keeping it at mere knowledge, I am going to try to apply them in my life. So I will have to work on these 8 insights starting at having that Childlike faith in approaching God and His word. Will set aside 8 weeks to try my best to work on all 8 of them in becoming more of God's friend. Hope you all will be encouraged as well.

The following is a list of practical suggestions for those wanting to grow in revelation from God.

1. Become childlike. Simplicity and humility of heart helps qualify a person to hear from God, while the desire to be profound is a wasted desire. What many discover after years of teaching is that the word that is simple is often the most profound. “At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.” (Matthew 11:25)

2. Obey what you know. Jesus taught His followers, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” (John 7:17) “If anyone wills . . . he shall know” – Clarity comes to the one willing to do the will of God. The willingness to obey attracts revelation, because God is the ultimate steward, investing His treasures into fertile ground – the surrendered heart.

3. Learn the biblical art of ‘meditation’. “I call to remembrance my song in the night; I will meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.” (Psalms 77:6) Biblical meditation is a diligent search. Whereas religious cults teach people to empty their minds as the means of meditation, the Bible teaches us to fill our minds with God’s Word. Meditation has a quiet heart and a ‘directed’ mind. Mulling a word over in our heart, with a pursuit that springs from the inquisitive child’s heart, is meditation.

4. Live in faith. “Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) Revelation comes to the one expressing faith! Live with the understanding that God has already willed to give you His mysteries (Matthew 13:11), and ask accordingly. Then thank Him in advance.

5. Acquire an understanding heart. This sort of heart has the foundations in place for something to be constructed upon it. These are the basic concepts of the King and His kingdom. Proper foundations attract the builder (revelator) to come and add to those foundations. “But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.” (Proverbs 14:6) God wisely stewards fresh insight to those who have the basic principles in place. When fresh insights come, the understanding heart has a “slot to put it in”. It is not lost as seed spilled on the ground.

6. Give God your nights. I try to end each day with my heart’s affection stirred up and directed to the Holy Spirit. What an amazing way to go to sleep. The Song of Solomon reveals this poetically, “I sleep, but my heart is awake.” (Song of Solomon 5:2) God loves to visit us in the night and give us instruction that we would have a hard time receiving during the day.

7. Give away what you have already received. He draws out of the deep places in our hearts things that are not yet a part of our conscious thought processes. (Proverbs 20:5)

8. Become a friend of God. God shares His secrets with His friends. “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)