Just Simply Amazing

When I left for Journey to the Heart on July 10th, I was convinced that I had God figured out. Not literally, but I thought I knew enough about God to know what He was going to convict me about. I figured I had heard it all before and that this trip was going to be fun and that I was prepared for anything God was going to throw my way. Well… I was wrong. I do NOT have God figured out. *grin* But He taught me so many deep lessons while in the Northwoods of Michigan.

While on the Journey, it is “highly suggested” that everyone participates in a day of fasting. We did this on Thursday and the things God shared with each one of us were incredible! I started out just studying the names of God and I was amazed at just how completely God lives out each of His names. Then I felt Him ask me, “Brianna, what about your name? Will you choose to live up to your name?” Well, right then, I couldn’t remember what my name meant and so I told God I would go home and look it up later. God didn’t buy my excuse because all of a sudden “Brianna – Strong in Virtue” popped into my head. After that, the only thing that ran through my head after that was… “Oh, great.” Again I tried to tell God that I was busy and that I would do a word study on virtue as soon as I got home and again He said, “Huh uh. We are doing this now.” And He meant it because after that everywhere I turned in the Bible the words virtue, pure heart, true, excellent, and strong kept popping up everywhere!!!

My definition of virtue is… “Having a heart that is so pure, true, and steadfast that one cannot help but serve and love with pure motives and a moral excellence that is evident to all.”

1 Peter 1:22 ~ “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.”

Colossians 3:12-14 ~ “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humilty, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievences you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which bind them all together in perfect unity.”

Philippians 4:8 ~ “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

After reading on for a bit, well, I was getting kinda discouraged. I mean how in the world was I going to live up to this?! But then I read Psalm 51:10 ~ “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” And I remember that Jesus said in John 15:16 ~ “”You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

I am so blessed to have a great God who loves me enough to chastise me about having a prideful and murmuring heart, so that I may become holy as He is holy and so that I may live my life in a way that honors and glorifies Him. So, be praying for me as I embark on this grand adventure to become “strong in virtue”. I won’t lie… I have already failed and it is hard, but with God’s grace all things are possible!

In Him,

Bri

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 9:31 pm and is filed under Brianna, Little Lessons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.