Day 1: Draw Near

I started a seven day jump start devotional on Life Worship and my journey with Jesus. It started out with : Many of us worship God with our songs but He calls us to worship Him with our lives; with the things we do and say--with the things we watch and listen to, with the way we treat others--He deserves more than a song, He deserves a lifesong!! Casting my life and all control to the One who created me and knows my future should be the easiest thing in the world to do, but we find that our own little kingdoms (our plans, our wants, our crowns) can become more precious to us than our friendship with God.

(I feel like God has placed me where I am at to help me dig deeper in my friendship/relationship with Him. The friends He has blessed me with have been a wonderful encouragement for me. Before I wanted the "easy" way out by fulfilling my own things (own plans, own wants, own crowns); however, life is much more than about me because what did I do to deserve to be here. I have been truly blessed with my life and everything that is in it, so why not become closer to the One who has provided me with it.)

Day 1
James 4:8 "Draw Near to God and He will draw near to you." NKJV

Prayer is spending time alone with God and communicating with Him.

Psalm 62:
•My soul rests in God alone!
•He alone is my rock and my salvation, He is my fortress!
•I will never be shaken!
•Find rest in God alone, my hope comes from Him!
•He is my mighty rock, my refuge!
•Trust in Him at all times!
•Pour out your heart to Him!
•You will reward each person according to what he has done!

--I want to KNOW God more and deeper
--Comfort → My heart has been restless lately with not sure what to feel when my thoughts are so unorganized
--Guidance → I want to follow the path God has made for me
--Strength → To keep pushing on through the good and the bad times. For He only gives us what we can handle.
--As I go to Mexico over summer, I open my heart to You to do as You wish. Mold it in a way that is pleasing to You.
--I ask to become more dependant on You and not on earthly things or other people.

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety (cares) on Him because He cares for you."

"Dear God, Here I am. I am desire to be with You and know You more. I have things on my heart that I want to talk to You about. My heart is open to hearing what You desire to speak to me about."

Anxiety, Sharpens, & Strength

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (NIV)

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (NIV)

Psalm 121
"1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

3-4 He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.

5-6 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.

7-8 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always." (The Message)

Over the last week, these verses have really hit home for me. I had a bumpy road throughout the week and things twisted all over the place. The order these verses are in seem to follow how I have felt. A great friend was very encouraging this week to help me keep my focus on God to cast all my anxiety to him and help sharpen me. I thank God for what He has blessed me with especially wonderful friends. I also thank my precious friends for being there for me and helping me out in those times when I feel down and almost out.