Walking with Jesus Giveaway
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Welcome to those of you who have found your way here after reading my Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today devotion. If you haven’t read it, click here to see what we are commetning about today.
You back? Good. Let’s chat.
Have you, like Peter, ever followed at a distance?
Are you ever tempted to now?
What part does the Bible play in helping us to stay close behind Christ, following His lead?
These are the things we are chatting about here today.
Leave a comment today about this topic and you will be entered to win a Walking With Jesus giveaway. It includes:
~ A copy of our newly released NIV Real Life Devotional Bible for Women. {A $34.99 value!}
~ A $10 Target card
~ A Ghiradelli Intense dark chocolate bar
Winner announced Wednesday.
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Speaking of winners, the winner of Julie GIllies book Prayers for a Woman’s Soul is: Maryann Schwinge. Send your home address to [email protected]
I just spent a weekend on a carnival cruise with my family. I didn’t read my bible once while on there. I found myself so disconnected once I got home because of it. Plus the environment on the ship was disturbing to watch and left me feeling like God must have a broken heart watching us humans. I got home yesterday and started listening to my bible is app and reading my Jesus calling and just doing my regular bible reading. I had so much more peace and sanity after doing that. Reading how God has worked miracles and has made promises to me just centers me.
definitely I have been guilty of following Jesus from afar. It seems that when life is going along okay, I can see the distance, however when times are tough, I seek him more.
There have absolutely been times in my life were I have followed Jesus from afar. I am so much happier and able to deal with the stresses of life when I walk at his side. I hope I never allow distance between us again.
I find this topic intriguing. When I ponder the question “am I ever tempted to follow Jesus from a distance?”, I immediately want to give the quick answer of “at times” without any real thought as to what is behind the question. When I think of following from a distance, I think that happens out of sin. For example, someone is married, but having an affair. That person might not stop going to church or reading the bible (at least not at first), but starts to slowly “go through the motions”. I think sin is why we follow from a distance (and remember sin is sin so it doesn’t matter what “type” of sin or “scale of severity”). It is almost as if we try to hide from God or pretend that we’re on hiatus from having to live (as best we can) like Jesus. The false assumption that if we follow Christ closely, then we are absent of sin (or delude ourselves into thinking that “my sin isn’t as bad as that person’s sin”). It’s almost like some of us want the best of both worlds – the saving grace of Jesus – but the ability to be selfish and fulfill our own desires and what we want (and not what God wants for us).
I’ve just recently realized my walk with Jesus has not been what it should. As a wife and mom, my life was full of lots of things and lots of things to do but it became increasingly apparent to me that one thing was missing and that was God at the center of my life. I have dug myself in to strengthen my relationship and encouraging my family to do the same. Spending more time in the Bible, church, and in prayer and renewing my habits to include these most important things. It has been easy to figure out that on those days I don’t spend time with God, there is a snowball like effect as stress, worry, frustration, and weariness grow. I feel Him pulling me back and things are so much easier to deal with when my priorities are right. Always learning and loving my Heavenly Father and so thankful for His love and sacrifice.
For many years I have had an on again off again relationship with Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. I still continue to have times where I am on Fire for Christ and then it seems I allow myself to grow complacent and begin to follow at a distance. I am a widow now, having been married to a man who claimed to be agnostic. So, for the last ten years or so, I have been following at a distance. But Praise God, I am back and closer than ever, and I pray that as I am working on reading the Bible in a Year’s time and following these great devotionals that I will not allow myself to walk away from Him again. God never left my side, I was the one who drifted away. This is from Max Lucado’s devotional yesterday, but it rather applies to what I’m trying to say here. He was describing “nevertheless” moments, which I believe we all have. This one applies to me. “Didn’t read the Bible until retirement age, nevertheless, he came to a deep and abiding faith. That is my prayer. May God Bless You all and this ministry…Love Kim
I pray for the Lord to cling to me and hold me close. It is my nature to drift, I’ve done so before, and I don’t want to ever do it again.
Thank you so much for your words today-I have been struggling with my commitment to my daily devotions these last couple of weeks, and these were just the words I need to hear to get back on track! I was just sitting down getting ready to get into the word and remembered seeing this quote somewhere in my facebook feed: “To walk closely with Jesus we have to walk ourselves daily through God’s Word.” I quickly found it and linked up with the Proverbs31 Devotion page-thank you for your encouragement and challenge. There’s a lot of stressors pulling at all of us each and every day, but being in God’s Word daily can make all the difference.
Thank you very much for you post today. I’ve recently rededicated my life to Jesus and working on dicipling others. And yes sometimes it’s easier to back away instead of being proud to follow Jesus regardless of what others may think or say.
I think regular time in the Word gives you a higher plumb line for living your life. The Bible acts as a guide when you spend time reading it. There were times in my life that I didn’t walk as closely like Peter. But once I made spending daily time in God’s Word a priority and a habit, I was strengthened in my ability to walk closer to its Author. But it’s not a quick fix. It’s a daily walk.
I feel like I am going through a challenging time in my spiritual walk. On one hand I feel like God is calling me deeper in so many areas, but it feels like walking against a stiff wind to do it, so it has left me feeling adrift but knowing exactly who my God is!
We have been doing Kyle Idleman’s “not a fan.” study at our church for the last month and it has been deeply convicting for me. This last week focused on how when we a following Christ we become givers of His love. We no longer go to the homeless shelter because we are commanded to help orphans and widows. We do it because we love them. Much like following at a distance, Kyle Idleman’s “fan” is a person who loves Christ and all He stands for, but is not willing to make the sacrifices and do the hard things that make us followers. It’s easy to be a fan, but to be a true follower takes commitment. I so often fall short and want to follow at a distance thinking maybe that will be easier, but in reality it is harder.
I can very much relate! I follow..yet from a distance. I’m hoping to work on this by spending more time in prayer and reading the bible more.
Get in the word! Pray for me that as I am in the word I can hear Jesus calling me to do his will. Thanks for your encouragement!
I find there are times in my life that I am further from Jesus than I think and want to be. I find when things are at their worst is when I have that come to Jesus moment and realize that I have wandered far from Him. That’s when I get myself back on track and back into His word. I just got back from Hearts at Home and it is always so validating and rejuvenating as a Mom Thank you for today’s message.
Thank you so much for your devotion. I find myself always following at a distance. I need to be more with him than walking behind him. I loved it!!!!! God has brought me through so much. I just tend to forget it alot. This devotion reminded me of it. Sometimes it is hard for me to grasp that someone that I did not even know died such a cruel harsh death to save someone like me. Just saying!!!!! I do go to church, and study my bible, but I do know someone that will be doing a lot of soul searching. :)
I liked your devotional today it made me stop and think.
Thank you for this message today. I long to feel that friendship and closeness to Jesus.
Thanks so much for your devotion today and I didn’t know about this Bible! Can’t wait to check it out! God Bless!
I find myself following at a distance all too often, especially when I feel like things are going well and I seem to be in control…I need to learn to turn to God daily through His Word and prayer. Thank you for the devotional today.
I’m so THANKFUL God led me to this devotion today! Thank you for sharing your heart!
Since Bible is the main way God speaks to us, hard to get to know Him if don’t spend time in His Word. Instead of trying to read a certain amount of Scripture a day have started reading smaller portions & really thinking about them. Trust is a big issue for me, so regulary reminding myself of what God says in general, about Himself, & about me helps focus more on God.
My walk always needs improving!
I keep striving to make daily Bible reading a habit but I tend to do well for a few weeks and then inevitably fall behind again. I have to remember, as others have mentioned in the comments, that quality time with God is what is important. So even on those crazy days, if I can even get 15 minutes of reading His Word and praying, it is far better than nothing.
Love this post. I have let things, doings get in the way of my walk with Jesus. My life is busy, to say the least, but there are so many times when I hit myself after something happens and wonder why I didn’t pray or talk to Jesus about it. It is easier to just do it myself. I consider myslef a newer Christian. I committed myself to Christ 13 years ago. I am 45 years old so I tend to go back to my familiar old ways. Would love to win this bible. It sounds really great.