Accept instruction from his mouth
and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored:
If you remove wickedness far from your tent
and assign your nuggets to the dust,
your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
then the Almighty will be your gold,
the choicest silver for you.
Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty
and will lift up your face to God.
You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows.
What you decide on will be done,
and light will shine on your ways.
When men are brought low and you say, 'Lift them up!'
then he will save the downcast.
He will deliver even one who is not innocent,
who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."
I was reading my Bible awhile ago. This passage from Job reminded me of God's faithfulness to me. I've been a Christian for almost 5 years now. It started when I was in 2nd year high school. Although I grew up in a Christian school ever since I entered schooling- (kinder), it was only then in my 6th grade that I came to know Jesus through this EGR (Encounter God Retreat) in our school held at Mt. Hermons, Antipolo. Yeah, God's love really made an impact in my life. I was moved and was changed by God. I admit that however, after a few months, I went back to my old life. Satan then was actively attacking me. The “insecure me” came back. There were times I would feel unloved and rejected—as if I totally forgot what Jesus did for me on the cross. I was being attacked emotionally by the enemy. One of the reasons I guess is the lack of Spiritual family and quiet time with God. I wasn’t taught that reading the Bible daily is important—although I was a very prayerful child then. Ü (By the way, I also grew up in a Sunday school. My mom was the person who actually led us to Christ. If she didn’t send us to a Christian school, I wouldn’t be able to hear about Jesus. Thanks to mommy! Ü I will be forever grateful to God for the knowledge of knowing Him through my mom who’s a born again Christian then. Anyway, it was in my 1st year high school that I was influenced by some friends in school. I’ve learned a lot of worldly things. I’ve learned saying bad words and stuffs. Basically I know I was curious about the things of this world. I became a man-pleaser and my life became miserable. It was then in my 2nd year high school that God called me back again to Him. This time, another retreat was held in my new school. From that time, I’ve decided to fully give my life to God and promised myself that I will not displease God anymore. I still wasn’t reading my Bible that time but I’ve had Christian friends in school plus a mom who supports me in my walk with God. Actually I open my Bible and read short verses but it was only because it’s required in our school-- but not really because I have the desire to know God more. Now, here’s the great part, someone shared the gospel to me when I was in third year. I was so familiar with the gospel growing up but this time, it’s different. God impressed to me the need to share Him to others. Ate Jing who was the English teacher of my younger sister didn’t just share the gospel to me but she also discipled me and shared her vision to us. I grew up in my relationship with the Lord along with the people in our small group and became a serious Christian. Looking back, I’m just really so grateful for the knowledge of knowing God in my life. I started to repent and fully committed my life to Him. And this word from the book of Job is just really so true. I see God’s favor and blessings in my life from the time I totally surrendered everything to Him. In fact, it says in Job 22: 21, the verse before this, “Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” To God be the glory!
