Years ago I was at a ladies’ retreat and the author, Mardi Collier, shared her testimony and talked about a study that changed her life. It is now out in book form. In What Do I Know About My God? Mardi talks about what a difference it made in her life when she began applying truths about God to her circumstances. She started a simple study in which she wrote a truth about God in sentence form at the top of a page. Then as she was reading her Bible and she came across a verse that taught that truth, she wrote it on the page. She placed the pages in a notebook in alphabetical order. When difficulties came and she needed to know something about God, she would turn to her notebook and read the verses she had written out.
This study has changed my daily Bible reading. It is no longer just something to cross off my daily “to-do” list. It only takes a few minutes to jot down a verse. I am daily learning truths about my God. I try to memorize some of the verses and I have seen the Lord bring them back to my mind in a time of need. For example, when I had to undergo a routine medical procedure here it was a little stressful. In the USA, it would not have been a big deal. Things are done so differently here and my husband was translating everything. I found myself thinking about the circumstance instead of my God. Then the Lord brought 2 Cor. 4:16-17 to my mind. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ” The Lord was using this light affliction to work in me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of His glory. I laid there thinking about the verse and praying through it and before I knew it the procedure was over and there was no stress. I could go on through the rest of my day without the frazzled, uptight feelings that I have been known to have after such an experience. Our God wants us to know Him. He promises that if we seek Him, we will find Him!
Recently, I have been in a stew. There are so many changes going on in my life and around me. It is quite disconcerting. The political changes here and at home, the economy, health issues in my family, changes in ministry…the list goes on. My thoughts have been out of control I have been reviewing through my notebook and decided that I wanted to share what I am learning about God for the 31 days challenge this year. You can read previous posts by clicking on the category Knowing God. 31 days links will be added each day to this page. I hope this will be a blessing to you as it has been to me.
For more 31 days of KNOWING GOD, click here.
For more 31 days, click here.
Drinking at the Springs 
“I found myself thinking about the circumstance instead of my God.” Ouch. I’m convicted by this. Whenever I get stressed or anxious, it can probably be attributed to exactly that. Sounds like you’ve got an inspiring 31 days coming up for us!
I got to hear Mardi speak on this topic some years ago and really enjoyed her book. “Thinking about the circumstance instead of my God” is something I fall prey to far too often.
I am looking forward to reading this each day. Thank you for sharing.
Konichiwa. Just checking on your blog. I have your blog in my blog reader so I know when new entries come out. I have just 7 weeks before I move from Africa back to Nebraska for retirement after 40 years. I’ve actually been overseas most of my life since.1971 when I moved to Sagami Ono (Zama) for two years. Blessings on you as you go through the 31 days.