Subscription Lists
Quiet Time
by Kasia Kedzia
The past couple of weeks have been an absolute whirl wind. I moved apartments, am in midst of changing jobs, and if that was not stressful enough what was meant to be a weekend getaway turned out to be a very heavy weekend personally and spiritualy. I felt very much under attack, only to encounter the final blows on my flight home.
My return flight was very early in the morning and unlike me I was running late. I was flying with a friend however, and that helped keep me calm until she decided to leave me resulting in me not speaking to her out of anger and hurt. I was detained for an additional security check, I barley made it onto my flight so exasperated that I almost passed out. Since we are on red alert, I had to check my carry on and the baggage claim took almost an hour to return our bags after landing. When my bag did finally roll off of the belt it was ripped open! Can it get any worse? It did, I got on the wrong buss and ended up having to return to the airport to catch the correct one, missing my train back into the city and coming into work an hour and a half later then anticipated. Once at work one of my roommates informed me that our third roommate’s boyfriend decided to play a practical joke on her (in our shared room) making it impossible to enter the room without setting off his booby trap, and setting us up for a major clean up. How is that for a visual?
1Peter4:12-19 (The Message) 12Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. 13Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. 14If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. 15If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. 16But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! 17It's judgment time for Christians. We're first in line. If it starts with us, think what it's going to be like for those who refuse God's Message! 18 If good people barely make it, What's in store for the bad? 19So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.
It is moments like this that make it so hard for me to seek to be holy. In moments like this I can feel overwhelmed and not very important to God. These are the moments where it becomes difficult to even pray. Moments where I am not only left to fight for a right heart with God but also fight to find the energy to do the right thing outwardly and love those around me.
1Peter1:14-22 (The Message) 14Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. 15As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. 16God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
17You call out to God for help and he helps--he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. 18It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. 19He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. 20And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately--at the end of the ages--become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. 21It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
22Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it.
Rate it:
Since those first days, I have made it out of the Projects, finished my Masters degree in International Development, and moved to DC to work in my field. As a young single Christian woman my struggles today are a little different than they were when I first came to know God, but who am I kidding, not much. It's the every day battle for my heart to be pure before God, to strive to please him, and help others to seek and know Him.
Over my years of a faithful walk with God I have received much grace and compassion and have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Through out it all one thing has stayed consistent: God's word. Through His word I have been inspired and it has kept me faithful even when faith seemed like a foreign concept and God seemed deaf to my prayers. I started emailing my Quiet Times which helped me stay accountable as I shared my struggles and fought for understanding. Some wrote back and said they too were inspired and could relate. I hope some of my times can help inspire others who are seeking and fighting just like I am, to get to heaven and take as many as possible with me along the way.
Like what your read? Check out my blog: http://stronggirlforlife.wordpress.com/
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Quiet Time" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.