Subscription Lists
Quiet Time
by Kasia Kedzia
What inspires you? I am inspired by people’s stories of overcoming. I’m inspired when I hear true accounts of unbelievable things. In my life, I seek transformation. I want to see change. Yet when it doesn’t come fast enough, I have gotten frustrated and doubt it’s even possible.
Ps32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye.
I must be faithful to God’s love for me, and the truth, that he is not withholding any good thing. He is working in his time, and I am called to continue to invest in my relationship with him.
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
According to this scripture change happens through the transforming of my mind. It’s not a feeling, it’s a mind change that will allow me to discern God’s will. To know his will means I must know him.
I want to know God better through His word so that I can discern His will for me and so that I can hold to truth in moments of doubt. When I feel like I’m not good enough, He says, “I love you, come as you are.”
So how should I approach God’s word?
Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
When I read it I am called to ask three simple questions:
What does this passage teach me about God?
How does this aspect of God’s character change how I look at myself?
How should I respond to this?
The bible is not about self-discovery, it’s about God discovery. It’s not about me, it’s about God. The knowledge of God is knowledge of self. When I trust that God loves me I can persevere and wait to see Him at work in me, instead of trying to produce on my own works.
It’s not about instant gratification. The Word of God is living and active and as such I need to give it time to do work on me. What I am learning isn’t always going to have instant dramatic impact, in fact, it can take months for me to truly see a significant measure of change but I am called, by Him, to persevere and continue to pursue this change. My relationship with Him, my study of His word, is not a debit account, it’s a savings account. I can’t try to withdraw on demand when I have only begun investing. Investments take time to grow. Just like fruit takes time to grow. As I persevere to be a woman who is quick to listen and slow to speak, striving to see God’s perspective over my own it is hard. There are daily victories and there are some set backs but I am called to keep building. To strive to build on the victories and learn from the failures not dwell on them.
Pv14:1 “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
I have insufficient resource to change my life, even after 16years of walking with God. I must empty myself of my self-sufficiency and fill myself with Him and build my house on His foundation.
The more I know God the more I trust him, the more I trust him the more willing I am to obey and persevere even when I don’t understand, and run to Him even when it seems counter intuitive or I don’t see the change in me in the speed I would like it to come. But I do know that it will come, it always does, in His time and not my own.
Ps16 “ […] for his steadfast love endures forever.”
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.