Are You Fighting God?

I have continued read Genesis and I have to say that there is a great deal that I have learned that I did not think I would. God has been speaking to me very clearly lately, and that is something I am extremely grateful for. Yesterday I read Genesis 32 which recounts the time that Jacob wrestled with God. For those who aren’t familiar with the story, God appears to Jacob as an old man and wrestles with him throughout the night. Jacob is strong though but God touches his hip, weakening him.

The story is simple yet it stood out to me. I found myself asking “how often do I wrestle with God?” We don’t always think in terms of wrestling with God, but we often do without realizing it. We tend to fight God’s plans for our lives, or we try to push our own agenda. How often do you find yourself rebelling against God’s plan for you?

Though we may feel like we are exercising control over our destiny, it takes a great deal of effort and can tire us out. Jacob fought through the whole night, he probably knew he would not win but he still fought. Why? Why put up a fight, why rebel? God’s plan may not be the most convenient or profitable or even rewarding route from our point of view, but in the end we can look back and realize what He was doing all along. They say that if you don’t know where you are, then that is the best place to go somewhere you’ve never been. I would change that a bit to say that if you don’t know where you are, you need to trust in God to take you to where you are supposed to be.

At 19 years old I have very little perspective on where I am supposed to be next year, in five years, or even in 20 years. God is building me up though, and bringing me to where He wants me to be. I could fight it and “do what I want” but in the end it’s too much work for a lost cause, and I need to trust in God to bring me to a place where I can experience true joy. Genesis is full of failures and mistakes, but God works around them to bring out His master plan. Trust in Him, He knows what He is doing.

Adding a New Blog

I've been writing on this blog for a while and I have loved every minute of it. However, there are other types of writing that I hope to do professionally so I've gotten a head start. At school I major in English and Economics, so I have started a blog on economics in every day life. It's not the boring stuff you see news anchors on CNN going over, it's about how economics impacts us daily and affects how we make decisions. I'm also reading a lot about finance and stock analysis and hope to make that a component too. I'm trying to build exposer as this is something I hope to turn into a profession of sorts, so please follow the link and check it out. I'll still be posting as Tay Tay here, but on that blog I will be posting as Tyler. Feel free to check it out, it has developed a lot since its genesis a a year ago when I knew very little of economics. With my new knowledge I have rebooted it and hope that my effort pays off.

Here's the link: http://tylerscommoncents.blogspot.com/

A Late-Night Musing

Here's something small that I realized: being a good person or a godly person is not a one-and-done thing. It's not one instantaneous change in you that transforms you so you can call yourself "good." Being good is about making a series of choices, it is an attitude, it is a lifestyle. If I want to be good, nothing is stopping me except for myself. Only I stand in my own way of being a good person. Next time you find yourself saying "Gosh, I'm not as good as I used to be." Instead of blaming external factors, try looking within and take a long hard look at your relationship with God, and those around you.

Great Song

My dad emailed me the link to this video many years ago, and I recently remembered it. It's a great song, and it is so true--especially now. We need to stay strong because there is a lot out there that causes us to fail and wants to see us fall. Even though we may think we are lost, God is always there by our side. Trust in Him.

Late Night Miracles

I flipped my Bible open at random, and here is the verse I found:

"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish in my soul." Psalm 31:7

I'm going through a lot right now, and it has caused me a great deal of pain and anger. During times like these it is easy to fall away from God. I ask God why He allowed me to experience such hurts, or venture so far from Him. Yet here is a constant reminder of His love. He sees me hurting, and it hurts Him to see my pain. God loves us, no matter what. I thank Him so much for all He has done to keep me afloat, for without His love and strength I would be far worse. I may be in a funk, but I know that I will not be in it forever. God will deliver me, it may be a long and painful road but someday I will have peace. Goodnight, and God Bless.

A New Year's Resolution (Really)

I was never one to make New Year's resolutions, but I have decided to make one this year. I've never believed in making a commitment for just a year, I always felt that if there is a way to better my life I should strive to achieve it as long as I live. However, I've got a ways to go in life (I hope) so I think I should start small with my goals and work my way up. My goal is one I've tried and failed to keep, despite its simplicity. This year I will read the Bible at least twice a day. I can read any time, I just have to read it at two separate occasions. I've found that many of my problems throughout my life have been solved through the word of God. Well, if I am struggling now perhaps the word of God is the first place I should turn. I want to make many changes in my life, not just for me but also for the people I love. Here's to 2013, a year in which I will go back to the drawing board and allow God to build me back up to the man He wants me to be, and a man who cares for and loves those around him.

New Year's Prayer

Happy New Year everyone, I pray you all will have safe travels. I start off every year with a prayer; I believe that is the best way to begin a year, and also the wisest. My prayer this year is very simple, but meaningful. I simply pray that in 2013 may God shine His light on me, and show me the way out of the funk I have fallen in to. I don’t care it takes 5 weeks or 5 months, I just want God to guide me through this and bring me back to Him. I’ve come a long way, and I have a long way to go and so I pray that God give me the strength to keep fighting and be patient with me when I fall. That’s all I really want, is a lasting sense of peace and joy, the ability to say that no matter what life throws at me I know I am ok because I have God. God, please give me your guidance and strength, and bring me closer to You this year. I don’t want money, fame, success, or even prosperity, all I want is You, and Your guidance and love. That is all I want. Amen.