Selfishness: My journey update. . .

Hello, everyone!  Over the past month, I have been trying to implement some ways of putting God first in my life.  I have started with the basics: daily Bible reading. This week I am beginning the story of King David (1 Samuel).  I have always asked myself how a person who repeatedly sinned against God could still be so pleasing to Him.  When God chose David to be king, he told Samuel, 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'(Acts 13:22, NIV).  So it is with great enthusiasm that I read the next several books and try to understand how that came to be so.  I purchased several sermons by James A. McMenis teaching and explaining the life of David.

 

Also, in keeping in line with the previous posted instruction of how to discern God’s will for your life, I will be starting with my professional life—my occupation.  I have two in-demand skill sets, however, I am bored with one (my current job) and I am unable to get a position in the other (due to lack of experience).  As a result, I will be for the first time petitioning God to learn His given purpose for my life. 

It is waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy overdue!

A Bride In Waiting

How To Combat Selfishness: James A. McMenis Review

In James A. McMenis’ sermon The Will of Man and The Word of God, I learned that one can combat selfishness through putting God first. McMenis illustrates this point with the principle of first fruits: If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches (Romans 11:16, NIV).  In other words, if you put God first, then everything thereafter will be blessed.

One can put God first through honoring Him with the first fruits of her actions (i.e. praise, tithing, prayer, meditation). For example, by fellowshipping with God on Sundays, which is the first day of the week, the whole week will become blessed.  So expect it. If one meditates on The Word first thing upon awakening, then the rest of the day will be blessed.

The message goes on to encourage that whatever areas of your life (i.e. faith, family, finances, future plans, etc.) are lacking, you should seek God’s will for your life in that area.  If you put Him first, then that area of your life will improve. “. . . Seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).”

A Bride In Waiting

Selfishness Update: Joyce Meyer Review

Okay.  I just finished watching the several Joyce Meyer DVDs I bought on the topic of selfishness.   Moreover, while I learned an awful lot about Joyce Meyer, the person (i.e. she shared countless illustrative anecdotes about her husband, coworkers, children, etc. . . etc. . .), she did illuminate one profound thought pertaining to selfishness that I had yet to piece together for myself:

Self-centeredness which is a type of selfishness can cause depression.  You can become depressed while thinking about your life, your looks, your finances, your job, your health, your . . . Get it?  If you are depressed about your troubles, then stop thinking about your troubles. To fight depression you should think about other things and other people.  In essence, get your mind off what is troubling you.  Paul encourages in Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV), “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

A Bride In Waiting