Week 22
Building A Relationship With God
Ecclesiastes (KJV)
1:1 - The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem
1:18 – For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth in knowledge increaseth sorrow.
This study is taking me on a journey with all of you. My hope and prayer in this study, is that those who didn’t know Christ have found Him; and those that knew Him have drawn closer to Him. My hope and prayer is also for us all to find, within ourselves, the person God created us to be and live in the freedom of the love and Salvation given through Christ.
If you have been studying your Bible and seeking God, you have probably experienced moments of great peace and joy. You have also learned many things about yourself and about God. You are probably starting to notice how far from God this world is. People close to you. People you work with. Strangers you see. The closer we get to God, the brighter His light shines through us. The brighter His light shines, the more blinded some people become. They can’t understand how we can have peace through trials and tragedies. People who haven’t found God will try to provoke us into loosing our tempers. We will experience times of offense, tribulation and sorrow. God will use these situations and seasons to draw us closer to Him. The storms of life bring knowledge and wisdom if we choose to focus on God and trust in His will.
Trusting and keeping faith in times of persecution is sometimes hard to do. I struggle with this myself. We must keep reading the Bible and remain in prayer. Trust that God sees how we are treated and He knows our hearts. It is very important to remember that it is not God’s hand that causes us pain. It is the choices of others and our own choices that cause our frustration. It is also important to remember the pain of those without Christ. Our example of remaining in peace could be the very thing that leads someone to Salvation. Seeing others suffer in bondage brings sorrow to those with a true heart for Christ. We can see their pain and we know they could live in peace. It is hard to watch people desperately want to belong and feel important and loved. It is especially hurtful to see people reject and mock Christ!
This week I challenge you to read the book of Ecclesiastes. I challenge you, and myself, to draw closer to God during trials. Give thanks for the peace and contentment He brings. Remember to have compassion for those who do you wrong.
Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Have a Blessed week in Christ!
Jeanie Hannah