Where it Began

There is nothing quite like starting a brand-new journal. The crispness of breaking the spine, a new set of pens gracing the book, and the excitement of the adventures that might be captured in it’s pages. Oh man, pure joy!

You can giggle a bit at my enthusiasm for a couple of blank pages, but the work God has done in my life is best noted when looking back through my journals . 

From the last blog, earlier this month, i began to pose some questions about how God helps us to ruin our plans.

(Before diving in deeper, we just need to clarify that the word ruin doesn’t need to have a negative connotation in this context. From my first night of journaling “Human nature urges us to ‘act wickedly’ and turn our back on our compassionate God. “ Therefore, we need to ruin our sinful plans in order to take part in God’s perfect ones!)

Reading back over my first journal, it simply leaves me in awe how God answered prayers, how He met me at the understanding that i was at, and how He was revealing His miracles to me before i was even seeking them.

My  personal relationship with Christ took a turn whenever i lost a close friend of mine in an accident in high school. It was assumed that she was a Christian, but her actions during her last couple of years on earth didn’t necessarily align with the beliefs she spoke of.

Devastated with the loss of a friend, i committed myself to ensuring that i never loss a friend who didn’t know the truth of the Gospel again. i began to seek the truth in a way that i didn’t know was possible.

Seeking truth started with the people i knew best, my friends. God blessed me in high school to have friends who were  radically living for Him. Going to youth group with them, i started to notice the differences in their lives verses mine. They led me by example as i started the habits of solitary prayer and bible reading time, if i came across something i didn’t understand, i sought out advice. They even influenced me by the music they were listening to and books they read. If there was something they did that i didn’t understand why, i asked questions.

Having been asked, i was hoping to summarize some general thoughts of how i started to seek truth.  i lesus Christ. i love

• Surround yourself with people who know more than you do about the Gospel.
• Spend time with people who care about your growth.
• Find a bible reading plan. Having a scheduled plan keeps you accountable. http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan.asp?version=51&startmmdd=0101
• Keep a journal or notebook of thoughts, miracles, verses, or teachings that you want to remember.
• Ask questions. If there isn’t someone you know shoot me an e-mail bethany.bohnenblust@gmail.com or find me on Facebook.

We must take personal responsibility to seek a personal relationship with Jesus. A verse that points out our personal responsibility more than any other….Continue to work out your OWN salvation in fear and trembling. ~Phil 2:12

Whenever we seek God, He will meet us where we are. He promises us this. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, find. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.” ~Matthew 11:9-10

The biggest challenge most of the time in seeking truth is admitting that we need help. Know that you’re being prayed for.

 Before we can live zealously for Him, we must learn and come to know Him in humility.