Different Devotional Day 1

These are my thoughts and favorite lines from the @YouVersion plan 'Different'.

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Perspective and what we grow accustomed to changes everything about how we experience life. My faith isn’t based on what I see. My faith is based on who God is.

Peter wrote these letters with deep, personal passion to help these Christians....to learn to keep our eyes fixed on Christ so that we grow accustomed to Him, not the patterns of this world.

Questions after reading

Read 1 Peter chapter 1, ask the Holy Spirit how you can identify with Peter and these early Christians. Is your hope firmly planted in what Christ did for you?

Yes!!

Do you look to things, people, and culture for peace, satisfaction, and direction?

Sometimes, but most of the time it leaves me feeling empty. Other times it brings me joy and I believe these are the things God has put in me to pour out love on others. So these are the things, people, and culture I will go back to regularly but use to get closer to God or to spread his love. The other things I will cut out if God is telling me to. It’s hard because sometimes I don’t see the harm or I try to justify. But once I have obeyed God then I can clearly see and understand why and it’s much better than my plans.

Is your faith based on what you see or on who God is? I see God in the everyday things. In what he has created. And though I have ever seen God, I know and am continuing to learn more about who he is in reading my Bible. Spending time with him. It is his love letter to me. And the beauty I see in this world are his actions of love for me too. When I see rain, swim in the ocean, hold my children, hug my friends, drive down a road peacefully, etc. These things, his words, and moments are gifts from my God. Him showering his love upon me.

Do you see trials as opportunities to become like Christ or reasons to deny Him?

I see them as God molding me into who I was created to be. They are not easy or enjoyable but now I know in order to grow and become stronger you have to get uncomfortable. Becoming like Christ looks crazy to this world. It comes with the trials yes but as you grow it also comes with unshakable faith, peace, and confidence in who God is and who he created you to be.