by Tiffany S. from Virtuous Daughters, January 2009~Volume 8, Number 10 When I was in 11th grade, my favorite subject was American history. And while my tests quizzed dates, names, and places, they also required that I memorize certain passages of Scripture that remind us to be in subjection to our authorities. One night I was especially anxious about a quiz scheduled for the next day. I had to write from memory a large portion from the Bible and I had not studied enough. After climbing into bed, I read the chapter several times. Then I said to my sister,
"Brittany, please ‘quiz’ me over this passage. I need to make sure I know it before tomorrow!” She listened as I stumbled through the recitation. The next morning Brittany was practically laughing as we greeted each other. “You were sleep talking again,” she told me. “What was I saying?” I asked. (This is my response every time she tells me I’ve been sleep talking.) “You were trying to quote that passage you’re going to be quizzed on today!” We both had a good laugh, especially after I passed the quiz. This amusing story brings me to a topic I have been thinking about quite a bit lately: keeping God in all our thoughts. by Sarah B. from Virtuous Daughters, August 2013~Volume 13, Number 5 Discouragement. Do you ever find yourself discouraged? Maybe today you are having a less-than-optimal day, and are discouraged over your own failures. We all have days when we feel more keenly our own sinfulness and inability to fully obey the Lord.
I remember one particular summer morning. I woke up with good intentions to honor the Lord; however, within one hour, these hopes were dashed by several failures in the very areas I had been praying for victory. I had been desiring change and had prayed that the Lord would grant victory—and then, I had failed this quickly! I felt like a complete failure and wondered if, in any of my infant-like haltering steps, I ever would make any progress forward. It seemed like every time I thought I had made one frail step forward, I took a fall backward. I wearily went to my devotional time that morning, without an enthusiasm for reading the Word. I sat dejectedly at my desk, not even reaching to open my Bible. All joy had fled, as I looked over the wickedness of my life. My thoughts condemningly nagged, “Who are you to say you are even a Christian when you fail like this every day? What kind of example are you, anyway?” A faint cry for forgiveness passed through my lips, as I slowly moved for the Bible. I opened it, flipping to the passage where David had cried out in humble forgiveness for his great sin (Psalm 51). I came across his earnest words and my heart echoed, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions!” I knew my Lord's lovingkindness and mercy was so great (Psalm 69:16)...but I also knew I did not deserve it. For some reason, in my proud discouragement, I did not want to so easily fall back to rest in His forgiveness. However, He is always faithful to forgive, no matter what our sins are. We must chose to accept and embrace this glorious truth! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). |
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