Reflect | Evaluate | Assessment | Evolve
Reflect
2 Timothy 3:14 – But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
Ever have a moment when you are faced with a storm, a challenge, a struggle, and you feel like you don’t know which way to turn? Ever feel like you have been seeking God for answers, but you still aren’t sure what to do, if you missed His answer, or quite frankly, if He heard you at all? Be reminded of a few things:
You know when you know what you know, and the enemy tries to make you feel like you don’t know, but the Holy Spirit within you reminds you that yes, you really do know. I know, that was a mouthful, but leave us a comment and let us know if you speak our language? (*Smile*) Translation: You know the things that God has shown you in the past, remember those things and use those things to help guide you through present decisions. Remain true to your faithfulness and your trust in the Lord that has gotten you this far. This isn’t the first storm, confusing moment, overwhelming situation, and you know what to do: Pause, Pray, then Proceed.
Know the truth. The Bible lets us know to try the spirit (our thoughts, other people’s amazing advice) by God’s Word (1 John 4:1-4) You know you can trust God’s Word, so if what is being said does not align with God’s Word, you know it is not from God. Often, emotions get in the way of wise decision making and blurs God’s truth. Remove emotions from the answer seeking and see how easier it is to discern Godly answers from anything else.
Evaluate
2 Timothy 3:15 – You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
When the debt was increasing, but the pay stayed the same, you remembered that God will supply all of your needs (Philippians 4:19) and He did just that. A co-worker offered to treat you to lunch when you were hungry and had no food nor any money. A paid off BGE Bill and you don’t know how it was paid off. A waiver on your mortgage for the month because you made a phone call. The saying is that “Favor ain’t Fair” but I’m wondering why that’s the saying when Favor is defined as something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration (reward for work). Favor has nothing to do with fairness and when God grants favor, we are all flawed so it is definitely not done because we did anything. God loves us and wants us to live life so abundantly that he sent Jesus to come that we may have access to this abundant life (John 10:9-11). All of this because of trusting a God who never fails, is always loving, even in correction, and who forgives us over and over again. When you evaluate any situation with this perspective, even though it may look like the end, because of History with God and trust that He will supply all of your needs, you can look at the situation from the right perspective.
Assessment
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
When you Reflect, you remember all the past situations God has gotten you out of. When you Evaluate, you look at it from a different perspective. When you make an assessment, you apply what God’s word says with your situation. Whether the word comes by way of a sermon, a song, a conversation, or a Holy Spirit thought, it will correct or confirm. It will affirm or deny what you thought was the way as to whether it is really the way God will have you to go. God has helped us navigate challenging paths before and has provided examples in His word of the obedient or Godly solutions as well as the consequences for choosing an un-Godly solution (Psalm 1).
Evolve
2 Timothy 3:14 – God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
You have been equipped to do every good work God has called you to do. You have the Bible as your foundation, Jesus as your example, and God as your advocate and your past as a testimony. It is time to evolve into who God is calling you to be. It is time to evolve into who you feel tugging at your spirit to become. It is time to evolve into the greater God has waiting and predestined for you. When you take faith steps with God, He moves exceedingly and abundantly (Ephesians 3:20-21) above what you could possibly imagine. Believe it! Know it! Live it! Be amazed by it! Then go and amaze someone else with it!
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NLT)