A New Day Has Come...

This week (for myself) has been another frustrating yet encouraging week. The Lord has really taught be how selfish my heart really is. It's hard to admit this, but it's so true. "My heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jer 17:9) Sometimes, it's so hard to comprehend how foolish I really am. But, the Lord has also taught me how "He searches the heart and examines the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve" (Jer 17:10) So, eventhough I have a sinful and deceitful heart the God of creation (in HIS humble and matchless presence) gives us a chance. Just because I have a deceitful heart, the Lord examines it and makes us as white as snow. "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. --- Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (Ps 51: 10 & 12) My God... such a wonderful thing He has done for a lowly and selfish sinner like myself.
One thing (that has taken me 19 years to figure out) that has become almost a 'ritual' to me is the fact that I can be down or frustrated, and then I can look to the Word and find an encouraging verse every single time. His word is so wondeful and Holy.
I was at one of Jabe Nicholson's seminar a couple of months ago and he used this analogy when going through Genesis and it has stuck in my mind since then:
To return evil for good is wickedness
To return evil for evil is the law
To return good for good is natural and
To return good for evil in Christianity.
I think that little analogy has been on my heart because of my attitude towards others recently. Due to my lack of "free time" in my life right now, sometimes I feel like I don't get to hang out with friends as much as I would like to. This semester isnt near as crazy as last semester, but I do feel like I am kinda alone. Working with adults all the time also makes me wonder if that is why I dont hang out with people my age. I guess I am so used to adults, I really treasure and respect what they have to say. But the Lord is always here for me. What a encouragement to KNOW that He is always here for me, no matter what the circumstances.

If you just pray that I will listen to my Heavenly Father for everything... not just the things I want to hear.