Growth Through Scripture 365

God is good. I'm not sure what your present circumstances are, but I'm so thankful you've decided to pick up this book. Whether you saw it on a shelf, keep it in your cell, received it from a friend, or have decided you want to investigate God's truths, I pray a seed is planted through this interaction.

In writing this book (spanning 5 years), I have come to learn the necessities of life as a Christian. We are all on this planet by the shear grace of God and are only able to live every day as a result of that same grace. From the beginning, before any creature took its first breath, before the foundations of the earth, before the stars ignited, the motion of any solar system, galaxy, or cluster of galaxies was established, God knew you.

GOD KNEW YOU AND HE STILL DOES.

"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." (Ephesians 1:4)

God knows all of us. Though we stumble with pride, arrogance, and conceit, He made a way for us all to be forgiven. Even as Paul, once known as Saul to be a persecutor and murderer of Christ-followers, was granted forgiveness, was converted, and later authored 13 of the 66 books in the Bible, so too are we entitled to His forgiveness and light in the darkness, but only if we admit to being lost.

Everyone has a hand to play in the saving of the world. Every conversation you have and every move you make is willed by the Father. His will is for you to gain wisdom through experience and become the person he thought you to be, all to bring glory to His house. Every situation, thought, award, and moment of suffering is an opportunity to give thanks because through these, you are given opportunities to be the best person.

Christianity is not just some "insurance policy" to make sure you aren't going to hell, it's a choice to live a selfless, helpful life to follow the teachings of the creator of all we know and live, not for yourself, for Him. So, if you decide to commit to giving this book a try, try to commit whole- heartedly. By this, I mean try to stick with reading it daily, making both physical and mental notes about your thoughts of each passage and your application of it. Make notes about your prayer life, your personal beliefs, and your faith in Him, not to be shared, but to be reflected on personally to trace your journey. If you have questions or need help working something out, ask a neighbor, a brother, or a sister you trust. Don't give up when you get overwhelmed by the trials of this world. Always remember, God has a will for you and everything you go through is part of the shaping of your person, to gain wisdom in the areas you can help others with, and to keep you grounded throughout your life. As it is written in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 30:8-9), in a plea to the Lord by man, man gets complacent and is quick to forget God, Himself. You must be aware of yourself, your wants, and your needs. Life isn't about collecting as many things as you can before it's all over, it's about helping others make sure they don't get lost in your wake, and taking what you need, nothing more.