The “L Word” Experiment

 

 

There is so much wrong with that series of statements to me now. If I would have played that game a year ago, I would have found nothing wrong with it at all. And some people reading this right now might still not realize where I am going with this blog at all. Well, let me try to fill you in a little bit to my new word game. I now only say the “L word” when referring to people or God.

 

Is it really okay for me, in the same breath, to say how much I love sweet tea and then say how much I love God? Isn’t my love and affection for God stronger than my love for food and other material things? Goodness, I sure hope so. Because if it is not, then I really need a strong reality check into good priorities.

 

In other languages, there are many different words for the term “love”. In the Spanish language you would refer to the love you have for a friend as a completely different love than what you have for your significant other. Here in our English language, we use the same word for friends, family, things, and God. How freakin fair is that to the Holy of Holies? The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The Alpha and Omega. The Ultimate Creator of all things. THAT is our God, and yet through our words, we have diminished His power to the equivalent of food and jewelry and sports. Our words hold much more power than we give them credit for. Over this year I have noticed that our words can either bring LIFE or DEATH to others. Words can either hurt or help people. Words hold a great deal of power in them!

 

On our  travel to Tanzania from Uganda, we were preparing for a 26hr bus ride. Well, that bumpy fun African bus ride ended up lasting 50hrs due to some bus mechanical problems. Luckily though our bus broke down very close to a food bus stop. So, we slowly and carefully drive back to the stop and sit down at a pretty nice cafe. At first we are just waiting for the bus to get fixed, but in World Race fashion, plans changed and we discovered that we would have to spend the night there. Honestly, it seemed as though everyone was in good spirits. We all were excited to set up our tents inside of a restaurant or sprawling out on multiple bus seats. The owner of the place even offered all 40something of us a free cup of tea, as well as all the outlets he had! Including the ones in his office! The hand of God was definitely over us that night, and we were able to rejoice in His many blessings. Don’t get me wrong though, it would have been very simple for us to freak out, get upset and just be mean all night long because of the crazy situation. However we all took captive our thoughts, recognized that the Holy Spirit is living in each of us, and we all had a choice that night: to complain and fill that place up with awful thoughts, or to rejoice over the great blessings and have fun! I chose the better option – to call that place an “oasis” that was so obviously from the Lord, instead of anything else.

 

 

Today I choose to only LOVE God. I might like some other things, but NOTHING compares to the goodness of the Almighty. I choose to take captive my thoughts and only think of Jesus. I choose to claim victory over my life and the lives of others I meet. Today, I will finish this day strong, devoting it all to God. I will complete this experiment to change my words to ONLY glorify God, and turn it into my daily lifestyle. I choose to truly ENJOY my life. No longer will I wait to start my life, because the truth is…this experiment has already begun… :]