Full disclosure: I have no idea where I’m going with this blog. I might rabbit trail, or hop all over the place, but I hope you enjoy!
Whether I sink or whether I swim, I’m beautifully in over my head. I love this song on multiple levels. It describes my spiritual walk, and might describe yours as well! I’m full, but not satisfied. I’m at that point in my relationship with the Father where I just want to know everything! I want to know his love letter (the Bible) inside out, front and back, and it’s a beautiful challenge diving into each book. A couple missionaries from Tampa, FL visited the farm this past week for a couple days, and we spent the whole day learning Apologetics. I was so hungry for that class; more hungry than I’ve ever been for any of my Bible college classes, and it made me want to go back and intently listen to what I was being taught. I wasn’t in a place then where I had the desire to know more.
CHALLENGE: a year ago, where were you emotionally, spiritually and physically. How far have you come? Or maybe you’ve gone farther away from where you want to be.
- That’s totally okay if you’re not where you want to be! You are your biggest critic. We’re harder on ourselves than the Lord is. Don’t beat yourself up.
- If you’re where you want to be, and when you look back on where you used to be, and you can give God the glory for bringing you out of that season, and just thank Him. That’s awesome! You are now able to use that as a testimony to help the people around you walk through that. So ask God to give you those opportunities. It’s good to be uncomfortable! That means you’re growing in your walk with the Lord.
I used to be in that place where reading my Bible felt like a chore, and I never wanted to read it. I used to be in that place where I couldn’t be honest with the Lord, as if He would nod His head in disapproval with what I did. Let me tell you that being honest with the Lord, and yourself is one of the most freeing feelings ever. It might be hard to talk to Him, maybe because you see Him as you see your earthly Father. Comparison is the thief of joy, and you’re robbing yourself of something so glorious with your Father in Heaven.
BUT!
There’s a but….
All of what I just talked about is a choice. I CHOOSE to wake up early to spend time with my Father. I CHOOSE to praise Him in the storms. I CHOOSE joy every morning, that it will open my heart, and my mind to the people around me. I am more effective for the Kingdom of God when my alarm goes off at 4:50am. I open my eyes and shake it off, get out of bed, and dive in. It’s not easy, but I’m choosing to take small steps to get closer to the Father. I could sleep through my alarm; I have the free will to do that. But, I know myself. And I’m a better version of myself when i CHOOSE the Lord first. I get to see the sunrise and sunset. Starting the day with my Father with a beautiful canvas right in front of me.
This post is not about me bragging about being a great Christian, because I’m not. I never will arrive there until I’m in Heaven. I’m writing this all in hopes of encouraging at least one of you, and to tell you that it’s worth it! It’s all worth it!
Yesterday some of my team and I went volcano boarding. I didn’t think it would be as bad as I felt hiking up the volcano. It was an hour hike all uphill on loose gravel, carrying our board. I was winded, a lot. And then I thought of it like our relationship with the Lord. He gives a promise. He gave me a promise of the World Race, He said to go back to NJ after college. If I knew all that this involved, I might of not done it. He knows us. He won’t give us the whole picture.
BUT!
Another but… it’s a good but…
The end result is SOOOOO worth it! It’s so much better than I could’ve ever made it out to be myself. I slid down that volcano yesterday, and ended it with the sunset slowly fading away, and the full moon slowly rising.
You’re gonna be okay.
Because you have a Father who loves you, who wants the best for you, who has greater things in store for you. He’s not finished with you yet. You were made for more. He’s created you for something so unique.
Don’t give up, and don’t give in.
