Recently my small group at youth group has been talking a lot about breaking down the walls that are holding us back from the love of God. A few of us actually started a devotional about it to help give us some perspective.
(Not so) quick tangent here (don’t worry it will tie in in a moment) —> we are also on our long awaited spring break!! My dad, sister and I decided to take a trip down to San Fransisco, CA to see a new city we’ve never visited before! There were many touristy activities we wanted to take advantage of during our time here. One being the infamous island of Alcatraz. On a breezy Monday morning we took a ferry over to learn about and see the island. My expectation was that Alcatraz island would be like a ghost town: dark and dreary, with a dreadful past. As we began to get closer and closer and reached the dock, I realized that the island was the complete opposite. There were birds everywhere and beautiful greenery, some that I’ve never seen before. We walked around just about every inch of the island that was available to us: the inmates cells, the dining hall, where many prisoners worked, and many other sights to see. What caught my eye and perked my attention the most was what I had least expected: the Warden’s home. (The Warden is the person who oversees and is in charge of the prison.)
The Warden’s home was falling apart just like many other parts of the island. However despite the destruction of the walls which were literally falling down, there was so much beauty to be seen. The skeleton and structural part of the building was still there but many walls and windows were missing. Although parts of the original structure were missing, there was so many new plants filling in the space. Such beautiful and lush greenery. When approaching the island I never expected to see so much beauty in a place such as this. The home was filled with beautiful plants. I couldn’t help but stare at such beauty.
Another quick tangent —> My background on my phone says, “Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.” This is always a great reminder to me to see each day. I like to add onto that by saying: Wherever life plants you, allow the Lord to bloom through you.
When we break down the walls that are keeping us from the love of God, we are given a chance to bloom. Even though the walls of the Warden’s home had fallen, so much joy and beauty bloomed in its place. A place that once was built to keep prisoners in had kept beauty out for years. Breaking down the walls allowed beauty and life to grow. When we tear down our brokenness and our pain, we allow not only ourselves to bloom but the Lord to bloom through us. This allows the fruits of the Holy Spirit to bloom in you. Let its branches reach out to others through you.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23
I’ve found that the wall keeping me from the Lord is time. Being a senior in high school, with a job, a sport, and all the other activities to come with it; I have difficulty finding time to spend with the Lord. Taking time to do devos at some point in my day, praying and having conversations with the Lord was a struggle for a long time. I dealt with a season of over working myself. I found myself up late at night to get caught up on my studies leading me to wake up late the next morning and continue the trend of being late for class that day. Not the best start to the day. I would be tired the next day and wouldn’t be able to allow the Lord to work through me and reach out to people at my school because I was running on low energy. Once I recognized the wall I had built up around myself, I realized I needed to make a change in my day in order to see a change in myself.
Sometimes it was as simple as driving in the car, listening to worship music or a podcast. Another way was to do small devotionals on the Bible app when I was just hanging out or in small amounts of free time. By breaking down the wall of time, I made time for the Lord in my day. I gave the Lord control over situations I had no control over and broke down the walls that kept me from giving God control.
I’ve found myself so much more joyful throughout the day. I am more willing to talk to people at school, I can put my full effort into my classes and I can intentionally live my life for the Lord rather than being on autopilot all day.
By breaking down the walls built up around you that are keeping you from joy or the love of God or whatever it may be, so much joy and fruits and good can bloom in the places where your walls once were.
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FUNDRAISING UPDATE
T-shirt sales have been going great!! I will continue to sell them through April 19th (that is when I will place the final order). Orders can be made at this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1R9E394c6uCz5oW8LHmw6J6xkttGypiHMVxUT0lZ_rDU
We need to reach our first deadline of $5,000 by June 18th! Let’s fundraise!
Love your pal,
Hannah Upkes
