My heart cannot express the feeling it is to be freed from burdens, pressures, hurts and insecurities! You ask how? I can answer only by saying how amazing my God is and that He has done this work in my life. The affects of this in my life are shown through more joy bubbling up in my heart at even the thought of my Savior Jesus!

During the week at Training Camp, we had multiple lectures including expectations, healing from past hurt, identity and forgiveness.  Throughout the lectures, God kept convicting me of past hurt and circumstances I had thought I had dealt with, yet in fact I had been harboring bitterness and anxiety inside me and allowed it to define me. Let me tell you, experiencing that does not feel good at the moment. But the outcome of letting it go and accepting God’s grace and forgiveness is a flood of peace and joy- a light free and airy feeling inside. It might sound crazy to some of you, but encountering God is like nothing else! There is only one person who can give me that effervescent joy and love towards others when previously hurt and bitterness had dwelt. That is Jesus!!

After being at an intense week of focus on spiritual growth, it can be hard to keep the same magnitude of focus on Christ when returning to a regular schedule. One thing I noticed immediately was the amount of time I talk and process things in front of a mirror! Haha! After being at camp and barely using a mirror, I relied more on Christ and prayer to process and deal with situations instead of chewing them over and over in my head. It’s been a hard battle at home, but I’ve noticed it’s been something that distracts me from relying and depending on my Savior. When I process or talk to myself it draws me back to me and focuses on me. When I use prayer to process and give anxiety and confusion up to the Lord, I’m immediately focusing on God and desiring His will. I want to be intentional to keep myself continually in focus and prayer with God- to pursue intimacy with Him.

What’s keeping you from having a deeper relationship with GOD?

 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-7

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