Recently, I have been reading through the book of James and I landed on this one question that I’m not sure I have ever really noticed before: “What is your life?” Such a simple question, but it convicted me. What is my life?
I am currently traveling the world with fellow believers, sharing the gospel, and experiencing so many wonderful adventures. However, in just a few months I will be back home, starting a new season, and I’m sure this question will arise: “What is my life?”
Perhaps, like me, you have been asking yourself the same question. Or these could be the questions that plague your mind:
-How did I get here?
-Will this season ever end?
-What is my purpose / Do I even have a purpose?
-How do I enjoy my life?
-Where am I going?
Scary questions, indeed. It seems no matter where we find ourselves – at home or abroad – we are ever reaching forward to what’s next. But, I don’t want to live this way any more! I don’t want to simple live for “what’s next!” I want to live for “what’s now!”
Please don’t get me wrong – I am not condemning you – I am actually reminding myself and hoping to encourage you that we should never be so consumed with our future that we forget what God has placed right in front of us.
Instead of asking questions, what if we release our life to the Lord in this manner:
-God has a plan for my life. I will trust Him.
-This might be a hard season, but “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
-My purpose is to love God and to love others. I can actually do this anywhere I live!
-I will enjoy my life. I will live with gratitude. I will be humble. I am because He is!
-I won’t waste one more day worrying about tomorrow, because Jesus will be with me wherever I go.
If you find yourself thinking ahead, worried and anxious about what’s next – write out truths and scriptures verses that you can look at each day. I have done this for the past few months of my race. Honestly, it has changed my relationship with the Lord. It has also helped me to stay grounded through the trials and the many moments of missing home.
So, God, “What is my life?” “What is our life?” Are you pleased with me? Are you pleased with us? Be what we live for today.
You are our life and we trust You.
Melissa
James 4:13-15
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ – yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”
