***NOTE***
Writing is not my favorite thing to do, nor is it my forte, but I hope this blog helps me become a better communicator through writing as I share my stories with you.
Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for those who belong to Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
In recent times God has been changing my heart to be more like Him, revealing to me and helping me grasp certain Truths that I've had a hard time understanding and accepting in the past. I was so blessed to go to the Passion Conference (268generation.com) in Atlanta at the beginning of this year with my sister Emily and some of our good friends. Much healing took place for me at the conference, and it began a journey of healing in my heart that is freeing me from burdens that I've been struggling with for a long time.
In past times I have found myself deeply discontent if I was not exactly where I wanted to be and doing what I thought I needed to be doing, assuming that only at those times was I where God wanted me. I knew in my head that God wanted me to have joy wherever I was but when I wasn't where I assumed He wanted me (wherever I thought I should be), I would get stressed out and have a bad attitude about it. What I have recently been coming to realize and accept is that God has me where He does for a reason, and He has called me to have joy in it whether it's where I want to be or not. It has been a beautiful journey of learning to make the choice to be joyful wherever I am, and it has been so healing to know that each moment, no matter where I am, God wants me to live it to the fullest and not worry about being anywhere else. He is truly changing me into a child that can be used by Him.
When I was in Nashville this past time, two of my friends were chatting about how it's a choice we have to make to be thankful and totally content with where God has us, because really no matter where we are we will always be wanting something more or something else. We need to fully embrace the stage of life we are in, and in that God can fully use us to do His will. Hearing their conversation encouraged me so much really confirmed in my heart the things that God is teaching me, and also I saw that I'm not alone in my trials and learning experiences! These past days have been so freeing and healing as I choose to rejoice and enjoy each moment of life, not because it's necessarily exactly where I want to be, but because God has called me to rejoice wherever He has me, whether I have everything or nothing.
My first devotion when I got home was this:
Dear Jesus,
I know I'm supposed to give thanks in all circumstances. But sometimes my words ring hollow: I can say them without feeling the least bit thankful. It's especially hard for me to be thankful in the midst of a bad day, when everything seems to be going wrong.
Beloved, I know what goes on in your heart far better than you do... When you struggle to be thankful, stop and remember who I AM: the Author of your life and your faith. You are utterly dependent on me for everything, including your next breath... When you thank me during a difficult day, you are assuming the proper stance for a child of God. If you persevere in this thankfulness, resisting the temptation to grumble, you can find Joy and Peace in the midst of your struggles.
(Excerpt from Sarah Young's book Dear Jesus)
While organizing my bookshelf the next day, I came across a devotion book by Charles Swindoll called Wisdom for the Way (which contains excerpts from all of his books), and I remembered my sister had been reading it. I opened it to the page in which the bookmark was, and I was shocked at what it read:
I have discovered that a joyful countenance has nothing to do with one's age or one's occupation (or lack of it) or one's geography or education or marital status or good looks or circumstances... Joy is a choice. It is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God- that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen. Either we fix our minds on that and determine to laugh again, or we wail and whine our way through life, complaining that we never got a fair shake. We are the ones who consciously determine which way we shall go...
Regardless how severely the winds of adversity may blow, we set our sails toward joy.
(Excerpt from his book Laugh Again)
That excerpt pretty much sums up what I have been learning and what has been healing me and some of my relationships. How freeing it is to know that we can rejoice in every moment of life because our life is not our own; we are His.
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. - Colossians 3:15
No comments:
Post a Comment