Category: Things I’m learning

A Break from the Pull

At the beginning of the New Year do you ever feel pulled a million ways? Like there are multiple directions you feel pressured to go yet not sure what "goals" you want to pursue?  And yet you feel discouraged because your past "resolutions" have failed to result in real change?

Can I encourage you to break away from the pull & be still so you can pursue God’s heart today? That is a daily pursuit: not one that only happens January 1st.  I struggle with “year resolutions”…I’d rather simply have a resolution for today: a resolution to pursue Jesus today and to be faithful in the small things He has placed in front of me. One day at a time. And as I seek to pursue Jesus and silence the distractions around me what always leaves me in awe is that He never stops pursuing me. 

At the end of one year and the beginning of the next I always find myself reflecting on what happened the last 365 days & looking expectantly towards the next.  Going into 2018 I was looking at how I have been spending my time and the places in my life and heart that I’ve neglected. I found myself asking: is there something enslaving my heart or mind? Is there something that I feel I cannot live without? Something keeping me from what is most important?

And I knew: I had been wasting the most time scrolling thru my phone.

Going into the New Year the best way for me to refocus was to delete my social media apps for 2 weeks.  As a result I learned that when you walk away from something, you realize the hold it had.  When it is no longer there for you to turn to, you feel how strong a pull it had in your life.  But then I also realized the freedom it allowed me to have in other areas in my life…liberty to pursue what I value most, places that had fallen to the wayside.

I learned that it’s not about resolutions but about realizing those things that are enslaving me and keeping me from freedom.

This verses has been resonating with me:

Galatians 5:1 –  “It is for freedom that we are set free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  

Is there a place in your life where you long to experience freedom but feel is not possible?  Christ died to bring freedom to our souls, to break the chains that bind us and free us from our own flesh. Before, I was a slave to follow every dictate of my heart;  now, when I begin to find myself enslaved by anything, I remind myself: Jesus died for this.  Through Jesus I have victory over this.  Jesus died for my freedom and I don’t want to settle for anything less.

What is pulling for your attention?  If you feel too weak to break away ask the Holy Spirit for strength and depend on Him.  Going into 2018 I want to stand in the liberty Christ died to secure for me. I want to be free of resolutions. I want to be free of the guilt and shame I put on myself when I fail.  I want to be free of comparison. I want to be more aware of how I spend my time and put boundaries around those things that I tend to aimlessly turn to for distraction.  Most importantly I want to be free to live intentionally & pursue Christ’s call.

 

* I read this devotional December 27th & it was a real encouragement to me, I hope it encourages you: “What is your Aim?”

In the Midst of Change

“I did my very best to put into practice all I had believed on paper.” – Katie Davis

What has God been calling me to put into practice?

Its natural for me to write about what I know I need to do…but putting the pen down, walking away, and living those words is hard. Forgiveness, kindness, vulnerability, brokenness, compassion, sacrifice, self denial, and patience are all things He’s calling me to walk in—they are easy to write about and hard to walk out.

I’ve learned a lot and have much to learn.  2017 has taught me a lot about myself; how I deal under pressure and react. Some days have been ugly, scary, and messy…where I don’t want to trust again, where I know I’m not walking in God’s will, and am not living in Jesus’ victory or in the strength of His Spirit.

It’s easy to become secluded, bitter, or resentful in times of change and transition. Whether the change is good or bad, our natural tendency is to compare it with the past and build walls because “it’ll never be the same” or “they’ll never know or love me like ____.” It’s easy to reflect so much on the past that it paralyzes you from moving forward.

I don’t want to be paralyzed.  I want to walk into each new day with open hands, grateful for the past and the lessons it taught me but looking forward to where God is leading. Even the things in my past that I wouldn’t have wished for carry so much purpose. I long to walk in wisdom; holding onto lessons the past has taught me and letting go of what is not healthy or in His plan for me.

It’s easy to be swayed by my emotions or allow myself to be dictated by other’s actions.  I have a choice in how I move forward and don’t want to be a victim of the past; God has called me to more than that. And He has called you to that too.

I pray that no matter what heart break or devastation is in your past or present that you would know, with full assurance and confidence, that your past does not define you and you do not need to have it all together.

When undergoing a major change it’s easy to form to habits and begin new routines simply out of survival and reaction to what has happened.  But instead of survival and reaction I want this season of unexpected changes to be defined by intention, gratitude, and joy.  That will only come when my eyes are fixed on Jesus. He is my goal and I am in desperate need of His grace because I fall short daily and need His Spirit in me to walk hopeful and expectant into the future. There are days in the midst of change that it pains my heart to reflect on seasons of life that are no more, but God is showing me to simply be grateful and expectant. I’m learning to rest in hope and live in peace today knowing that each new season has been predestined, designed by my loving Father, and I desire to walk in His goodness here.

Remember

The kindness of Jesus is overwhelming. He never allowed the disdain and cynicism of others affect His heart towards them; and He did not try to retaliate or fight against those who betrayed, hated and wanted to kill Him.

1 Corinthians 11:23 says:

“on the night when He was betrayed took bread,
and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said,
‘This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’”

Amidst betrayal, contention, deep hurt and agony over the pain that was before Him —Jesus demonstrated love. On the nigh He was betrayed He served by washing His disciples’ feet and giving them communion, a symbol of how He would sacrifice His life on the cross for them. He gave thanks and He said “this is My body which is for you.”  He was not thinking of Himself, He was serving others.

Throughout His ministry Jesus’ disciples were confused when He would say: ‘My hour has not yet come’ or ‘the Son of Man will be betrayed but on the third day will rise again.’  But Jesus knew His disciples would look back at this night, remember Jesus’ example, His death and His resurrection and it would finally make sense.  The disciples would finally understand that the purpose of Jesus’ life and ministry was to bring salvation, peace, and reconciliation to lost and hurting people who were in need of a Savior.

And all Jesus asks is that they remember Him.

Simply remember.  And He asks me to do the same.  It is easy for me to forget and become busy in my daily routine, waste time scrolling through social media, so consumed with the noise that I become restless and can no longer rest in the stillness…  and when I find myself discouraged, backsliding, or doubtful it means that I have forgotten Him: who He is and all that He means to me.  I need to remember: His kindness, faithfulness and compassion; all the ways He’s provided and cared for Me.  I must be watchful and careful to not be distracted but instead to fix my eyes on Him

On a night that was confusing and chaotic to His disciples and onlookers, when it seemed as though evil had won and injustice had the final word, God’s purpose was being fulfilled and Jesus had His eyes on His Father, submitting to His will.  When you cannot make sense of all that is going on around you—look to Jesus, remember Him, and rest knowing that He is in control and His purpose is being accomplished even when all else seems contrary.

Oh what a Savior! Isn’t He wonderful!?
– “Come to the Altar”  by Elevation Worship

Help me to love with open arms like You do
A love that erases all the lines and sees the truth
Oh that when they look in my eyes they would see You…
You’re wonderful and such a good Father
– “For the One”  by Bethel

Press On.

“One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 3.13-14

Is there something in your past that is making it hard for you to look ahead? Have you ever had to walk away from something and it felt like you were leaving pieces of your heart behind?

In this verse Paul says he had to forget what was behind and strain toward what was ahead.  He had to press on.  There were things in Paul’s life that were pressing against him and it took everything inside him to keep going.

Sometimes everything in life seems to want to push you back and reverse any progress you’ve made. This word “PRESS” means to run after, to seek after eagerly, and earnestly endeavor to acquire. To press requires constant pressure and focus in one’s heart and mind.  What are we to be pressing toward?  The goal. The prize. Jesus. The One who has called us and filled us with His Spirit because it is His power in us that gives us the ability to press on.  Ephesians 3:16 says “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.”

Are you tired of the straining and pressing?  Are you worn out? Exhausted? Are you questioning if it is even worth it to keep going?  I have been there, I know how that feels.  But God never intended us to be alone or to use our strength to endure.  He is our strength and it is only by His Spirit that we have the power to continue.

You are free to be weak because He is strong.  Walk and live in His strength today.  No matter what is pressing against you Jesus has the victory, He is stronger.

When everything is pressing against you, press into Him. The goal is not to be busy, to be more active in ministry, or to appear spiritual.  Exhaustion comes when we forget that He is all we need. He is the Prize and the Goal.

Remember Jesus in all you do and press on to know Him more.

“So let us know and
become personally acquainted with Him;
let us press on to know and
understand fully the greatness of the Lord
to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him.”

– Hosea 6.3 AMP