This summer, God has really just blessed me with a lot of time to just reflect on and reassess some things. He has taught me to just really make the most of the day in obedience to Him-- something I had always been a bit hesitant to do.
I don't know if my hesitancy was due fear of the unknown, laziness, a combination of both, or simply the use of one to make an excuse for another. Either way, God has definately been laying it on my heart to just change my ways and to just be entirely submissive to Him.
Now, don't think that this has been all cake-n-pie; it hasn't. In fact, I stooped quite low into depression, flirted a taste with some self-destructive acts (don't worry, no drugs or boos or anything-- just stuff that I knew I shouldn't have been doing)... heck, I even threw myself a pity party! (Not literally, of course. But for all intents and purposes in the context of this entry-- it works).
But finally, one day, God was just like "Look! Now you are being so selfish and immoral, it's pitiful!! Now you're going to pull yourself together and give yourself up! Don't wallow in your unhappiness when you have the power through Christ in Me to change your circumstances!"
So that's what I did. I wasn't happy with my health and fitness, so started working out and eating healthier (trying to, anyway, hehe). I wasn't happy with the fact that I couldn't drive, so I got my learner's permit and now my parents are teaching me to drive. I couldn't stand my room being a mess, so I cleaned it up!
So that's what I did. I wasn't happy with my health and fitness, so started working out and eating healthier (trying to, anyway, hehe). I wasn't happy with the fact that I couldn't drive, so I got my learner's permit and now my parents are teaching me to drive. I couldn't stand my room being a mess, so I cleaned it up!
You see, I think that sometimes, we're afraid to listen to God and afraid to follow His will, because we think that He's going to make us do hard things that we aren't prepared for or that we can't do. But that's not true. God's will is that we bring glory and honor to His kingdom, through our love of and service to others, that people might come to know this love and joy we have within us; susequently, accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
So I'm learning-- slowly, but surely-- to take the "me" out of the equation, and just to go with the flow. And although I get scared from time to time, I always notice that when I follow His will, my days are so much better and I have such a great feeling inside, compared to the days when I am just totally and blatantly disobedient, feeling empty and lonely inside.
So I'm learning-- slowly, but surely-- to take the "me" out of the equation, and just to go with the flow. And although I get scared from time to time, I always notice that when I follow His will, my days are so much better and I have such a great feeling inside, compared to the days when I am just totally and blatantly disobedient, feeling empty and lonely inside.
As the Third Day song says... "Nothing compares, to the greatness of knowing You, Lord."