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Learning to live from a place of obedience is hard. If you’re like me, the temptation towards selfish ambition is quite the battle. For me it can be hard to detect because I’ll chase after good things, even things I’m confident God would want me to do. However, I turn those good things given by God, into God things when I’m the one controlling them trying to make them go the way I think they should go. This depletes my life and my soul in more ways than one. God opened my eyes to this reality and how my cup as felt empty for a while now. The moments of reprieve have come and gone so quickly, and it seems almost hopeless to desire life to look any different. However, I’m entering a new season and waking up to my disobedience as I humble my heart to see my ways and my need for repentance. Yet this time, I don’t believe the lie that God is far away and I need to do anything to get back to Him. This time I knew he was there with me with the desire to lead me into his ways, even as I battled and at times lost to my selfish ambition. God is helping me see the answer isn’t saying no to everything so that I avoid anything that would empty me, keeping my cup full. But to submit my life to him so that I can pour out from a place that simultaneously is being restored. Listening when I need to stop and catch up, instead of pushing harder depleting any reserve that I might possibly have left. And what’s even more amazing is that God has designed our bodies to break down when we go at a pace not designed by him. We get sick, or angry, or like I shared in my stories last night adrenal fatigue wreaking havoc on our entire nervous system which controls all of our body. I can believe my type-A, try really hard disobedience of selfish ambition doesn’t carry consequences but it does, but not so I can be proven wrong, but that I can be restored in love for His glory and my good.
How are we already a week into December! I’m in my final push with photography for the holiday season and I’m feeling the full weight of pouring myself out beyond my capacity once again. Which means extras like posting on my feed keep getting pushed aside. However, in the midst of it all, I keep trying to be faithful in the little steps. Like drinking my water! Finding moments to rest. Being obedient to reset when I think I’m the one that has to get it all done in my power. I’m reminded of Matt 11:28 and how Jesus’ burden is light and to keep turning to him whenever I think my burden is too much for me to bear. 💕
So easily do I fall victim of wanting everyone to like and approve me. Fearing the thought of being alone. But as I read in Jeremiah this morning, the life of a Christian can often feels lonely. We have the truth the world needs to know, but we’re existing in a world that doesn’t want to hear it. Think of Jesus. He would be around huge crowds and feel loneliness in the middle of it. People didn't get it, they didn't get him, but they wanted what he had to offer. In the same way, we can get lost in the offering of ourselves for the wrong reason. Putting something out there hoping anyone would just accept it so we can be approved. But we need to know approval comes from an audience of one, Jesus. If we are lonely with that audience, our affection for Jesus must grow so we can have great joy in this place of solitude. Not thinking we're missing out on the approval of the world, but rejoicing that your Father, the only one whose eyes matters is watching you and can't take his eyes off of you in adoration. #first5app #wordbeforeworld #biblestudy #jeremiah15
Two weeks ago I reached what felt like the end of what I had left in me. I was overwhelmed by where my “yes” led me. As I was waiting in between sessions I was left just proclaiming God’s faithfulness over and over. This past Sunday, I wrap up what was my busiest weekend of the year, they sang the song Great is Thy Faithfulness at church on Sunday in light of this season of thankfulness. Now on the other side of being overwhelmed I’m reminded how intention with my schedule allows me to be faithful. And when I fall short in this area, God never withholds his grace, but once again invites me in and reminds me that great is His faithfulness. 💕 #greatisthyfaithfulness #gratitude #thankfulness #coffeecupgospel #wellwateredwomen
Happy Thanksgiving!!!! May you be reminded of just how much we have to be thankful for and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God!!!
My battle with the addiction to my phone isn't an easy one. I never imagined this would be what God would have me wrestling with as I study Jeremiah with @first5. The conviction over my idolatry is what God keeps bringing me back to. The term idol is not one we easily connect within today's culture. I like to think of it as, what I choose to go to instead of God. For me, it's my phone. What my heart believes the world has to offer and the pride I carry in regards to what I think I have to offer. As I worked to bring this into the light, I thought about the obvious reasons why I turn to it. What came to mind was what we as a society like to call FOMO. The fear of missing out. This morning, I heard God ask me, "why do you not fear missing out on what I have for you? Could that not be more true. It was so powerful to hear and exactly what I needed. May we practice the presence of God and get our hearts quiet before the Lord to see what he's calling us into. Instead of rushing to the next thing, working hard to stuff down whatever he's working out of our hearts, may we be open to him exposing our idols. My guess is there is something you're clinging to in fear when God is calling us to cling to him instead.
If you had a chance to check out my blog post yesterday, you learned that I’m an avid goal planner and I learned over the past year I haven’t been faithful with my goal planning. I approached it from a position of being in control and then swung to the other end of the extreme and almost quit goal planning all together. This past year God helped me see that He’s the ultimate goal planner, and in fact he already has specific goals in mind for us that we are to walk in. This should dramatically change the way we goal plan. I’ve fleshed out so much in regards to how faith-based goal planning is different than traditional goal planning and I’m so excited to get started! I have an email series beginning at the end of the month they will walk through five verses on how God has spelled this out faith-based Goal Planning in his word. I’d love for you to join us! Link in profile!
🌟 NEW BLOG POST 🌟 Check out my most recent post, How I Got Faith-Based Goal Planning Wrong. Link in profile! Except: “If you’re like me, you give in to the temptation of both extremes. One day trying to figure out God’s plan for my life, and the next wanting to be free from all expectations and pressure to perform. This yo-yo way of goal planning has been my life, and I’m ready to walk in the way God has for me.” At the end of the post I have my sign up for my five-day faith-based goal planning series that will be out the end of this month!! Share a fun emoji below if you plan to join in!