affirmation

Realign me, oh Lord

bible, christian, Christian lifestyle, encouragement, lifestyle, prayer, Worship

Living in a society that pushes us to “follow whatever your heart desires” can be exciting but oh so very dangerous. As followers of Jesus, we claim to have made the decision to give up the world and follow the God who gave up His son. But often times, we only truly follow that claim to an extent…

With a heart longing for excitement, we let our spiritual boundaries get stepped on, tip toed next to, and even sometimes crossed behind the excuse of “it wasn’t that bad”. But that is not how God called us to live. He didn’t design safety rails in life so that we could hang off the edges. As He is the literal embodiment of all things good, joyful, loving, kind, forgiving, compassionate, etc. We can bet on His boundaries having something to do with His desire for us to stay close to Him and away from everything evil, manipulative, vengeful, and so on.

Though sometimes intriguing and easy to fall into, the “harmless sins” in life are honestly anything but harmless. The one command He emphasized in the new testament was to love God and love people. A life spent loving God cannot be truly lived while intentionally flirting with sin.

So in this new year, may this be our prayer. May we long for a heart so hungry for God that we feel uneasy at just the thought of splitting our attention between Him and the world. May we humbly ask the Holy Spirit to rid our hearts of anything and everything that does not glorify God as we desperately thirst for Him to fill us up. May we look at every part of scripture for what it is; the living, breathing word of God and may it enrich our souls so much so that we feel weak after just a day spent away from it. The enemy may be no match for our Lord, but on our own, we stand no chance against the things he throws at us. We need revival. We need redemption. We need a spirit made new. So my dear friend, please never forget amidst the pleasure of life…we NEED Jesus. And I mean ALL of Him, not just on Sundays, but in every second of every day. Consistently live for a soul that prays this over every step, breath, and thought throughout your life.

Made to Worship

christian, Christian lifestyle, encouragement, lifestyle, prayer, Worship

Towards the end of 2022, I began this infatuation with a few phrases. I forced myself to memorize them in an attempt to prevent myself from falling back into my old ways when I would feel upset. And one of those phrases was “Made to Worship”. This phrase caught my attention when I first saw it printed on a sweater while scrolling through instagram. And after that, I have run into signs, stickers, and other posts stating those very same 3 words.

As I contemplate the kind of changes I hope to make this year in order to accomplish my “new years resolutions”, I find this phrase running laps in my head. Made. To. Worship. So simple yet so powerful. It is a phrase that gives us identity, purpose, and hope.

Aiming to pursue a Christ-like character while trying to balance the responsibilities God has given me, I have often found it easy to stumble into seeking my identity through my success or status in things like my blog, school, or social life. But this phrase, I would argue, captures the message of WHO we are to God and why things like our successes, failures, titles, or awards have no place in determining our value. We were simply made to worship. Not to become rich, or have the best family, or be the valedictorian, or have the most friends. Not to say those are wrong, but that’s not who we are. We are children of the one true God who sees us as free, loved, chosen, cherished, and beautiful. Who we are ought to be based on the identity our Creator gives us. And honestly, I believe that can be described as a beloved worshiper in every circumstance and every new day God brings us into.

Yet our identity is not where God stops. He proceeds to go deeper in our value so that we may see ourselves through His same lens. He gives us purpose. A reason to keep going. To keep cultivating life. Though our individual journeys can be completely different, we collectively have the same thing driving us. We have been given the purpose of worshiping God in all we do. Through every season, we have the responsibility to praise Him and bring glory to His name. When we begin living with the mindset of “how can I fulfill my purpose by glorifying God today?”, we begin living in the most prosperous way. It no longer remains all about you or the goods you can store here on earth, rather, it becomes truly Christ-centered. This kingdom mindset is not just a great lifestyle, it is essential to living in the way you were designed. You were made to bring glory and worship. It is your purpose and embedded in the very core of who you were made to become.

What a beautiful life it is to live humble yet confident in the fruit that you produce simply because you rest assured in the faithfulness of your Creator. There is an overflowing well of peace that floods the hearts of those who live a life dedicated to following their purpose because of their identity. In 2022, life felt like it went up, down, and even in some spirals. To say the least, my circumstances changed an unimaginable amount of times. But one thing that remained the same was who God was to me and who I was to Him. The consistency behind His character and design allowed me to collect these random phrases I would find, like “made to worship”, and be confident that their meaning was timeless. Meditating on the word of God is a spiritual discipline EVERY Christian ought to implement in their lives. These day-to-day reminders may seem a bit agitating and in some cases, the last thing you want to hear during a trial, but my dear friend, it is worth everything. As we begin to see the world and ourselves more and more like God sees it all, His beautiful plan becomes so much more exciting to follow and reliable in the hard times. It is just the beginning of His limitless hope.

In the new year, people tend to seem most inspired. This is the time where journals, planners, and anything related to working out is at its peak selling point. Why? Because to most, having something to live for is important. It gives value, joy, and peace in knowing we have reason behind our breath. So as you enter into the first few weeks of this fresh start, hunger for spiritual growth. Seek to develop the habits and mindset to praise in every scenario. Dear Christian, you are made to worship. May you see that as an honor instead of a responsibility this new year.

Freed From The Lie Of Comfort – Stopping Fear from Being Your God

christian, Christian lifestyle, encouragement, lifestyle

 “And Deborah said to Barak, ‘Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?'”

Judges 4:14

Debora was a prophetess and judge in the Old Testament. One day, she confronted a man named Barak, asking why he has yet to make a move after being promised victory over a battle. In response, Barak said “if you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Deborah knew the importance of obeying God and the power that followed His promises…so she went.

This was no easy battle. During this time, the Isrealites were being pursued by a man named Sisera and his great army. But to Deborah, she was willing to get involved because of her confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness. He promised to make a way, and she had full faith in His word.

Long story short, after a miraculous battle that not one of Sisera’s men survived, Sisera took His last breath as a woman named Jael, hammered a tent peg through his temple. Graphic, I know. But if you can manage to look past the gory ending of this story, you will see three people who stepped out of their comfort zone and one amazing God who has yet to break His promises.

Barak: a man whom hesitated because of his unbelief, yet eventually stood strong against an army that logic would claim he had no chance at beating.

Deborah: a woman who believed in the promises of God and carried the burdens of her friend because of her faith in God’s guidance.

Jael: a woman whom knew the Lord’s people have been hurt and the man guilty of doing so was about to get away, so she stepped out, risking her reputation and her own safety for the sake of protecting the people of God.

More often than not, I feel as though we look at Barak, Deborah, and Jael as people with a unique bravery. As God calls us to new assignments we hesitate, move slowly, or refuse to make a move until it is forced upon us. When we find comfort in a circumstance, people, or thing, it is not common to want to give that up. I too, find myself exhausted of change, leading me to hold tightly to any breeze of comfort that passes my way. To the world, it is a beautiful thing to get to the point in your life where you can claim “you’ve made it”. But to God, that belief is the beginning of your self-imprisonment.

Last year, college was not a place I would consider joyful or beneficial. I struggled a lot with making friends, finding jobs related to my major, and building connections with teachers. So as this summer went along, I was convinced this year would be exactly like the last. As the days got closer to moving back on campus, I began to tell myself, “expect nothing different. This is just the life of an introvert.” But oh boy, was that a lie from the ruthless pit of hell.

Reading into stories like this one in Judges, God has begun to show me what it means to truly be free. Spoiler alert: it is found far beyond the walls of your comfort zone. We serve a God of new beginnings. What that means is that we no longer have to rely on the things of this world to bring us identity or security. God promises to be by our side in any and every circumstance. When we decide to become a child of God, a new seed is planted in us.

So this week I aimed to make things different. Waking up at seven o’clock in the morning to read my Bible before my day starts was not easy or comfy, but I wanted the discipline it produced. Going to my teacher after class and asking to meet for coffee and talk about how God lead her to where she is now nearly made me sick, but I wanted to know the peace and joy she gained over her career that sounds a lot like my dream. And accepting invites to hangout with a bunch of people I barely knew made my little introverted heart extremely terrified, but I wanted the to know the love and community God says is found in fellowship with others.

Was I tired of doing things alone most of the last few months? Not really. But I was a little tired of not seeing much fruit for God being produced. My comfort in the countless days alone gave me the idea that because I felt “good”, I didn’t need to change. But that is not how God calls us to live life.

The people in the story mentioned before stepped out in different ways. But what I want to focus in on is that they stepped out in ways that were unlike their norm for the purpose of bringing God glory.

It is not always easy to want to make a change in your life when the waters finally feel settled. But I think about the way God calls us to be anything but lukewarm in our faith. The moment we begin believing our life is “good enough” is the moment we stop expecting God to do wonders. It is only through stepping out in confidence of His power to remain unpredictable that we are truly available.

The last thing I want to live like is someone who thinks life is really about themselves. Although I am not a huge fan of change, it wasn’t until I forced myself to remember God’s promises and desire for obedience that I could walk through the muddy pit of fearing discomfort. In my living room reading just after sunrise, in class, and with friends, I pushed myself to do the unpredictable with an expectancy for God to do the same. Not because I think I deserve it, but because I know He already took care of my future and the only way I can live out His plans to the fullest is by living boldly with that trust.

Believe me. I know it is not easy to step out of your comfort zone. But as a witness to the goodness and faithfulness of our ever-present Father…there is no way I would ever want to go back to being surrounded by the walls built out of the lies of comfort.

So if you want to experience…

the blessing of being a blessing then serve others. Take the first step in building new friendships.

the confidence in your identity then lean into who God says you are through the renewing of your thoughts AND your actions.

the wisdom of God then reach out and find mentors, therapists, counselors, etc. and be consistent in that relationship.

discipline for God then force your actions to reflect that desire in your heart to obey those Christ-centered goals.

Freedom is what is found at the end of your comfort zone. Do not underestimate the wonders of the God. He is the same God who claimed victory over Sisera through Deborah, Jael, and Barak. Do not wait for a Deborah to confront you about your stillness. God made promise after promise to you about joy, hope, salvation, love, peace, etc. Until we become truly available to the endless possibilities God could do through us, we will always be tied down by the manipulative chains of “comfort”.

Just a Glimpse – Making Every Bit of God’s Presence Count

Christian lifestyle, encouragement, lifestyle

“Open the Heavens, fling wide the gates now
Unleash Your presence, pour out Your grace
Oh, show me Your glory, the power of Your love
‘Cause even a glimpse is more than enough for me”

– “Things of Heaven” by Red Rocks Worship

This past year I could have really benefited from some big miracles. I struggled in nearly every area of my life to the point where I believed the only way for God to turn things for good would be through a massive, unpredictable miracle. One that was so special and powerful that it would turn my life around 180 degrees. But that didn’t happen.

I suffered financially, emotionally, with anxiety, in friendships, in school, and with a heavy hopeless heart. I never doubted God’s goodness, but I did question if I messed up too far for Him to still care. It was tough.

Eventually, that sense of hopelessness flooded my mind whenever the idea of moving back to school came up. Another change. It was the last thing I wanted after finally beginning to feel a sense of contentment with my sorrow. But the move was inevitable.

So there I was two weeks before school began. Sitting on my bed, in awe of the lyrics posted above that gently hit my heart.

“…even a glimpse is more than enough…”

It was then that things began to click. For so long I was aggravated no huge miracle was happening. I wanted a change that would create in me a joyful heart. I wanted to be able to think about school and making friends with a smile on my face instead of being anxious about all that could go wrong.

But one thing I did not consider was that yes, God is a God of wonders and amazing miracles that could wow the whole world, but that does not always mean that miracles have to be huge. They can be just as amazing, if not more, when they are small and only revealed to yourself. Why? Because a miracle is a glimpse of the power and beauty of our God. It is a glimpse of the abundant love He longs for us to experience.

Sadly it took me months to realize that. But after hearing this song, I still had a hard time seeing where exactly God’s hand was currently moving. So I prayed. I prayed those lyrics highlighted above. Recognizing that I did not fully understand what He was doing, but nevertheless, asking He would somehow show me, even just a glimpse. This prayer reminded me of His consistent goodness while remaining honest in my confusion.

I think it can be so easy to forget God’s way of working because we compare ourselves to those around us. We seek the same blessings that our neighbor gets even though we don’t have the same purpose. God designed each one of us with a unique and individual future. We are designed to use each and every gift and talent for the glory of God. And dear friend, that may look very different than the people around you, and that is okay.

After days of praying this prayer, I started to become aware of how every little thing has God’s hand in it because my life as a whole rests in His palm. The people I was assigned to dorm with this year was arranged by God. The new major I am starting this semester is taught by professors who are madly in love with Jesus. The fact that I am unemployed gives me so much time to be available for whatever God calls me to. The city I live in is filled with people who I do not know, which opens doors for new friendships and the blessing of being a blessing to others. God’s hand is undoubtedly in every area of my life. What a joy that is.

I spent so long trying to either get out of this season or find contentment with living everyday in sorrow. But I am beyond grateful that I stumbled across this song. There is such a beauty and privilege we get as children of God. He is like a Father, seeking only the best for us. Sometimes that means being disciplined or enduring hardships to build an unshakable confidence in His faithfulness.

I wish I could have seen God’s hand giving me glimpse after glimpse of Himself in the last few months. But what a blessing it is to now realize how much power even the smallest miracle can have on our life. I do not have to fear a fall that God promises to catch me from. I do not have to live in confusion and anxiety because of the good and beautiful plans He has for me.

This prayer is something that I still pray today and I encourage you to implement into you daily routine because when we make ourselves available to God, He promises to reveal Himself to us. The second verse after the famous Jeremiah 29:11 states:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

He delights in being a part of your life. Ask Him to show you how exactly He is doing that and don’t give up until there is not one thing you name that He is not present in.