First off, you should know that doing devotionals with your significant other is truly a wonderful thing. Not only does it strengthen and deep your relationship with Jesus, but it helps the two of you grow together in Christ, (not to mention, you learn a ton about each other and about each other’s perspectives on the deep stuff in life). I highly recommend doing this, one hundred percent, ten out of ten, do it for sure!

Upon doing a daily devotional with my own boyfriend (over the phone because we live 152.7 miles apart), we have often come upon the topic of taking risks and choosing to be vulnerable. (The devotional book we use is from Hillsong, by Brian Houston. It’s called LIVE, LEAD, LOVE...super awesome perspectives and is extremely insightful, y’all should definitely take a look). My original understanding of this, choosing to take risks and be vulnerable, had strong correlations to something that I’m really passionate about: the world, people, and living life in general. I truly believe that it is the essence of life to live it to it’s fullest potential. I feel that our savior God, our divine Creator, could not have created such a vast and beautiful Earth for us not to attempt to turn over every stone, to explore every nook and cranny, and to search for the fullness of life across the fullness of the Earth, beyond the spaces that we already know and find comfort in. Now, while my viewpoint does have a certain validity to it, my incredibly intelligent and absolutely wonderful boyfriend pointed out to me that we can take risks in everyday life just as well as we can across the Earth. Sometimes opportunities are right in front of our very eyes, and we miss them in search of other things. Why not take the risk to be kind to the person you see on the sidewalk or in the hallway? Why not take the risk to be vulnerable and tell someone how you truly feel? Why not take the risk to love like Jesus on a daily basis in your very own home town, school, or even family? Everyday life, in any type of place can be “risky business” in the sense that it may be out of your ordinary. I think as Christians we’re not called to lead simple comfortable lives. That being ordinary and taking the safe road, in some senses, is denying the blessing of reaching the full potential of life that you’re given. Taking risks in either global or domestic ways is a beautiful way to give glory back to God. If you’re blessed with talents, why subdue them? If you are meant to shine, why dim your light for the sake of others?

A quote by Maryanne Williamson, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” So all in all, I think you should get involved with this risky business, and give that Glory to God. You were not created to live a life that doesn’t reach its fullest potential. Love big, take risks, and live!