A couple of days ago, I was sitting in Starbucks doing homework, and a lightbulb went off in my head to start writing. I felt the need to write words that not only I needed to hear but many other others may just need to hear. If you are afraid to let go, if you are anxious to venture into the unknown, this is for you. This week, I have tried harder than ever to do a devotional every morning instead of reading my Bible a couple of minutes (basically half-asleep) right as I am about to go to bed. Doing my morning devotionals, I have noticed a sense of peace and happiness that I have not seen in myself in a long time, it was as if God was waiting for me. God was waiting for me to come to him so he could tell me the plans he had for me; I wholeheartedly believe that he watches our struggles and feel the pain that we do. He does not want to see us in pain even more than we hate to be in pain. I know this because in Starbucks that day, I heard these words echo in my head :"Fear is for the lost. Amanda, you are already found." From that day on my life has changed in a positive direction and I want to share with you the start of my new life.
His Plans
I am the type of person that likes to live everyday life in the same, habitual routine. I never stop to think twice that I could be going in the wrong direction because of the normality of my life, God did not seek us out to live a normal life. He sought us out because we are special and we have gifts to pertain to his will. There are times that we need to pick our battles, and sometimes I do not want to get out of my comfort zone to do so. Let's take a look at what the bible has to say about this. Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 says "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ..."
His Eyes
I tend to fix my eyes upon all my mistakes and what I perceive as failures, I see fault in the mirror and my mind. The Lord calls us to fix our eyes upon him so we do not end up doing this. I have always heard in worship songs and read in scripture "Fix your eyes upon me" but I never understood the true meaning. I realize He tells us this for reasons that are indescribable. I learned that if I fix my eyes on myself for too long, it ends up hurting me more than helping me, I want to make something perfect in my eyes that is already perfect to Him. How dare I say that what God made is imperfection? Hebrews 12:2 says, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." I believe that when the verse says "perfecter of faith," it is a message to us saying why question how he sees us through his eyes? Keep this in my mind, next time you think to evaluate yourself, your eyes are not meant for judgements, His are.
Sometimes, for a reminder, come back to these verses. I understand interpretation is different to every single person, but I think both verses are of universal importance for anyone. Please spread and share the word to people who may need to hear it, it would mean the world.
