Change. It's uncomfortable, different, comes with uncertainty, may cause us to respond in fear, sometimes lets us be in control and other times takes us for a ride. At times it may be necessary for our well being and other times, it may be meant for harm.
Are there some people, situations, beliefs or habits that need to change in your life for your greater well being? Are there places of pain or fear that keep you from changing? Are there needs so deep and painful that they take your breath away when you steal a moment to think about them? Is there a longing so deep within your soul that compels you to cry out because it is the only response you have to give? When you pray for relief, do you believe God has answered your prayers or do you keep saying them out of fear that He has not heard you or that you are not worthy or the need isn't big enough?
When Jesus called the disciples and said, "Follow Me," they did. Why? Was it a compelling command or was their response out of simple human curiosity? By His appearance, did He have something better for them - better than collecting taxes or hauling fish? We now know that His message and works were compelling and still are to this day.
If Jesus said to you, "Follow Me," would you go? Would you leave all that you are clinging to and follow Him? Many of us would say, "But, I have this or that to do. But, I am not ready to go because I don't have this or that or I don't look the part." The apostles went without regard for what they had or did not have or what they were or were not.
With all that you know about Jesus, would you willingly give up all to follow Him? Does knowing who He is and His promises of rest make you consider following instead of leading for once in your life? In the midst of your fear, uncertainty, distrust and pain, did it ever occur to you that "Follow Me," could be the answer to your prayers or fulfillment of your deep need? He gives us invitation after invitation to take His yoke upon us after laying down our heavy burdens, yet we still insist on going our way.
What would happen if you accepted His invitation? What would life be like if you followed Him? What if it was better than it is now? Would it be worth stepping out and away to follow Him?
Think about it.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
My Life's Resolution
Every year, many of us make New Year's resolutions. Some we keep and some we just don't bother with after a few attempts. A few years ago, I decided to stop making resolutions because they were the same every year and my heart wasn't in them. Instead, I prayed and asked God what He wanted of, from and for me each year. A certain word would come to mind such as transform, freedom, or new and fresh. This year, I sense the word commitment. By this I mean being completely immersed in living my life for Christ, doing my best to live out His Word, trusting that He will work it in and through me.
During my devotional time this morning, I read Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest which talked about being a living sacrifice and what that really means. So I began to reflect on Romans 12:1-2, which led me to Philippians 4:13, 3:10-11 and finally 3:12-14. As I read, reread and meditated on these passages, I began to write them out as to how they would be applied in my life: Philippians 3:12-14 would lead to Philippians 3:10-11 leading to Romans 12:1-2 to Philippians 4:13. I thought this process of living could be my resolution for 2010, but then realized this was my truth and life's resolution.
I am currently attending seminary which I am loving and I am training to be a Christian life coach because of God's call on my life to lead His daughters into a life of freedom from the world's chaos and control. My background has been in image consulting, helping women feel good about themselves by changing their outward appearance. This process is fun and rewarding, but is temporary. At some point the novelty wears off. Having spent twenty-four years in the retail and fashion industries, I watched women shop four and five times a week in the stores I worked in, staring at themselves in the mirror, trying to look younger, prettier, slimmer, taller and buying everything they hoped would make them just right. I grew up feeling the same way and could see the hunger and deep need for love and recognition in their faces. Today, God has called me to a different kind of image consulting - consulting from the inside out, based on His principles, bible study, prayer and reflection, resulting in an intimate relationship with Him where we discover, embrace and celebrate who we are in Him.
I have and still am discovering all that I am in Him and am moving from living in fear of failure, humiliation and disappointment to stepping out and living in freedom. My fear is still with me, but I am making myself take deep breaths, tucking my fear under my arm and moving towards all that God has for me.
I pray you are encouraged as you read, study, reflect, meditate and pray on God's Word. Trust that He will be with you as you discover, embrace and celebrate who He created you to be. Don't settle for what is good, but trust and wait for His best.
Be blessed.
Monica
During my devotional time this morning, I read Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest which talked about being a living sacrifice and what that really means. So I began to reflect on Romans 12:1-2, which led me to Philippians 4:13, 3:10-11 and finally 3:12-14. As I read, reread and meditated on these passages, I began to write them out as to how they would be applied in my life: Philippians 3:12-14 would lead to Philippians 3:10-11 leading to Romans 12:1-2 to Philippians 4:13. I thought this process of living could be my resolution for 2010, but then realized this was my truth and life's resolution.
I am currently attending seminary which I am loving and I am training to be a Christian life coach because of God's call on my life to lead His daughters into a life of freedom from the world's chaos and control. My background has been in image consulting, helping women feel good about themselves by changing their outward appearance. This process is fun and rewarding, but is temporary. At some point the novelty wears off. Having spent twenty-four years in the retail and fashion industries, I watched women shop four and five times a week in the stores I worked in, staring at themselves in the mirror, trying to look younger, prettier, slimmer, taller and buying everything they hoped would make them just right. I grew up feeling the same way and could see the hunger and deep need for love and recognition in their faces. Today, God has called me to a different kind of image consulting - consulting from the inside out, based on His principles, bible study, prayer and reflection, resulting in an intimate relationship with Him where we discover, embrace and celebrate who we are in Him.
I have and still am discovering all that I am in Him and am moving from living in fear of failure, humiliation and disappointment to stepping out and living in freedom. My fear is still with me, but I am making myself take deep breaths, tucking my fear under my arm and moving towards all that God has for me.
I pray you are encouraged as you read, study, reflect, meditate and pray on God's Word. Trust that He will be with you as you discover, embrace and celebrate who He created you to be. Don't settle for what is good, but trust and wait for His best.
Be blessed.
Monica
My Life's Resolution
Philippians 3:12-14
so that I may know Philippians 3:10-11
by being Romans 12:1 and doing Romans 12:2
so that I may live Philippians 4:13.
Write this out for yourself.
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