Are you ready for them??
Maybe you better sit down. Maybe you should brace yourself.
... ok.. here it comes.. I'm serious now - - ready???
WHAT. *gasps* shudders* shivers*
ok.. one down.. ready for the next one?!! (*yes I know I'm a sick / twisted individual. let's do this!*)
IF. *chills down the spine*
See.. DANGER!!
Two very common words - used daily - that are like snipers in the world of words - ready to pull the trigger at any given moment! This is serious. These two little words have too much power. I don't like it. It makes me uncomfortable.
Even worse.. if you put those two words together.. WHAT IF
**falls off chair / grips chest / short of breath / oh Lord, I think I'm dying**
I don't have to go into why they're so powerful - we all know why.
No one is exempt from their power.
No one!
Seriously, all humor aside - It's been drawn to my attention the "comfort zone" of life. We grow so accustomed to routine that we honestly don't know how to cope when things go.. differently. We waiver, we worry, we fret, and we get clouded / distracted by the simplest of things. Why? Because of those two little words ... what & if.
For the past week or so, I've taken a small hiatus from writing. I've had plenty of inspiration, but I really wanted to focus on this topic & pray. I have been slightly distracted by the onset of trout season but God help me, I love it. :) I've been attempting to actively taking a closer look at my relationship w/ God. I was starting to fill with a lot of ideas, thoughts and really take a deeper look at how my relationship with Him affects my life. My comfort zone. That dangerous comfort zone.. where the mind is easily manipulated by those dangerous little sniper words: what & if.
First off the list--> comfort zone.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Alright - for a gal with some serious trust issues - I didn't fully understand this. I thought this was a hopeful message to encourage those going through trials and help us to keep looking up. Well, after some deep prayerful conversations I've had w/ God lately - it's not only that but a PROMISE. This is a promise for believers that put 100% trust in God that He is in charge and will NOT bring you all those "what ifs" that we worry about. If we continue to pray & trust & obey: those "what ifs" lose ALL of their power. Seriously!
I BELIEVE IT. I FEEL IT. I LIVE IT.
I'm no longer afraid.. I will continue to press forward & when I'm faced with a "what" or an "if" -- I have absolutely NO NEED or TIME to worry. God's got it all under control. He really does.
I BELIEVE IT. I FEEL IT. I LIVE IT.
Next on the list--> fear.
Isaiah 41:9-13
9I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11“All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.
12Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
13For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
In this brief passage: God says "do not fear" TWICE. why? because simply put HE DOES NOT WANT US TO BE AFRAID. He calls us to be His servants, we pray for His guidance, we KNOW He's going to provide, protect, and conquer all! He's full of promises. Has He ever not followed through with them? NO! So, why do we have to be afraid??? Why do we have to be so mis-trusting of Him? Why do we feel we need to take it upon ourselves to rule our lives & the lives of others.. and let fear & worry take over our worlds? How do we fix this? LET GOD TAKE OVER. Let Him overcome your battles - shine through the dark corners - and seriously "those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all." <-- How's that for an awesome Savior?! SERIOUSLY!!! "like nothing at all"
All those "what" and "if" situations that lost some power before.. huh.. even less of a problem!!
Not only am I not worried, but I'm also not afraid. It's really simple.
I BELIEVE IT. I FEEL IT. I LIVE IT.
Yes, there are days when I'm forced out of my comfort zone. Yes, there are days when I get a moment of potential for the "what" and "ifs" to circle my head & heart like a shark in the water.
So.. how do we cope with this?
P R A Y !
B E L I E V E !
T R U S T !
L I V E !
Ask God to bring you the peace of FULLY knowing, believing, trusting, and living His will.
There is no failure. Say you take the wrong step - guess who's there to get you back ? God.
Say you are wrestling w/ a decision or a situation that you aren't sure how of the outcome? Guess who's there - THE WHOLE TIME - orchestrating a way out?! God.
If you don't believe it, you won't feel it. If you don't feel it, you won't live it.
He wants you to live a happy life. He wants you to love Him completely. He wants you to trust Him. He has chosen each & every one of us as His children.
We should not be satisfied living within our comfort zone. We should be fully prepared to live - however God wills us and be gloriously happy & blessed: no matter the twists, turns, ups, and downs.
In God's eyes there are absolutely NO "what ifs" that can hold any power-whatsoever. NONE.
**It's hard to be down when you're constantly looking UP**
Have a great day everyone.
BELIEVE IT. FEEL IT. LIVE IT.