Several weeks ago, it hit me...I am really an adult. I don't know why it took me until age 21 to realize this, but it did. This last semester of school was incredibly life changing. It was a super rough start, but it ended up being better than I ever could have expected. I couldn't have done it without an awesome support system and, of course, the love and strength of our Almighty God!
Today, I started feeling like a fairly responsible adult. It's kind of a "I'm free" feeling. I am living on my own. I am staying on top of my own finances and budgeting responsibly. I am strategically planning my errands and daily activities to save gas. (This is a new one and kinda what made me start thinking today.)
I am taking care of my health conditions (nothing serious...no worries) and coinciding with that I am eating well and exercising regularly. I encourage everyone to do this...it may be hard at first, but if you keep at it, it will change your world in so many ways! I have this verse on the inside of my gym locker and it always helps me keep at it.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received
from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
-1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I'm straying from my point...
I am growing in my walk with the Lord.
I am building healthier relationships here on earth.
I am so blessed to be working with young girls and to be one of Jesus' vessels in their lives.
I am studying what I love and I am finally succeeding at it!
My first thoughts when I came to this epiphany today were all about me. "Wow, I'm actually doing this! I have had so much heartbreak and so many setbacks. Nobody thought I could do it, look at me now!"
Then God gently kicked me in the booty, as He often does, and when I got home, I opened my Bible and in front of me was the story of David destroying the Amalekites.
"When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and
daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.
David's two wives had been captured- Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal and Carmel.
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit
because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God."
- 1 Samuel 30:3-6 (NIV)
To be honest, after reading some more and doing some minor research, I still don't understand the history behind these battles; perhaps it's something I should study more. I do know that through it all, David went through his own trials and heartbreak, but he found his strength in the Lord.
Then the second epiphany came. I am absolutely nothing without God. Over the last couple years, I have gone through the lowest points of my life thus far. Like David, I was at the point where I was not strong enough to even keep weeping. I did not become this "fairly responsible adult" by my own strength; I have only accomplished these things through relying on God. And I just can't thank Him enough!! (John 15:5)
If you are to a point of total depair, I encourage you to take it all to the Lord. If you're like me, that's a scary thought. I know...I've been there. And who's to say I'll never be there again? I'm the queen of self-sabotage. ;) Go before Him and be still; He will listen and He will answer according to His plan...He is mighty and wonderful and He wants to take care of you. He loves you more than any of us can comprehend here on earth. That's what this blog is all about. :)
If you are in a wonderful free-feeling place, take a moment and praise God today!! It's all Him and to Him be all the glory!!!
Ashley Anne
More verses for encouragement:
Nehemiah 8:10
Psalm 105:4
Isaiah 41:10
Philippians 4:13
Psalm 73:26
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