Shake up your life: how to change your own perspective
It is my birthday weekend! My actual birthday is August 29. I was born in 1970 so this year marks my 47th year on this amazing journey we call life!
I am at such a pivotal place in my life-great moments, opportunities for advancement, etc...they are all right here and all I have to do is reach out and grab what my heart desires, but I feel like my feet are in cement.
I have always prided myself in the fact that I was not afraid of change-Change is an inherent part of life-Change is expected and oftentimes I welcomed it! However, today I have had a realization about my true relationship with change.
As I said, there are major opportunities in front of me and my mind is so full of ideas to impact culture and change lives; ways to bring reformation to systems-I didn't mention I am by trade a Social Worker. These are all God given ideas and the plans are in line with His Kingdom plan, but when I think of starting or I look at how truly BIG the end result will be I get overwhelmed by what my mind knows the process will entail.
See My Father, My Heavenly Father, shows us the end from the beginning, but not all the "in between" you will endure. How do I know this- LIFE has taught me this truth. With every GREAT change in my life there has been a process that was emotionally, spiritually, financially..etc life altering. WHO LIKES THE PROCESS!!! NOT ME! I am much better at almost 47 at rejoicing in the process but I still have a dislike for it
So as I was pondering these thoughts today I said to myself I am not afraid of change I am intimidated by the process. Right then the Holy Spirit arrested me and inspired me to look up "intimidate" Well what a revelation that was!
Intimidate is defined by Websters is make timid even fearful. OH well there you go- I am afraid of the process therefore ultimately I was afraid of change. The process intimidates me and makes me step back from jumping. My thoughts about the process deter me, but how can that be I am a jumper-I make life altering changes all the time-What has it been that has compelled me to take these enormous leaps? This was my next thought provoking moment. And the conclusion I came to was just as eye-opening
My faith in God, my knowing His way to reach humanity - All of creation is the only way that will bring life and, as I have been taught throughout my life, I am an expression of God in the earth and if I do not express/manifest Him then that is a part of Him the world will not see! This is my motivator to jump to embrace the change, but it sometimes is not enough of a motivator to embrace the process involved.
So I had to determine today what is greater in me - My love for what God Loves (THE WORLD) or my love for my comforts my desires....Can I deny myself and press forward on the PATH laid before me? Next I asked myself why is there such a delay in my response! I love God and I know His way is right but why am I hesitating?
Two thoughts came to mind,
The first one, was an awesome revelation- I do not count my self worthy of the greatness He shows when He shows me what the end will look like. How can I do that? How can I accomplish that? I am not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, educated enough, I have messed up life too bad-This is doubt and that is not truth. I have to deal with that!
Next thought was Do I trust Him to keep me through the process? This was not a revelation I have been dealing with this one for many many years now on my journey. It always goes back to His Sovereignty. His plan is the plan and all that comes to reach the end is making me the person He created me to be and sometimes that means loss of family, friends, money, career, etc. I dont like lose, but as it says in scripture He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it. He started this so I know He is going to finish it, but some of the pain I have endured seemed overwhelming and unnecessary-why did my mother die, my brother??? I have learned that as Isaiah 6 says "in the year King Uzzaih dies I saw the Lord-after my mother and brothers deaths I can now say as I look back I SAW THE LORD! But the process rocked me to my very core-I can rejoice today and I will say despite my issues with God I obeyed Him and kept moving but I was devastated and never understood WHY they had to die.
On this journey our minds and hearts don't always want to engage in the journey. I say to myself well I have come this far and this is a good spot to rest and build my life, but I know this path-this journey never ends until we have accomplished the King's plan. We are always moving because He is always moving. My mother and aunt taught me to Always move with the Cloud.
This is what keeps me moving! Inside me is Greatness and that Greatness is God Himself. I have His spirit inside of me and therefore I do not have to fear the process I just have to engage and He will direct my path-He will comfort me through the loss, He will not allow any weapon that is formed to come against me to produce anything and when they come He will guard and protect me and bring it to naught!
This is my confidence in Christ! So today I choose to be right where I am because I am ready to break out and burst forth with the power in me that will literally change the world and restore it back to its original state as God intended.
My prayer today is -I ask you Father to open my eyes that I may see myself as you see me, to see the world through your eyes. to overcome my doubt of your plan in me and for how you accomplish that plan in me. Father I choose today to leave this land of complacency and lack and press on to the place of more than enough! Help me from this day forward to truly grasp,lay hold of the depth of the words "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world"
My song for this season you have placed in my heart is RISE UP by Andra Day. God I declare today that my family will rise up in compassion so we can fight for and advocate for others, wisdom to lead others into truth by our example and not mere words, grace which is your ability to do all you have given us to do and Life -YOUR LIFE. Unite us as one that we can go forth in your power! I commit this day to you for THIS IS THE DAY OF THE LORD!!!
Hope you enjoyed my first post-Please let me know your thoughts and if you can relate to my journey. Scripture says to Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord- so please share your LIFE with me as I share mine with you and we will give God all the praise for this AMAZING JOURNEY!!!