From My Head to My Heart

I recently fasted social networking websites including, facebook, instagram, and twitter. It was challenging for me because I lived and breathed on those websites throughout my day. It was refreshing to take a breather from them and I quickly realized they consumed too much of my life and time. Social networking cites are not a bad thing to be part of, as long as you don’t develop a bad habit of always checking them to see what’s new. Yes, I do like them to keep updated on my friends lives.. but what I didn’t realize was I was living my life by checking on theirs. I sound really lame right now, and I was. Still am. Always will be. 

HOWEVER I am now making a conscious effort to make some changes in my life. I have greater purpose than to see the next hot selfie pic on instagram or the next passive aggressive bitchy tweet on the twitter feed. No, I will not spend my time anymore devoting my time to see the latest gossip. I instead will devote my time on my relationship with God. I have so many resources to dig deeper in my faith with God, it’s about time I put them to use! My favorite resource is my book “Daily Gifts of Hope” it’s similar to “Jesus Calling” in that it provides daily devotions that speak the truth and motivate your faith with Christ. The advice in every day’s devotion ALWAYS applies to life and has importance to all lives. I really recommend reading a daily devotion book if you’re curious of your faith.  There is so much wisdom to be absorbed from this book and I thank God for finding this gem J Anytime I am feeling down, upset, or confused, I am sure to go to this source as an escape to a more peaceful mind set. It’s pure bliss soaking in God’s word. There is NOTHING more satisfying. I promise you.

So I lost my voice two days ago. I sound like a 13 year old boy going through puberty. How wonderful. The funny thing is two days ago I prayed that I could learn how to distinguish God’s voice over mine and tune into what He is trying to communicate to me on a daily basis. Did I ever get my prayer answered by God hitting the “mute” button on me. Never underestimate God’s sense of humor. He sure is witty. BUT God knows me inside and out, better than I know my own self, so He knows I ALWAYS learn better the hard way… so here I am sounding like a 13 year old boy. I’ve never been so quiet in my life. HA I have so many things I wish to say, but instead am learning to listen to what others have to tell me as I nod and drink something to sooth my sore throat. What a good God we have. Being sick like this excites me now, though. Because I believe God is really trying to get my attention and I think it’s going to be for something really good considering I lost my voice over it. But that’s just my mind set.

As I’ve been getting older entering my 20’s I am trying to recreate myself. I’m trying to be the woman God intended me to be by surrendering all of my own selfish desires and looking to only Him for guidance. After all, you will never be satisfied trying to achieve satisfaction on your own. We are all programmed to find satisfaction through something bigger than us… Something like… GOD. So I am on this fasting kick that is my way of worshiping God in an active manner. Last weeks’ focus was social media. I will continue to put less focus on that, however surrender another bad habit I have to God. My hope is that I can subtract my poor behaviors a week at a time. Stripping myself of all impurities and focusing more of my time in praising Christ. Judge me. See how far that gets you. I am very determined to do what I wish with my life and some people may not understand my motives. I’m praying for you. Lol shtuff Christian girls say. My sister would appreciate that line at least, and so does God. So there.

Letting go of something that holds importance in your heart is impossible to do for yourself alone. We are simply not strong enough on our own. That is why when push comes to shove, any human being will make a pitty prayer to God whether they believe in Him normally, or not. It’s true. And it’s good. Because things do turn around. Things do get better. Because when we come to God for help, He provides us with strength that is unfathomable to us. But as soon as things turn around for the better… what do you do? Do you continue to come to God whether it be gratefulness for things turning around, or forget the very being that saved you and try living on your own again? It’s not easy living for God. It’s ALWAYS a swim upstream. BUT, as you fix your eyes on God more and more He provides the strength to worship Him naturally. The work you put in, is the work you get out. Isn’t that how it’s always been? That’s how it is with faith too. Want to try living life for yourself or others? Do it. See how long you stay happy. Guarantee you it won’t be long, because true happiness comes from living for God.  

Stay Strong..

Trying to stay strong when you feel like you’re broken into pieces is the most challenging and rewarding thing you can accomplish in your life. Wanting nothing more to give up because your positive tank is running low and you’ve been unhappy for what seems like forever. When is it going to get better? The truth is we never know. But God will never put you through something you can’t handle, TRUST in Him and the plans He has for you. When you let go of the plans you have for yourself and your own selfish desires and surrender to God, you will then find your strength to turn things around.

 Nothing is easy, of course. Especially when we have created how things should be in our lives and get caught up in the materialistic world around us. Sure, it’s ok to take pride in your job, style, social life or whatever it be, however make sure you take pride in whatever you do with your focus on God and not into trying to impress everyone around you or live for acceptance by peers. They can and probably will let you down at some point, disappoint you, BUT God will never turn his back on you AND will always want to reveal His love for you. He is a jealous God. God is love. He loves you more than you could ever fathom. Be grateful for that love and don’t just accept it and put it aside.

 From my personal experience, I loved my ex boyfriend more than I can put into words, but often he wouldn’t show his appreciation for what we had and it hurt me so bad. Now think of God, loving us more than we can imagine, and we focus on other things in life, not stopping to appreciate His love for us. I hope that analogy puts it into perspective for you. Nothing against my ex, he is a great person. Just not meant to be at this time. We can be so selfish at times and forget the primary reason we’re here on earth. If you believe in God and all his creation, then ask yourself, what WAS his purpose for creating this world and allowing us to live in it? We’re not here to just enjoy the simple things in life.. No. Those are just things to keep us occupied while being here. Life really begins just when you think it’s ending. 

My grandma recently died. She was a believer. Her physical body died, but her spirit came to life in eternal happiness in heaven. We often avoid thinking about life after death because it’s unfathomable for us. We’re simple minded creatures. We only see what’s in front of us, not ahead of us. It’s also a subject that is hard to bring up because so many people have such strong opinions about the matter. However, those strong opinions only seem to be relivent when the topic is brought up, but then the people continue living absent minded to what they say they believe. It is one thing to be educated on God or whatever your belief, but it is another to truly believe and live it out. That is the most challenging part. But when you discover the difference between knowing and believing you will break free of your troubles knowing God is the strength you need to get by. I’m not saying no other religion is wrong, that is one of God’s best gifts to us. We have the free will to decide what we want to live for. To me, the most rewarding thing is finding my religion in my own free will and accepting God’s love and eternal life in heaven.