Here is a short article I wrote back in 2014. Lately, I’ve been reposting some of the articles I really like from my past, as I’m working toward just having one blog site up, instead of two. It’s been so encouraging to me to see God’s faithfulness throughout the years! I hope you are blessed, too!
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Wow! God just gave me a huge chunk of blessing and encouragement I’d like to share with each of you.
He reminded me that faith is the essence of things hoped for. Not the things we see. And we can rejoice in our unknowns because we know the One who knows them. We can rest in him because he is trustworthy. We can simply live in a state of peace if we choose to have the faith of a little child.
And God reminded me to shift my eyes off of myself and onto him. And to pray for others and to think outside of myself. And that reminded me that to love is more about giving than receiving. It’s not about getting filled but pouring out. And in pouring out, we shall be genuinely filled.
If we look to people or circumstances to fill us, we shall be perpetually unstable and going back and forth between being happy and being depressed inwardly. But once we begin to shift our eyes upon Jesus, his river of life is a constant and a steady source of life and hope and peace.
His Spirit shall fill us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. The Kingdom of Heaven will come upon us once we submit to our Heavenly Father who knows our needs and who has given us the desires of our hearts.
A couple of practical applications… When someone has let us down, instead of dwelling on our own disappointment, we can choose to pray for him or her. And when we are scared about a situation or a relationship, we can turn our prayers into thanksgiving. We know that God has promised to work out all things for good for those who love him. So we can thank him for the outcome he is working on and the behind-the-scenes work he is handling. We can praise him in advance for the good that is on our way! I can speak with experience and confidence and say that these strategies really work!
God is such an amazing God whose love is so much more comprehensive than we are capable of wrapping our finite minds around. But we can choose this day to let down our guard just a little bit more…and let his peace that surpasses our understanding guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
