iShineInMinistry

Psalm 119:2 NKJV

 

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,

 

Who seek Him with the whole heart!

 

 

 

More and more, life seems to become increasingly hectic and tragic around us. There are a variety of reasons to be discouraged, dismayed, frustrated, infuriated or just get to the point of apathy because you are so done with all the bad and terrible news. I’m sure we can find ourselves settling in a little cloud of affliction as we see horrific encounters, read of devastating injustices and see that everything around us is in shambles; yet in all of the bad that surrounds us, we need to make sure that we continue to be the light in this dark, sad world.

 

 

 

Our job is to keep His testimonies, to seek the Lord with our whole heart. I know this seems like a “Thank you, Captain Obvious,” statement. However, how often do we let other trivial things in our life crowd God out of our hearts? How many times a day are we more interested in seeking a career path, lifestyle, husband, dress on sale, popularity via Instagram likes or a higher status overall instead of seeking God with our whole heart? How often are we caught up in vanity of vanities and not caught up in ministering to our coworker that just lost a loved one or helping a friend in need during a spiritually dry season of life? How often are we ready to go on a mission trip and document our good works via social media and not even take care of our own loved ones who are close by and need us?

 

 

 

Are we keeping His testimonies throughout our day or sweating the small stuff, acting petty and just plain losing focus of what truly matters? Let’s remember to look to the Lord and His word to lead us, direct us, allow our lives, path and thoughts to be established and then let Him work out how things are supposed to “work out”. Too many times we get in the way, take matters into our own hands or just do not respond in a godly way.

 

 

 

Let’s be women that are really blessed in every sense of the word, seeking Him and His kingdom above all things…and allowing life to go in the way that He plans for us. For we all know, that is the best way!

 

 

 

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

 

 

Matthew 5:6 (ESV)

 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

 

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

 

 

For the last five years, I have been setting a goal to get back to a certain weight by my birthday. Yet, without fail, now for the fifth year in a row, I have not made that goal. While I am still quite active and healthy, I am hoping to get down to a specific number on the scale just for my own enjoyment. However, I don’t get bent out of shape or beat myself up fi this doesn’t happen. This is the reason why…

 

 

I’m still living a healthy lifestyle, eating healthy and getting more than an adequate amount of exercise each week.

 

 

I’ve been doing quite a great deal of other wonderful things with my time, such as ministry, volunteering, and fellowshipping and having personal time with the Lord.

 

 

My life is still filled with joy no matter how I look in the mirror or how chubby my cheeks are (plus it keeps me looking much younger than my age).

 

 

While we may come up with specific personal plans and goals that could be a benefit to us (mine is mostly vanity, not going to lie), we must make sure that we balance out our life in such a way that is pleasing to the Lord and allowing wonderful things to take place…such as divine encounters, opportunities to pray and serve and just the lovely things that go with living a life for the Lord.

 

 

What God wants to happen will take place and His love will endure no matter what pressure, unnecessary goals or crazy stipulations we put on ourselves. Let Him fulfill the best purpose for your life and continue the work that He is doing in and through you…you’ll be a much more joyful person if you do!

 

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

 

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

 

 

What are three things in your life right now that are causing you the most anxiety, stress or frustration? Ask yourself if these are things God has called you to or decisions that you made without His prompting or consent. If they are not of Him, pray through how to redirect your plans to align with His will.

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

 

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

 

 

 

I love making to-do lists, organizing and basically putting things in their rightful place. This love was forced upon me once I moved to New York and realized how much space I did not have in my home. This new “forced love” has also trickled into many parts of my life, such as planning, events, scheduling my life and my workouts. It helps me stay on track and have a spirit of diligence; however, sometimes I just need to calm the heck down and let god do what He is planning to do.

 

Oftentimes, we go into control-freak mode and think we can change the course of very specific elements of our lives. While we can redirect the color of our hair with the help of dye or a hairdresser, making other things fall into place is not so easy. In our efforts to get God on our program we may also manipulate what look like well-meaning plans to try to get an ideal outcome for ourselves.

 

 

 

I don’t know about you, but when I’ve done that, many times my final thought is, “Well that didn’t go as planned.” I may try to work out more to train for a big race, only to get injured and not be able to participate at all. Or, I could work and study and strive until I have sleepless nights and live at work or school…then get demoted or not get accepted into the grad-school program that I worked so hard to get to. Perhaps I have been making a new set of friends with the intention of catching the eye of a specific guy, only to find out that he has a long distance girlfriend in Sweden. Fill in your blank as needed; but the point is, we need to stay on god’s course and want His will if we’d like things to go as planned.

 

 

 

I hope so very much that we will place our full, undivided, complete and sincere trust in the Lord and let Him establish our steps rather than come up with a course on our own that either leads to trouble, getting lost or a dead end. Let’s truly trust Jesus with our lives the way we say we do when we sing songs to Him, we will be much better off if He’s really in control!

 

 

 

Jeremiah 32:27 (NET)

 

“I am the Lord, the God of all humankind. There is, indeed, nothing too difficult for me.

Isaiah 6:8(KJV)

 

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

 

 

 

Day in and day out we find ourselves in the same routine with no visible signs of change coming our way. We stay in this funk, whether or not we like it, because at least we know how it's going to pan out at the end of the day. While life may not feel grand, it's stable, predicable and doable in this uncertain world we live in. This sounds okay at best, but when you look at life through the lens of faith...this seems like a pathetic existence. Our lives are supposed to be lived out in faith, belief, the joy of the Lord and in the blessed hope of His promises as He equips us. Why don't we do this?

 

 

 

I truly think that each of us needs to take some time each day and pray through a new, exciting and even outlandish thing that the Lord may call us to do. Maybe He will have us do a small, kind gesture...or perhaps He may send us over to the other end of the earth to serve Him. He may just tell us to make a new friend or pray for someone that is "not our favorite". No matter the charge He gives, let's be faithful and obedient to do what He shows us to do.

 

 

 

I pray that we will not be so mundane in our lives and just exist rather than live. I pray that we will all allow the Lord to give us faith and strength to do EVERYTHING that He is calling us to do. I pray that we will answer the call and not just pretend that we are hearing things or maybe the word we heard was for someone else. I pray that we will go where God sends us...even if it means we have to clean up, get up, give up something, quit our normal routine and truly live surrendered, stepping out in faith and seeing what the Lord can and will do. Enjoy the day and get ready for amazing adventures with the Lord as He sends you!

 

 

 

2 Chronicles 16:9(NKJV)

 

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

 

 

 

Psalm 138:8 NASB

 

The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

James 1:6 (NASB)

 

But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

 

 

We are some of the most double-minded people ever. I frequently have conversations with my friends about topics where we are completed indecisive. For most of us ladies, it's thinking through the possibility of getting married. Some girls want to pray about it, but then decide they don't want to get their feelings hurt (lack of faith much?). Then there are girls like me...I don't even know if I want what I thought I wanted a year ago. My preferences have changed and now I'd like something else for my life. Maybe you want a new job, a new baby or a new city to live in...whatever your heart has a desire for now, please keep in mind the following:

 

 

What you (and I) should actually want first and foremost is God's will. If that is always our desire and prayer, we will never be double-minded. We will be joyful and fulfilled with whatever and wherever our life takes us as He leads. Whatever He plans for our lives will be what we want and it will bring us contentment even if it doesn't bring that man, house, baby, job or new handbag. Or, we will be joyful when it does bring those things. And most importantly, we will have joy and blessings if those things come in a completely different form/package than what (or who) we imagined them to look.

 

 

Being firm in your decision to want God's will shows that you truly do have faith. You can't say that you are going to be ho-hum miserable and then let God come through as He always does to make you happy. That's not faith at all. You had to see before you even believed. Remember the scripture, blessed are those who believed without seeing (yes that's a paraphrase, I know). Also, the other verse that says without faith it's impossible to please God...what kind of woman of God are you if you don't trust or believe God and your outlook on life doesn't even please Him? Let's do a little realignment here ladies!

 

 

I do hope that we will all come to a place where we can say, "Thy will be done," and truly mean it. I pray that we will not treat our Lord and Savior like a genie in a lamp or Santa Clause and just trust in His plan. If you need a little prayer in this area...I'd love to come together in agreement with you! Just use the link on the site and shoot me an email!

 

 

John 20:29 (ESV)

 

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 

 

 

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

 

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.