I’ve gone back and forth many times trying to figure out what I wanted to write and which way the Spirit was leading me. I began to think about what the Lord has been teaching me and some things that I’ve been learning lately and it just felt… right. It is humbling and a continuous act of grace from the Lord to continue to teach me new things and to allow me to learn more about Himself. It is humbling because I am reminded that I do not know everything and even things that I thought I knew, He sheds a new light on and reveals something else. Here are three things the Lord has been teaching me in this season of my life that I want to share with you.
1. Deep community is wildly Biblical and something I desire.
I’ve very recently started a book called Find Your People by Jennie Allen and have been reading it with a small group of sweet friends. Even though I am only three chapters in, it has taught me that having deep community is something that God desires for each of us to have. It has encouraged me to start thinking against the grain of what our “I can do it myself” society preaches. Just think about it, my generation and younger generations specifically have grown up with social media and technology being very prevalent. If you’ve been on social media today, I would bet that you’ve seen at least one video that says something along the lines of “keep your head down and focus on you.” And I think the confusion I have with this, that a lot of people can relate to, is it is important to take care of yourself and spend time alone BUT I am also called to love others well (quantity time leads to quality time) and be in Christ-centered community. I mean, it is written in scripture multiple times that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, this is a part of your calling! I am tired and done with trying to do life the way I think it should be done- a way that has been distorted by the lies of this world. I want a deep community and to be truly known by my closest friends. I want to do life with others by my side and be vulnerable with my people. I want to be more like Jesus in this aspect of my life. These are a few verses that speak on community:
Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV), “And he said to him,“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
1 Corinthians 12:17-20 (ESV), “17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”
Galatians 6:2 (NIV), “2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV), “24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
2. Every day is a choice.
It’s summer break for me and honestly all I want to do is sleep in and lay by the pool reading a book. Even though I have been doing this a lot lately, I have realized that this (big shocker) isn’t very fulfilling. Although I think we all need days like these (sleep in and spend all day by the pool), it shouldn't be an everyday routine. Something I’ve learned from this is that the Lord calls us to rest but not to be lazy. Every day I have the choice to:
wake up early or sleep in
do my quiet time and be intentional with the Lord or get on my phone and scroll for hours
move my body and take care of it or sit on the couch and binge shows all day
spend time with my friends and family or choose to look at people on my phone that I have no relationship with
offer to help others or act like I have “better” things to do
…and the list goes on and on and on. Every single day we are given the choice to honor God but we also have the choice to give in to our fleshly desires. This day is the day that the Lord has made and YOU have the choice to honor Him today- no one can make you do it, it has to be a choice made by YOU. Being intentional about what I’m doing, fully being where my feet are, not obsessing about a season coming and making sure to spend time with the Lord, are a few ways I have been learning how to grow in this area. I challenge you to think about one thing you can add or one thing you can take out of your daily routine that will help you become closer with the Lord.
Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV), “7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Hebrews 4:9-11 (ESV), “9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”
Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV), “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”
3. I can, and need to be, intentional with my thoughts.
I was doing my quiet time the other day and specifically asked the Lord to open the eyes of my heart to something I needed to see in scripture. I’ve been using The Bible Plan by Tara Leigh Cobble (which is aaamazing and has taught me so much) to read through the entire Bible. For this specific day I was asked to read some chapters of Psalms. I read Psalm 10 and verse four slapped me in the face. It says:
“2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
The part that I underlined is the line that stuck out to me the most. I don’t know if anyone else can relate to this but sometimes it’s like my mind is on autopilot; I don’t really think about anything meaningful, just really superficial worldly things. Since school has been out, I’ve really been struggling with this- just letting my thoughts spiral and not taking control. It was so kind of the Lord to point this verse out to me on that day, even though it stung a little bit and made me face some hard truths, because it has been challenging me these past few days. I have had to remind myself that I do have control over what I think about and what I allow myself to see and hear. I have been more aware of little things like TikTok and reel sounds that get stuck in my head and pictures that I see when I get on Instagram. It has challenged me to ask myself , “What am I thinking about all of the time?” and “Am I allowing the Lord to captivate my thoughts and to move in my heart, or am I distracted?” Being intentional takes effort but the fruit it produces is well worth the extra work.
Lastly, here is one of my favorite verses that I often pray (Psalm 139:23-24). I’ve learned a lot from these verses, one thing being, don’t ask God for something if you don’t expect Him to do it. When I began praying Psalm 139, the Lord truly opened my eyes to some of the offensive ways in me and deep anxious thoughts I have. But just as I said in the beginning, the Lord is gracious and He is kind, He lets me learn more about Himself which makes me see more of my sin when I draw close to Him. It is a privilege to call Him Abba and Friend.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
“23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
1 Corinthians 1:13 (NIV), “13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Philippians 4:4-8 (NIV), “4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Proverbs 4:23 (NLV), “23 Keep your heart pure for out of it are the important things of life.”
Romans 2:12 (NLT), “2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
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