I've been praying the word Order over my life for almost two years and the word Author over my life for almost one year. I have been focusing on unrushing my schedule and my life for a while now. God has been so helpful in the ways that He is unrushing me, showing me His perfect order and how He is the author of my story. When I begin to fall back into my old ways of busy-ness, He has gently reminded me of where I've gone again. And because He is good, He shows me what I need to do to make changes. Although sometimes I'm afraid to make the changes. As much as I try to live to please Him only, I fall back into trying to please others sometimes. I get stuck when I worry about what others think. I feel more anxious and somewhat paralyzed. Fear is where the enemy wants me to live. And I refuse!
This last week has been a really busy week for me with some extra stresses and distractions for which I wasn't prepared. Some of the things that happened caused a lot of fear and anxiety. I have spent less time this week reading devotionals and my Bible, but much more time in constant prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says: Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
This week has shown me I can live out these verses. I have relied on knowing that the joy of the Lord is my strength and been able to laugh at some things and focus on the positives much sooner than other stressful times in the past. I have been crying out to God at every step - definitely praying ALL the time! And I've been thankful. Thankful for all that I am learning in the midst of the stress and for the people that He has brought into my life to walk with me through these times. Thankful for the wisdom that He provides in many ways. Thankful for understanding and grace. Thankful for feeling emotions. Thankful for the ability to communicate.
Over the weekend, I had a longer than usual, uninterrupted quiet time and it was really nice. One of the devotionals I read started with Hebrews 12:2a Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Such a great reminder for me all the time. When I keep my eyes on Him, the stress/distraction/anxiety doesn't seem so big anymore and it doesn't consume me.
That devotional ended with a link to a song which really spoke to me. I'm including a link and the lyrics below. I encourage you to listen to it. It is beautiful.
Another day of way too much to do
Another list of things I can't get to
Feel like I'm running but I'm losing ground
Never quite enough of me to go around
If I could strip away the noise of all the voices calling me
I'd go running to the silence where I could hear God speak
So I'm cleaning out some closets, tearing down some walls
Things I've never needed that have been there way too long
Give myself completely with nothing in between
Like the kind of love He has for me
Cause I want my love for Him to always be ... uncluttered
If faith is just believing with the heart
then tell me why sometimes it seems so hard.
I know that I trust Him and live like it's true
But still I wonder if there's more that I can do
I want to Understand His ways
I want to follow in His steps
So daily I surrender
Until there's nothing left
So I'm cleaning out some closets, tearing down some walls
Things I've never needed that have been there way too long
Give myself completely with nothing in between
Like the kind of love He has for me
Cause I want my love for Him to always be ... uncluttered
I can think of many areas of my life that I want to unclutter still and as I look around my house, I can get overwhelmed easily. But I have been reminded in some out of the ordinary ways this past week that as long as I keep my focus on Him, everything will be okay. He provides perfect Order and is the Author of it all. And I'm so thankful.
Warrior Sisters, say that again, May our faith continue to grow and may our love for Him be uncluttered!
