As of the moment of posting this, I have 69 drafts, some of them barely worthy of sitting down to write a full-length post about! But right now, it seems so much more important to share with you all some of the amazing things that God has been teaching me in my life!
Lesson #1 – Give Him the glory; it always works!
Recently I had all the end-of-year activities – piano and voice recitals, a piano exam, last lessons, and, of course, many performance opportunities in my faith community! Sometimes our focus is entirely on ourselves because we’re so worried about making a mistake or missing a line, and yet, I long to have my performances reflect God’s grace in my talents and not just my own strength. I noticed a cockiness in my first performance this year that hindered my ability to fully give God the glory for the performance, and I want to continue to seek His help.
You know what the best part about not focusing too much on ourselves? When we focus on making ourselves look good, we all know the precariousness of that position! What with the nerves and butterflies, its a 50/50 chance whether we’ll even look decent! BUT, when we seek to make known God’s name and fame, He always ends up looking good!
Lesson #2 – He is SO faithful.
I have been going through the process of applying to go to a certain (amazing) camp this year! I just love the community there and the way the people are so real and so on fire for their faith! Through a lot of dialogue and connection with staff, friends, and prayer support from my faith community, God has shown himself so faithful in orchestrating it all in the most wonderful way, better than I could ever have imagined! Through the decisions of others, and my at-times blindfolded commitment to my convictions, and in spite of incredible odds, I have been given this amazing opportunity to serve as a cabin leader this summer!
This process was not without its moments of doubt, stress, stretching, and uncertainty, but in the end, I would gladly do it all over again for the triumph and gratefulness of seeing God’s ability to give me a beautiful gift in what will be such a joy to me this summer!
I had to take certain really tough steps, pray some really tough prayers, and give up some really tough feelings, but God worked through everything. EVERYTHING.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28, ESV
Lesson #3 – There is meaning in all parts of the Word of God.
Has anyone ever read the book of Obadiah? Its a short book, one chapter long, and directed towards the judgement of the Edomites. Not a very uplifting message – but yet, after reading it as part of my Bible reading, I still felt as though I had done something meaningful; like just picking up and reading the Bible, no matter how melancholy the message, has a purpose.
So many people and situations have recently convicted and reminded me of the importance of spending time in God’s Word. Especially the below verse from Amos, which really pierced my heart to think of just how desirable the Word of God is, and how much we as modern youth take it for granted.
““Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.”
Amos 8:11-12, ESV
The next verse says that beautiful young women and strong young men will faint from thirst; the thirst for the Living Water of God’s Word. If only we always held the Word in such high regard that our time spent within its pages was such a treasure and a priority to us! Thank God that He is patient with us in our seasons of ability and that His faithfulness is far more steadfast than our own.
I challenge you all to delve into the freely given water of God’s word for your sustenance; to take advantage of the wonderful gift we’ve been given by having the Bible at only a flip of the page away, or a click of the mouse. How blessed we are to be given the privilege of feasting at His banquet on this earth!
I hope y’all found something to treasure in this post! I am so grateful for all God’s been doing and teaching me, and I want to hear about your lives – what is something that is so amazing you just have to share it? How Has God been working? Tell me all about in the comments, or shoot me an email through my contact page!
Have an amazing day, friends!
Yah's Girl 