We've all heard it before - "the power of positive thinking".
Sow a thought and you reap an action;
sow an act and you reap a habit;
sow a habit and you reap a character;
sow a character and you reap a destiny.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our destiny is tied directly to and starts with our thoughts.
If you think you'll never succeed, chances are you'll give up before you make it.
If you think you can't, chances are you won't try nearly as hard.
What does God say about our destiny?
"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." - Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC
If God's thoughts and plans for us are of welfare and peace, to give us a hope in our future or 'final outcome' - Why would we ever think anything different? He is fighting for us. Why would we think negatively about ourselves, our future, our life -- when we can walk with assuredness that Jesus Christ himself - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, creator of the universe - wants GOOD things for us, and wants us to walk in His peace!
"For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them." - Psalm 139:13-16
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." - Jeremiah 1:5
He knows each and everyone of us before we were conceived. He knows the thoughts and plans He has for us - and He desires us to walk in peace knowing our future is with Him.
Do not allow place for the enemy to wreak havoc in your life. Cast down negative thoughts and things that do not glorify God.
Sow thoughts - positive thoughts, sow actions - in building His kingdom, sow habits - of personal devotion and relationship, sow character - becoming christ-like and putting on the mind of Christ, and reap the destiny God has ordained for you.
We are sons and daughters of God. It’s time we start thinking like it!
I recently heard the lyrics of a song and it resonated within my spirit. Please take the time to read them below (and listen, if you can), I'll continue my thoughts afterward.
I’d walk by faith if I could get these feet to move
But I don’t want to live that way
I don’t want to look back someday
On a life that never stepped across the line
So why am I still standing here
Why am I still holding back from You
You’ve given me a faith that can move a mountain
But I’m still playing in the sand
Building little kingdoms that’ll never stand
I hear You call me out into deeper waters
But I settle on the shallow end
I’m so tired of standing here
What if I gave everything to You
What if I gave everything
What if I stopped holding back from You
Starting now I’m stepping out onto deeper waters
What if I gave everything
What if I stopped holding back from You
Starting now I’m stepping out onto deeper waters
I want to see some mountains move
Ready to give everything
Say goodbye to standing here
--
All too often we say we are ready for the deep waters, yet here we are, still standing in the shallow of the beach. Why is it that we hold back from stepping forward? Is it fear? And if so, fear of what? Not being acceptable? Not being "good enough"? Not knowing exactly what to say?
((Future Blog Topics!))
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's slow down a little.
(I love it, God totally talks to me through these little "blurbs" I post on here. So yeah, this is me and my story, what I'm going through and dealing with.)
Before we get too carried away, let's first figure out this:
What exactly am I saying when I say "deep waters"??
Glad you asked. "Deep Waters" is a place where I am completely engulfed, consumed and at the mercy of the 'current'. In this instance, the "Current" is God. I want to surrender my life completely over to HIM and HIS will.
Okay, great! Isn't that every Christians desire? Yes, I pray so! So... if I want to surrender completely to His will, let's then figure out this:
What exactly IS God's will for my life RIGHT NOW?
Again... glad you asked. I know there's some "major" things that God would have me and my husband do and/or participate in, however, I want to talk about the day to day things...
“His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.” Matthew25:21AMPC http://bible.com/8/mat.25.21.ampc
So what small things should I be observing and being faithful in?
Oh, simple. It really is quite simple.
Do you like lists? Here's a good start:
Daily Prayer.
Reading & Applying the Word of God.
Fasting.
Love.
Tithing & Offering.
Whoooooaaaaa! Wait. There's no way it could really be that simple. No? Yeah. Really, I think it can be.
If I begin with
Daily Communing with the Lover, Redeemer, Savior and Friend of my Soul,
Daily Reading His divine Word and applying it to my life...
Fasting & Pray for the needs of others,
Loving all of God's children unconditionally to the point of servanthood,
Returning the tithe to God that is already His and give in abundance from what He has financially and physically blessed me with...
I very well believe I'm on my way to walking in His Will!
These things are my focus right now. This is the small things I'm trying to be faithful in. Sure, I slip up and fail to show the Love of God at times. Life gets busy and I don't read the Word as I should... sometimes prayer time is rushed--- but I'm longing for the deep. I'm ready to see what happens when I stop holding back from HIM.
“I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” Romans12:1AMPC http://bible.com/8/rom.12.1.ampc
We read in the scripture "make a decisive dedication of your bodies, present all of your members and faculties, as a living sacrifice". That's true worship. We cannot hold anything back. Not our time, our finances, our homes, our entertainment... if it's not pleasing God, we haven't given it to Him.
Our time & how we spend it should be holy.
Our finances and how we spend it should be Holy.
Our homes and all that occupy it should be holy.
Our entertainment should be Holy.
If it isn't good, honest, true, and pure, we shouldn't be dwelling on it.
He has done SO much for us, and in our favor, it is our reasonable, logical and ONLY service and form of worship-- to give ourselves wholly and completely to Him.
((My "small things" list may not be all inclusive, and there's SO much more to discuss, but I'll save it for another post. 🙂))
So... what about you? What small thing are you finding yourself focusing on? Day-to-day. Are you being diligent? I'm tired of standing in the sand and building kingdoms that will never stay. Only what we do for Christ will last. I'm ready to see mountains move. You??? 😊
So today I had the privilege of spending some time with my younger sister on her awe-inspiring running trails. They're not your typical wooded-trails, but they're her 'running sanctuary', and to any runner, you understand the level of sacredness in "your running places".
We ran mid-day, so I missed the beauty of her sunset tradition, but there was beauty if you looked for it. Pretty blooming wildflowers scattered the wood lines, deer, coon and coyote tracks scattered the gravel and dirt roads.
As we ran, talked and laughed, we happened on a little something that captured my attention, and I had to snap a picture.
Isaiah 43:16-21
The Message (MSG)
This is what God says,
the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—
they lie down and then can’t get up;
they’re snuffed out like so many candles:
“Forget about what’s happened;
don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’
—the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
the people I made especially for myself,
a people custom-made to praise me.
All too often, we get so hung up on what we've neglected, fallen short on, or completely messed up. God's word reminds us that He keeps no record of repented wrongs. Why do we, as human beings, think we are so much higher than God in the right that we refuse to forgive ourselves and forget?
Here, in the right now, God is turning the page of our story. He's looking at the blank canvas and the one thing He desires most to hear is - "Go ahead Lord, be it unto thy handmaiden, according to thy will."
Today, my heart cry is--
"Write my story, Father, how YOU see fit. Come alive in me, birth in my spirit what YOU would have manifest in my life. Let the fruit spring up, let your refreshing waters cool the parched soil of my soul. Let my soul and my very being magnify you. Keep my heart pure, and let your rivers flow out of me like a well spring of life. Let those around me see Christ in me, the absolute and only hope of glory! Let my life be a testament of your love, mercy and grace. Let all that I am, and all that I ever will be glorify you! It is in YOU that I live and have my being! I am fearfully and wonderfully made, wrought by the same hands that created this universe and all it's infinite wonder and beauty. Let my soul rejoice within me and sing praises to you always! Let my words and deeds bring you honor, and my thoughts exalt you above all. Let my mind stayed on You, and let me walk in peace and sweet communion throughout my day! Let my Soul be strengthened by Your Spirit, and my Will fall subject to You. Continue to mold me, make me, shape me as You would have me be, and let my life now and always bring you Glory and be a witness to those around me. I give you all praise, all glory, and all honor for all that you have done, and will do -- in your matchless, precious and eternal name, Jesus."
He's sitting, pen-in-hand, poised, awaiting your word. Will you let him write what He wills? ❤️
Like, by 30 minutes. I felt myself slipping into old habits... So I got up, and jumped into my workout. Possibly with tears in my eyes, but I got it done!!!!
Biggest challenge today? LUNGE KICKS!
I'm committed.
Not just interested.
I will see this through.
Had Pumpkin Spice Shakeology *yum!* and a mile run in today!!!
I can't wait to see the results of this round.
Want to join me???? See post HEART OF THANKS for more details! (http://pamdiggity.blogspot.com/2015/10/heart-of-thanks-challenge.html)
I'm going to be transparent with you today.
I just finished my workout, but I've got something real heavy on my mind.
I'm sure you've seen my posts about "battling past depression", but today, I want to get a little real with you.
I learned yesterday a young man took his life... He was twelve. This breaks my heart.
My life story is full of laughter and animation (my parents can attest to that!) but I want to share with you briefly a few not-so-happy recollections I have of my past.
I faced some mental hardships at 17. Was it anything in particular that triggered this turmoil? No, not really. I was just severely unhappy with myself. There were days I would hardly eat, and days I would eat all day long. I didn't have any real friends to connect to and I felt isolated and alone. This time period didn't last too terribly long, but the heart pains and dark depressive thoughts that attacked me made it seem like forever.
It was during this time that I received some of the absolute best advice I could have heard. "Pam, be yourself. Be exactly who YOU are. You don't need anyone but Jesus. Maintain your relationship with your savior, let Him lead your decisions, friendships, and heart."
Was I alone? Sure, physically I didn't have friends surrounding me, but my heart was full. I spent more time reading the Word of God, praying, fasting... My days was spent with school, work and shut up in my bedroom with my Bible.
I lost an Aunt to suicide that December. It really shook me, because similar thoughts had haunted me just three months before-- but I had tapped into strength to ground me. Something no one could take away. My relationship with Jesus mattered far more than what I perceived others were thinking of me.
It was just 2 months later, I met Joseph. I wasn't looking for him, nor did I want a relationship. But I had been praying and fasting God lead my life-- and as "they" say, I guess "the rest is history".
God brought me through such a trying time to a season of joy and laughter -- and I only found it by drawing near to Him.
Regardless of who agrees with me or not, I know that JESUS is the answer for "the world" today. But how do you change "the world"???
ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
How do you change "one person"?
BY STARTING WITH YOU.
Be the example. Dive into The Word of God. Allow God to direct YOU -- and in turn, you can lead with passion & purpose. Love God & Love People.
Be the One.
Make an impact.
Reach to those around you. You NEVER know what people, kids, children are going through.
Be the Light.
Illuminate the dark.
My Heart Focus Today:
I am thankful for the Love of God. I cannot say it enough. There's nothing like it. He reaches to us where we are, regardless of where we are in our lives. He brings hope and love. He has fashioned us for a purpose! Before we were formed in the womb He fashioned us for a purpose in this life. We are HIS children! I cannot thank Him enough for keeping His hand over my life!!
