I think it's really cool how God uses people. Imperfect people. Im learning the more I'm open to be used by Him, the more He uses me.
Today he orchestrated 2 conversations (Well at least 2 that I know specifically.) I was downtown about to do homework and a friend texted me telling me she was struggling. So I invited her to meet me at the Beautiful Cup and we got to talk for a while and share our hearts. I think that we've all been in her shoes: scared of what we know God is asking us to do, not sure how to get out of our apathetic states. I am so excited to see what God does in her life. She said the rest of this year is going to be used for laying the foundation of her walk with the Lord. She said she's going to sacrifice what it takes to make free time to spend with God. I think that after this year, she'll know so clearly what God is asking of her and I know He'll make her brave enough to do it.
Truth: The Lord makes us brave enough for the task He's laid ahead of us. (Matthew 10:19-20)
"19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
The second conversation I had is with another girl I've gotten to know over the last 9 or so months. It's been incredible to see the way God is working in my heart towards her.
Truth: God's ways are higher than my ways. (Isiaiah 55:8-9)
I really really didn't like her in the beginning (and at times, now as well I suppose) but the Lord kept leading me to reach out to her (even though I didn't want to) After a few months of this, she shared with me that she re-dedicated her life to the Lord. Now, it's been a month or 2 since then and I see her today. She walked into the Beautiful Cup and we started talking. Somehow we got on the subject of her eating disorder and how she's worried she's going back to how she was last summer (really deeply entangled in anorexia) We talked for a little while before I asked her if she was still walking with the Lord.
She told me that everytime she starts walking back towards God, things start going badly in her life. I explained to her that it's so common for that to happen. When people aren't walking with God, the enemy is free to do as he wishes with them. When they reclaim their walk with the Lord, they become a threat to the enemy and his plan. Oftentimes, when a person starts walking with the Lord again, things seem to get worse before they get better. She told me some things that she'd done...gone to the lowest places....even saying she would serve satan?!? (that was news to me...Im still not sure how to deal with that news, you know?) So...i think since she got so involved in the world and submitting to the devil, (YIKES) it's going to be a long road to getting back right with God. A long road that will need to involve lots of prayer and fasting I think. But if she sticks it out, God will come restore everything that was lost and rebuild everything that was torn down in her.
Anyways, I got to share with her clearly that God had a plan for her and a plan for her life. I shared with her the truth that if she isn't walking with God, she's never going to be the person she is meant to be. She'll always be going from guy to guy, from distraction to distraction, looking for the fulfillment that she'll only find in God Himself. Now it comes down to how long she's willing to search for fulfillment in other things before she realizes nothing will ever fill her like she needs. Because she's not looking in the right place. Her heart is longing for a relationship with Christ to come and give her identity - not in guys, not in her eating disorder or her appearance, not in her partying. Hopefully it won't take her long to realize she is not finding what she's looking for.
She had to leave quickly after that but I know that God will open another door to talk.
Truth: We are Purposed to love Jesus and to walk with Him. We can't get to where we're supposed to be without Him.
"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands."
I think this has been a season of God allowing me to be exposed to areas and things I've never ever dealt with before. I feel like I'm growing more compassionate - and I long to be compassionate even more.
Lord, will you reveal the compassion and love You have for your kids. Break my heart for the things that break Your heart, Lord. Help me love them like You love them. Grow me, change me. I want to be teachable, God. I want to be loving. I want to be more like You, Jesus!
I love you!
I'm really excited for this season of change and growth. God is so good. I love His unconditional faithfulness and His unconditional love. Even in situations like the two I described today, no matter how far we run from the Lord, he's there when we turn around.
Truth: God will always be here for us.
(John 14:16-19)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,a]" style=" line-height: 0.5em; ">[a] who will never leave you. 17He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.b]" style=" line-height: 0.5em; ">[b] 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.
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