Do you feel like you're just running on a treadmill in life? Putting in all your effort, building muscle and losing fat sure, but you're not getting anywhere?
This blog isn't called Unveiled for nothing, so bare with me as I share my heart and struggles in this life...
I've been asking God, "come on when is my life going to begin? what is my purpose? why can't I find a job? How will I pay for school? How will this and that turn out? GIVE ME DIRECTION" I always knew God has called me for a purpose and he has used my life in many ways, but now I feel as if I am not getting to use that purpose to it's fullest and I am just at a stand still until I can start walking on my wobbly dependent feet; having absolutely no idea how to properly function in the race of life...I've jumped from the nest and figured flying would just come naturally with no effort needed...
My problem? Do you have that long to sit here? I thought not...so let's just mention the current big one and work with that....
The issue that I am struggling with is not being stuck in limbo, but not realizing that every day I have a purpose to fulfill and there is ALWAYS something to do...I felt as if this part of my life being jobless, and out of school doing nothing much with my life was pointless and that I can't make a different until I am out of this stage...so I've been throwing in my efforts here and there always waiting for tomorrow instead of making a difference in today.
I got really stressed out today so I decided to go for a run to clear my head (it's the best) and as I am jogging I started ranting on to God the same old problem and questions I've been having, and what he told me back was both a punch in the face, and a kickstart in the right direction...I LOVE God
he told me "If you're heart is not right with me without a job and direction then what will gaining those things change? Draw close to me and seek my kingdom and my righteousness first, be diligent in what you have now and THEN I will give you more.
Then it hit me... the way I am living right now has been full of stress, worries, fights with my parents, laziness and frankly just a bad attitude...why on earth would I want to add a job/school to that kind of lifestyle? If I can't even handle the little I have now then why should God bring me to the next level if I am too weak to stand in my current stage?
These verses came to mind as I ran to solidify what God told me...
Matthew 6:25-3425 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Luke 16:10-12 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
Along with these scripture I also have been reading about the beginning of King David's life...and how they were extremely insignificant and humble, but you can sure bet that with the little he had going for him he accomplished much that people didn't see...he fought bears and lions and tigers oh my... (just kidding about that last one) and I am sure he didn't think anything of it...yet those victories were preparing him for a greater one to come! I read on to the famous story of Goliath, stomping about and creating fear in ALL the soldiers there...he kept telling them they were the people of Saul and that is exactly how they acted...Now I usually like to make fun of their cowardice silently to myself but this time I could see my face in them...they were so afraid to fight Goliath because they looked in the mirror and saw themselves and no where did they find the "Giant Killer" label stamped on them...they saw a much smaller weaker man that was incapable of going against such a foe...but that is their/my problem we looked in the mirror and saw US...and that we belonged to an army of a mortal man...but when David walked on the scene (who was anointed by God not long ago to be King) he saw an army of GOD trembling in their boots...they didn't serve a dead god...the ONE TRUE LIVING GOD...when he saw his reflection he didn't see himself he knew he was going out there with God himself, the one who will not be mocked, a God who is for him and no one can be against him! With that perspective hiding sounds ridiculous...they have a tooth pick poking at you while God has given you an atomic bomb...it cannot even be compared!
So David is going around trying to figure out why all of them are so afraid...and Saul snatches him up and tells him he is basically crazy...the odds are against him (which granted if David was just fighting yes) but he allowed David to go anyways, but decided to clothe him in what he thought was best, in his own armor and weapons (warning: people will try to tell you what they believe works best but if God has already told you what to do ignore them you don't need more than what God has given)...the armor was awkward and didn't help David at all it just slowed him down...he didn't need that...Just a sling shot and the power of God on his side! Then BOOM the giant dies everyone knows the story...God is awesome and the philistines suck this is a continual pattern.... now David had accomplished an amazing feat with God and after the fact he starts working under Saul and becomes his lackey and plays him music while Saul tries to kill him constantly...and David just continues to go out and fight for him (when really Saul just wanted him to be killed)
Now looking at the story so far David's life isn't what you'd expect after being anointed King...in facts David never sees a lick of anything of kingship for quite a while (around 15 years in fact)...he remains a shepherd...then a kings lackey...then a warrior...then a man running for his life, and FINALLY becomes a King a long long long road later....I'm cutting through to save you time and hopefully you haven't left yet because God is teaching me something very crucial through all this...The fact of the matter is David acted like a King long before he was ever crowned...as painful and hard was the road, every bit of it was necessary to make him into the man he needed to be to rule Israel. He created oaths and strong bonds of friendship, he was a man of integrity that kept his word and honored those he knew were anointed by God. Even when David became an enemy of Saul and was sought out to be killed he refused to bring him down by his own hand, David knew full well that if God wanted that to happen it would happen through the hand of the Lord himself...now God gave David many chances to take matters into his own hands and to slay Saul himself, but David remained faithful at his word, did not rush, and knew God was on his side and would take care of all things. What is amazing through all this story is that I can become so restless and think that God may have forgotten me, while David was anointed King and nothing was set in motion for him for 15 years...or so it seemed, yet everyday David was alive, there was a new day to bring honor and glory to the name of the Lord and being an example of a King, the people soon knew they could serve and love, and even die for such a man.
So my application through all of this studying is that everyday I am alive I have a purpose to proclaim the name of the Lord and bring honor and glory to his name no matter how little or big the tasks...to remain faithful in my dealings with others...be a woman of integrity, one who stands for the Lord in the face of adversity, one who patiently waits on the Lord, a woman who does not take revenge on those against me but allows the Lord to do as he seems fit, a woman who lives each and everyday pursuing righteousness, purity, and holiness, a woman who honors others above herself, who does not just associate, love on, and help those she deems worthy but does so for those whom God deems so... a woman who can see people as God does, and can speak the words of her savior over them...who always confides in the Lord for every step and knows full well she is nothing without God, a woman that fears the Lord, a woman after God's own heart. I know full well my life has purpose and there are an endless amount of people out there to love, care for, and fight for!
As long as I have breath I will praise my God, and take care of his kingdom and those whom he has created and loves.
In the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 11:16 "So your seed in the morning and in the evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well."
And of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, "Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly (without purpose or direction); I do not fight like a man beating the air (no target.) No, I beat my body body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
We should be diligent and never ceasing to pursue God's kingdom in everything we do, from morning to evening until our last breath we are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, beating our bodies until it obeys the word of the Lord and lives in such a way as is pleasing in the sight of God. Running in such a way to obtain the prize!
To all who have made it to the end,
Keep running, keep fighting, keep pursuing...beat your body, live everyday with purpose and direction, do not be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by renewing your minds in Christ EVERYDAY, so that you may test and approve the will of God, his good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2) You don't need riches to do it, you don't need a higher education, you don't need to be on a pedestal, you don't need to be of high social standing...high class, middle class, low class, democrat, republican, bold speaker, weak speaker, smart, simple, squeaky clean, or rough past we are all in the same race and are all just as capable of receiving the prize of eternal life, and every single one of us is called to the same purpose and direction...what will you do with your life to advance the kingdom? I can promise you what you have to offer is just as important as everyone else, we are one body and each have a direction to be following, we are all needed, and no one is above another in this kingdom. Follow God's word both his written and most importantly his present word, seek him daily, seek His kingdom, and his righteousness, and never let anyone tell you it's impossible, for with God ALL things are possible and if He is for you, who can be against you?
