I have been working on myself lately. Trying to be a better “me”. I don’t speak in terms of hairstyles or fashion, but more about the attitude of my heart. I love Jesus….all the way to the depths of my bones….I love Jesus. I want to live a life that honors Him and brings Him glory. I am not perfect, and never will be, but I know there is so much more I can be doing to live out His purpose for my life. I have been trying to let go of my negativity. I have been trying to focus on my bountiful blessings. God has been testing me in this lately. I have had some trials and some things that require my patience and gentleness, which is often absent from my repertoire. But through it all, I am trying to focus on what He is wanting to teach me, and how I can grow from my experiences. Psalm 23:3 says, He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. I am trying to stay on that path of righteousness, despite my circumstances. . I am also trying to have a heart of gratitude. I am so thankful for the blessed life I live. I am so thankful for my family, my church, my ministry, and all the wonderful opportunities God gives me to share his word and show his love. God is testing my faith lately. He is calling me out of my comfort zone more and more. In order to be obedient, I am having to trust Him wholeheartedly and know He has great and mighty plans for me. It is always so much easier to stay where we feel safe, where there is no doubt or possibility of failure. But our Father doesn’t want us to miss out on the wonderful treasure trove of opportunities He has for us. He wants us to experience His blessings to the fullest.
Lastly, I am trying to have a humble spirit. Proverbs 3:7-8 reminds us to be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. He knows so much better than I just exactly what I need. He knows so much better than I just exactly what I am capable of. He knows so much better than I how easily I can get off track and start doing things “my way”. So I am trying to stay humble before Him, letting Him be in control. Life is kind of like being on a ship. When I control the rudder, I can easily become shipwrecked. When He is in control of the rudder, I am sailing across the waters into the ocean of my life where His gentle winds guide me and his brilliant lights direct my way. There have been storms and there will be more. I will be tossed about on these turbulent seas of life, but I will not go under. My Life Preserver owns the stars, the skies, and the seas. He holds me in the palm of His hand. As I continue to work on the new “me”, He will be right there steering my ship. I see smooth sailing ahead!