Let's start with some reflection and testimony:
I have been wanting to make a devotional post for over a year now but have struggled on how to go about it. I have so many ideas which I think I will morph into two posts for now. I hope you enjoy and at least get something useful out of it!
So here are some essential questions in you life especially in your early 20's (or any time!). Take some time to really reflect and ponder on these questions during your quiet time with the Lord.
- What is Gods will in your life? You may not know or may go your whole life trying to figure that out and that's ok!
I feel like Gods will for my life is to love my enemies. God gave me a heart sensitive to what others say to me and I have been tasked to forgive over and over. It is sometimes so difficult for me, bringing out the worst qualities in me like rage, resentment, anger, and hurt. I have worked so hard on this over the past year and a half and have made such great progress. I have found talking about common interests with the person that bothers me helps me overcome these feelings, especially when seeing this person is unavoidable.
I also feel like Gods will for my life is to be a mom. I take that EXTREMELY serious and that is why I refuse to have kids until Cody and I are completely ready whether that means mentally, physically, financially, and lift stance-wise. That will be the most important job I have on earth. Cody and I want ~3 kids depending on the genders we are given and of course ultimately God's plan for us.
- What has God revealed to you?
In my 25 years God has revealed to me many ways to improve within myself, especially within these last few years. Once I graduated college I knew these next few years I could truly be myself and that they will shape me into the adult I will become. I started to soul search and be serious about who I wanted to be. I knew I wanted to be a disciple to God by spreading his word and my testimony and allowing God to work and speak through me to others.
Once I became serious in shaping who I will become in my adult life outside of school and living at home, I was able to focus on me and my heart. I am married now, in a different role in life, working an amazing job and will become a mommy one day. Who do I want to be for my kids? How will I carry myself around adversity and family gatherings.
God has also revealed the amazing mind and memory I have to reflect and apply that gift to my faith, bettering myself, and connecting with others. I am not a fan of being around lots of people but I can make connections like the best of them. You would never know meeting me! I thoroughly enjoy meeting others once there.
- What calling has God been speaking to you that you have not answered?
-Mission trips?
-Tithing?
-Bible time?
-Taking that leap of faith?
-Reaching out to others?
-Making the first move to forgive? Ephesians 4:31-32
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
-Letting go of your fears and turning to God? Give your fears and worries to God, he will take care of them.
-Letting go of the past? Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
-Speaking with kind words when your heart doesn't follow?
-Battling addiction?
- How do you deal with disappointment in your life?
It's easy for us 20-something's to be disappointed or upset in our lives. We are just starting out and often have lofty goals that can't always be 100% fulfilled on our personal timeline. How you handle these setbacks or disappointments either honor God or can tear you down internally. Turn to prayer and express your needs. God always provides but in his own way and in his own time. Remember that God's plans are ALWAYS greater than our own. Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".
- Do you have favorite bible verses?
- Find some of your favorite bible verses and memorize them! Make them your phone background picture, place the words on the fridge, pray about them at night, place them on some post-it notes around your work desk. Make them visible!
I have done this with three verses last year and I am making a point to do much much better. My personal favorite is:
1 Chorinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
I find this verse true for so many aspects in daily life whether that be food addiction, or more serious ways.
- Where is your faith leading you?
Where is your goal in 2 years, 5, 10, 50 years from now? Where do you hope to be in your faith at those points in your life? It is important to set goals like this to stay on track and continually grow your faith with the Lord.
- How have you served others recently?
God commands us to love our neighbor as thyself, and his greatest commandment is indeed love. Make a point to focus less on yourself and your needs, and be open and seeking others needs lending a helping hand or an ear to listen. Strive towards a servants heart, that is Jesus' legacy.
- Love yourself and all that God has and hasn't given you.
God has designed you perfectly in his image, there isn't anything he would change or anything he made a mistake on, so why are we so hard on ourselves. We have to love ourselves before we can love others. In the day of social media, we see snippets of the highlight real of other people's lives comparing ourselves to them. Every single one of us face personal struggles. They are all different. God made each one of us special with our own looks, talents, likes and dislikes. God made you perfect! Love yourself finding the positives and these thoughts will become second nature!
- What are you willing to do to stand up for your faith?
I personally face this from time to time within my family. When others question/look down on my faith/religion, I have to be ready to answer without anger, force, or frustration. I know how to answer to project my own faith by showing God's love.
- Where are you really in your personal walk with God?
The most important thing you can get out of church and your life is growing your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is one of the most important thing you can do besides sharing the gospel with others. Jesus craves that intimate relationship with you, to open your heart up to him and relinquish that control and hesitation. This is the most important relationship you will ever have. Luckily God doesn't abandon us or leave us, it makes it easy when God is always on your side.
My Testimony:
Unfortunately I don't have a lot to say in this matter and this is why I don't share it often. I have had a great life and average walk of faith. I was raised in a mostly Christian home and have always followed God. My walk with him has not wavered much but has truly increased every year. I have always believed in God and his salvation. I believe in heaven and eternal life through Him, which can be very difficult at times to wrap my earthly head around.
I have always gone to church and Sunday school as much as possible, but need to improve and increase my quiet time with the Lord. I have noticed other's walks of faith that are close to me, and how they have impacted me mainly as I have gotten older. My dad was a man of faith growing up but has grown away from religion (not necessarily faith) throughout his adult life. That is his story to tell, but it has impacted me. My mom has always been strong in her faith and is an amazing role model to my sister and I. Mom has always talked about God and sharing his word with us, she taught us to pray, how to turn to God in all situations, and has always took us to church to grow our personal faith. She taught me to lean on God and always follow Him. That has been one of the most important building blocks to who I am and the most important thing she could have done for us.
I am not perfect. My faith is such a big part of my life and I have purposed to share more about it in my daily life and through my *small* platform on social media. I have been hesitant at first to do so in fear of driving people away in this already so divided nation, but I need to swallow my fears and do-so in pure intentions and listening to Gods desires for me.
Part 2 of my devotional will consist of more biblical/verse reference and books/stories in the bible to follow along. In these stories and questions, what I will be focusing on may seem childish but I very much enjoy the simple stories in the bible and the lessons that they taught. Part 2 will focus on ages 5 through adults. The bible stories can be often forgotten as adults and can be a pleasant reminder! Stay tuned! :)
Love,
Kayla Raborn
1/1/19
I hope you enjoyed this post! This has been on my heart for a long time!
*I am a Christian- Southern Baptist*
No comments:
Post a Comment