NO DATE 28: A Year Dedicated to the Lord and the Preparation

   

      A few days ago I sat back and I knew that I heard God clearly when He told me that this year was the year that I would completely dedicate to him. I turned 28 on November 30th and I started to feel as if I wasn't where I needed to be. A lot of the people that I know that are my age are either married, getting married, have children or already have children. Approaching 30 seemed scary, especially since I did not have anyone that I felt as if I would be married to in my 30's.

      When God spoke to me, it was one of the most refreshing things that I had ever heard. Sometimes we as people put a timeline on God. We have to graduate college, find our dream job, get married and have children by a certain age. We have these plans when a lot of the time God's plan is different.  His plan is for us to have the best life possible. God orchestrates our lives on a level that we will never understand. If you take a look in your rearview mirror of life and think about every heartbreak, rejection and failure it eventually made you better. God wants better for me and he wants better for you.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29:11

       When God put it on my heart to not date this year I thought about it for days. I then realized that I am not in the position to be a wife no matter how much I desired it. There are things emotionally, spiritually and mentally that I have to resolve before marriage. I have to fix me and love me unconditionally before I let anyone else in.  In the past, relationships distracted me and I found myself venturing away from my faith because I never dated with a purpose. I dated to please the person that I was with because I wanted to feel accepted and loved. I wanted to hear that I was beautiful and that I was the best because I did not feel this way about myself.
      I am so excited  for this upcoming year! God is teaching me how to really love myself, live with a purpose and love with a purpose. I know that what God has for me is far beyond my wildest imagination. And if God is calling me to fast from dating I will, especially if that means that I will grow closer to Him.
      This doesn't mean that I am giving up on love or never dating again. I know that God has someone special that he is preparing for me. If God is preparing my husband for me, why not allow God to prepare me for him. I don't want to baggage of my past to weigh down my marriage. I want to be free throughout this journey and know him like never before.  I believe that I can and I believe that I will.

New Mercies Who Dis?

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness"-Lamentations 3:22-23

       I woke up this morning feeling vibrant and ready to attack my day without hesitation. I got a full eight hours of sleep, I went to bed last night completing all of my tasks and I felt confident that today was going to be the best day yet. It had me thinking about how refreshed I feel with my relationship with God. I am working daily toward my relationship with Him, pushing toward my calling and purpose.

       Many times and I mean many times I have fallen not knowing how to pull myself out of what I pushed myself into. God then reminds me how His grace is sufficient for me and his power is made perfect in my weakness. When I sin and come to God He forgives me and bestows his mercy upon me. I feel like a new person and as vibrant as I felt this morning. I don't dwell on the choices that I have made in the past because God doesn't. Why do something that God does not do? This is what I asked myself and I want you to ask yourself. 

     When you are forgiven and redeemed you are a new creature. People will look at you knowing something has changed but they cannot put their finger on it. Your mind changes, the way you approach situations changes and how you treat others and yourself ultimately changes. Isn't that amazing? Coming to God with a sincere heart asking for forgiveness can do all of that. 

      When you are made new you cannot engage in old things. It is hard, I know first hand. Let me give you a few tips on how to go about living this new life of yours. I work in Underwriting and while reviewing documents we develop a process so we will not miss important details that may negatively impact our loans. In our own lives we have to have a process that causes us to be proficient in our Godly lives. Read the Bible daily, journal, pray, read inspirational books, develop new habits, fast etc. Strengthening your relationship with God impacts how you approach the negative things that may come about that once pulled you down.

      I know I have a long way to go but knowing that God is peeling off the layers to reveal his diamond is so amazing to me. To serve a God that incomparable was the best choice that I have ever made and I hope this is a choice you are making as well.