I have decided that 2014 will be the year that I fully surrender to God. This year I will go on a journey of saying yes to God. I will start giving it all to him and fully walk in obedience. I will surrender. Completely. And I will learn to love like Jesus.
I am going to take a leap of faith and go outside of my comfort zone. I have a hard time talking in groups of people that I don't know well. Not just a few people but larger groups of people. I am afraid of being judged. Of sounding stupid. Of making a fool of myself. But I feel the call to minister to women through bible studies, church events, etc. How am I going to do that when I have this fear? I'm going to pray about it and I'm going to give it to God. I'm going to trust that he will give me the words and the courage. And I am going to trust that he will give the other women I am talking to kind and open hearts. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.
John 13:34-35 says "A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples. If you love one another."
It is easy most of the time to show love to my family and my friends. But what about everybody else? Am I showing love to the checker at the grocery store? How about the next person in line at the post office? The teachers at the kid's school? The kids in their classes? Also going a step further am I showing love to my kids all the time? Even when they do something they know is wrong? If I am completely honest the answer is no. Not always. Sometimes I do but do I ALWAYS go that route? No. So in this year of adventure I am going to spend time in the word, learning to love like Jesus. I am going to pray that the Lord will help me to show love and kindness to others. And that people will be able to see him through me. That they will know I am a disciple of God by the love I give.
My friend Erin sent me a text last night asking me if I would be her accountability partner. So we can help each other grow spiritually. Pray for each other, with each other and encourage each other. And hold each other accountable. How awesome is that? Someone to talk through my struggles with that I know is not judging me but loving me. I can't wait.
I feel in the last week and a half that the Lord has eased my pain. He has heard my cry. He has shown me that I can hear his voice and answer his call. And that I can make a difference. It's not too late to teach my children and myself. And it's never to late to grow in my faith and grow my kids faith. This year I will do that.
"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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13
