Sharing with a Friend

God is teaching about:

Himself:  He loves me soooooooo much.  Much more than I can comprehend.  He wants to be involved in every area of our lives.  The day to day moments and the major milestones.  He designed us, he knows us and he longs for us to know ourselves and see ourselves the way he sees us.  We will never attain a full understanding this side of heaven, but daily I see more and more.

The state of your heart:  Is in desperate need of more of Him.  There are soo many doors and windows I had/have closed.  I struggle to release control.  I had/have conditioned myself to be self-reliant.  I have believed I could take care of myself.  The last two years have been a real journey of learning to trust God in those moments.  I’ve said I trust him, but he has called me out and really asked for me to trust and rely on him.  I felt like I was trusting before, and to an extent I was.  The act of obedience when he asked for the next level, to leave the comfortable and step out in the unknown has been such a ride.  It was more than leaving a job.  I was walking away from a way of thinking, a way of doing life.  I have seen God do some interesting things in my life.  And I’ve had to sit and wait on Him.  I have had to get on my face and confess the frustration, anger and discontent with so many things and situations and ask him to help me.  I’ve had to lay down dreams.  I’ve had to repent when I’ve felt my way would’ve been better.  Or when the old place, ( I call Egypt), looks soo much better than the momentary issues.  I’ve had to realize that even in the hard work of being good, I’ve harbored some sin, that needed to be washed out.  In the last few month the Lord has illuminated some things and said lay these down, this can’t move into the next season.  The state of my heart is Trust in Him, and resting in Him.  Trusting him when its good, when it hurts, when I don’t see it….simply saying God this looks________, but I choose to trust you.

His desires for you:  To trust him.  I lean in closer and trust his plans.  To know him, to know his character and to allow myself to be transformed by Him.  In letting him into the closed off places, allowing other in also.  Allowing him to use other people.  Iron sharpens iron.  He is doing different works in all of us and he never meant for us to go through life alone.  We are designed for companionship, and friendships that will allow us to bring more Joy into our lives and bring us closer to Him.

Where to go from here:   Just keep saying Yes.  Yes to vulnerability, yes to authenticity, yes to hard conversations, yes to conversations in general, yes to friendship, yes to Him. Yes, to Trusting, even when it hurts and doesn’t make any sense. Yes, to sharing. Yes.

So many times this is my best prayer. “God I love you, God I trust you!”

What is looks like for you to live experiencing freedom:  uhm, I would say it will would be peaceful.  The more I lean in and trust, open doors, and lay myself at His feet the peace I walk in.  The more honest I am with myself and others about what I am feeling, even if it’s just a glimpse, the admission that I am weak.  Leads me to a deeper trust in Him and his peace washes over me.

I stand amazed at the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God!

I encourage you to take some time to ask yourself and ask God what he is teaching you in these area of your life also.  It changes in every season as we grow and submit our lives to Him each day.  It’s beneficial to look back at where we’ve been and how he has pursued us and then focus in on where you’re going.

Himself…

The state of your heart…

His desires for you…

Where to go from here…

What it looks like for you to live experiencing freedom…

AP