"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to find his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." -Matthew 16:24-25
So I know I haven't wrote on this in forever, and it is about time I start up again. It is finally summer and there has been so many changes in my life in the past few months. I am already over halfway through with college and it is so crazy how fast time flies! I feel like just yesterday I was moving into the dorms and discovering what college is all about. I feel like I have learned a lot about myself in the past year and God has closed many doors while opening others. Sometimes in life God asks you to do something, and you wrestle with it for a long time. I was in that place for a very long time...what do you think is going to happen when you try to wrestle with God? He always wins. Although we may not be able to see the future, God is holding it in his hands. So I got tired of wrestling with God and decided to let him have it.
Lately I have been feeling more at peace with the Lord and know that I do not want to let anything get in the way of my relationship with Him. I have been looking back through my favorite book, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and this is what really stood out to me...
"Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label we can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and see. If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream."
I think in this season of my life this is crucial for me to remember. I will honestly admit I have not been always putting Christ first in my life. Many times I let my others passions consume my schedule. Reading this again has reminded me that this relationship with Christ can not be second or third of my priorities. Yes, I love him and I long for a relationship with him that is intimate and close. But what am I doing about that? I can't stop swimming. I must keep moving, keep learning, and communicating with him daily. I know I am not perfect and I am constantly having to battle my flesh, but that is why he has given me the Holy Spirit to give me the strength to overcome.
I pray that this wisdom will help you like it has me today...and that you will never stop actively pursuing the Lord...never be content with where you are but always learning more and falling more in love with the Savior of the world.
Lord, forgive me for the times I have stayed content with where I am at. Forgive me for letting other things get in the way of you and me...I'm sorry and I pray that you will continue to purify my heart...amen.
