For me, I have learned a lot about priorities. For so long I struggled with balancing my time and I finally had to sit down and really figure out what in my life I was going to make a priority and what I was going to let go of. I was reading in a book the other day and the author was talking about time and how many of us are always complaining about not having enough time in the day. But the real issue is, what are our priorities? Wherever we are putting the majority of our time, reveals what we treasure most in life.
There are so many things in life that we can choose to fill our time with, but what we need to be asking ourself, does this really matter? Is this wise? Is this going to bring me and others closer to Christ? Check your priorities.
The biggest thing God has taught me this year is "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you Oh God, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalms 19:14) This has been my prayer each day that everything I say and do would be a reflection of Christ and that he would remove any negative words or thoughts from me. In the past I have fallen into negativity and have hurt others by being impatient and down right selfish. God has given me so much more patience and I have learned to stay calm and find joy in all things. He has given me a love for others and a desire to love on them and lift them up.
The last big thing this year is that God has healed me from a lot of insecurity. I have struggled with my body image for years and have battled Satan as he continually would feed me lies about my self worth and who I am as a woman. I can't say that I don't struggle anymore or that Satan has stopped trying to destroy me but I have been discovering my true beauty through Christ and have replaced those lies that have been fed to me, with God's truth. These are some verses that help remind me of the TRUTH:"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14)
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16)
"Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." (Psalm 34:5)
"But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." (1 Peter 3:4)
I encourage you all to reflect back on your past year...Sometimes it helps to take a step back to see more clearer God working in your life and praise Him for all He has done and is doing in your life.
Love you all. Go SHINE today.
<3 Anna Grace
