Being labor day weekend, I am blessed with being granted the entire week with no assignments done. My professor wrote the entire class and instructed us to enjoy our time off. He even went as far as to remind us that being still is an important part of our relationship with the LORD.
Those who know me, know I am super tempted to get a step ahead in my studies. This is due to having an incredibly fast paced life every day! My motto is and has been "Do what you can when you can". It is the only way in which I have been able to get 'ahead of the game' for a long long time.
As I read the class letter though, I reflected on the truth found in Scripture in regards to the importance of 'being still'. While my first go to verse as I began seeking God came from Proverbs:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5, NASB)
My second go to verse came from my all time favorite Psalm:
Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10)
Cease striving / Be still ~ I have read it both ways. For so long I strived and yet seemed to always end up back at ground zero. Many of us are familiar with they lyrics, "One step forward and two steps back" (Desert Rose Band). This was how I felt life was for decades. In a way, I don't resent my past life, for I came to witness that material possessions come and go and in that wisdom, I never put much attention into them, meaning they never became my stronghold.
When it came to my things or my vehicles, I was never one to freak out should something get dinged or damaged. I had seen too many things come and go to get all emotional over material items. I do consider that a gigantic blessing in the end.
So today I don't strive to gain material possessions, but I do sometimes get caught up in the business of life and I forget to simply sit still and bask in the glory of God. When I was in my 20's I didn't seek out God, I viewed him as my foe in all honesty. Back then, I simply desired to live life on my own terms. The funny thing is I don't think I even knew what 'my terms' were back then. Basically I was looking to live life as I saw fit and not under the direction of anyone and certainly not a God who I saw as 'out to get me'.
There is something about seeking God. The closer you draw to Him, the more you desire to His will in your life. In Scripture, we discover that man prefers to live in darkness for there he can live as he desires.
"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19, NASB)
I know today I have been all over the place in regards to my thoughts, but this is the way my mind often works. For decades, I preferred to ignore God's will in my life. Those of you who have read my story that He called me forth to share, know this truth about me. I have always been a stubborn person and in my own stubbornness, I have bitten off my own nose to spite my face. While I was surviving, I was certainly not thriving. Today I live under the promises of God and I have witnessed them blossom again and again. Today I do live an abundant life, which is what Jesus assures me He came to deliver:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
This is where rest comes in. When you learn to have faith and put your trust in the LORD, no matter what you are facing; when you make your stronghold Him and believe that He can move mountains in your favor and are able to say, "It is well" when He doesn't move the mountains, you will learn how to be still, to rest, knowing and trusting that He is God.
With all that being said, today while my children are also out of school, I am relaxing and hanging out with them. We've watched Mandissa, Mercy Me and Chris Tomlin music videos and for a lot of laughs a few from Tim Hawkins as well. That is about as still as I can be with God considering that I am hanging with not only my youngest 6, I am also hanging out with my oldest and her 6. Tomorrow however, I think I will dive into the Bible and get that part of my required reading done. In this way I will be hanging out with God, basking in His glory and at the same time getting ahead in my studies so that next week is not so overwhelming!
Be blessed my friends, step into the light ~ the dark has it's moment in everyone's life ~ in your's though, I pray you turn to the Light!
Wendy Glidden
© Wendy Glidden 2017
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and [a]have it abundantly.
Those who know me, know I am super tempted to get a step ahead in my studies. This is due to having an incredibly fast paced life every day! My motto is and has been "Do what you can when you can". It is the only way in which I have been able to get 'ahead of the game' for a long long time.
As I read the class letter though, I reflected on the truth found in Scripture in regards to the importance of 'being still'. While my first go to verse as I began seeking God came from Proverbs:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5, NASB)
My second go to verse came from my all time favorite Psalm:
Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10)
Cease striving / Be still ~ I have read it both ways. For so long I strived and yet seemed to always end up back at ground zero. Many of us are familiar with they lyrics, "One step forward and two steps back" (Desert Rose Band). This was how I felt life was for decades. In a way, I don't resent my past life, for I came to witness that material possessions come and go and in that wisdom, I never put much attention into them, meaning they never became my stronghold.
When it came to my things or my vehicles, I was never one to freak out should something get dinged or damaged. I had seen too many things come and go to get all emotional over material items. I do consider that a gigantic blessing in the end.
So today I don't strive to gain material possessions, but I do sometimes get caught up in the business of life and I forget to simply sit still and bask in the glory of God. When I was in my 20's I didn't seek out God, I viewed him as my foe in all honesty. Back then, I simply desired to live life on my own terms. The funny thing is I don't think I even knew what 'my terms' were back then. Basically I was looking to live life as I saw fit and not under the direction of anyone and certainly not a God who I saw as 'out to get me'.
There is something about seeking God. The closer you draw to Him, the more you desire to His will in your life. In Scripture, we discover that man prefers to live in darkness for there he can live as he desires.
"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19, NASB)
I know today I have been all over the place in regards to my thoughts, but this is the way my mind often works. For decades, I preferred to ignore God's will in my life. Those of you who have read my story that He called me forth to share, know this truth about me. I have always been a stubborn person and in my own stubbornness, I have bitten off my own nose to spite my face. While I was surviving, I was certainly not thriving. Today I live under the promises of God and I have witnessed them blossom again and again. Today I do live an abundant life, which is what Jesus assures me He came to deliver:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
This is where rest comes in. When you learn to have faith and put your trust in the LORD, no matter what you are facing; when you make your stronghold Him and believe that He can move mountains in your favor and are able to say, "It is well" when He doesn't move the mountains, you will learn how to be still, to rest, knowing and trusting that He is God.
With all that being said, today while my children are also out of school, I am relaxing and hanging out with them. We've watched Mandissa, Mercy Me and Chris Tomlin music videos and for a lot of laughs a few from Tim Hawkins as well. That is about as still as I can be with God considering that I am hanging with not only my youngest 6, I am also hanging out with my oldest and her 6. Tomorrow however, I think I will dive into the Bible and get that part of my required reading done. In this way I will be hanging out with God, basking in His glory and at the same time getting ahead in my studies so that next week is not so overwhelming!
Be blessed my friends, step into the light ~ the dark has it's moment in everyone's life ~ in your's though, I pray you turn to the Light!
Wendy Glidden
© Wendy Glidden 2017
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and [a]have it abundantly.
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