Just do it....
SHINE Reading Plan: Go here.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17
Oh, y'all. It has been a month, actually 41 days--but who's counting, since I have written to you. School started, schedules changed, and this is the first time I have turned on my computer since July 30th.
For the last 41 days, I have had zero desire to write. Zero. It's not because I didn't have plenty to say, I just didn't have the energy to stop, turn on the computer, sit down and write.
I found the energy today.
For the last several weeks I have lamented to friends that I have lost my desire to write. It has burdened me. In a big way. I cried to my friends, and asked them to pray for my desire to come back.
I talked and talked and talked. Analyzed and analyzed and analyzed. What is my problem? Why do I not want to write?
Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I was taking a Sabbath break from writing. I needed a refreshment, a renewal. I needed some margin, and taking a break from writing was one of those margin makers.
So, this morning, I was having my time with Jesus. I kept thinking {again} about how much I missed writing. I grabbed my journal, opened it, and penned a letter to the Lord telling Him to please give me the desire to write again.
He gently reminded me as I was writing, "You are writing, child. You are just using a pen instead of a computer keyboard."
Oh. Oh yeah.
I was writing, and I had been all along. Just in my journal instead of on this blog.
My gift was still being used, just in a different way for the past 41 days.
I took the kids to school after my journaling and quiet time, and I could NOT wait to get home and write a blog post. I am not kidding.
Something changed or clicked, or something. My desire was back. Perhaps it never left!
Perhaps, it was the simple act of asking Him to give me that desire back instead of trying to figure out why it left. Are you following me?
How many times do we over-think things, cry to friends, turn things over and over in our heads, when all along Jesus is beckoning us to just ask Him!
Many times we are ruled by our feelings. "I don't feel any love for him anymore", "I don't feel like being nice", "I don't feel like telling the truth", "I don't feel like reading my bible".
Maybe we should ask Him to renew this desire that we lack.
Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
If we waited for our feelings to kick in, we would never live the life God purposed us to live!
Our feelings are not our compass. God is.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
Our feelings get us into trouble. We must override our feelings with God's Truth, God's Word, and God's love. We must learn to die to self, and die to our feelings.
"Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
God will never force us to do something. He simply invites us. We find His will for us in His Word, and we choose to do them or we choose to not. This choice is not based on feelings but on obedience, and the desire to do His will above all else. There is no joy beyond His way and His will for us. We will spend a lifetime searching in other places. However, no joy will be found outside of the way and will of God.
What do you desire? What is your heart set on? Does it line up with scripture? If so, pursue it with all of your beating heart! It may look different than you planned, but anything submitted to the way and will of God will produce fruit and so much JOY!
Are you discouraged? Maybe like me, you have lost your desire for something. Quit mulling over it and talk to God about it. You may just need to override your feelings and go the way of God instead of the way of your feelings.
Decide today to do something.
Maybe you decide to love your husband.
Maybe you decide to forgive someone.
Maybe you decide to commit to reading God's Word.
Maybe you decide to take charge of your health.
Maybe you decide to show kindness.
Maybe you decide to encourage someone.
Maybe you decide today to pursue that dream lying dormant in your heart.
Let's quit letting our feelings determine our destinies. Even simpler, let's quit letting our feelings determine our days, hours, and minutes. They sure can suck up a lifetime if we are not careful.
I want to know what you are deciding to do today. Will you leave a comment letting me know? You can be post as anonymous if you are shy. I just want to pray for you and encourage you in your decision to "just do it!"
just doing it,
jill
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17
Oh, y'all. It has been a month, actually 41 days--but who's counting, since I have written to you. School started, schedules changed, and this is the first time I have turned on my computer since July 30th.
For the last 41 days, I have had zero desire to write. Zero. It's not because I didn't have plenty to say, I just didn't have the energy to stop, turn on the computer, sit down and write.
I found the energy today.
For the last several weeks I have lamented to friends that I have lost my desire to write. It has burdened me. In a big way. I cried to my friends, and asked them to pray for my desire to come back.
I talked and talked and talked. Analyzed and analyzed and analyzed. What is my problem? Why do I not want to write?
Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I was taking a Sabbath break from writing. I needed a refreshment, a renewal. I needed some margin, and taking a break from writing was one of those margin makers.
So, this morning, I was having my time with Jesus. I kept thinking {again} about how much I missed writing. I grabbed my journal, opened it, and penned a letter to the Lord telling Him to please give me the desire to write again.
He gently reminded me as I was writing, "You are writing, child. You are just using a pen instead of a computer keyboard."
Oh. Oh yeah.
I was writing, and I had been all along. Just in my journal instead of on this blog.
My gift was still being used, just in a different way for the past 41 days.
I took the kids to school after my journaling and quiet time, and I could NOT wait to get home and write a blog post. I am not kidding.
Something changed or clicked, or something. My desire was back. Perhaps it never left!
Perhaps, it was the simple act of asking Him to give me that desire back instead of trying to figure out why it left. Are you following me?
How many times do we over-think things, cry to friends, turn things over and over in our heads, when all along Jesus is beckoning us to just ask Him!
Many times we are ruled by our feelings. "I don't feel any love for him anymore", "I don't feel like being nice", "I don't feel like telling the truth", "I don't feel like reading my bible".
Maybe we should ask Him to renew this desire that we lack.
Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
If we waited for our feelings to kick in, we would never live the life God purposed us to live!
Our feelings are not our compass. God is.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
Our feelings get us into trouble. We must override our feelings with God's Truth, God's Word, and God's love. We must learn to die to self, and die to our feelings.
"Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
God will never force us to do something. He simply invites us. We find His will for us in His Word, and we choose to do them or we choose to not. This choice is not based on feelings but on obedience, and the desire to do His will above all else. There is no joy beyond His way and His will for us. We will spend a lifetime searching in other places. However, no joy will be found outside of the way and will of God.
What do you desire? What is your heart set on? Does it line up with scripture? If so, pursue it with all of your beating heart! It may look different than you planned, but anything submitted to the way and will of God will produce fruit and so much JOY!
Are you discouraged? Maybe like me, you have lost your desire for something. Quit mulling over it and talk to God about it. You may just need to override your feelings and go the way of God instead of the way of your feelings.
Decide today to do something.
Maybe you decide to love your husband.
Maybe you decide to forgive someone.
Maybe you decide to commit to reading God's Word.
Maybe you decide to take charge of your health.
Maybe you decide to show kindness.
Maybe you decide to encourage someone.
Maybe you decide today to pursue that dream lying dormant in your heart.
Let's quit letting our feelings determine our destinies. Even simpler, let's quit letting our feelings determine our days, hours, and minutes. They sure can suck up a lifetime if we are not careful.
I want to know what you are deciding to do today. Will you leave a comment letting me know? You can be post as anonymous if you are shy. I just want to pray for you and encourage you in your decision to "just do it!"
just doing it,
jill
