Two things that go hand in hand are impatience and complaining. We’ve all experienced both and yet neither of them changes the actual experience. It just causes us to feel better about letting our emotions do the talking. 😤 God, in his infinite wisdom and sovereignty, allows us to experience moments of difficult that cause impatience and complaining to groom us into the character that best reflects Him. It’s par for the course!

Discipline feels like a dirty word, but the reality is that in its truest form, it’s a benefit to us. God is completely in our corner and any correction we receive is truly a gift that allows us to move back in the right direction.

Forgiving those who’ve hurt you sounds easier said than done, however the command comes with the knowledge that people are invaluable to the Lord, it’s the spirit they operate in that we war against.

We don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. I’m choosing to focus on Him and fully allow Him to direct my path this year (Proverbs 3:5-6). While a verse was not included today, the one that has impacted me most as of late comes from Luke 10:42, included further below. I encourage you to read the chapter fully, and choose to do the greater thing as Mary did, sit at His feet and listen to the Lord’s teaching… “but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The end of one year, and the beginning of another begets the natural desire for new goals, new challenges, a new you. However, more important than a new you, is a known you. “Well done my good and faithful servant,” is the response to a life well lived.

It would be better for us to stick our head in the ground, the way of the ostrich, than to know what everyone else is up to. More often than not, that knowledge can cause us to question God’s goodness, justice, mercy… we feel slighted or maligned by God for not attaining, or receiving more or better than our peers, especially when we factor in the timing of God. But God’s ways and thoughts are higher and greater than our own. He doesn’t consider fairness in the same way we do. Trust that He knows what’s best for you.

It’s easy to go the way most traveled and live according to the world’s standards but if we’re honest, can we see how doing life the world’s way has lead to regret, pain, stress, anxiety and the like? Don’t lose your soul in the process of becoming who God has called you to be.

“On the 24th day of the ninth month…” Times and seasons are not beyond God. Everything is ordered exactly as it should be. The sun knows when to come up and go down, as well as the moon. Everything in nature is well orchestrated to the tune of God’s design yet we as His creation, with free-will choose to go our own way, are full of mistrust for the truth and goodness behind His words. He always provides us with a choice. “Choose you this day who you will serve,” Joshua 24:15. Those who choose Him and His ways are blessed.

It’s easy to doubt or question God when things aren’t going our way, or when we expected Him to move on our behalf. While those tendencies to question and doubt come naturally to us it’s important to remember who God really is— not a liar, but faithful and true, and what God does. God is a creator. He doesn’t do things the way we expect Him to or in the timing we expect them in. He’s a “thinks outside of the box” God who was brilliant enough to create you, me, and everything including the kitchen sink! Trust Him.

Have you wondered whether where you’re at is really what God has in store for you? You followed His lead, and yet where He’s led you feels foreign and overcome with obstacles— well you’re not alone. Let’s discuss!