Is it my life to live ... or His?

I let worry and stress consume me. What I too often forget is that these are all sins. Why am I so quick to forget God? These sins imply that I don't fully trust that God is BIG enough, POWERFUL enough, or LOVING enough to take care of what is happening in my life.

I have thoroughly enjoyed taking some much-needed time to read an awesome book that is helping me grow in my relationship with God. In doing so, I was recently reminded that this is not my life to live! I don't think I have ever really stopped and taken that in fully until now. This is HIS life. I am here, able to enjoy so many pure moments -- Godly moments with my children, amazing sunsets, answered prayers, a life of love and happiness here on earth -- only because GOD has given me this life to live. And when I let these sins -- worry, stress, negativity, discontentment, anger, fear -- consume me, I am not living my life the way HE wants me to.

Ephesians 2:8 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God..."

By letting these sins consume me, as I too often do, I am not shining for Him, and glorifying Him in the way that I am living my life. I am not to live the life that I want. This is not the life He wants for me.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

That is what my life should be. It should be about Him. Not my stress, not my worries, not my fears.

Although it is extremely hard at times, I realize that as long as I put my trust in God and make my life His, then I have no need for these things that are bringing me down because I know that God loves me so very much, more than I love my very own children, and He will take care of me, protect me, and guide me down His path to life Eternal -- a life where there is no pain, no fear, no worries, no sadness, no sickness.

I can let go and just be happy.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galatians 2:20

God Gives You Rest

I worry. I never even considered myself a worrier until I had children. I suppose it is mostly because my husband and I are wholly responsible for our children. It is solely up to us to teach them, guide them, mold them into good, solid, refined people with quality character that truly love our Lord and want to live their lives to shine for Him. And that is up to me and my husband to do that. I worry that I will fail in guiding them. I worry that I will shield them in this sometimes difficult world too much, or not enough. I worry about them falling and getting hurt physically and I worry about their little hearts getting hurt by friends. I worry about letting go too early … or too late. I worry.

But, what gives me hope, is that when I give my worries and anxiety to God, He takes care of us. He is a loving God and wants and waits for us to “cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us.” (1 Peter 5:7)

I pray for both my children to have a heart for loving the Lord, and also that God will lead and guide us in teaching them all about God’s grace and wondrous ways. I pray that my and my children’s hearts, speech, and actions will honor Him and bring all glory to God, although I know that I often do not live up to my own expectations. What if I fail? What if I lead them down a wrong path? But the important thing is that I pray about it. I know I am not alone. And God knows the desires of my heart.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek His will in all you do,

and He will show you which path to take."

Proverbs 3:5-6

How encouraging is this?! God truly loves us so much and He cares about every aspect of our lives. He wants to take care of us. He sent His only son to die on the cross so that we may live and sin. That is love. So, if you are feeling down, overwhelmed, or discouraged, not matter how great or small, God cares. Psalm 46:1 says that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

He will give you rest and peace on your heart. Trust in Him. Give it to Him. And do not worry.