I found peace. I found more time with Jesus, and I found more of His character and friendship that I long for. Literally there’s a spiritual center in our brains, and when activated there’s some good stuff all around for our overall well-being.
I found more of my own selfish and destructive character as
well. This past month my eyes have been so open to how much of ME I promote.
Pretty much every Tuesday and Thursday making the drive to College Park, I
listened to either a Francis Chan or Matt Chandler sermon. It felt like my
mouth was so dry and hearing God’s word or the truth about this short, short
life was like the best glass of cold water I could ask for, really
like chugging a gallon of it.
Francis brought up how westernized it is to make a page all
about me. Here’s my accomplishments, what I’m studying, who I’m in a relationship
with, what I did over the weekend, my photography skills, and how great I am all
in one super awesome page. How many likes and followers I get is just a cherry
on top! I found that even when I want to give all glory to Jesus, I still want
the recognition that Laura gives all glory to Jesus. Bleh, how selfish this
flesh of mine is.
This month convicted me, but was so darn refreshing. I
thought I was going to use this time to write/ blog more about all these ideas
I wanted to talk about and share my opinion on. Promote me. But, don’t worry,
I’d point it back to Jesus and how amazing He is!
God told me to stop. Stop posting, stop snapping, stop
scrolling for goodness sake. Read with me, talk to me, soak with me. So,
that’s what I did. And the freedom I felt in that was so light, and such a
burden lifted. He showed me how much I compare with others and what I can so
easily find my value in, rather than finding myself in Him—the one who knitted
me together and knows every strand of hair on my head. The one who loves me so
much that He sent His perfect son Jesus to die on my behalf—to take the bullet
for me, jump in front of the moving car for me when I was the one who should
have taken the hit.
This life here on Earth is going to go by so fast ya’ll. A blink
of an eye and then what? What if it’s tomorrow? How certain are you of where
you will be? How satisfied are you of what you’ve accomplished? How many hours
of your last day did you spend scrolling and wasting your time, or stressing
over silly things? What story will your life tell? How will people remember you?
Jesus drives me to stop for the one. One difference in one
life can make a difference in a multitude of lives, or maybe not, maybe just
that one, but its one more than before. I encourage you to use your time
wisely, seek the God who loves you so so so much, and pursue the dreams He lays
on your heart.
I don’t know where this conviction will lead me exactly. I
still want to write, and I still want to immerse Jesus in this lovely culture,
so I know I can’t hide in a corner and keep to myself everything the Lord
gives. I’d honestly like to give it back. Love God, love others—the greatest
commandments. What a terrible thing, right? I kid, I kid. We’ll see what
happens.
So, yes, sure, I’m {rejoicing in simplicity} but really I’m
rejoicing in the fact that the God of this universe loves me, and I get to call
Him friend and Dad. You do too, if only you’d believe. Faith is POWERFUL. It
changed my dark atheist world right around.
Love from Laura.
