When a verse from your devotional sticks, you know God has a reason (and a purpose). I'm not exactly sure where this blog may be going or if God's even finished with what His plan for it is. The last month or so I've felt a shift in the atmosphere. I've been feeling the shift for a while, but this time there was the push....the push to go forward and get back to running. There is a race to be run....and sometimes standing still doesn't get you where you are supposed to be going. I think sometimes we buy into the lie that we are moving forward when it's not exactly how God has planned for us to do. There is a journey to be lived, a race to run, and a word to be shared......and this pace of being distracted by everything except for the prize ahead (that He's called us to) keeps us from never really going anywhere. There are about five blogs in that last statement, but summer's coming and I'll get to those soon. I'm finally starting to see ...not through my eyes, but His. I struggle with insecurity and second guessing myself....and I've listened to the lie for way too long that I should be this or that. I know I don't fit into a typical mold. I'm late thirties (ouch that hurt) and single. Trust me it's not how I planned for life to be or even dreamed of it. I've not given up trusting God for the answer on this dream....but in His time. This past week God answered a prayer I had been asking Him for over 15 years. It was one I had almost given up hearing a yes answer on......and was about to settle for a No...but God did what only He could do. He redeemed a day and brought a story full circle that yes is a blog to share soon. I said that to say though....don't give up on God answering even when you quit asking.
Back to the verse....I've read this verse MULTIPLE times, but this time it was different. Fruit bearing and fruit planting are two different seasons....but bearing fruit is journey God wants us on. He wants us bearing fruit that lasts (yes there can be fruit that doesn't last....more later). Did you catch that last part though? When we are bearing fruit that lasts...what He promises. Y'all I about had a shouting fit on that one! This is my prayer as I approach another birthday. I struggle with knowing if I'm making a difference or not some days. Then I come home and it's just me. Hear my heart cause I know some of you are reading it going man I wish I had a quiet house, it's nice a night or two....but it's a struggle that gets the best of me sometimes. Yes I know I'm never alone because God is here, but ya'll some days you need Jesus with skin on. Some days I think I should write a book on Singleness, the struggle is real, but God is louder.
You know where you are at on this journey called life. Make the most of the moments as they come, but don't let the moments make you. It's about running the race with purpose and knowing that in the end, it's not about the Good job's, the applause, or the recognition that this world offers...it is about one-day hearing God say well done.
More blogs to come and beyond thankful to be back writing.....
(yeah I called this one part one because something in me still says He has more to write on this verse as the week goes on).
