If the beam isn't pointing forward, you will never know just how far the light will reach. I'm a visual person and God has rocked my world with this flashlight picture today. I'm the worst at getting caught in the comparison trap (some of you just said a huge Amen at this point..lol). It's in that moment of stillness this morning, that moment where God knew my heart and knew my feelings ...that He showed me the picture of the flashlight. We are all born with flashlights. When we enter into a relationship with Him, He turns the light on. Sometimes our focus gets off and we shine the light to our surroundings, to up in the clouds, and even sometimes to ourselves. We get our focus off moving forward, off staying the course, off how far our light actually does reach. God designed our lights with us in mind. He knows just far the beam will reach, how long the batteries last, and where He needs it to take you. If our lights are focused on anywhere, but forward...we lose sight of what we can do, we start comparing ourselves to others, having a pity party, or on the impact, our light is making on the journey. Don't lose sight of your light, focus it forward and the beam may reach farther than you ever realized.
My love language is words of affirmation. It's always been that....I'm that person who keeps all of the notes anyone writes. That kind of thing can keep me going even when I physically have no umph to move. This is me being real for a minute. God's been trying to get this through my hard head for months now and today I finally heard Him. The greatest words of affirmation came from Him when He said I chose you and made you to be You. That's what has to keep us going every day. It's not about whether someone else notices or says good job, it's about being who He made us to be. Yes our flesh cries out for the tangible words of affirmation, but at some point, the shift happens and what our spirit craves is more than what our flesh does. Hear my heart, it doesn't mean we will never struggle with comparisons, with insecurities, with loneliness, or with the wonders of what could be. The struggle, the pull of the flesh will be there, but it's in the quiet moments when you hear God whisper Him....I chose you and made you that your spirit starts to feel peace. It's in those moments you remember that even despite the overwhelmed feelings, the anxiety that is being kept at bay, and the insecurity that is one word away from taking over....that your light reaches farther than you can see as long as you keep it facing forward and walking in it.
Remember what makes your heart beat, not the beat that makes you nervous, but the beat that makes you smile. This summer I was reminded more of what makes mine beat with that smile. Allow time in your schedule for those moments. It's in those giving back moments, in those connecting with God friends, it's in those seeing light bulbs go off when a kid gets something or sharing with teachers a passion that has only grown that bring a smile not my own. Know what makes your heart beat like that and stay connected to that.....for they will be what God uses to fill your cup and fuel your batteries to keep going.
Walk forward this week in Him 💗
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