I already know...

I have been kind of all over the board this week with quiet times. As I would read things I would think, "Oh that's nice, but I've already heard that before. Next." or "That's something good to be reminded of, but I'm not going through anything challenging to where that would apply. Next." or even "Come on now, I know you love me, I have even been singing a song about it since I was kid...Jesus loves me this I know. Next." But as I take time to look back at the week as a whole I begin to laugh at how all of these "not applicable" verses really do come together and are totally applicable.

I started off by thinking about how often I just suppose God is with me as I wonder off and try to do things on my own. Yes, He is with me, but I guess I am just trying to become Jesus Jr. and handle things on my own and make decisions that I think are "best" for my life. Try that for a few seconds and you will soon realize, you can't! God makes us this promise that He has a plan for us and a specific plan of action to make it happen, that is if we follow His path and not our own or what the world is telling us. "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." [John 14:12]

I graduated nearly a year ago come May, that's completely mind blowing to me that time has passed so fast! But back in May I knew I was going to graduate, keep working my part time job, begin grad school, take on an internship the following spring, then begin searching for a full time job in the summer. Little did I know that God's plan really for me was to graduate, work a few more months at my part time job, start grad school, and replace the internship with a full time job! I knew that I either wanted to be in Lubbock or Dallas, God chose Lubbock after I tested Him with two potential job interview trips to Dallas. And man did he ever shut those doors quick! But I am thankful and grateful to be where I am today. God wants us to have these visions and life dreams. He wants them to be clear and something to look forward to, but as much as we just want to jump to the end and get what we have been wanting for so long right now, we have to remember that God is just as focused on the process of getting there as he is on the end result. Which reminded me of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13. Paul learned how to be content and satisfied to the point where he was not disturbed by whatever state he was in. He never allowed himself to get upset with where he was at the moment; he was always looking forward to where he could be. We, myself included, need to find that balance between contentment and ambition. We need to learn to enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going, and know that God is never going to put us in a situation without giving us the ability to be in it with joy.

I already knew how easy it was to go off and do my own thing, I already knew what I wanted my life to be like, and I already knew that I needed to be content with what I have and where I am. But I didn't know how much easier it is when you let God lead your day, how much smoother plans for your life will go, and how much easier it is is to be joyful each day knowing you don't have to be the one to plan every second of every day! I have made it now a daily reminder to myself to not wonder off on my own, but instead share with God my desires, visions, and dreams. I plan to enter each new day with joy knowing that when I am in line with God, His desires for me will be the same desires I have for myself. So maybe I didn't already know everything, in fact I know I didn't. I have a feeling this will be a never ending processes, that I will never know it all, but this is what keeps things new and keeps me excited for each new day!