New Years, New Dreams

I'm Letting Go - Francesca Battistelli

My heart beats, standing on the edge
But my feet have finally left the ledge
Like an acrobat
There’s no turning back

(Chorus)
I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
I’m losing control
Of my destiny
It feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go
This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone

(Chorus)

Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I’m not afraid

(Chorus)

Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
Feels like I’m falling and this is the life for me

Do you find yourself planning for the year ahead? Do you know what you want to do in a year, in two years? I do, I know exactly want I want. I've talked about this before, but it is a recurring stumbling block in my life. The problem is, I know exactly what I want for my life, but that's not how it's supposed to be!

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Proverbs 27:1 (New International Version)
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

The chorus to the song above is great, I love it. Here it is again in case you forgot:

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
I’m losing control
Of my destiny
It feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go
This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone

I don't even know how to live like that, but that is my goal for this year.

Let go and let God lead my life.
Throw down the reigns and fall on my knees.
Pray instead of plan.
Be prepared for every task, every trial.
Take advantage of every moment, face every fear.
Search for and learn 'agape' love and ignore the fleeting pleasures of the world.

I don't know how it will happen, how I can change, but I trust that God will change me, will lead me.

The Uncertain Future

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. James 4: 13 - 17

I think these verses speak for themselves. These are some of my favorite verses right now because I am faced with an uncertain future. Admist the struggle I know that God is in control and things will work out as long as I listen. It is important to include God in all of your plans, if you don't I can guarantee they will fail eventually. This is a lesson that I am sure we all have learnt. Let's make an effort to loosen the hold on our future so that we can finally be guided in the right direction.

Patience is a Virtue (And a constant battle!)

Patience: the ability to wait calmly for something to happen without complaining or giving up, the capacity for calmly enduring difficult situations (source: http://www.freedictionary.com/)

It's easy to say patience is a virtue, but I find that statement to be an understatement. I beileve that if someone is able to be completely patient then that is more "God-like" than just a plain old virtue.

It's in GOD'S HANDS!

I have been struggling lately to process that fact in my mind. I have to realise that no matter what I do to try and shape my life - the effort is futile.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Notice how He doesn't say "For I don't know the plans you have for yourself but hopefully it will turn out ok".

If we are able to allow Him to direct our lives and go to Him when we are not sure what to do then everything is going to be just fine.

Good plan - sounds simple.

If only it were simple! If only we could call God on his mobile and ask him "So I don't know where my husband and I should settle down, can you just tell me what to do?"

I truly believe that God has a plan for us and if we are faithful then we will be able to follow through with that. I also believe that when we are not faithful and try to take things in our own hands we will faces challenges and be dissatisfied.

I long to hear God's voice and feel peaceful with decisions that I make and in order to do that I need to learn how to meditate. However when I try I find that my mind is still going a mile a minute. Along with many other things in my life that I am trying to improve (to be closer to God) this one will take some serious time and effort.

I want to start proposing some challenges each day, mostly for myself but also to challenge anyone reading this!

Challenge #1: Meditate and listen. Some good advice I recently found was that we shouldn't be setting a time each day to spend with God (penciling him in to OUR schedule) but throughout the day we should be meditating and spending time with God. (By the way I learnt this from the IBLP daily success emails, you should really sign up!) Another good practice would be to keep a journal and each day write down what you asked God about and if you feel you were given any direction.