Friday, December 30, 2011

ALL Things New

So cool how God just continues to bless me! I am learning so much about how to fight to spend my days with Him at the center of my life no matter what's going on. Today feels like an uphill battle and it's hard to not get discouraged, especially when the condition of my human nature causes me to be really out of shape


Been trying to live with the mindset that... 


                                              ...a blessing is anything that brings me closer to God. 


So in everything He does, whether I, or "the world" would normally consider what's going on in my life, especially the things that I am not "in control" of to be a good or bad thing - no matter what - He is doing it to bring me close to HimHow could I not adore Him?! 


I've been sitting here "organizing" my music and downloading some new songs. Being quite picky about which songs I buy, since it costs real money. I got a couple of Elevation Worship's songs off of their new album, including... 


All Things New (listen to it!):



...which happens to be the title of my post! Because, first of all- lyrically, I really like it. I love that it opens with "Peace be still, You are near" It had me right there!! 
Then... "There's nowhere we can go, that you won't shine redemption's light" beautiful! And the  Chorus "You're making all things new...We are free"


Anyways, I loved the song. I put it on, casually picked up My Utmost for His Highest and as I read, I felt even from the first sentence of today's little devotional that it totally tied into what's been going on in my heart today & the song...


"Our Lord never patches up our natural virtues, He remakes the whole man on the inside, "Put on the new man," i.e., see that your natural human life puts on the garb that is in keeping with the new life..."


"Watch how God will wither up our confidence in natural virtues after sanctification, an in any power you have, until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus...No natural love, no natural patience, to natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every bit of our bodily life into harmony with the new life which God has put in us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristics of the Lord Jesus."


A great reminder to not get discouraged in the times when I feel I'm battling the same things so diligently! My job isn't to fix & control in my own strength, but to surrender and trust in Jesus completely and allow Him to do His work.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

I feel so incredibly ridiculously blessed!! I am so thankful for what God has done & is transforming in my life. He has been abundantly showering me with blessings that I have done absolutely nothing to deserve. There have been so many moments & reminders in my daily life of Him evidently showing me how He is orchestrating every step I take. God is seriously amazing. This morning I woke up early to take my parents to the airport. On the drive home, I was amazed and overwhelmed with His joy, peace & love as I watched the sunrise. I stopped off at one of my favorite places to go sit & pray.