WANDERING TO WONDERING

Daily, we struggle in many ways, financially, emotionally, even physically. We must remember, some things are just out of our control. Now, although some things are indeed out of our control-we are very much in control of how we handle these things. Forgive me if I get a bit preachy here; it’s all out of love, truth, and respect, but I’ve heard so many people ask, “if God is real, why do so many bad things happen?” or they simply just “feel like God doesn’t care.” Friends, Genesis 1:27 says “God made man in his own image” meaning morally, spiritually, and intellectually we were each fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. We are his children, trust, HE CARES. So, why do we feel like he doesn’t? Why is there so much evil in this world if we were ALL made from God? The answer is simple really, it’s because of the enemy, Satan, Lucifer, whatever you want to call him; but the devil is a liar. He was once an angel in heaven, right there with God, but he rebelled and sinned against God, and convinced a 3rd of the other angels to do the same (demons). God casted them out of Heaven and into the earth shortly after its creation. Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We’re all born into sin; we’re born making bad choices. Think about it this way, you don’t have to teach a baby to be bad, they’re naturally mischievous. Children must be taught how to make good choices. Good thing we, as God’s children, have the ultimate Father on our side!

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Sin is willingly breaking the law of God. Let’s think of sin as a thief. Thieves are sneaky like snakes, a python for example, doesn’t just bite its prey, it squeezes it slowly, stealing the breath from its lungs, destroying it from the inside out, until death. That nasty serpent we call Satan, works the same way. John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy.” Addiction, greed, trauma, mental instability; these are just a few of the devil's many tactics used to get us separated from the God who created us, and eventually take us out. A lot of us get stuck in these cycles of bad habits and negativity because we’re busy wandering around trying to figure it out on our own. We don’t have to do that; we were never meant to be alone. God is always with us; he cares for us.

So how do we break out of the cycles? How can we change our mindsets to see what God has to offer and break away from the chains, the strongholds, of the devil?

We pray, in the mighty name of Jesus.

It’s a tough transition sometimes, we get stuck in our ways, but if we don’t change the way we handle these sufferings that will inevitably happen, we will remain stuck. Stuck in a cycle of depression, anxiety, and bad habits. Wandering aimlessly into an abyss.

We must pray, yes, but that’s not all. We must trust wholeheartedly in our Lord, trust that He will make a way for us to break free and shield us from the enemy’s attacks.

How do we do that? “I’ve prayed so many times and nothing has happened. ”That’s where things get fuzzy. It’s hard, but we also must remember, God is not a genie, he’s a Father, a leader. God will guide us to where we need to be, but at the same time we must obey. Still feet don’t eat! In order for God to work in our lives, we have to work too! He will give us the tools, the strength, and the authority to fight against the negativity in our lives but it’s what we do with those things that matter. In the last post, I talked about how I was in the darkness myself and how I had hit yet another rock bottom. Yes, I did pray, and I did feel a relief after, but if I had stopped chasing that feeling, I was going to end up right back in that same cycle of darkness.

We have to make time for God in our lives, he’s a gentleman who knocks at the door until you let him in, he’s not going to go busting into your heart, you have to invite him there. We have to build our relationship with Christ and that’s an everyday thing, friends. We make time to scroll on Facebook, we make time to talk to our friends and family, but we forget to make time for GOD!

I want to share a few things I know for a fact that will help no matter what situation you’re in. I encourage you all to try these things too, implement them into your daily lives and watch God work, as long as you’re willing to work too.

First and foremost, Pray, in the name of Jesus. For his name is the name above all names. His name makes even the devil and his goons tremble in fear! Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything, but everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Secondly, Read your Bible. Study it. Stay in God’s word, how else do you think you’ll hear him, silly? Remember, scripture is the ultimate weapon against any negative thoughts you may have. Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

A lot of people don’t know where to even start when it comes to reading the Bible, I know I sure didn’t! There are a few ways I like to stay rooted in my reading.

• The You Version Bible app works great. We spend a lot of time on our phones anyway, why not use it for good? You can have it set to where every day you get the verse of the day; take that a step further and read that entire chapter. Pray and ask God to help you understand what you’re reading and meditate on God’s word.

• Daily Devotionals work wonders as well, they’re a great insight to the message of God’s word and allow you a chance to reflect and apply what you’ve read into your life.

• Journal!!! Having a dedicated notebook or journal gives you a great opportunity to write down your thoughts and prayers and keeps your Bible study organized. I love the SOAP method. S-Scripture (write down the verse(s) you’re studying.) O- Observation (what stood out to you the most and why?) A-Application (how can I apply this to my everyday life?) P-Prayer (TALK TO HIM! Write down your worries, make your requests known, and thank Him for everything he’s already done in your life.)

Lastly, replace old bad habits with new healthy habits. It’s easier said than done, I know. That’s where God’s strength comes in. Instead of letting bad thoughts fester in your mind, fight them with the word of God. Instead of sitting stagnant, start exercising, a walk, a workout, cleaning, whatever it is for you, just do it. Get up and move! Fill your mind with positivity. The things we watch and the music we listen to affect us more than we realize. Remember, you are what you feed your mind, so if everything is messy and depressy, you will be too. Most of all, practice gratitude, be thankful for the little things in life. Your home, your food, your clothes, the very breath that flows through your body, you wouldn’t have any of these things, if it weren’t for God’s grace.

The struggle isn’t going to stop, that’s just life, but it’s so much easier when we can change our mindset and trust in the Lord to help us through it. There’s no such thing as a bad day, just lessons to be learned. We must remain content and cozy right there under God’s wing no matter how bad the storms get! Philippians 4:12 “I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content-whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.” In moments of despair, don’t wander around and try to figure it out on your own. The devil is sneaky, and he will use those moments to snake his way into your life and make things even worse than before. Instead, keep yourself rooted in God’s word, use healthy habits as healthy distractions, and sit back and be amazed, in wonder at how He’s redeemed your situation when it’s all done. In the meantime, “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8