Clean
A few days ago my roommate and I were talking about the words “set apart/ holy.” Those words aren’t the most attractive words. They can be quite hard.
A few months before the new year, I begin to pray about my personal word for the coming year. Back in 2016, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart that my personal word for 2017 would be Holy. I got it out of two scriptures: Exodus 3:5 and Psalm 84:11. Both scriptures talk about holiness.
When I got saved in the summer of 2014, there was an instant change in my heart. Salvation is a moment; however, surrender and remaining in Christ is a continual process. It’s an everyday working out your salvation. If I’m being honest, 2014-2017 were very hard years for me in my relationship with Jesus. They were absolutely beautiful in the sense of being in relationship with Jesus and learning about His grand love for me, but there was a A WHOLE LOT of dying to myself. There were many tears, many moments that felt unbearable, and then more tears lol. In truth, there were some moments where it would have probably been easier to go back to the world or old lifestyles because it’s what I knew. However, I truly believe those beginning years in my walk with Christ are and were pivotal for where I am in my relationship with Jesus today. It was in those years I learned how to pray by praying through my grief and worshiping despite my feelings of wanting to tap out.
I’ve had ladies come up to me and say “ I want to pray like you or have faith like you.” I believe the biggest reason I am where I am today in my faith and walk with the Lord is because I have remained. I’m still remaining. Those first few years of my walk with the Lord that were so hard is where I found strength to dig deep and hold onto Him at all costs. I knew what life without Christ felt like and I wasn’t going back. I’d rather go through struggle with Him because with Him there is hope as opposed to without Him where there’s emptiness.
I haven’t arrived to being the best Christian, there is no such thing. But, I have decided to stay in course and it’s a daily decision.
If you’re going through a time hard season, that’s okay. I’m sorry you’re going through that, but He is with you. Pastor Tim Ross says,” name your season. If the season you’re in stinks then name it It Stinks! Name it so then when you’re out of it you’re able to give Him praise for bringing your through it!”
Name your seasons, dig real deep and lean on His strength. He’ll get your through it. Don’t despise that season because it’s in those seasons that true grit and the testing of your faith will produce perseverance in your walk with the Lord. We need perseverance in our walk with Christ. It’s critical.
We love you, Jesus and me.
