12/12/2022
THEY SAY COMPARISON IS THE THEIF OF JOY... BUT WHAT ABOUT COMPARING YOURSELF TO SOMEONE WHOSE FAITH YOU ADMIRE?
That's exactly what I did, and I'm better for it...
There is so much more that goes into spiritual formation than JUST attending church or occasionally reading your Bible.
I know, because for the last 5 years I've been on a very intentional journey to get as close to and as deep with God as possible.
I also know because for the 20 years prior to that, from the time I got saved at age 15 until I was 35, I had never dedicated myself fully to understanding who God is and who He uniquely created me to be...
..and I was on the praise team at church... and then on staff at another church... I led small groups and classes... and then worked as a leader for an international Christian organization.
It wasn't to say I was a "bad Christian" before, or that my heart wasn't sincere in my beliefs, but I had taken what I'd been taught all those years at face value and rarely dug much deeper to make my faith my own.
I never actually experienced the transforming power of Christ until these last several years, and finally got the massive breakthrough I'd been longing for just this year.
How?
I got honest about where I was stuck & what help I needed
I studied and read lots of books that built my faith & understanding of God's word
I prioritized healthy, God-honoring relationships
I started a podcast to help me verbally process what I was learning & to showcase others
I started advocating for the things that light a fire in my soul
I hired a Christian coach who helped me process my trauma & see myself the way God does
I started doing the things I said I wanted to do, like consistently reading my Bible, moving my body daily, eating better, and getting sunshine
I started a gratitude journal
I returned to praying in my private prayer language and filled my home and car with worship music
I made mindset shift after mindset shift and finally started believing that I was a loved and wanted daughter of the Most High King
What started as a desperate cry from a frustrated "Christian" turned into the soul awakening of a Mighty Warrior dressed & prepared for battle.
Where are you at on your journey with Christ? Maybe you're in full blown desperation mode, or maybe you're in the learning, growing, changing phase.
While none of us will ever fully "arrive" this side of Heaven, there is a narrow path that's been laid out ahead of us, if we choose to devote ourselves to walking it.
On this path there is the pain of uprooting old systems and habits that have caused trauma, there's the pain of losing relationships because they are out of alignment, and the pain of realization that in my own strength I will constantly end up burnt out, stressed, and overwhelmed by anxiety, never measuring up to expectation.
And, once uprooted, those pains fade into a beautiful garden of ultimate peace, unfathomable trust, and a life of abundance and overflow, the likes of which you could have never imagined possible.
For me, 2023 will be all about helping more people thrive on this narrow path from stagnant observer to enthusiastic participant in the everyday miracles God does. You only get to see and experience them if you're paying attention, if you immerse yourself in His presence, and you seek Him humbly and wholeheartedly.
Are you willing to do the hard work this year to be able to share a similar testimony next year with your friends and family? If you've read this far and you're all in on growing your faith in 2023, drop an emoji in the comments. 👇🏼
Don't worry, I'm not selling anything 🤣 but I will 100% keep you in the loop as I work to be more intentional in helping you go deeper with Christ this year!
