The first half of 2020 has been literally crazy for most of us, if not all of us. Things have changed so dramatically in this country, heck in the world all because of a virus. Cities shut down, businesses closed, families quarantined in their homes for months, people learning how to work from home and people hoarding toilet paper. It has been a challenge to say the least. The thing that I've learned from this time is that my attitude will determine how I live my life. I could have become angry, I could have chosen to be depressed or I could have decided that no matter what happens God is with me. I think most of you know me well enough to know which choice I made. The thing is no matter what choice you made during this time, it's your choice and no one else can make the choice for you and no one should make you feel guilty for your choice.
As a believer in Jesus Christ I am called to a higher purpose that I can't even begin to comprehend fully. I have been called to love others. Now this is not a new concept but in light of the way 2020 has gone, maybe I need a refresher. Jesus never said love only those who love you. He never said love only those who believe as you do. He never said love only those who treat you well. As a believer I am called to love. I show love with my actions, but I also show love with the words I speak and the tone of my voice. There are times I don't want to show love someone after all do they deserve my love? There are times I want to give someone a piece of my mind and my words can quickly become a poisonous venom. It's in those times that God grabs a hold of me and shakes some common sense into me. Do I deserve His love? Does He want to give me a piece of His mind? He could crush me in a heartbeat, yet He doesn't. He could make me crumble into a pool of tears, but He don't. Because of His unfailing love, I am a prisoner for the Lord.
Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Am I living a life worthy of the calling I have received? No. But I am a work in progress and God is continually teaching me and guiding me to become worthy. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute and second by second I am continuing to learn. I pray I never feel like I am too old to learn and change and grow. I pray I never find myself unwilling to be convicted by God. In fact I pray He convict me through His Word or through other Godly people. The only way I can ever even begin to live a life worthy of my calling is if I allow God to continue to prune me. Pruning is never easy and it is always painful. Change is hard. Admitting I was wrong is humbling. Being a prisoner for the Lord will be a constant struggle but I will persevere because God is with me. His very presence surrounds me daily.
Listen 2020 is what it is but my heart, the condition of my heart will continue be praise and love!
