Although what I was reading was written to encourage artists of all kinds, there were many passages that encouraged me to look at my Christian walk. Or, unfortunately, sometimes the lack thereof.
“Never fret at any imperfections that you fear may impede your progress. Remind yourself, as often as necessary, that you are a creature of God and have the power to achieve any dream by lifting up your thoughts. You can fly when you decide that you can.” ~ Og MandinoOg Mandino wrote the bestselling book "The Greatest Salesman in the World". His books have sold over 50 million copies and have been translated into over twenty-five different languages. Sounds like a pretty successful guy to me. What made him successful? According to his biography, the Holy Bible topped the list of his favorite books. Mandino's main philosophical message that every person on earth is a miracle and his tenth principle for replacing bad habits was to pray for guidance. Looking to his Heavenly Father for the power to achieve his dreams worked for Og Mandino and it will work for you and me.
Society has “rules” about how we should look, speak, dress, how smart we should be. If we don’t fit into that mold, society tells us that we have no value, no personal worth and our self-esteem becomes non-existent. God calls us his children if we receive him into our lives. (John 1:12; Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—). As God’s child, we have infinite worth! We are a miracle by our very being! We should be meek but at the same time our self-esteem should be out the roof! All we have to do is look to our Heavenly Father through prayer and he will help us to achieve our dreams that are part of His plan for our life. He is there to lift us up and remind us that we are special and that He is our help in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15 - 16 tells us
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.God is faithful and beside us to guide us just as we walk beside our children and guide them. We should be confident that He will impart mercy and grace upon us and help us live a life of happiness as we work to achieve our dreams. He is there even when we don't allow Him to guide us, waiting for us to reach up and take His hand.
“When you do what you love, you are free to be who you are and live the life of your dreams come true.” Such a simple thought but so true. When we follow the One who loves us so much he sent his only son to die on the cross, we are free! When we are free from the worries of society and focused on the love of God and His will, our lives take amazing turns. I’ve seen it in my own life many times over. Life is not always easy but with God guiding you, you can do everything. (Philippians 4:13)
As the Israelites made the journey from Egypt to the Promise Land, for 40 years God led their path. They moaned, groaned and complained. God was there, leading their path. Even when they built idols to worship and rebelled against Him, God was still there, leading their path. Our idols are different but we have them like the Israelites. We moan, groan and complain like the Israelites. These days they take the form of large screen TVs, jewelry, expensive cars, big houses, the big boats, fabulous vacations. We say they aren’t idols but we put making the money to buy them first and foremost, putting our families second and God a distant third, if He makes it that far up the list. So what else can you call them? We "love" these things but are we truly happy? Do we feel "free"? Are your dreams really coming true? Too many people are “worshipping” things as opposed to our creator.
True happiness cannot be found in things. Our God is faithful and as He stayed with the Israelites, He will do the same for you and me if we just ask. God will be there, leading our path. Directing us to true love, freedom and fulfilled dreams. Nehemiah wrote of God’s faithfulness to lead his people:
18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.
19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. Nehemiah 9:18-20
Just think how much easier it would be to be free and live a life we love if God is leading our way! He has "great compassion and will not abandon us in the desert of our life". God will be there, leading our path. In order to be free, we cannot be burdened with trying to live up to man’s standards. On our on we can't live up to God’s standards but we can with His help! God will be there, leading our path. Is a life with God at the center guaranteed to be a bed of roses? No, the closer we get to God and the more He is the center of our lives; the more the devil will do everything in his lowly power to drag us down. God will be there, leading our path. We aren't guarantee an easy life, a life without trials and tribulations. We are guaranteed that no matter how hard our life is by man’s standards, if it is lived with God first and foremost in our life, it’s a life of true love, true happiness and dreams come true.
God will be there, leading our path.
This was inspiring, and could not have come at a better time for me. As I give up all that I acquired in the past few years, and make the move across country to my "home" state, I am often moved to question whether or not this is what God wants me to do. I do believe that God is there, leading the path, of which I take steps out in faith.
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