Soul Vacation

Life as I know it will change in less than nine days. NINE DAYS! Scary? Kind of. Exciting? Definitely! The last 3 and 1/2 months have been spent trying to understand where the Lord wants me and now that I finally know a little bit more about where I am headed, I am at peace. During these three months I have detached myself from what I used to know, embarked on new adventures, and searched many mysterious places (specifically, my soul and the heart of God) in order to know just a little more about who I am and who my Savior is; I guess you could call it a "soul vacation." I recommend having a soul vacation at least once in your life, or whenever you feel like you've succumb to the ways of this world instead of listening to the Lord. Romans 12:2 explains this perfectly, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing, and perfect will."

I've spent years trying to figure out what His "good, pleasing, and perfect will" is, but haven't found it because I have polluted my mind with the ways of the world. It seems impossible, to me, to be able to figure out what His will is when so many sectors of this world are calling my name; their calling is a lot louder than the whisper of the Lord.

In the midst of this little vacation, I learned to stop listening to what the world wanted me to be and figured out who the Lord has created me to be. No more self-pollution, no more faith-pollution; just me authentically and the Lord organically. Through this I have found pure joy... comfort in my skin knowing I am and am still becoming the individual He has created. This kind of joy produces a certain kind of strength. (Note: I said produces not requires.) "The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."-Isaiah 51:11

It is the Lord's strength in my weakness that brings such a freeing joy. I am relieved that such a mighty, loving, and beautiful Savior has me in His hands, otherwise I would be scared to death.

It is my joy to serve Him and to be consumed by Him. Without this soul vacation I would still be a disoriented girl, engrossed by the way the world has taught me to think, searching for the world's calling instead of HIS.

THANK YOU, LORD!