Hello and welcome back! I wanted to share where I’m at this month mentally and spiritually. If you can relate, hallelujah! If not, more power to you! Overall, I pray this blesses you as it blesses me to look back and see where the Lord has brought me up from. Without further ado, here’s my mid-year reflection:
It’s the middle of the year and I can’t shake the feeling that change is coming. That’s not to say it hasn’t already but there is certainly more to come. I know the Lord is calling me deeper, and the more I step out in faith the more the future is fleshed out. Less ambiguity and more anticipation regarding what’s ahead. Noticing my mindset currently, I can’t help but give praise to the Most High for how far He’s brought me. My mind was once torrential downpour at best, and I struggled immensely to take things one day at a time. Like a fishing line cast far toward the horizon, my thoughts were cast far into the future and they didn’t reap anything but anxiety and despondency. It wasn’t until just recently that I was able to truly shake the stress I brought on myself regarding the future. I placed my expectations too high in preparation for things nowhere in my vicinity. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to prepare for the future, but in my case, I was making it out to be a burden more than a blessing. I would place too heavy a weight on myself as I recounted my flaws. Knowing I needed to grow if I ever wanted to be able to steward a home, a family, and anything else I felt the Lord would trust me with. I pushed myself to try to become someone who was ready. The truth of the matter is, I won’t ever be ready by my own standard. And in my haste to be ready for the things I’ve prayed for, I forgot a very important Scripture:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”- Matthew 6:33
I wasn’t seeking God; I was seeking my goals.
Thankfully Holy Spirit snapped me out of it and dispersed the oppressive heaviness in my mind and soul. I recognized that the time between now and me receiving those blessings is not time wasted. While I’m doing my part to prepare there are things only God can equip me with and perspectives only He can show me, but all in due time. I needed to wait for the Lord and let Him renew my strength. Let Him prune and process me while focusing on our relationship. While spending time in His Word and in His presence I will become the man of God He called me to be; able to steward all He has set aside for me. It won’t be by my own strength that I handle the responsibilities allotted to me in the future, just as its not by my own strength that I manage the responsibilities I have now. It’ll be His hand holding me up, His voice guiding me, and His grace which is sufficient maintaining me. I got off track with the best of intentions, but like the loving Father He is, God redirected me and showed me I don’t need to make this walk harder than it needs to be.
So here I am, looking toward the latter end of this year. Feeling realigned and refocused on the things above. I don’t know what the rest of this year holds, but I know I’m in the palm of God’s hand and come hell or high water He’ll see me through. Every day is an opportunity to sharpen my focus and discernment, and no mistake is a waste. No time is lost. Every shortcoming is a stepping stone on this straight and narrow road us believers are called to walk. I encourage you to mute the distractions, don’t be so hard on yourself (easier said than done, I know) and continue to trust God. Seek His face, not just His hand, and He’ll lead you. In Him there’s peace and reprieve like nothing else this world can offer, but you have to seek Him first. Make God the number 1 priority in your life and everything else will fall into place
I pray this blesses you as we transition into the latter part of 2025. Stay vigilant, stay blessed, and stay humble.
Until next time
- JB
Rnt with JB 