Constant Renewal.

God has been captivating my heart lately more than ever. I was baptized on September 4, 2011 and read 2 Corinthians 5:17 -- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!


For some reason it hasn't fully occurred to me until now that this verse isn't referring to a single moment where the old leaves and the new floods our hearts, but a state of constant renewal. I must constantly fight to see Jesus in my life. I must constantly seek after him, I can't simply rely on a single moment. I must seek him constantly. He wants to be found by me! He's not hiding or running or avoiding me, but I need to seek him. He has a plan for my life and a path for me to take if I would just ask him.


James 1:5-8 -- If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in all that they do.


After reading those verses, I have really started praying that God would make me stable in all that I do. I want to stand firm, trusting in him and his plan for my life. I want to be a woman who fears the Lord. I want to know more about him, but when I say that...that means I have to listen when he makes it clear to me; even if it's not the answer I want. But I have also been learning that his answer will ultimately be the best anyway. I can complain and question him, but in the end...he knows what's best. And why should I settle for anything less than God's best for my life? He knows what he's doing.


This morning the service at Crossroads spoke straight to my heart and lined up with my quiet time from this morning, which is always amazing. Pastor Bill presented these verses from Isaiah;


Isaiah 43:18-19 -- But forget all that- it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.


Forget the past. God is redeeming, even before we realize that he is. Whether the past has been a good experience, a bad experience, and indifferent experience-- it is nothing compared to what he is going to do in your life. I love that it reminds us, 'See, I have already begun!' because often I don't realize that situations in my life are actually God leading me closer to him and I just look at everything with a human perspective, but God knows what he's doing. He is leading. I find great peace in his presence.

In the glory of Your presence I find rest for my soul,

In the depths of Your love I find peace makes me whole,

I love, I love, I love Your presence

I can really see God moving in my heart and in my life. I am truly blessed to be a student here at Cal Baptist. I am constantly in awe of God's provision and clarity in my heart. I know that it may seem weird from an outside observer the way everything has gone for me college-wise, but I can assure you that Jesus Christ has a plan and he is making it happen in my life and I am so thankful for that. My first month here at CBU has absolutely been one of the best months of my entire life. I am in love with Jesus Christ and the intricacy of his plans for me. I am so blessed and grateful to be here. I belong here.