Asking, Seeking, Knocking

A few days ago, I decided I wanted to end this series with a simple post about asking, seeking, and knocking.

That’s much different than what I originally thought I’d do.

Originally, I thought I’d write a long post detailing everything I learned, the state of my heart after doing this challenge, etc. But the truth is I’m not even sure of any of that yet. I feel like I still have to sit with everything, pray through everything, and wait for God to reveal the fruit of this journey.

So, that’s why I wanted to end with a post about asking, seeking, and knocking — with an emphasis on the seeking.

The other day, that phrase was on repeat in my heart. I started thinking about how the seeking is sandwiched in-between the asking and the knocking. It’s almost like it connects the two. And I don’t know why, but I loved that picture — loved that in our asking, we find Him, only to be drawn into seeking. And that then, in the seeking, we find the faith, courage, and persistence to keep knocking.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

I’m ending this 31 Day journey knowing one thing for sure: I want to focus on the middle of that phrase; I want to settle myself in the seeking. I want to begin every day with Him and end every day with Him. I want my belief to grow, because I’m seeking Him in all I do.

To seek is to attempt to find something, to ask for something from someone, to search for and find someone or something. Synonyms include:  search for, try to find, look for, be on the lookout for, ask for, request, petition for, appeal for

I want to constantly seek Him, searching for His still small voice and the whispers of His will for my life. I want to be on the lookout for His goodness woven throughout all of my days, and I want to bring all of my requests before Him with bold belief and courageous confidence.

* * *

Thanks for being a part of this journey with me. I pray He would continue to grow your belief and bless you in your seeking.

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

Believing in the “Impossible”

Throughout this whole series, I haven’t said enough about His ability to make the impossible, possible.

How often do we hear the scripture everything is possible for those who believe? A lot, right? But how often do we really, truly believe in those words?

Sometimes, unbelief says that phrase is just for the pages of my Bible, a phrase to speak of His glory in others’ stories, a phrase that’s not for me or my story.

But belief says that phrase IS for me. And for you. For ALL of us.

What we have to remember, though, is that just because God tells us that everything is possible if we believe, it doesn’t mean He’s presenting us with a blank check to get whatever we ask for. He’s still sovereign and all-knowing and good. He still sees parts of the story that we cannot.

So, how should we take that verse? How should it encourage us and spur us on in our faith and our lives?

I wrote the post below a few months ago and wanted to share it with you. It was written from a place of being inspired by the possibilities God orchestrates in our lives. It was written from a place of restlessness, but also excitement and anticipation. God’s possibilities are mysterious, just as we should expect them to be, but no less exciting or amazing. I think when we trustfully dwell in the beauty of that mystery, knowing He can do anything, and being ready to go wherever He calls, then we’re beginning to experience the fullness of that phrase, and the everything that God is capable of.

* * *

That restlessness in your heart may just be a beautiful sign that God is moving in mighty ways. 

God’s been moving in my heart lately — He’s been stirring up dreams and ideas and possibilities — so many that I’m not even sure what to focus on.

At first, I was frustrated, wondering why I felt such restless energy. But then I realized what a gift those stirrings really are. I realized they are a powerful reminder that God is moving and working in my heart and in my life. They are a powerful reminder that He is moving me forward and taking me further in my faith.

I believe in living life with an open heart to the possibilities He has in store.  And I think it’s a blessing that He is faithful to continually reveal new ones — both big and small. 

My favorite quote is “I dwell in possibility” by Emily Dickinson, and it just so happens to be the story behind the name of this blog. My tagline living an inspired life of possibility is a reflection of who the Lord created me to be and how I see the world around me.

It’s how I want to encourage your heart, too. 

I am so thankful that when our faith and hope are anchored in the Lord, the possibilities are truly endless — because anything is possible for those who believe.

* * *

If you have an impossible dream or hope on your heart, I’d love to know about it, so I can join you in prayer. And I hope you know how precious your hopes and dreams are to Him and how many possibilities emerge when we’re walking closely, in faith, with Him.

{image via Lara Casey}

 

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

Despite Our Doubts

Sunday’s sermon was on Matthew 28:16-20.

We talked about Jesus sending out all of the disciples — even the ones who were doubting. They were all being commissioned to go and live out the gospel everywhere they went. Jesus didn’t pick and choose based on how big each disciple’s belief was. Perhaps, He knew that in walking out their faith, that’s where their belief would grow…that it wouldn’t happen overnight, or standing right there in the midst of that moment of worship. Belief is a fundamental part of our relationship with Christ — but it’s a living and breathing part. It’s tested and strengthened, challenged and refined. It’s not something that just IS. It’s something that deepens, as our relationship with Him deepens.

As we near the end of this 31 day journey on big belief, I’d love to know: how has your belief grown? Do you have any lingering doubts? Any new doubts that have crept up and surprised you?

Today, I want to encourage you in your doubting, in your questions, in your uncertainty.

There are some doubts and questions in my own life that I’m still learning to navigate. I know their familiar shapes, but I don’t want to become too comfortable with them, because I know He is faithful to remove and restore.

When I began this journey at the beginning of the month, I wanted to learn more about what the Lord had to say about belief, and I wanted Him to grow and change mine for His glory. I can sense He is doing that, growing my confidence in Him and in His plan for my life, but I also sense Him teaching me how to surrender doubt whenever I encounter it, knowing He will be faithful to show up right there in the middle of my doubt to lead me through — ultimately past — it.

Wikipedia says doubt is a status between belief and disbelief and that it may involve delaying or rejecting relevant action out of concerns for mistakes or faults or appropriateness.

I pray that you wouldn’t allow your doubts to keep you from moving forward and moving toward Him. Because He isn’t afraid of our doubts. We can freely share them with Him and know that He’s going to walk us through them. We can be confident that even in the midst of the walking and the learning, He is for us, He is with us, and He has a purpose and a plan to use us.

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

How has He shaped your heart?

I was talking with a sweet friend over the weekend, and we landed on the subject of dating. At one point during the conversation, I said I had hopes to marry a man who would dream with me. For whatever reason, I said that was something I really hoped I could share with my future husband — dreaming for the Lord together and pursuing those dreams together.

I felt silly sharing that, I said, but she firmly encouraged me, saying God placed that unique desire in my heart. I could be confident in it and confident in Him to fulfill it. She said He has purposefully given us all different hopes and dreams (for example, some dream and hope of finding someone who shares the same passion for overseas ministry). Listening to her words stirred up my gratitude for the unique shape of the hopes in my own heart.

God has shaped all of our hearts differently, and not only does He gift each one of us with our own unique talents, hopes, and dreams, He also orchestrates beautiful relationships and community throughout our lives that helps us grow and use those gifts and dreams to serve Him. (From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph. 4:16)

Why should my future marriage be any different?

Sometimes, I struggle with whether something is from me or from the Lord. I doubt my own hopes and dreams and fear attributing them to Him. But in listening to my friend, I realized I want to become more confident in believing what He is putting in my heart. And not only do I want to feel more confident in those hopes, I also want to pray over them, daily returning them to Him for safekeeping until He either fulfills them in His own perfect way, or in time, reshapes them, molding them into something new for His glory.

Part of that process means recognizing He made me a dreamer — and an encourager of dreams. It’s woven into who I am. I don’t want to be too shy to embrace the unique parts of myself and live them out with confident belief that He made me to love and do those things. It also means I’m not afraid to continue to hope that my future husband wants to dream for the Lord with me. Who knows, there might even be a man out there who is praying over the same things… ;)

How has He shaped your heart? And how are you using those beautifully unique aspects of yourself fully and for His glory?

::image::

 

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

A Song for Your Sunday

When darkness falls at evening time

And all the world is still

My heart feels restless, oh my God

It longs to be filled

Oh Father rescue me from doubt

Deliver me from grief

Let your joy in me abound

Remove my unbelief, remove my unbelief

I hear the wind rush through the trees

A peaceful whistling sound

But still my soul is not at ease

And sleep cannot be found

You are stillness, you are quiet

You are comfort and peace

~Jenny & Tyler

May He rescue us all from doubt, letting His joy in us abound, removing our unbelief.

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

A Project of Belief

In every season of our lives, we can trust the One who’s scripting the story. We can embrace each and every day with passion and purpose, with hope, and with open hearts and open hands. We can live inspired lives that glorify Him — lives full of joy, possibility, and creativity. 

I wrote those words to describe the book I’m getting ready to release.

I wanted to share them with you today, because this project has truly been a project of belief.

In dreaming and writing it with Him, I’ve had to believe in the words He’s given me, in the story I’m living for Him, and in the resources He’s blessed me with to complete it.

I don’t know what your projects of belief are, but tonight, I want to encourage to press on, press into Him, and rely on Him to see you through to their completion.

In writing these words, I’m also reminded of a favorite line of scripture:  He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

We can believe in His work in our lives…in the work that He’s doing and in the work that He WILL do.

Amen.

It’s a good promise to rest in this weekend, isn’t it?

 

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

You are not behind.

Today was a day where belief was a bit harder to find.

Because sometimes, there are days — and seasons — where despite our best intentions, things don’t happen the way we plan. And when things get messy and unpredictable, we get frustrated, disappointed, and discouraged. We doubt.

And we might even feel a little behind.

I know I do.

But last night, I took an Influence Network class on hope taught by the wise and inspiring Ellen Parker. At one point during the class, I quickly scribbled these words in my journal, my heart taking them in with gratefulness:

God’s love says you are not behind.

I just reread them to myself a few minutes ago. And I’ll probably read them again later. Because despite the rough moments and uncertainty of today — and even this season — God’s love says I am not behind.

And there’s always tomorrow to say a prayer, try again, and keep believing in His purpose and plan.

 

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

Open Hearts & Hands

How’s everyone doing on this 31 Day journey to bigger belief? What’s the Lord been revealing to you, as you press in, get honest, and ask Him to build your belief?

This morning, He reminded me of this:

When I wholly commit my plans, dreams, and hopes to Him, He is faithful to align my heart with His will and establish my plans. (Proverbs 16:3)

Wow, was that a reminder that blessed my heart.

I also recently read this post about open hands (remember my motto last year??), and a few lines really tugged at my heart:

• “Stop clenching your fists so tightly leaving no room for God to move.”
• “How much of our lives do we actually hand over to God and let His will be done? How often do we find ourselves abandoning our plans-our rigid, outlined, down to the detail-plans, for what we believe God has called us to?”
• “It’s hard to ask for a gift from the Lord when your hands aren’t open to receive it.”

I want to live by faith, fully surrendered to the work He’s doing in my life. I want to dream with Him, plan with Him, and wholly commit every hope to Him with an open heart and open hands. It’s a daily practice, but every time I do, I believe it’s leading me somewhere good — somewhere closer to Him.

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

 

To Tuesdays

I’m a little more than halfway through Emily Freeman’s new book A Million Little Ways.

Last night, as I was reading her words, I happened on a section about ordinary Tuesdays, about the life that happens on those Tuesdays and the freedom we can find to dream when we’re planted firmly in our ordinary days.

“As we begin to embrace our own sense of place and time in our Tuesdays, maybe we will be more open to considering our crazy ideas. With your feet planted firmly in the soil of home, allow yourself the freedom to dream a little,” Emily writes.

In the last year, the Lord has really changed my perspective on the ordinary and changed my perspective on the season I’m living in. He’s spoken value and purpose into my days, reminding me that He is doing good work and using us in ALL seasons. He’s building my belief that right where I am is right where I’m meant to be.  That’s actually why I wrote my book (but more on that soon in a future post).

Back to Tuesdays.

This post is dedicated to that ordinary day.

So, here’s to ordinary Tuesdays… to the waking up in the still-soft shades of sleep, to the familiar ritual of cooking oatmeal on the stove, and to the reading of a few promises from Him to carry with me throughout the day.

Here’s to the favorite blue mason jar that holds the usual — cranberry juice and green tea. And to the dark chocolate chips that sweeten up the morning.

Here’s to breathing a prayer of thanks for sunshine on my lunch break, and to the joy of evening frozen yogurt dates with good friends.

And maybe most of all, here’s to the unseen work He’s doing in my heart, to every crazy idea and dream He’s blessed me with, and to all of the questions that haven’t yet found their answers.

Tuesdays make a good home for those.

 

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::

 

We aren’t meant to believe alone.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of community, of being vulnerable, transparent, and really doing life with people.

When we’re in community, our belief can grow. It can be strengthened and nurtured and sharpened. Big dreams can be born out of solid community, and real change can occur.

Jon Acuff says that fear hates community. And as Lara Casey says, to name our fears is to destroy them. So, when we share our lives and our hearts with people we trust, intentionally creating community, we are destroying fears and encouraging fruitfulness.

It isn’t easy to create this kind of community. It takes risk and bravery and intentionality. It takes time and commitment and faithfulness. True community isn’t born overnight. It happens over many cups of coffee and text messages, over dinners, lunches, and brunches. It happens when we invite people into the messy parts of our lives, and they love us all the same. It happens when we pray, serve, and check in. When we learn how to speak truth in love, and when we learn how to receive hard truths with grace. It happens when we create safe places for people to grow and learn and just be.

Even though it’s hard to come by, and even harder to build, we have to fight for this kind of community. We have to make it a priority to fill our lives with people who build us up, challenge us, and walk beside us. We have to make it a priority to invest in others and allow them to invest in us.

Because eventually, these are the people who know our stories — the good and the bad. The people who can see the potential we carry inside — and who will push us to never stop growing. These are the people who will celebrate with us, cry with us, and act silly with us. The people who believe in our hopes and our dreams — even when we don’t.

These are the people who teach us how to love better and believe bigger.

 

::For the month of October, I’m participating in The Nester’s #31Days blog writing challenge. My topic? Big BELIEF. For the next 31 days, I’ll be writing about three main things: 1. BELIEVING in His good plan for my life, 2. BELIEVING in the dreams He’s placed on my heart, and 3.BELIEVING in who He is and what He promises. So, what do you say? Will you join me? Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to grow your belief over these next 31 days? You can read all my #31Days posts,here.::