If there's one thing I want to do this semester, its this. He's put an intense burden on my heart to just love my sisters. Sounds easy enough right? But this burden is so powerful on my heart. To love, minister, encourage, exhort, pray and just be there for. And He's totally used other people to minister to me too. My dad makes a great point.He always says, part of the wonderful experience of Bible College is that you give out what you take in. So, we learn SO MUCH from God's word, so what can we give to others? How can we encourage others? What can we do for others? I can honestly say that because of God's pure grace, He's given me a servant heart. About a year ago when I continued seeking Him for the ministry He called me to, I had a real hard time with the whole idea of 'serving' others. Simple right? I mean, that's what leaders do, that's what people in ministry do. They serve. I just remember my heart being so selfish. I still am selfish, but my prayer now is always that the Lord would continue to make me a servant more and more. About a year ago I had no desire to even love people.
I am amazed at how He's refined my heart and continued to equip me for all that He has for me. Though I can't see the full picture now, He's continuing in the work. So grateful. It's been a huge blessing. I've met so many precious women on this campus who share in the same struggles as me, who I can encourage, and who can encourage me. It's such a blessing.
The first few nights we had a few meetings with our women's leader. What a Godly example she is. I am amazed and thankful that God has placed her on this campus to head up the women's ministry. What a heart she has for these girls! It's such an encouragement. You ever sit in a church service and the pastor talks about something that makes complete sense, but it doesn't quite hit your heart to where you're like, "Wow, Lord... so true!" That happened to me.
She was talking about girls. Our hearts, our emotions, and how one teeny little thing can hinder our moods in a matter of seconds. Let's get serious, we all know that girls are that way. We get attached to men way too easily, we get bitter, jealous, angry, unforgiving, and if our hair doesn't look exactly right then our whole day is ruined. I mean, the simplest little thing can alter our moods. It's sad when you think about it.
A few days later I was sitting in bed doing my devotions and the Lord really spoke so clearly to me. He really showed me that this semester, as well as each day I walk with Him, I need to remember that as a Godly woman, nothing and I mean NO THING should hinder my love for Him, my devotion to Him, my praise to Him, and the desire to live a holy life. There will be days where someone will say something and I'll get offended. Or there may be days when men flirt with me and my thoughts may go crazy. There may be situations where I get sick. Or, someone close to me may pass away. Sure that's extreme...but truly, nothing should move us. I'm not saying that we aren't human. We will get upset, mad, or confused as to why situations happen. But how do you handle them? What's your heart look like after your boyfriend just broke up with you? Your best friend back stabs you? Your family member forsakes you. Someone gossips about you. How will you react? Sure it's okay to be upset and hurt, but how do you approach the situation? Way too many times I know my heart wants to retaliate as soon as possible. If a guy mistreats me then it's like my whole world crashes down. If my best friend talks bad about me behind my back I ultimately want to ignore her and drop her. If my family member forsakes me I want to grow a hateful attitude towards them. But what do the scriptures say?
The Lord gave me Acts 20:24 where it says, "None of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, that I may finish my race with JOY. . ." How are we to finish the race? With joy. In what types of circumstances? It says here that none of these things move us. Not, some things, or a few things.. but none of these things move us. Think about that.
It's been so hard to really put that into perspective. But the Lord has begun to show me, that as a girl, especially a woman in Christ, it's very hard to maintain a holy life, a pure heart, and an upright spirit in the midst of our days. Our days bring sad circumstances. Satan knocks at the door. Temptation will rise. But we have the victory. I think too many times girls think that we have to battle the spiritual warfare, but we don't. God is our Victour. He has it all figured out and it's been won. We just need to seek His face, His heart, and trust in His deliverance. As a woman in the Lord, we will be tested. Satan wants us to fall for the ungodly man he's placed in our lives. He wants us to think we're not good enough or pretty enough. He wants us to look in the mirror and see that ugly haircut and think that it would be awful to go out in public. Something as simple as a pimple, to something as big as death can hinder our countenance. But we shouldn't let it. Sure, it's ok to be upset, but I continually have to ask myself, "Angela, is this an eternal issue?" Is what I'm struggling with going to alter my ministry, or matter in eternity? Chances are, no. My ugly haircut won't matter in heaven. The way I dress will though. I must always seek to be pure in all things. We all fail at that.
As women in Christ, I pray for you, and encourage you...let NOTHING move you. Don't allow Satan to use little things in your day to trip you up and be depressed. God has called you to go out and love, serve, minister and encourage. It won't be easy in times of heartache. And I understand that something as big as death deserves grief. I'm not saying don't grieve or be sad. The main thing I'm talking about here is the little things. That boy, or that bad grade, or the gossip you heard about you won't matter in eternity. But do you know what God looks at? Your heart. The way you handled the situation. That's what He wants. Your purity, your desire to seek Him, trust Him, and let Him be victorious over it.
A few months back I was sitting doing my devotions and the Lord put an intense burden on my heart to get on my face in prayer over someone super dear to me. I was overwhelmed with His Spirit and all I could do was weep and pray. He continued to give me 1 Corinthians 15:58. It says:
"Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing your labor is not in vain of the LORD."
The Lord purposed in my heart to pray this over and over again for me and this person. For our ministries, and for all that He's called us to. When He reminded me about not allowing anything in this life move me, He gave me this verse again. In the work He's called me to, I must constantly be seeking Him in prayer, in communion, and be diving into the Word so I can be guarded. It's so easy to let something so small get in the way of how God wants to use us. It's so easy as girls to be tripped up with something so stupid such as our looks or our friends and boys.
Do you know there is so much more to life than your looks? Guys? Even friends? My heart this semester is that I would just seek His face. That He would be my Love, my utmost desire, my burning zealous passion. Sure, little things will get to me, but ultimately, I have an eternal purpose on my life. A high calling. A divine position to be a woman of holiness, a woman whose life is unto the Lord, not herself. So, why should I let anything hinder that? Why should I let anything hinder what He wants to do?
I'm reminded of that verse that talks about it not being according to our might, but God's. I'll tell you this: you won't be able to do it. You're weak and not good enough. You need God's supernatural Spirit to equip you with grace, strength, and glory in HIM to overcome these issues. That's why I encourage prayer, fasting, and the study of His Word....all the time. Not once a week. Not even once a day. Get on your face DAILY. Be in His word more than once a day. Pray as you walk around. Pray as you get ready. Pray pray pray. It says to pray without ceasing. Your life depends on it. Your spiritual walk is what needs it. You can't do it alone. I can't either. We need Jesus' equipping and Holy Spirit.
Praying and encouraging all my sweet sisters in Christ to remember: this earth is TEMPORARY. We are not here forever. Seek those things ABOVE where Christ is. He's the fulfillment, the satisfaction. When you have Him as your shield and guard, nothing will move you. Stand on the Solid Rock. You won't regret it.
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