God Calling

I picked up a great book that was recommended to me at the beginning of the year (which I also HIGHLY recommend!!!). It is called "God Calling" with the tagline: The power of love and joy that restores faith and serenity in our troubled world, and was simply written by "two listeners"-women who choose to remain anonymous. For each day throughout the year, they have written words that they claim came from Christ Himself. I believe them :) It has been pretty incredible to daily read words that I can imagine Christ whispering in our ears. I loved today's message, and want to share it with you:

Take courage. Do not fear. Start a new life tomorrow. Put the old mistakes away, and start anew. I give you a fresh start. Be not burdened. Be not anxious. If my forgiveness were for the righteous only, and those who had not sinned, where would be its need?

Remember, as I said to Mary of old, "To whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much."

Why do you fret and worry so? I wait to give you all that is lovely, but your lives are soiled with worry and fret. You would crush my treasures. I can only bless glad, thankful hearts.

You must be glad and joyful.

Oh my-what a challenge!! Do not fear...be not burdened...be not anxious...you must be glad and joyful. It is not always easy for us, is it? Yet God has called to us, asked us to...

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:13)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

These are all very imperative statements-gentle commands from our Father all leading us to trust Him. A word that God has been whispering in my ear and has been echoing in my heart is "BE". It is also echoed throughout these verses, and much of what God has called us to in Him...after all we are human BEings who are in the hands of our Father.

What great reminders and comfort; and yet I still struggle greatly with all of this. I still fear, forget to rest in Him, become anxious about things, and don't always trust or am joyful when I am frustrated. Yet, I know that the joy of the Lord is my strength. Joy is different from happiness-I may not be happy with my present circumstances, but I can always find joy in God when I look for it, and He will restore it when I seem to have lost it. Ok, so knowing all of this-why is it still so hard to trust? Why do I still worry and fear, wondering what the future holds when it is already in God's hands? I guess it is because I am human; and also because satan continues to prowl around, trying to trick me, lie to me, and bring me down. But, thankfully I know and serve the One who has conquered evil, and has asked me to follow Him. I made the decision to answer that call, and choose to trust in my Father...I just wish I was faithful in that endeavor.

What is God calling you to? What is your biggest challenge to answer that call?