When Complacency Grows.

noun, plural complacencies.

1.

a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

Have you ever read this definition of the word complacent? Go ahead read that, let it sink in a little bit. 

Here's the thing I've learned about being complacent before in seasons of my life; 

There's simply no room for God to move.

A feeling of quiet pleasure or security.

Unaware of the danger we're building relying on ourselves, instead of the Lord.

Seeking self-satisfaction instead of seeking to please the Lord.

When we have an attitude of complacency we have no room to let the Lord come into our lives and have control.

When I'm complacent it's all about me and my own agenda. It's all about what I want and not the Lord. And slowly you start making justifications for what you're doing, and how you're doing it so that it fits all of the above.

I want God to have free reign in my life. To let him into the messy parts of me and let him make something beautiful.

But I can't do that if I have a complacent attitude, if I'm not willing to give him a place in my life. 

A place to challenge me to the point of growth.

A place to have a voice in my life.

A place to rest in my heart.

What areas of your life would God want to challenge you in during this season of life?

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Just Five Things

Long before the days of blogging or before I even knew what a blog was I journaled. I still do. I started journaling when I was in 5th grade, every year at Christmas time my mom would buy me a new journal for the next year ahead. 

A nightly ritual for me was crawling into my cozy little bed and writing down all the woes and dramas that my little eleven year old self could muster. As I grew older it became a way for me to record thoughts, write how I felt without a filter and get my emotions out. I've continued this practice throughout my adult life. 

Six years ago when I was laid off my job, I sunk into a pretty deep depression. One the outside everyone thought I was fine. On the inside I was slowly dying inside and losing all hope that things could get better. When I started therapy sessions much of the time was focused on moving forward and forgiving. 

It was during this time that I started at the end of my journal entries "just five things" five things that I was thankful for that day.

During that season that I was in I needed to see measurable change, progress. I figured even though I was going through a really hard and difficult time it forced me to see the good, to see that God hadn't forgotten me, to see that there was hope in everyday life.

So I started writing every night five things that I was thankful for that day. This simple little act helped improve my overall attitude towards myself, God and my circumstances. 

Now six years later it's still something that I do. 

It's a small reminder of where I've been and how far God has brought me by Resting in Him. 

What are five things you're thankful for today?

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Be Joyful Always.

This year I've been going through each book of the Bible and reading it in its entirety. It's been a long time since I've read through each book of the Bible, usually I'm just skipping all around or following a Bible reading plan I found online. 

It's been so good for me, and I'm pretty sure God knew I needed to dig into his word more and read some very important key scriptures. Yesterday I spent some time in the book of 1 Thessalonians. 

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

I've read that verse a several times in my walk with the Lord and each time I'm challenged by it and kicked in the pants a little bit by it. 

If we break that verse down line by line and really think about what he's saying to us. 

1. Am I joyful always or just when good things are happening?
2. Am I praying and bringing to the Lord everything?
3. Am I thankful no matter what is happening to me or around me?

I have to admit in my human nature I am not always doing any of those things. But when I read that verse it just gave me a little hope and encouragement and a little guide of how God wants me to look at my life. 

He wants me to be joyful, he wants me to bring everything to Him and let him take care of my needs, he wants me to be thankful and at peace. 

I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11

This is what I'm resting on today. 

More Jesus, Less Excess.

I saw this commercial a few weeks ago, it's not new by any means I just was seeing it for the first time. It's a Verizon commercial for their more everything plan. I really didn't like the over all message of it, but as much as I didn't like it it hit me that it's very true for most of our culture. Go head, give it a watch if you haven't seen it. 

I really sat back and was honestly saddened by the whole idea that as a culture and society we're obsessed with more. We like more things, we're a culture that over spends, doesn't save and most do not live within their means. 

I was coming off the heels of having read both Seven & Interrupted and God was already stirring in me some things before that. It's really been a convicting reality check for myself and how I look at what my family spends, consumes and wastes. 

Are you so obsessed as a culture with the idea of having more and it's never enough? I think some would answer yes. 

I think in certain areas of my life I would answer yes as well. 

I think there are some areas where there's a lot of excess where there needs to be more Jesus. 

More Jesus guiding me in those areas instead of my own selfish desires. 

Dying to my Spirit when I think I "need" something or just "want" something. Am I saying having things is wrong? No, I'm not. We all have things in our lives we've worked hard for to have. What I am talking about is our attitudes and the heart behind it. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21

What am I treasuring?

Is it more than I treasure my relationship with the Lord?

Am I putting my trust for my fiances in Jesus who is the giver of all my blessings anyway and it really belongs to Him?

Am I consuming just because or is there a purpose behind it? 

Am I spending just because I can? Am I spending and living beyond my means of what God's provided?

Just a few questions to ask myself as I continue to rest in the Lord and keep my focus on Him and not earthly things. And not things that don't matter this side of heaven.

Pushing aside all the excess and focusing more on Jesus is where I'd like to be.

Put on Love.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive what grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as member of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:12

I read this verse this morning and was really challenged by so many aspects of it. In this passage Paul is specifically talking to us a believers. He's addresses believers in how we should act and treat another believer. That we should be in unity with one another, there should be no division among the church. 

If there is division there and we can not reconcile how can we expect to reach a fallen world around us? How can we reach others that do not know Christ when we are in discord with our fellow believers. 

If you are living and breathing on this earth I am sure at some point you have come to a disagreement with a fellow believer over something or another. Right?! Christ calls us to a higher standard to forgive one another, work past our grievances and "put on love."

I especially love that line. Put on love. What does that mean? 

Instead of being offended so quickly, put on love.

Instead of jumping to conclusions, put on love.

Instead of judgements, put on love.

When we aren't sure what to do next, put on love.

When we don't know what to say, put on love.

When we don't know how to move on, put on love.

Love one another because Christ first loved us. Forgive because he first forgave us. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 4:17

This is a challenge for my own heart this week. To constantly come back to this place of putting on love even when I do not feel like it or exactly know how. Because as a believer that's what Christ has called me to do.