Thursday, December 17, 2015

Journal | woodland wandering

Gray, pleasant December weather shrouds my homeland... no snow, no bitter cold, no icy roads. Not yet.

The world looks more like a subdued, colorless October-- quiet and cool--with rainy days and some gusty winds.

I did not mean to be absent from my blog this month; I actually had about four posts under construction... yet they remain drafts. Life has been a bit busy, what with finals and Christmas preparations... and other things. I just felt no push to get anything posted, and decided that maybe I was meant to take December as a blogging break.

(Besides, I'm not really good and themeing things to fit the holiday season... and I'd feel kind of obliged to post Christmas-y things for you guys if I posted this month, ya know? ;) )

But I am writing this journal ~ as the rain patters on the roof above my head.

I went for a walk this morning, up to the woods.

(This is after I slept in. The day after my very last finals. No school, no chores, free!)

In all honesty, because I want to remain honest here, I've been having some difficult times.
And I want change.

Because this is not where I am meant to be. This is not wear Jesus died to put me. He has lifted me up, set my feet upon a rock, and has not given me a Spirit of fear, but of love, of power, and of a sound mind.

A sound mind. 

Most of my internal struggling has been in the mind, and any outward conflict has been because I allowed what was wrong in my mind to take actual form in my life. We really do create the majority of our circumstances. (I say majority, because I know there certainly are things beyond our control.) But also, most of the time that a struggle arises is because we have allowed ourselves to view it from a position of vulnerability, defensiveness, or defeat.

(I should be using the pronoun I instead of we because I don't wish to point fingers at other people. I'm just speaking of my own experiences.)

Do you ever have the opportunity to walk through the woods?

It's very calming. And the best part is that you're all alone.

 I can talk to Him out loud.

Have you ever declared God's word out loud? Repeating what you know He has said... instead of what you currently see or feel? 

His Words do not return to Him void.  There is enormous power in the Word of God (learning so much about this lately...), and in knowing it in your heart. 

Believing what He has said. Declaring it in defiance to whatever junk may be coming your way in thought or action.

I always treasured the angel's words to Mary, because I believe they apply to the lot of us:

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!" {Luke 1:45}

(LOL-- Christmas reference! I did it!)

Simply: speaking out what is True, what is promised, and what is pure & good over your life will knock out those wrong thoughts, corrupt feelings, and frivolous notions. The confusion dissipates in light of all that God has said to make your path straight.

I have so many topics I want to cover over the next few months on this blog. The New Year is going to bring a bountiful slew of new posts-- I look forward to writing and sharing, and I appreciate from the bottom of my heart those of your who take the time to read, share, & comment. ^_^

I still have things in front of me to work through, to put in their proper place.

But I have the armor, I have the equipment, and it's time to put it into practice.

I'm so grateful for a God who gives me grace and Loves me unconditionally. Thankful for His words that restore and encourage-- for all the blessings He has bestowed-- and for this season of celebrating my Savior's birth.

Merry Christmas

            Happy New Year

                      ...and looking forward to some fresh perspective. :)

2 comments:

  1. It's so wonderful to be free from assignments and tests for awhile :)
    Agreed, the woods are amazing! I'm so glad you got to go for a walk with Jesus and pour out that beautiful heart of yours to Him. By you doing that, you've challenged me to walk with Him too.

    I feel like a lover who spends more time working on getting little gifts to give my love instead of giving the gift that He truly longs for...time with me. All I could ever give Him anyway is my time. The funny thing is, it's so easy to give and yet I make it harder on myself by trying so hard to please Him by doing things. Ahhh!
    So, I need to go for more walks in the woods. Thank you for the challenge, Sister. It's something I needed to hear. :)

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  2. Oh, Hannah….good stuff! This paragraph sets people free with its Biblical Truth: "Most of my internal struggling has been in the mind, and any outward conflict has been because I allowed what was wrong in my mind to take actual form in my life. We really do create the majority of our circumstances. (I say majority, because I know there certainly are things beyond our control.) But also, most of the time that a struggle arises is because we have allowed ourselves to view it from a position of vulnerability, defensiveness, or defeat." So true….why we need to take every thought captive and make it bow to Christ. Merry Christmas! Blessings from Espressos of Faith!

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Colossians 4:6 (AMP)
Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].