I have to start tonight's entry out by saying how exceedingly thankful I am to God for allowing me to have a such great week of walking and for all the growing He's allowing me to experience through His Word. I'm human, so the week wasn't perfect, but I'm thankful for it nonetheless. I didn't do anything different this past week then I have before. I didn't mess with the electricity in my brain. I even fell (more on this later in the post, but it wasn't my walking that caused it!), yet I'm still so very, very thankful.
I was at work on Friday walking to the restroom of all places when it struck me, when do I stop being “cautiously optimistic” about walking well and finally just be optimistic?! I feel like God's telling me to be joyful. Rejoice in the good days and remember them when tougher days come along. It takes a LOT of work to change a personality. I’m naturally a pessimist, but I long to be an optimist, so I'll strive for that, even when it's hard.
I have been blessed with SO MANY Bible verses this week that have spoken to me in my Bible reading. I was in Esther and Job and am now in Psalms and truly, I just need to stop highlighting verses, because eventually every single one of them will be highlighted. ;) I did want to share some in this post with everyone because it's God's Word and it's spoken directly to me and you. Here are a few of my favorites:
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14
"For such a time as this". Is God working in me for a future purpose? Maybe it's even for a present purpose? Is He allowing me to go through walking difficulties, so that in some way, I'm able to help someone else? He uses everything in our lives to draw us closer to Him and to allow us to share His love with others. So who knows...maybe this is my "for such a time as this". I know this: I shall not remain silent about what God's doing in my life. He's a mighty God and He's doing mighty things!
"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Job 5:9
I actually have this verse up on a wall in my kitchen (thanks to my friend, Kristen's store!). Yes, God performs wonders and miracles beyond what we can even fathom. He did when Jesus walked the earth and He does now. We of little faith forget this way too often (I count myself in that "we"). Also, I just realized that this verse is in Job TWICE. It's also in Job 9:10. How cool is that?!
"Does he not see my ways and count my ever step?" Job 31:4
He counts every step, just like he counts every hair on our head.
"He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food." Job 36:16
I love that God is "wooing" me (and you).
Saturday, I did some deep cleaning. I did a lot of dusting. This is when I fell. It unfolded like a comedy of errors. I had a plaque over the door frame to my room. I basically had just balanced it up there instead of nailing it. Anyway, I saw cobwebs above it, so I decided to dust it. Well, the dust rag caught the plaque and caused it to fall, which startled me and caused me to fall. I landed on my hand, but just as soon as I landed the plaque hit me in the head. Seriously, it must of been a sight to see. I didn't injure myself and surprisingly didn't even get bruises where I thought I might. This fall can only mean one thing: I shouldn't have been dusting. ;)
Sunday, I was able to walk into church with relative ease. I'm thankful for friends and fellow church members distracting me enough to where I don't put ALL my focus on walking. I'm also thankful to my brother and sister-in-law who allow me to hold on to my two-year-old niece's hand as we go up to communion, so that, again, my focus is on something other than my walking. It's a great balancing act (pun intended): focusing on walking, but not too much so that I get all in my head and psych myself out.
Yesterday, I did something completely out of my comfort zone. I attended a meeting of Toastmasters at work. Toastmasters is a club that teaches people how to give speeches and how to speak publicly. While I can be very outgoing sometimes (mostly at work!), I'm an introvert in my core and it scares me to talk in front of big crowds. I was invited as a guest to this meeting and something amazing happened. I don't think I've ever been as quiet as I was during the meeting - ha! You see, I'm (slowly) learning that I don't always need to talk. Sometimes, it's best to be quiet, listen and learn. It was a great experience and I think I'm going to go back.
Tonight, I had yoga and it was good. I never know if I'm going to be able to do a pose or not, but more times then not, I surprise myself. I'm very thankful for a kind and patient instructor. Tonight, she taught me a new pose, but I kept rolling out of it (basically losing my balance and literally rolling out of it). She laughed and said a lot of people roll out of it because it's hard (to keep the pose). But, eventually I did it. I love learning new things and also being challenged.
God's been challenging me in several different areas of my life to learn, to grow, to be still, to take action, to do, to stay calm, to walk, to be brave, to seek His face, to give Him glory, to love with everything in me, to pray, to keep going, to be joyful in affliction, to love without restriction, to be all He has made me to be. And so, with His help, I will.
And in everything, I'll always remember that "God's Got This!".
