Geography ain't Nothing

Ah the joys of being humbled by the Lord. I was pretty convinced that the Lord was going to cut me some slack after my move to Des Moines. I had my sights set on coasting content and carefree as I basked in my complete and total obedience to the Lord. I mean, come on. I deserve it, right? Quit my job, donated my car, paid of credit, moved from the snowboarding capital of the United States to....Iowa? I was riding high, sure that there were none more obedient than I. False. I have learned so much from the Lord over the past month. Biggest thing I've learned? The Lord doesn't care about my geography. I felt like I was giving Him EVERYTHING by moving here. In reality, I believe I gave Him about 2% of what He wanted from me. He doesn't care about where my feet are planted or where my head is resting. He wants my heart. And all of it. I don't say that to mean that the Lord is full of punishment and anger, but He wants my heart because He wants me to know love. He wants me to know truth, peace, love, grace, and most importantly, He wants me to know Jesus.

I've felt the Lord's desires very clearly recently. "I gave you my job." But He wants my trust. "I gave you my car." But He wants my faith. "I gave you love for the mountains." But he wants my heart. His desires for me are constantly out of love and faithfulness. He will never abandon me, never forsake me, and never give up on me. When I stumble and fall, declaring my own desires more important than His, He will pick me up, dust me off, kiss my cheek, remind me of His Son, and send me back off into the world, all the while keeping His hand fixed to my life.

I don't know why I want to hold on to my control over my life. I am filled with wickedness. I trust the desires of my flesh and the promises of the world to bring me joy. Without the Lord in my life I would run from worthless idol to worthless idol demanding joy and fulfilment from something that can never feed me. The only way I will experience life is to follow the paths of the Lord. Psalm 16 says, "You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence." Why do I still believe the paths of this world will bring me anything other than deception and evil. This world has nothing for me. My own desires for my life will bring about nothing but destruction and pride as I strive more and more towards obtaining the completion of MY goals.

The Lord is humbling me, and it is good. He is reminding me of who He is and what He has done for me. He is showing me through His word and through the council of other Christians that my humility will bring about a better understanding of who He is and what His promises are. I will continue to thank God for what He has done for me. For saving me from death, and sending His Son to die for my sins.