This concept has been heavy on my heart lately. I just walked through a serious moment of transition: completing grad school, moving home with my parents for the summer, then moving by myself to a new city I had never been to before. Yet, I knew this was the direction God was directing my steps. I knew He was leading me into these spaces. It's been a weird balance of peace and terror... okay, maybe not terror, but you get what I'm saying.
I had a handful of nights when I got to my new city where the anxiety seemed to cover me like a wave. My mind would get tossed back and forth from one worry to another; mind you, all these worries were semi-irrational. For the past year and a half, I've gone through periods of time where I allowed anxiety to take the throne and memories of past experiences to surface and consequently carry weight they no longer possess (a hard truth to swallow sometimes, y'all).
One night in particular, I found myself pacing my apartment, praying somewhat frantically. About ten minutes in, I noticed how weird it felt to pray. It felt like I was talking to an acquaintance. I realized the distance I had allowed to build between God and I increased with each passing day that I didn't spend time in the Bible, or even praying in the first place. I had been so consumed in earthly duties (and not even bad ones! things like moving and packing and planning and driving and unpacking and trainings) that I failed to create moments where I could pause and realign my focus on the Source of everything I need each day.
I had failed to acknowledge that there are choices I can be making ON MY END to foster a stronger relationship with God. There can be intentional movements that allow for His Spirit to dwell more fully within me.
So that's where this series comes in, because I think we could all use some encouragement to remember what we can be doing ON OUR END to make space for God in our day-to-day.... not that He needs it, but that we do. I am self-aware enough to know I can't do this (life) without Him. And quite frankly, I don't want to.
Micah 6:8 ESV He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?