The Risk is Right.

"If our single, all-embracing passion is to make much of Christ in life and death, and if the life that magnified Him most is the life of costly love, then life is risk and risk is right. To run from it is to waste your life" John Piper

Risk is the possibility to experience loss or injury.

Daily, as believers, we risk.

Living in this world--is risky.

And jumping onto the risk train isn't always an easy choice.

How do we get there? To be able to count loss as gain?

Process.

Change isn't a one time event.

It is a process.

I need a constant reminder.

Some seasons are harder than others. And this is one of those seasons.

I could focus too much on pouring all of my energy into wishing it would end, into worrying about when it will be over, into crying for "Spring"//a change in season.

Or I could embrace and buckle in for the adventure.

I have to trust.

I have to believe.

I have to commit.

I have to dwell and abide and surround myself with all that Jesus is.

There are fears.

I am scared of being alone. But scared of people. I push them away, but I desperately cry for them to appear.

I am scared that certain marks and wounds will always have a place and freedom is too far to reach.

I have tried multiple ways of fighting the insecurities that arise with fear and these hard seasons of unknowns.

Once I hit rock bottom, I'm often too exhausted and tired to do anything about it.

So I write myself letters in the moments when I'm filled and ready to pour out. And then in the crying and breaking down, I read words of promise, purpose and reminders of who I am in Christ and because of Christ.

While there are "worldly" ways and "easier" ways that I could probably use to turn off the lies for only just a minute. I know and have to rest my life on the fact that the only One who can bring about true freedom and purpose is the Lord.

More than ever, I am seeing believers accepting too much, letting too much become "comfortable", and settling for worldly ways...

Because the hard refining work of growth is painful, often times lonely, and always costs something.

But Jesus didn't come to say, 'Follow me, and bring it ALL with you.'

Some people look to Jesus and only focus on His "being good", yet we preach that being "good" won't save you. It's a mixed message to the world and people around you.

Jesus always said to follow Him and always required that you--leave the place, leave the stuff, and leave the life you've lived behind.

Growth is painful. Brokenness is hard. Insecurities and fighting this battle of lies, of comparing and of fears is really hard.

Keep fighting.

He's after your heart. He's after your mind. He's after your strength. He's after all you have.

And He's worth it.

When you fall in love with God, it is more than the love, grace and mercy that brings you to your knees. He is holy and just. And with reverence, I have to kneel with my face to the ground. I don't want to willingly choose to put sin in my life, when I know God and sin never coincide.

Jesus glorified the Father.

I want my life to glorify my Savior.

"Daily Christian living is daily Christian dying...of comfort and security and reputation and health and family and friends and wealth and homelands. These may be taken from us at any time in the path of Christ-exalting obedience. To die daily the way Paul did, and to take up our cross daily the way Jesus commanded, is to embrace this life of loss for Christ's sake and count it gain."

For those of you who may need the reminder that I needed today-- Be confident in this...

You are loved.

You are valued.

You are not too much.

Your insecurities are there for Jesus to fill. Let Him.

Jesus is in control with a plan.

Stop fighting people who care about you and let them love you.

It is going to be ok. The Lord wins. The enemy has no power over you. Beautifully surrender to God.

Worship. Be filled with peace in the presence.

You are free. Live free.

You are worth it. Look and remember what the Lord has done for you.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in YOU will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:16