Something More

“Stop hoping and start hoping!” – Dr. John Avant

My pastor shared this point two weeks ago in his message about God’s song for our country. His point was addressing the fact that we need to stop placing our hope in man and ultimately place it in the Lord as the only source for turning our country around. However, his point has resonated in every area of my life. I am so quick to place my hope in the things around me versus in the One who created me.

Far too often, I place my hope in the things around me …

I hope that this “new diet” will be the long awaited answer to me finally becoming the dream person that I have wanted to be vs. having to put in the work that I know I need to in order to be healthy.

I hope that the right filter on my latest selfie will soften my imperfections and catch the eye of the right guy on Christian Mingle vs. working on filtering my words and actions through the love of Christ so that I reflect Him more than my “ideal image.”

I hope to have that or be this by a certain point in life vs. seeking to give of myself more to others.

I hope to find love and sense of worth in the eyes of Mr. Right vs. finding my true worth in the fact that I am a child of God. That’s enough.

Trying to find my sense of worth through the eyes of a man puts way too much pressure on a fellow. I mean I may be looking for the Sully to match my Dr. Quinn. The Walker, Texas Ranger to my Alex Cahill. The Zack Morris to my Kelly Kapowski (ok … I am stretching there.) The Isaac to my Rebekah or better yet the Abraham to my Sarah as we are already pushing it in our ages at this point. 🙂

In all seriousness, though, I realized this when a gentleman shared that we would be better off as friends. While it was humbling to realize that he was not attracted to me after a few dates and a few weeks of talking, the Lord allowed me some “pretty” moments but showed me that my ultimate satisfaction isn’t to be based on what is reflected back to me in the mirror. No, I long to possess the beautiful qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit and to have a heart like His. I’ll still work on my outer shell but I definitely want to focus more on the inside because that is what I am truly attracted to when it comes to the opposite sex.

These are just some ways that I have been placing my hope in the wrong things and please know,  I am not condemning myself but merely sharing how the Lord has been opening my eyes to the areas that He wants to saturate with Himself. And is not it just like the Lord that part of my Bible reading for this month is focused on beauty? The other part is on patience and perseverance … not so thrilled about that one. Just kidding. 🙂

What are some areas of your life that He wants to saturate? Areas of doubts or fears? Are you replacing His presence in your life with tangible things that can’t really satisfy but only offer a temporary fix?

“Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will not be shaken.
My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.
My refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts before Him.
God is our refuge. Selah” Psalm 62:5-8

So I am purposing to place my hope in Christ alone as that is the best place to for my hope to rest in and will leave everything else, the hope for something more, up to Him.

I love you all!