Devoted

I spent years tripping myself up and sabotaging my life.

I'd blame it on the devil, other people, or circumstances I could use as a scapegoat. It's their fault, you see. They are the ones holding me back and preventing my growth and alignment with God's purpose for my life.

But it really wasn't them. It was me.

I'd get super close but struggled to stick to my landings of total awesomeness because, if I'm being honest, I just didn't like being uncomfortable and doing the hard work required to get all the way there.

As much as I wanted to change or reach that goal, the amount of effort to do so was hard, and the drive to return to my comfort zone, as uncomfortable as it was, outweighed the effort required to improve or move forward.

Even though I was motivated and driven, more often than not, my comfort zone beckoned me back into the mucky pit of stuckness.

It was my stinky, mucky pit; even though it was worn down and had a condemned sticker on the door, it was familiar and easy.

I finally had to ask myself - is this where I want to stay forever?

Who and what am I devoted to?

Am I devoted to stagnancy?

Am I devoted to staying stuck in victim thinking and the cycle of complaining and remaining?

Am I devoted to the devil and the lies he tells me that keep me stuck and imprisoned?

Am I devoted to habits and patterns that hurt me or others?

OR

Am I devoted to God, who loves me and tells me He has great plans for me? Am I willing to grab His hand and follow Him?

Am I devoted to Jesus, who sacrificed His life for me to show me a way out of sin and sorrow? Am I willing to grab His hand and follow Him?

Am I devoted to myself? Am I willing to do all I can to care for and love myself and live a life that makes me proud?

Who am I bound with?

Who am I loyal to?

Who gets an audience with me - internally and externally?

I need to consider who and what is worthy of my devotion and act accordingly.

God is worthy.

Jesus is worthy.

My body is worthy.

My mind is worthy.

I am worthy.

I am breaking up with my fear and sloth-like tendencies. They keep calling and trying to get back together, but I am not answering.

I want to live a life hopeFULLY devoted to dreams and dis-comfortable joy filled with purpose alignment.  

Will you come with me on this devotion-filled adventure?

When we get that little nudge to crawl back, shrink back, or stay back, we can hold hands and pull each other forward to live a hopeFULLY devoted life.

I might start singing, don't say I didn't warn you.

Romans 12: 1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.