Calling YOU!

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT)

It is a beautiful thing to live a life in line with your calling. It may take time--painstakingly slow time but the reward is beyond great. I am finding that now that I have a clear picture of what I feel is my calling, it is so much easier to go about my day knowing that I am working towards an end that I really want. Even though some of the things along the way are working my last nerve at times, I can move forward with confidence keeping my vision at the forefront of my mind. 

My only note of caution is to remember that your vision is NOT for everyone. People may not see why you choose to do ____ when you could ___. But that is okay; hard but okay--especially for someone like me who likes to share ideas, dreams, etc with others.

People don't have to understand the race, they can see you at the finish line.



Mid-Week Boost: Pray

Prayer changes things

. If you need some prayer starters today here you go:

From the book The Power of a Praying Woman

No Competition Needed

I may or may not have written about jealousy and competition before but I feel like it is worth discussing again.

Do you ever feel like you are always in a competition with someone? I am all for friendly competition but I do not like be pitted against other people, especially other women. I once heard or read that gifts are not given to us for competition but for cooperation. There are so many things that need to be done in this world that we don't really need to compete for anything. Cooperation is far greater than competition.

We are all gifted to do something. Half of the time, we don't really want to do what other people are doing anyway. I know that I don't like to clean so I am not going to knock anyone who does. I believe that I am a leader in my own way but that doesn't mean I want to lead a school or take on a major leadership role that I know I am not really committed to.If another sister does, go head girl. I will not be getting in your way. In fact I will cheer you on. I am not about needles or dealing with sick people but more power to our nurses and doctors.

A lot of problems with unhealthy competition arise when people don't realize that they are always trying to compete with some one or they don't really understand their own gifts. If you don't understand your gift, you can misuse it. Once you understand your gift, you find ways to use. Anyone who gets in the way of that needs to go. The last thing you need is someone constantly checking what you do just to compare instead of uplifting and supporting you.

If you must compete with someone all the time, compete with yourself! This is the only surefire way to help you stay humble and avoid jealousy. A good example of this is Beyonce. Even Beyonce haters can agree that just when you think she has done it all, she finds another way to reinvent herself evolve.

We can all do whatever we desire in our hearts. So support and encourage your sisters whenever you can.

Why not?

P.S.

Don't forget these gems from Afrobella that I posted in a while back.

 What Beyonce's New Album Release Has Taught Me

1. Don’t talk about it. Just be about it. In fact, shut up about it until you’ve got something to actually talk about.
2. Never be afraid to step your game up and take your craft to a higher level.
3. Keep a close counsel and protect your vision.
4. Leave procrastination in 2013.
5. Switch things up and keep the people guessing.
6. Be ambitious. You set trends that way.
7. Let them talk. They’re gonna talk anyway. Your best response is in the work you produce.

Mid-Week Boost: Working Right

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. (Colossians 3:23, 24 NLT)

Sometimes it feels like I have been working so long and hard over the years that I am already ready to retire. According to my human development course, I am still in early adulthood--a time in which I should still be choosing a career, so the real work is only just beginning. 

I am a hard worker. And while being hardworking is a quality that most people want to have, sometimes we can let it get in the way of actually enjoying life (at least I do). Do we really need to read that e-mail or respond to that message within 10 seconds? We may not have quantity time given our occupations and our various roles and responsibilities but we ensure that we are using our time in quality ways. Think about this as we finish out this week.

May is almost here.

Four months of 2014 have passed us by.

How will you use your time for the rest of this year?

Get this devotional Life Application Study Bible Devotion for free in Bible App or here,
It is short and sweet everyday!



Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable

Have you ever noticed that almost everything we want comes to us through being uncomfortable? You want to lose weight? Workouts and backing away from the plate are uncomfortable. Those jeans that used to fit get a little tight. Ladies-you want that hair looking fresh? Sitting under the hot dryer or getting those braids in is uncomfortable. You want that baby? Delivery is uncomfortable (uncomfortable is an understatement here but I digress). Climbing that career ladder? There are a ton of uncomfortable moments along the way. This list could go on and on.

Personally, I am not a fan of being uncomfortable. I am all about a spa day, relaxation, or peace and quiet reading a book. Hiking doesn't excite me. Running doesn't bring me to a clear headed state. I don't like to argue. I like seeing people happy. Being uncomfortable is not my cup of tea. Is it any ones?

 

I have found myself at yet another crossroads were there are going to be some necessary uncomfortable moments. At this point, I am picking which type of discomfort I want to endure momentarily in order to reach my long term goals. In the end, being uncomfortable is a means to a desired end in most cases. Think about Jesus on the cross. He could have come down and stopped his pain at any moment but he knew the big picture. We may not always know the big picture and our big picture may change but the discomfort that comes with getting there will have to happen. We can either embrace it or let it paralyze us. 

 

Think about what you are most proud of. Were there some uncomfortable moments along the way?

 

We have to be comfortable with the uncomfortable some times.

 

Don't get so comfortable that you miss Gods calling on your life and opportunities to live out your purpose.



From the Life Application Study Bible Devotion. Get more here.