Teen Perspective // reactive or overcomer?

I’m thankful for Ethan Ramsey’s willingness to share with us today. As a senior in high school, he offers insight to those of us who are walking with Jesus! May you be encouraged!

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As Christians, we have to live with an internal war being fought every day between our old self (the flesh) and the new creation Christ has made us into (the spirit). At times it becomes very discouraging to know I have lost the battle and reverted back to my flesh. One thing that gives me courage is to know that even the apostle Paul struggled with this internal conflict, as he says in Romans 7:15-25.

Like Paul, it seems to me that at times I do the exact opposite of the things I want to do. It’s easy for me to fall into the carnal mindset and get caught up in my immediate circumstances rather than to be Kingdom oriented. This carnal side of me, my flesh, is not a likable person. I am very reactive to my circumstances rather than an overcomer of them.

It’s easy for me to get caught up in my school work, with the papers there are to write, and the pressure of college applications and scholarships. Thankfully, I am able to recognize when I fall into this carnal mindset, because when I allow my flesh to win the battle, I quickly feel defeated. To get out of it, I have to pray, asking God to refocus me, and as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we can live in the spirit as we run the race that is set before us.

on being swept away

So, did you sit a spell as encouraged on Friday? To be honest I got to feeling hypocritical because my weekend felt hectic and exhausting with no sitting. Until the end. Last night…ah last night. I sat still. Not for long, but just long enough to remember what it felt like to breathe slowly. In breathing slowly, I felt a spark catch inside–feeling alive rather than run down; a little want-to rather than the drudge of have-to; smiling rather than gasping for air! There was no blazing fire, but a spark is all it takes, right?

We are wise to guard against being swept away by the demanding whirlwind of life. In being swept away, our joy is lost. And without joy…well, life gets heavy & sour. So if you sat a spell…I’m very proud of you. If you didn’t, there’s always today!

I hope your day is awesome!

stumped // what to do about it

The guys are doing some final work at our lake site, in preparation for digging the thing! Removal of the stumps is the current work. While capturing some (iphone…eck) shots of the process, I was hit with a life lesson right there in the middle of the mud pit!

Think with me…have you ever felt entirely uprooted, yanked out from what you'd always known, taken from the place where you were quite comfortably doing your thing?

Then, tightly gripped in the claws of the inevitable with fear suffocating your heart, being carried away to the unknown?

Have you then been plopped down in the middle of your greatest fear, shaking and trembling and wondering just Whose idea this was and what was He thinking? Being out of the path of the known draped in feelings of inadequacy and unsurety, even ruin?

If so, we can relate to each other then! If not, enjoy your comfort for a short time longer;). I'm currenly finding myself in the uprooted position, and I need those feelings and fears to quiet down so I can function effectively. So here's how I'm working on overcoming the discomfort of leaving my comfort zone:

1. Breathe // seems a no brainer, but seriously, take a deep breath!

2. Get Perspective // pull out from the freaking out filling the head!

For me, that means remembering my small part in the work God is doing. He's got me here, all depends on Him! The world doesn't rest on my shoulders!

3. Dive in // Thinking about something is far worse than doing it!

Like homework, housechores, or gruntwork, they are much more overwhelming than if we would just get to work on them. In the middle of it, we wonder why we were freaking out!

4. Pray without Ceasing // Staying connected is everything!

For me, the more I chat through my fears and struggles, worries and cares with my Daddy, the less I feel alone with them, the lighter the load feels. Because I believe God is intimately acquainted with me, I believe He cares, He helps, He causes all things to work for His good. He's the magic behind life!

We don't have to stay stumped by fear. We can be uprooted for the glory of God!

Do you have ideas to help in the process of being uprooted and plopped in unfamiliar territory?