A Closer Walk With Him

    Have you ever chosen to do something that was a bit outside your comfort zone? I had a whole year where I focused on doing that. But just because that was my spiritual focus for a year, doesn't mean I'm done with stepping out of my comfort zone. I still have to make choices that my brain says, "I wouldn't do that because you'll be uncomfortable." Yet, I choose to do it because I feel led to do it.

   One particular time I felt led to talking with new people. Now I am an introvert, but I enjoy talking with people one on one. When I was younger, I made friendships, new and old ones, idols. Instead of thinking of God when I woke up, I turned on my devices and looked at what my friends wrote me right away. That was unhealthy for me, and I learned my lesson. Thus, when I felt led to open myself to new relationships, I was nervous. I didn't understand why God would want me to do this when I struggled with this relationship problem in the past.

   Nevertheless, I followed the calling. Because I followed, I got to know new people. I got to help others grow and vice versa. But I think the biggest thing I realized through that experience is how much I had grown in the Lord. 

   Rather than leaning on those new relationships, I made my relationship with God more of a priority. I knew from past mistakes that if I leaned on anything other than my relationship with God I would get hurt and so would others. I spent more time with God when I began that season. I woke up each day thinking about God and how blessed I was to have a relationship with Him. I didn't check my phone every 5 minutes to see if I had a message like I used to in past friendships. Instead, I went about my day like I normally would have and didn't dwell on those new relationships. 

   God challenged me to step outside my comfort zone. Because I accepted the challenge, I grew in my relationship with him. If I wouldn't have done what I felt led to do because of fear, I wouldn't have grown or seen how much I had grown. God asked me to do something hard because he loves me. What's he asking you to do?

   Joshua 1:9 and Proverbs 3:5-6