How to Satisfy our Hearts Desire for More

On October 22, 2015October 21, 2015 By Styld by GraceIn Culture, Faith2 Comments

“God, I know there’s more. Why do I feel so empty? I have everything I ever wanted and everything I need”. I prayed that with tears flowing heavily from my eyes. I had this feeling like something was missing, but I didn’t know what it was.

LeanIn_Artwork

Have you ever been there? How ungrateful on my part to feel discontent. At least, that’s what I thought. I have a roof over my head, never go without eating, a great husband, and amazing family and friends. What was wrong with me?

There was a longing in my heart that I couldn’t put my finger on. All the “things” I had, even the people in my life, couldn’t satisfy it. Feeling drained and tired, I cried out to God. “Whatever this feeling is, fill it with you, Lord”. At the time, I didn’t realize that’s exactly what God wanted.

The closer I got to Him, the more I stepped into His presence, the lighter and more joyful I felt. That burden and heaviness I felt slowly diminished as I listened to what God had planned for my life. I didn’t realize that the thirst I was experiencing was God himself drawing me to Him.

I have to admit that many times I try to dismiss that feeling by filling my schedule with more stuff to do. Or I avoid taking a moment to be with God, by being on my phone for hours. (By the way, why is social media so addictive?!) When we come face to face with God, there are things He wants to show us and maybe, just maybe, deep down, we are afraid to know.

The truth is that we all long for more. And we think that the “more” we desire will be satisfied by things or people. We see in the media, that celebrities, millionaires, the rich and famous have it all, but many are addicted to drugs or live promiscuous lives.

Some put their achievements and goals on a pedestal that only God should occupy. Our marriages, the people we love, can also start to occupy the place God is supposed to fill in our hearts.

The reality that I’ve come to discover is that the “more” we long for can only be satisfied by what God has for us. Stepping into His presence to hear from Him can totally be scary because many times His “more” doesn’t align with what we have put first in our lives.

Friend, I invite you to let go of your phone, laptop, open up your schedule and press into His presence. Lean into, walk in, run into His presence. There’s more for your life. Let go of the fear, of the excuses, the idols, and let Him satisfy your longing for more. What He has for you, is greater and grander than any plan, achievement, or material desire, you have in mind.

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way.” Psalm 37:23

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Just Live your Life

On May 15, 2014May 14, 2014 By Styld by GraceIn Culture, FaithLeave a comment

There could be many reasons to want to be someone or something we weren’t supposed to be. Perhaps someone convinced you that you were the ugliest person. Maybe someone told you that you’d never amount to anything. Or maybe you doubt the dreams and talents that God gave you. I have dealt with similar words, thoughts and feelings.

There isn’t one popular magazine that doesn’t air brush and photoshop their featured model. They all do it and in some cases, it is very obvious. In a world obsessed with an unachievable standard of beauty, I am not a bit surprised to see young women going to extreme measures and forming unhealthy habits to reach “perfection”. We have been conditioned to live discontent with who we are. In some cases we adjust our hobbies, likes, and dreams to fit a mold of some sort.

The truth is, we were created to run in our own lane. We run the same race of life, but we run it, in our lane. We don’t do justice to our talents, unique personalities and specific calling, when we are constantly trying to live like someone else. We don’t do justice to who God made us to be, when we can’t love ourselves for who we are.

A few weeks ago, I decided to change my hair. It was a drastic change; to the point where people didn’t recognize me. I was on the fence to go through with it, but I said to myself, “Do you want to do this for you, or for others?; Do you want to change your hair or are you nervous about what others might think or say?” Might seem silly, might seem minuscule but it was something I had to do for myself. It was my way of saying, “Ok, I will be me”. I believe that when you act and live in the essence of who God created you to be, there is nothing to be afraid of, there is nothing to hide. Being genuine goes a long way. And the people around you will notice. They may not recognize you at first, but it will be worth it in the end. There is a feeling of freedom and satisfaction that you achieve when you live your life loving you, for you, and walking out the calling God placed on your life at your own pace.

Looking at the way others live, looking at what other have or don’t have, doubting ourselves because we don’t have it all together yet, can hinder the way we run our race. One of the most important things in running a race, is running steady, focused and keeping your destination in mind.

I am going to run my race and I’m going to run it right. I will run it the way God wants me to run it, without looking to my left or right. I will keep my eye on the prize, which is Christ.

“Be you, enjoy the things you like, laugh the way only you laugh, speak the words only you can speak, wear your hair the way you like, live your life, be who you were meant to be”. As Rhi-Rhi would say “Just live your life”.

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone”. Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG)

Have you ever felt discontent with who you are or with the way your life looks? What are some steps you can take today, to live life with contentment?