Lately, I’ve gotten back into playing golf. I’m not saying that I’m all that good at it, but I do my best and I enjoy it very much. As I’ve been playing, life lessons have seemed to surround me. Even if you’re not into golf, these can apply to anyone.
Ability can only take you so far. Believability will get you where you need to go. Whether I’m hitting the ball, or my husband is, this has proven true. Whatever our ability is, it means nothing if we don’t believe we can do what we set out to do.
Don’t you find that true in life, too? Think about all of the people you may know, you may even be one of them, who have so much potential, but who doesn’t seem to achieve as much as those around them know they could. So much of what we accomplish in life starts in our own heads. We may know what we need to do, we may even know how to do what we need to do, but if we can’t envision ourselves at the end of the finish line, all of that ability and knowledge means nothing. But, when we can see ourselves crossing that finish line, even if you don’t end up coming in first, you begin to realize that anything is possible!
What have you been wanting to do, but you stop yourself before you even begin? What dream do you wish you could accomplish, but your past attempts have failed? As long as you have breath, and especially if you have the ability, you need to start believing and do it!
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If people are honest, most want to be known, but are also afraid for too many to fully know them. Seems kind of odd, but really, it makes sense. For some people, they are afraid of revealing too much and not being liked. For others, they’re afraid of someone getting too close and then getting hurt by them, because it has happened before. Whatever the reason, every single one of us is known and loved.
Some of you may be reading this and thinking, “Yeah, right.” But, it’s true. Our Creator knows us better than we know ourselves. God loves us, even when we act or do things that others may find unlovable. Even when Christ was looking down upon those who despised Him, He looked up and cried to His Father, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24) That is beyond our comprehension to look at others and feel such immense love, even when they feel none in return, but God feels that way about us.
In fact, even before you were born, you were seen by Him and loved dearly. “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” (Psalms 139:13-18 NLT)
There’s a story in the book of Genesis about a servant of Abram (later Abraham) and Sarai (later Sarah), named Hagar. God told Abram and Sarai that they were going to conceive, but when it took too long, Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands. She gave Sarai to Abram, so they could have a child. Then, what does she do? After Hagar became pregnant, Sarai became so bitter with her that she treated her cruelly, to the point that Hagar left.
At one point, in the midst of fleeing, God sent an angel to speak directly to Hagar. In Genesis, 16:11-14, we learn, “And the angel also said, ‘You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives. Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, ‘You are the God who sees me.’ She also said, ‘Have I truly seen the One who sees me?’So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means ‘well of the Living One who sees me’). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.”
A woman, who is never mentioned as knowing God, is not only shown that He saw her and He cared about her and even her unborn son. Likewise, no matter where you find yourself in life, and no matter what you have ever done, God sees you. He knows you. He loves you.
If you don’t know Him and would like to, please feel free to leave me a message. Having a relationship with God is one that will never fail you. If you already know Him, but still struggle with the idea of others fully knowing you, ask God to help you. You are His precious creation and worth being known.
Are there those who will desire to hurt you? Always, but there are also those who desire and will love you, for who you are, imperfections and all. Those are the people who look at you, and see all the amazing things you have to offer others and to the world.
You are here for such a time as this (Esther 4:14), because God has a purpose, a plan for you and your life (Jeremiah 29:11). This requires you to be known by others. Why? Because as they get to know, His desire is that they will see Him in you and want to know more about Him.
As my final word on this subject today, please check out this terriifc video that really shows the relationship God wants with us. It comes from the story of the woman at the well, in John 4:
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I admit. I enjoy talking. This wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who knows me. While I try to use my words for good, I’m human, and there are those times when I say something hurtful. I always regret those moments. I know that everyone does this, but I spend much of my day teaching, and a lot of the rest of my time is taken with family, friends and ministering. So, I’m around people a lot. I love interacting with others. There are those who even seek me out, to talk, which I love. So, the last thing I want to do is say something thoughtless.
There is an overwhelming number of verses warning us to watch what comes out of our mouths. Do you think God is trying to tell us something? Ephesians 4:29 tells us, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
Everything? Yes, the Word says, “everything”. Seems like an impossible task, but how much of that thought stems from a lack of self-control? Though I still have a long way to go in improving in this area, over the years, I have tried to think more before I speak. This is possible to do, more often than we would like to admit.
King Solomon was known for his wisdom, a wisdom he acquired through his obedience to God and a desire to live in His ways. King Solomon stated that there is “a time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak” in Ecclesiastes 3:7. Are there times when we want to say something, but shouldn’t? Absolutely.
Learning when to speak and when to be silent can only come from asking God for help. It isn’t something that comes naturally. We are told in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” If you’re struggling in this area, ask God to help you. Also, be real and ask those who are close to you to help keep you accountable, to help you when you’re not aware of these slip ups.
Too often, when we say words we shouldn’t, we follow it with, “Just saying. . .” We could all spend a little less time saying, and a little more time listening, a little less time providing our input and a little more time trying to understand others.
Imagine a world where the words we speak, write, text, type, and post were meant to edify those around us. Imagine a world where our words make a difference in the lives of others, by inspiring them to be all God means them to be. Imagine a world where we all spoke life.
Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Imagine a world where we reap the consequences of thoughtful words to one another! Let’s do more than just imagine. Let’s speak life. Just saying.
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Rachel's Reflections 