For those who dwell on negative thoughts, always afraid, who look down on themselves, I feel you. I understand. Been there, done that. But God wants you to know that the fear and timidity are not from Him. He gives us power, love, and self-discipline. We just have to believe Him, and receive the blessings He has given us. Take your time; every one has its time table.
There are days in my life that I do dwell on negative thoughts. Everybody does, I guess. I wonder, when will I be brave enough.
I am about life’s goals and dreams.
These days, I’ve been meditating on what I want to do in life. What is my ultimate dream? What is really in my heart? To be honest, right now, I do not know.
As an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker), my options are very limited. You can’t just do what you want, or choose a job that you want. You have to follow the rules and wait for the right time.
Everyone has dreams. I can’t think of one now. Is that a bad thing? I do not know. But today, God once again revealed His message. He never wants me to end the day with questions unanswered.
God speaks.
God speaks through people.
The Chat
The Lord reaches us up in different ways. He uses people as instruments to release His message.
I was chatting with my sister and randomly asked her:
Ate Queen, kung meron kang gusto mangyari o pangarap sa buhay ko, ano ‘yon? (If you had a dream for me, what would it be?)I asked.
“Gusto kong matupad mo ang pangarap mong maging guro” (I want you to achieve your dream to be a teacher).Pero ayokong magplano for you, gusto ko ikaw” (But I do not want to plan for you. I want you to do it yourself), she replied.
“I do not know what I want to do. I don’t know what else to do. How would I know?” I answered.
“Pray. Fast and Do something, try!”
I do pray. I fast (not always hehe) Doing something? Hmmm. Well that? I am scared to try. I am afraid to fail.
The same day, I was chatting with one of the awesome missionaries I’ve met. His name is Garret.
“The Father is just stirring your heart up to do something great. Listen to Him” Timely, huh? I’ve been running from His plans, I guess.
And again, He uses people as instruments to release His message. Unaccidentally, every word is uttered to me for a reason.
A kid
I had a sweet conversation with a girl named Sharon, seven years old. I love talking to kids because their hearts are so pure.
I asked her first with some random questions:
“What do you think the reasons why Princess is here in Aruba?”
- to be with her father and family
- to have a job
- to go to church
- to have a date in Aruba?
- to be with Brandon
- to marry in Aruba and stay in a hotel
What are the things you know Princess is capable of doing?
- You are good at counting money, so you need to work in a shop or store.
- You’ll do your concert, and everybody will buy a ticket to come and see
Do they make sense? HAHA 🙂 I love this! I love the second one. Let’s dream big!
Which one is better? Princess in the Philippines or Princess in Aruba?
Princess in Aruba because you’ll get more money in Aruba, unlike in the Philippines, you’ll get one penny.
HAHAHAHAHA Okay!
Why? Do you think money can make you happy?
NO.
So, Why?
Stay in Aruba because I said so.
Yes Ma’am! LOL
Now it’s her turn to ask questions. You can’t win. She wants to have her turn.
Do you think God protects you all the time?
Yes.
Do you think God gives everything you want?
I didn’t answer immediately. “No, not all. Everything I need, YES.”
Do you think the Lord talks to you every minute?
“YES”
The time when I needed to hear these words, God sends people to let me know He is speaking.
God speaks through His Word.
The Bible says “For God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Power
Being timid is not from Him. I struggle with this—I kind of panic when people are looking at me, afraid to make mistakes. Instead of a smooth public speaking, for example, because I got shy, it all made it worst. I forgot all the lines and focused on being embarrassed.
Have you ever feel exhausted being afraid all the time? Uncertain every time? Have you been looking down on yourself?
Deep down your heart, you know you are competent. But when fear and timidity are taking over, you feel small. It seems like you will never get out of that pit.
So what now? God speaks through His word. Believe and receive the blessings he is bestowing you.
God gives you the power. It means He has given you the ability to do something. You are capable of doing something great. God has given you the strength to conquer anything, and to achieve something exceptional.
Sometimes, it is difficult for us to believe this, and we hesitate to receive His good gifts with open hands. We only think how weak we are, and fail to remember that God has accorded us the potential to be the best of ourselves.
Negative thoughts hinder us from seeing the good things He has in store for us. Try to be positive now. It’s about believing and receiving.
Love
We all need love in our lives. God is love, and He gave us Himself.
Take time to sink this into your heart: God loves to love you. His nature is to love us unconditionally. When guilt creeps in, and you think you are not deserving of His abundant blessings and goodness, stop right there. You are wrong!
Let me put it this way; whether you love him or not, he will love you no matter what. His love is perfect for your imperfections. He doesn’t require you to be flawless. He accepts you for who you are, including your flaws.
Isn’t it amazing? When you realized that, you would learn to love the right way — to love yourself and others.
We can only love someone the right way and godly through God’s help. It is not something we can do by fleshly efforts.
You are not just given the power to do that something but also love to overcome everything along the way.
Self-discipline
I lack of self-discipline, I admit.
Focusing on the things I can’t do for a moment doesn’t give any help. If I want to achieve something, I should learn to rule myself and develop a habit.
If you want to be an active blogger or writer, then you should write frequently. If you’re going to do something, begin somewhere and keep going. Train yourself to focus.
The Lord didn’t let this WORD written in the Bible for nothing. He knows people like me will struggle at some point, so He is reminding me that the Lord never gives us the spirit of fear and timidity. He gives us strength, love, and self -discipline.
It also means they only come from Him. So run to the ONE who has them and receive them.
Reflection
The sudden thoughts in our mind are not just thoughts from nowhere.
He speaks through your heart, through His Word, through people, through situations. He hears everything. He sees everything. He knows everything. He will not just sit down and watch over me, but He is working for me to know that He is calling me for a higher purpose.
Be attentive to God’s voice. It would be difficult for us to focus on what He is saying if we are so preoccupied with many things. Nowadays, social media are taking over our lives. No matter how we try not to be attached, they are already one of the significant necessities and destructions at the same time in our lives.
I am not against social media or anything like that. God is just simply saying to use our time wisely. If you need to lessen the time spent browsing on the internet, please do so. Take time to listen by praying and reading His Word.
Do not be afraid to try. Wag matakot sumubok. Stop being pessimistic.
My sister added on our chat, “Wag mo i-base ang buhay mo sa buhay ng iba. Iba iba tayo ng plano ng Lord, promise unique yan sayo. Basta gawin mo lang ang kalooban ng Diyos sa buhay mo. Walk with it, and you will see” (Don’t compare your life with other’s lives, God has a different plan for everyone and believe me, yours is unique)
Do not walk the plans of others in your life. What do you want to happen? What do you want to do? The things you are good at know them. Consider these questions. Do not listen to others’ dictation in your life. Do what you want to do, and God wants you to do.
It’s about Believing and Receiving.
If you are in my situation? What is your response?
Here are the verses to reflect on:
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things. Romans 8:32
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Luke 11:9-10
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
