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“Challenges and Blessings” by Ann Webb

by | Sep 2, 2020

2020 has brought with it many challenges and blessings.  I have had so many more opportunities to rest in Him and to experience His refining.  HE has called me to let go of things I thought I needed and has replaced them in ways I’d never imagined. I often find that in our time together, HE speaks to the part of me that wants to be right, to speak my mind, to correct others that think differently than I do. 

Every day HE reminds me that I am a sheep.  My ways are not His ways.  My thoughts are not HIS thoughts.  I am not in control. While HE does not call me to silence, HE does call me to seek after HIM.  To model my life after HIS.  To allow HIM to renew my mind so that I can be conformed to HIS image.

I have been allowing HIM to shape me into a better listener.  Matthew 13:12 says, “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”  HE has set my challenge for this season… LISTEN.

I cannot tell you how often I come close to biting my tongue because I want to talk, not listen.  I want to talk, not pray.  I want to talk, not seek.  This is a season of letting go of what I want so that I can be more of who HE says I am. 

In just a few months, I am praying that we will be living a more peaceful new normal.  Elections will be settled. There will be a treatment or cure for covid.  When I have the opportunity to come together with others, I am praying I will be a wiser, better listener with a little more Jesus in my heart.  Looking forward to tomorrow and HIS continued refining.

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