Direction not Intention determines our Destination.
This is Andy Stanley's Path Principle. It seems like a nice little statement that we can say "Oh yeah, absolutely!" and then just go on about our day. But I think it deserves a second glance and that's exactly why I'm blogging about it and didn't just tweet it!
Matthew and I were talking about this yesterday, and he explained it to me the way it was explained to him. So I'll try my best to explain it here! I'll do this by giving the example he gave to me. Let's say that Matthew and I wanted to go on a beach vacation soo bad. We planned it all out, what all we were going to do and on which days. We packed our swim suits and sunscreen and got the car all loaded with our things and we set out on the road that very same day. The only problem is that we start traveling down the highway that leads to Wyoming instead of Florida. Even though we want that beach vacation so bad, and we're all prepared to spend our time there, we're traveling the wrong direction we'll never get to experience the thing we've set our hearts on.
The same can be said for a number of real life situations. I love all things heart shaped so I'll correspond it with the relationship aspect of this. If you desire a good, true relationship with all of your heart you need to do more than just want, think about, and pray for it. You need to travel down the road that will lead you to it. The bible tells us that apart from God there is no such thing as love. God is love. In order to have your direction match your intention, you must seek the number one lover in existence first. Through forming a deep intimate relationship with the Lord (the perfect direction) you will find the person He's created for you. (Your desired destination!) The Path Principle can be applied to so many other things like planning for the future, seeking God's will in your life, and even mundane things like doing well in school.
I pray that God will burn this onto my heart so that I will learn to become more and more aware of it each day. I want this to be true in my life and I hope it will be true in yours too! :)
Every year when Thanksgiving rolls around, it causes me to stop and think about everything in my life that I'm so grateful to have. (Very cliche, I know.) I'm always so thankful for my family, friends, home, car, education, talents, church family, and privileges. This year, I have something new to be thankful for that I never knew existed. A relationship based on and revolving around God. I mean, of course I knew these relationships existed, I just never had any idea what it could possibly feel like to be in one. This is going to be super cheesy so if you don't like those sorts of things I would advise you to stop reading ;)
Matthew and I met in September (crazy, I know) through mutual friends. We happened to be in the same place at the same time. If I didn't believe in God's plan I would think it was a total coincidence because I was supposed to be in Jonesboro the following weekend, not that one, and plans were changed last minute. Anyways, we met and it all went from there. God has been in the center of this relationship throughout the duration of it all. I had no idea how fulfilling a God sanctioned love really could be! The night Matthew told me he loved me was proof more than anything that God approved of our relationship. He took me to Craighead park and we talked forever like we always do and then he explained to me that he knows it might seem crazy but that he was falling in love with me. It melts my heart all over again just thinking about it :) But anyways, while he was telling me these things, there was a warm breeze blowing that felt like it had a sense of urgency to it. I felt like God was physically RIGHT THERE and that He was so pleased with everything that was happening. Afterwards, Matthew played me the Dave Barnes song On a Night Like This. It was all just so perfect.
If you haven't read the book When God Writes Your Love Story, you really should. It changed my life. That was what God used to speak to me and to let me know that I wasn't succeeding in finding true love on my own and that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by loving and trusting Him with my love life. I am SO thankful that I did! Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This is coming from God Himself, why would we ever think for a second that it isn't true? Has God ever lied before? No, He hasn't. We need to trust Him with all of our hearts! I've handed Him the pen and asked Him to be the author of my love story and trust me, there's not a more beautiful story in the world than that of a God written story.
I'm thankful that He gave me the courage and strength to trust Him with that area of my life, I'm thankful that He's given me such a peace and assurance that I've found who He wanted for me, and I'm so thankful that God gave me Matthew. Once again, as cliche as it sounds I couldn't ask for more :)
When I looked up the word friend the first three synonyms I found were supporter, champion and admirer. These are all charming, loving words that make me feel warm inside! But lately God has really laid it on my heart to re-evaluate what being a friend really means, who I should have in my life, and what kind of friend He wants me to be.
There are some people that I have loved and trusted for years of my life that don't truly have my best interest at heart. This is so disheartening and it really saddens me. It makes me second guess everything that I used to believe a friend was. I used to think a friend was someone who likes the same movies, music, activities and even people that I did and they disliked the same things and people I disliked. That is completely shallow and the first red flag. A true friend should want you to be the very best person you can be through Christ, and that does NOT include sitting around gossiping. I am by no means implying that I've got my tongue tamed and under control but I do know that it's a desire of my heart to please God by holding back in this area of my life. God wants me to surround myself with supportive people who want the same in their lives also.
I know that no one has got it all together, all the time. We're all human and we all have bad days every once in a while. But a true friend will hold you up to God on your gray days and encourage you along the way. On an aspect as equally important, they will also let you comfort them when they are heart broken. They don't harden their hearts and push you away whenever they feel that way. A huge part of being loving friends is being vulnerable with each other and trusting the other to love you during your time of darkness.
The last but certainly most important aspect of being a true friend is lifting the other up in prayer. Every girl dreams about her wedding day for a majority of her life. I was no exception to this and as much as I dreamt of the pretty dress, beautiful flowers, and dimly candlelit reception hall, I imagined something even more beautiful than that. I always pictured my bridesmaids huddled around me, crying tears of joy with me, praying over me. For my future, for my relationship with my husband, and for all of the upcoming bumps in the road. The girls you chose as bridesmaids aren't just girls you have fun hanging out with or have alot in common with. They are your true friends. They are Godly influences in your life that lift you up to the Lord daily. They have your absolute best interest at heart and are always supportive of you. They don't criticize in a negative way or judge you. True friendships are gifts from God and should always be cherished greatly. God is beginning to reveal to me who my true friends are and I'm more and more thankful each time I think of them. <3
Be a true friend.
[As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17]
