Making A Way for You

Coming back from a morning run, William McDowell's version of I Give Myself Away, played in my mind.  I started to sing, "I give myself away.  I give myself away." Those four words sounded so good I repeated them just in case no one heard me the first few times.  "I give myself away."  Then it hit me.  I give myself away and it hasn't always been so He could use me.   

Before you muster an emotion of any kind because of my revelation, ask yourself how you may be giving yourself to circumstances, relationships, or things that have nothing to do with His purpose for your life.  Where is your emotional energy being spent?  What is draining you of peace?  What makes you feel incomplete, fearful or insecure?  Write it down, look at your answers.  Inhale.

Be encouraged. I am! I'm so glad that I got that little tug on my heart. I'm especially glad it wasn't a jerk!  Yes, that sweet little whisper turned my gaze toward His voice and away from the thing that had absolutely nothing to do with HIM.  Embracing what I know now, I can be watchful about those things I frequently gave away.  More importantly, it causes me to focus on giving myself away to relationships, circumstances and things that create peace, joy, love, faith, kindness, growth and make an eternal mark.  That's worth singing about!

"I give myself away. I give myself away. So You can use me."

Dear Intended

I'm reading a book that feels like chapters pulled out of my own life.  Not my past, but my current everyday life.  Aren't those the best reads?  I'm enjoying seeing the layers of myself through Kristin Armstrong's book - Mile Marker's: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom of three or the managing partner of a law firm, there are some things that we all have in common. 

One of the many commonalities that Kristin and I share is the need to practice being intentional.  Intention is the proscratinators answer to the 'shoulda, woulda, couldas.'  Intention creates that road block in time that prevents us from putting off our passions and purposes for a better day.  Maybe you've said:

"Why didn't I just say..." 

"As soon as they ______ I'm going to..."

"I was going to workout, but. . ."

I'm guilty.  I occassionally put things off or hold my "yes" or "no" to make the conservation easier.  I sometimes hold onto my opinion or thought just in case. I'm not trying to be polite, I do it to be accommodating.  I can almost picture the little construction men in my head erecting the "Detour Ahead" sign.  I understand now that I will never completely fulfill God's purposes for my life if I keep relenting and ignoring the intents of my heart.  I have to set my intentions and realize the freedom I have in doing so.

Setting an intention makes us more purposeful about everything we do. It opens up a place in us that we are sometimes too afraid to see. It should cause us to move forward by faith; in spite of what we see or what they say.  Afterall, "faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see." (Hebrews 11:1, NLT) Therefore, our intentions should mobilize us with faith guiding our way.

For me this means the detour signs that I erected in mid-sentence (or act) are being stored away for when I need them - detours only! I want my life to be purpose-FULL. I want my relationships to be rich and have clarity. No more holding my breath, but inhaling and exhaling with freedom.

I will set an intention before I . . .

• have a conversation that may require a decision
• workout
• state my opinion
• say "yes" or "no"
• cook or eat
• shop