Dear Wonderfully Made Friends,
Recently I have been learning so much from my Savior that I could type several pages today. I have so much on my mind, but I am going to try to stay focused and share my heart with you. Being a Christian my whole life, I am amazed at how much He is still teaching me- and so thankful for the lessons. We always have more to learn than we realize! My faith is being strengthened and my life is being molded more into His image each day- and this is a wonderful, powerful thing!
I am addicted to the game Ruzzle. I got it one day on my iPod and play it all the time! Too much, I often practice in bed and tell myself- just one more time, but then...30 minutes later I am still going. I am always wanting to beat my own records by finding more words, finding longer words, ect. I have been playing actual games with some friends and for the most part I am pretty good and win. But with one friend I was always losing. This did not make me very happy. Seriously! One morning at breakfast, I went to check to see if he had played because the night before- you know when I was in bed playing late into the night, I had finally gotten an awesome high score! I had thought- this is it, I have finally beaten him! I am victorious! My body was ready to shake it in a victory dance....but when the results appeared on the screen...he had won again :(
I- as a model mother, said at the breakfast table in front of my sons- "I JUST WANT TO SLAP HIM!" Sorry my friend...but I did. Lucky for you, you are several states away...lol. I have a bit of a competitive drive in me...I like to win, to conquer, to destroy & demolish...lol...all in fun of course, but sometimes it does get the best of me.
Therefore, this crushed my spirits...OK, well that is a little dramatic, but...I did not like it one bit. I began to accept the normal pattern of losing with him; this was hard for me to do- but beating him just became an unattainable goal, so I gave in to defeat. I just played to practice, and enjoyed my other victories against other adversaries...I mean friends, lol. (love you all!) Then, the other day I was looking at the result of what I thought would be yet another loss for this lady against the one who has always taken me down, and I noticed that...I had actually won...and had been winning the last few rounds with him! So of course I hit the little chat box ready to brag! Yes, it may be shocking, but I do have a bit of a big mouth when it comes to winning. And as I was typing it hit me...I had become so accustom to losing- it just became a comfort zone and I stopped trying for victories, I stopped looking for them, I stopped expecting great things out of my own game. It became a normal thing for me to lose against him, so I did not bother to achieve a higher status.
I had entered the danger zone. It made me think of the true enemy of our lives- Satan.
And no, I am not comparing my friend to Satan...lol..I like my friend- even if he makes me feel like a dumb blonde with limited vocabulary and game skills...he is still pretty cool. This just made me think of how Satan sneakily shuts our eyes to the truths that are found in our Savior- Jesus Christ! This is a tool that the Devil uses to entrap us- causing us to get in a comfort zone- tricking our mind to believe we are OK, when we are far from where our God wants us to be.
He deceives us into believing our mindset is normal, when it needs a damage control clean up by Christ. It comes in a variety of forms: some may live in the comfort zone of a negative mindset, some may live in a comfort zone of an insecurity weakness, some may live in the mindset of defeat, some may live in the mindset of darkness, some may live in the mindset of my life is perfectly fine with out Jesus; so why do I need to find Him.
All of these and more are dangerous mindsets that if you live in it- it can become comfortable to you. And when something is comfortable, you don't want to move, or even look to move. Like our new big, comfy chaise lounge chair that I am sitting in right now- I love this thing and hate getting out of it! It is the most comfortable chair ever! But if I don't get out of it- things don't get done! And if you are stuck in one of those mindsets that the Devil has blinded you with- YOU NEED TO SNAP OUT OF IT AND SEEK AFTER THE ONE THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN SUCH POWERFUL, AMAZING, POSITIVE WAYs!
Jesus gets things done! He changes us and molds us- and all the while- pours His love out on us! He allows us to see there are better things He wants for our lives! He allows us to see the victory that we have in Him. He can remove the blinders and allow us to see the joy, the peace, the mercy, the love, the strength, and the blessings He has for us. We will have to step out of our comfort zones, but it is worth it- worth more than you can imagine.
I have been caught in the comfort zone before...and not just in Ruzzle, or my awesome chair...but in the comfort of insecurity. It was a dangerous place to be that caused years of turmoil, a horrible marriage & then a divorce- which is a mistake that my boys and I have to deal with every day, so many bad choices, so many years of missing out on better things because I was too insecure to try, so much hurt and pain every time I faced my reflection or thought about who I was as a person. Friends, I am so thankful my Heavenly Father has spent so much time, digging the roots of insecurity out of my life. This last 8 years or so on my own, Christ has been doing amazing things in my life as He has been pulling me out of that comfort zone of insecurity & showing me that I am wonderfully made in Him and He has wonderful plans for my life! It definetly has not been an easy 8 years...actually have been downright hard, challenging, painful at times...but what is coming out of these years- is something far more beautiful- A STRONG, CONFIDENT WOMAN OF GOD WITH A FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So...if you my friend, are stuck in a comfort zone of some kind...I hope this is your wake up call- believe me it is easier if you find it in a friendly letter, than other ways God can use to get a hold of you...and He does it because He loves you with an unconditional and everlasting love. Please seek after the Savior- allow Him to pull you from the danger zone and place you in His loving arms- and change your life forever! Jesus loves you! Jesus has amazing things in store for your life!
STEP INTO THE POWER ZONE OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD! Start expecting great things in your life! Start expecting victories- and get ready to dance!!!
I believe in you!
Love,
Christina Gail
