As I follow Christ. . .

This was the Bible verse chosen for me at my church’s New Years Eve prayer line. At first glance, I didn’t like this verse and almost wanted to ask the pastor for a new verse— maybe one more hopeful and with more blessings for the new year.

This past year was full of disappointments, anxiety attacks, broken relationships, a break up, and the loss of another friend to suicide. There were many times when I knew I was not okay— mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally.

But I’m also reminded that I had many victories this year: met some of my new forever friends through honor summit/freedom summit, started going to Christian counseling, finished the Bible cover to cover for the first time and my church finally felt like family.

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Two things I learned this year through all the trials:

1) God is good

2) God is sovereign

I have so far to go... We have so far to go...

Marks of the True Christian

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a]serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[b]Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[c] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[a] his own glory and excellence,[b]4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[c] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities[d] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.

- 1 Peter 2:19

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Ephesians 6:14-18

I keep finding myself dropping my armor… I have been called to be set apart for the gospel of God, to let my light shine before others, and to live a holy and righteous life. But here am I….. getting sucked into this NY mindset, letting myself be conformed to the patterns of this world, allowing satan to control my thoughts, words and actions.

It’s time to pick up my armor once again and not let it drop. Meditating on this passage and seeing my church send out our PIF missions team to Nicaragua and youth group missions team to Mexico reminded me that whether we are on the missions field or here in NYC, we need to always be equipped with the armor of God and fight the good fight. We are in a war and our adversary, Satan, is doing all he can to steal, kill and destroy but Christ has come to give us life, and life to the full!