(Source: chroniclesofalioness)

I have been noticing this for days. The gel inside the pot that keeps the plant well-watered (as it absorbs water) was starting to dry up. This may be so, yet I kept ignoring this fact and continued on with my tasks. However, I could not help but stare at it because, well, my laptop is usually right beside it most of the time. I was wondering why no one else ever bothered to check on this poor little thirsty plant.

So today, I did what others did not bother to do, I watered it.

This is a common thing in life, I suppose. We become aware of the important issues in the community and the rest of the world - homelessness, poverty, increasing number of orphans, unemployment, malnutrition, etc. - yet we do not raise even an inch of our little finger, we do not act, because we think to ourselves that someone else will do it. Someone else will have this much care that he will actually make a move and stand up for the oppressed and the needy.

But what if no one else did?

You may say, “But this task is so huge, I cannot possibly do such a thing!” Let me ask you something, was I the one in charge of making the plant grow? No, I was only the one to water it. Very simple, yet it helps the plant grow taller. Ultimately, it is God who will be working through you; you are only a mere vessel. Even the water did not come from me, I only got it from a source.

Maybe God is pressing a deep desire in your heart right now to do something to meet the needs of the least of your brethren. It can be something simple, it can be something drastic. It will not stop bothering you like a nagging person if you do not do what you are being asked to do. Do not wait for somebody else to do the work for you, because as it may turn out, this task is specifically for you.

Obey the Father’s calling and water your own plant right now. Literally or figuratively.

“Be anxious for nothing..”

Sometimes, we stop right there - “be anxious for nothing”. But see, the verse goes on for a reason. You cannot stop being anxious on your own, because it is not humanly possible. Our strength, no matter how strong-willed we think we are, can only take us so far.

“… but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6)

I’ve been making this same mistake too, to tell you frankly. We have all been commanded in the Bible to stop worrying, so that is what I try to do. But guess what, I fail. Why? Because I stop right there. I begin to do things by myself and try to perform this task on my own. Whenever a problem comes my way, I say, “Oh, okay. Well, I don’t have to worry about this.” Moments later, I do actually start to worry about it. Again, because I stop right there. It has become a psychological battle instead of a spiritual one. And my mind can only go so far; it cannot aid me in resisting my powerful Enemy.

But that is not what God has intended for me and you to do. He wants us to dispel anxiety AND call out to Him in prayer. His desire is not for us to set aside our concerns in one corner, letting it pile up day after day until it finally suffocates us; but He wants us to give it all to Him. We cannot fight the war on our own; it is only through the power of the Spirit that we can be truly victorious.

Maybe you’ve been making the same mistake of not surrendering your cares to God altogether, and just merely casting them aside for another day. Remember that prayer is very important. Don’t keep your worries in your heart, lift them all up to Him now.

I’ve been questioning myself lately, asking if I’m truly waiting on God or just being plain lazy in my walk. Am I being complacent, in a negative way, or am I being faithful? It’s hard to tell when there is no obvious sign that says “Enter here” or “Right this way”, just spurts of desires here and there. I’m the type of person who usually needs instruction and direction. I’m more confident if I have a well-thought out plan available for access. My being an artist allows me to be flexible, of course; however, in general - or should I say, in life - I could’ve never imagine myself as a flexible, go-with-the-flow kind of person. I was actually had the “finish university, get an awesome job, build my great empire, marry someone, have a family, live the good life” mindset before. Probably most of you can relate. Everything is just completely laid out and ready to go.

If only life were as simple as that.

Thank God life isn’t as simple as that! Why so? Because we won’t be able to actually feel like living. We’re just existing and going through the same boring routine and ending up in the same situation as everybody else. We wouldn’t need a God because we can plan our lives ourselves and, if Planet Earth’s resources would allow it, make it all come to pass.

Sometimes, I feel as if the world around me is spinning so fast. I’ve once said that even if you fall, the world will not stop to pick you up. You need to keep moving. Indeed, everything around still spins quite fast. People grow up and advance in life; some are already starting their way up to the “good life” they’re trying to build for themselves. Even some are being extremely blessed by God for their faithfulness; their time has come. I sit here watching, silently questioning Him, “Have you forgotten me?” Everyone seems to have a “woo-hoo” and I’m here, starting to pity myself for not having what they have, or not having my share of the promises. I lose faith, I sin.

Oh, grace. I couldn’t have been more thankful for His grace that abounds.

It’s hard, cultivating a patient heart and mind. It’s not merely patience that is being formed, it’s a certain stamina that deals with harsh blows from the world and from myself. I am my worst enemy. Most of the insults and discouragements that I get are from myself, excusing it as “what people might think”. I look down upon myself and let myself shrink against the towers of my pride. Since I am not as successful as the others, I classify myself as a failure. How insulting that must be to the One who is crafting my days for me.

But in the moment of His stillness and quietness, I’m starting to be quiet with Him. The daughter has to imitate the Father, right? Not the type of “quietness” I did before where I detached myself from Him, but stillness as in waiting for something. I know that He is not quiet because He hates me, but He is still so that I may notice and that I may stop my whining and actually sit still beside Him and begin to listen. It is difficult, for it may result into even louder whining because of the tendency to complain about His seemingly lack of inclination to listen. But He is full of wisdom, He knows this is what I needed. Until I learn, it will be the same old routine. Thank the Lord I did not have to endure 40 years in the wilderness like the Israelites!

“If you had responded to My rebuke, I would have poured out My heart to you and made My thoughts known to you.” (Proverbs 1:23)

I’m realizing that I am not of this world anymore, therefore, I cannot align my timing to this world’s fast paced time frame. My Maker is not bound by time; in fact, He made time. Who am I to bound Him into something He has full control of? Wandering is what I am supposed to do, but never lost in confusion. God has commanded each one of us in Matthew 6:33 to seek Him first for a reason. So that in our daily walk, we may not fret in our lack of control because our confidence is not in our plans but in our knowledge of who God is. His nature and His written promises are more than enough to light our feet and direct our path. Indeed, we are not truly lost. One day at a time, live life one day at a time.

“so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Waiting on God sometimes does look like being lazy, but actually it’s not. We are just doing something else - namely, seeking God and His Kingdom. We shouldn’t let the opinion of others or ourselves remove our focus from our goal. They focus on their hard work, we focus on our God who can take somebody else’s hard work and give it to those whose lives are devoted to Him (Proverbs 13:22b). That’s how much He is in control. We need not worry.

I’m blessed to be given the chance to live radically and in full abandon for Christ. I’m not bound by this world, I am armed with promises. If I have to wait for the Lord for many more years, I would rather do that than make a brash step and miss the point of my entire life altogether.