As a student, wife, and employee it is very easy to get yourself wrapped up in the mundane everyday tasks of life. I think this is a tactic of the devil. He has pounded into every American's mind that in order to be successful, happy, and productive in our life we must work, work, work. If the Devil manages to take all of our time away from us, then we lose who we are, which includes sometimes, losing touch of God.
I also think it is difficult for me because of my age. It is easy to become discouraged, knowing that I still have so much to learn in every aspect of my life. Every where I go, people seem to be either a) astonished or b)amazed. Astonished because I am so young, I'm married, and I am helping to start a church. People usually look at me with not complete approval in this manner. If they're amazed, it is because they see that I am young, in love, happy, and joyous. They understand that I am following something greater than me and that "greater" thing is my God.
Anyway,I constantly have people telling me that I look too young, that I appear to be 16 or 17 years old. Well, as a 21 year old young woman, this can be somewhat despairing to me. I would like to look my age. Yes, many people tell me that this is a blessing later on. But, right now, I view it as a hindrance. This therefore leads me to the unfortunate desire to buy new clothes, spend money on hair products, etc. Which are all things that I know I do not need. I can survive on the clothes that I have, the hair accessories I do have, and the hair cut that I have in and of itself. But, unfortunately, this is what the society of America tends to do. It pushes women to believe that they have to meet certain physical beauty standards. This is what young women, teenagers, and young girls are taught. That in order to achieve in life, they have to meet a certain "look." Of course, this look often focuses on certain attributes of the woman's body. Anyway, in my mind, it is easy to see how this is the Devil working in our culture. The Devil wants us to not feel valued, loved, accepted, or comfortable within our own skin. He wants us to be constantly changing to become something that we are not. Sometimes I just need to take some time to focus and reflect on the love of Christ. HE is the one who loves me for me. He does not care what clothes I wear, what my make-up looks like, etc.
He is the one constant that I have in my life. Besides, why should we be so focused on getting "new stuff" when there is so much more in life. We should be using our money to benefit God's Kingdom. This means caring for others. This is true not just for the hard times of today, but for the easy times as well. It is so much more fulfilling to give money to someone who is struggling than buying a new purse or shirt for myself. Just remember that when you do give, don't give so that you can be recognized. For God says that "when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it" (Matthew 6:3)
Well, there still is more that I want to say. But for now, I will leave you with this:
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Do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn't life worth more than food? And isn't the body worth more than clothes? Look at the birds flying around: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest, and put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren't you worth much more than birds? Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?
And why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. It is God who clothes the wild grass - grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won't he be all the more sure to clothe you?
So do not start worrying: "Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes? Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of
So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.
Matthew Chapter 6
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