Falling into Truth.

October is here and the best time of year (FALL!) is here. The leaves are starting to change and harvest beginning. Everything to do with fall reminds me year after year that change is good, that change is necessary to keep growing. This fall, let's focus on changing the beliefs we have engrained in our mind from society, from family, from friends, maybe even from strangers on the street, from this generation that we currently live in.

You'll never be good enough to get into that college.
You'll be able to slow down and enjoy time with your family once you get a promotion at work. 
You'll be happier once you earn more money and can buy that new furniture piece, that new purse, that new phone, that new wallet, that new car, that you've had your eye on.
You'll feel better and bigger about yourself if you put that person down and make him feel small. 
You're going to miss out on so much if you put your phone down and engage in true conversation, if you take a break from social media for awhile. 
You don't stand a chance with her- she's way too good for you. 
You deserve the pain you're going through, you've made enough mistakes in your life that it's all catching up with you. 

Do you personally feel you can relate to any of the above statements? Have you fallen into the trap of believing it? Like the leaves changing, lets change our thinking habits about these topics.

You can get into that college. You've worked hard and it might not be an easy journey, but you can do it. If that's not the one you get into, there are plenty of other options out there. Don't be so focused on just one. Wherever God intends for you to be, He'll open and close the doors necessary and if it's not the one you had dreamed of going to since childhood, don't be upset. His plans are greater than ours ever are. Maybe it's different than you anticipated, but He has quite the ride planned for you. Embrace it!  Jeremiah 31:3-4 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

You're working crazy hours, but at what expense? Have you sat down with your spouse, friends, or children lately and had a true conversation with them without any distractions? Once you get that promotion, there will come new responsibilities. Remember to take the time today, because no one is guaranteed tomorrow. There will always be something that needs to be done. Be sure to make those you care about a priority now and stop putting it off until tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes. James 4:13-14 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

More money doesn't mean more happiness. Money is the root of all evil. You can buy that thing you've had your eye on, but chances are, once you have that, you'll start longing for something else. Nothing on this physical earth will ever satisfy us. You can buy all the things you want, but that doesn't mean you'll be full of happiness. Chances are, you might feel even more empty once you have "everything," and the pursuit of money might have even ruined relationships with those you care about. Shift your focus from earthly possessions to the greater above- generosity, kindness. Chase goodness and peace instead of dissatisfaction and more, more, more controlling your every thought. 1 Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

You might have power over someone, you might be able to crush them with a single sentence. You might, but should you? Instead of using your tongue for threats, lies, gossip, let it be for nothing but love. When you want to be critical, be kind. When you want to make a comment about something, let it be laced with gentleness. Love others. You have no idea what a single kind word could do for someone. You never know what they're going through. Let it be your words that shed some light into their day. Proverbs 18:21 Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose.

Social media. Put it down. We waste SO MUCH time mindlessly scrolling through our phones. Chances are right now, theres a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, son, daughter, friend, niece, grandma, someone in your life that is dying for some attention from you. Stop hiding behind your phone and engage with them. Sure, you might miss out on a tasty recipe or baby announcement, but does that really matter? You're missing out on your actual life. Sure, it's necessary for some, it's fine for a bit, but consistently sitting on it hour after hour, day after day? Your days are flying by and sure you might be caught up on everyone else's life, but isn't it time you actually started living yours? Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

No one is ever "too good" for you. We're all created equally, beautifully and fearfully and wonderfully made. You were created in the image of God. You might have made mistakes, but guess what? We all do. You might have a broken family, but guess what? We're all broken. You might have big regrets, but guess what? We all have moments we aren't proud of. Who you are is enough. Who you are is amazing. Who you are is the best. If that person you've been hoping to date or marry isn't returning the feelings, don't get down on yourself. God has someone He created exactly and just for you. Have patience and be strong and faithful in the waiting, it's worth it.  Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We all go through difficult seasons, things we don't understand, pain, heartbreak, uncertainty, tragedy. It's not because we deserve it, it's not because God is mad at us or punishing us. Bad things happen, and we won't always understand it. There won't always be a reason and for some, we'll never know on this side of heaven. God is a forgiving and merciful God. He isn't bringing it upon you because you cheated on your math test or because you stole your sister's sweater. We're born into a fallen world full of sin. There will be times that nearly break us, but He is bigger than our problems, He can fight our battles for us and with us. He surrounds us through it all. He never leaves our sides. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Next time you find yourself falling into the lies society is convinced of, see if you can be like a leaf and change, change the situation- look at it with optimism, hope, love, look at it through the eyes of Jesus. You're as beautiful as the changing leaves, and God has such great plans for you, and you can fall for that truth, day after day, season after season. It will never change!

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