I have to start by saying thank you to my readers and showing me grace these last 6 weeks. I have started a full time job. One that I know God prepared for me in advance. As I have adjusted to my new schedule, I have had to learn again how to manage my time better. You see, I have not worked for the past 12 years. It has been a huge adjustment in my life, but a good one. My new job as a Customer Relations Specialist has given me a renewed perspective on a lot of things. One of those being, how do I want to be perceived by the world. Easier said than done.

When you are a Pastor’s wife, it is easy to get into the routine of things, forgetting that there is a whole world needing to see Christ in everyday life. As hard as life can be, especially in the turmoil and strife, division and anger, wars and rumors of wars we see all around us, we can be reminded of God’s goodness and grace, His mercy and love, His forgiveness and patience. It all starts with our internal perspective. How do you perceive the world? Does the thought of today’s world climate make you stay in your house in fear, or do you go out each day with the intention of bring light to the darkness?

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is John 8:12… “When Jesus spoke to the people He said. I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” One day when I was in a small boutique in rural South Dakota, there was a basket on the check out counter filled with bracelets of all sorts of shapes, styles, and colors. While the cashier was ringing up my purchases, I was fidgeting through the assorted bracelets to find a plain silver one with writing all the way around it. Much to my surprise, the words engraved on the silver were this very verse. Jesus’s words. Words of comfort, words of strength, words of courage, and words of grace.

Needless to say, I bought the bracelet. It was the only one in the basket like it or with Scripture written on its edges. I didn’t know at the time how much this tiny piece of jewelry would mean to me years later. I wear it more than any other piece of jewelry I own.

Why, you might ask? Well, the simplicity of it is, it is Jesus speaking directly to me. I wear that bracelet when I get up in the morning and need an extra boost for the day. If I need encouragement to face whatever that day will bring, and I can tell my mind needs that extra grace to endure, I put it on. If I am going into an unknown situation and feel my anxiousness rising and raising my blood pressure, I put it on. If knowingly I am going into a difficult situation, I wear it for strength. If I know I am doing something challenging and out of my comfort zone, I wear it for courage. If I am heading into a time of uncertainty, I will put that bracelet on to give me Jesus’ peace and as a reminder of God’s promises.

God keeps His word and does what He promises to do. God will be with me in my going and coming. God will give me His peace that surpasses all understanding in anything I might face. God will give me His strength and guidance as I navigate this crazy world. And God will help show me the way to do it if I keep my eyes focused on Him and Him alone. God will do the same for you too, friend, if you trust Him, have faith in Him, and allow Him to work in your life. There is a saying I have been taught through the years and it goes like this… Christ is counting on you, on whom do you count? I count on Jesus Christ!

Do you ask Jesus to give you grace and forgiveness when you make mistakes?

Do you ask Him for the sight to see the good in others and forgive your trespassers?

Do you look to Him for all wisdom and understanding?

Do you wake each morning and put on the armor of God for spiritual warfare?

Do you ask for Him to show you mercy and love when life becomes difficult?

Do you ask Jesus to help you find strength and courage?

If your answers to these questions are yes, I give you encouragement to keep doing whatever it is God has told you to do for you personally. Whether that is doing daily devotions, reading the Scriptures everyday, listening to Christian music, Bible study with friends, or whatever else God might give you to help…even if it is wearing a piece of jewelry as a reminder that you are not alone and Jesus is with you with each step you take.

If your answers are no, ask yourself why that is. Why are you not seeking God’s Word? Do you look to worldly things for comfort and security? Has your heart hardened to God’s love and forgiveness? Have you become blind to the opportunities God places before you to help in your struggles? Are you stuck, lost, and don’t know how to take those steps forward to change your current circumstances? If so, I say just pray. Pray for these obstacles that are holding you back or keep you paralyzed. Cry out to God to show you his unfailing love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Seek God’s wisdom in seeing the world as He sees it. Ask Him, with sincerity of heart, to be your comfort and shelter.

I was once at this crossroad in my own life and I had to make that choice, how do I become a follower of Jesus Christ, to be in the world but not of the world? It all started with prayer and determination that I was His own, and no matter how long it took, I was going to be the person He meant for only me to be. To shine the light of Christ to a dark and lonely world…one minute, one hour, one day at a time.

God loves you and so do I,

Leslie