#NoFilter

A few weeks ago, I began a daily devotional that I really love. However, a few days ago, when I turned the page to find out today’s devotion would be studying the creation story, I guess you could say I was a little less than thrilled.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the creation story is really awesome. I believe in it 110%. But, like most Christians who are raised in the church, I could have recited the creation story by second grade at the latest. Plus, I just took an Old Testament class at Clemson where we did an in-depth study of Genesis. I wasn’t really up for another repetitive reading on how God created the Earth. However, I’m SO glad that I went ahead and did the devotion because I’m seeing the first few chapters of Genesis in an entirely new light.

Here’s the play-by-play on what God created on those first few days:

Day 1: the Heavens and the Earth, day and night

Day 2: the sky
Day 3: the land, the seas, plants and trees
Day 4: the moon and the sun
Day 5: creatures of the sea and birds
Day 6: wild animals, livestock, Humans
Day 7: He rested

Pretty basic stuff, right?

As I was reading over the devotional, I began thinking about the time it took for God to create each thing. It took God one day to create the land, which includes forests, deserts, beaches, mountains…everything. Every time I see a stunning sunset (especially those in Clemson) or an awe-inspiring mountain range, all I can think of is that I’m looking at God’s masterpiece. I think about how much time and thought had to have gone into creating something so beautiful.  

But the thing is, the Bible says that God spent the same amount of time creating US that he did creating the mountains or the sun. Actually, I believe God spent MORE time and was more intentional in creating us than he was in creating anything else on this earth. In Genesis 1:27, it says that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them.” First off, God didn’t create anything else in His own image, only humans. In my opinion, I think that shows how much God loves us. He took the time to create us from HIS own image instead of simply saying “let there be humans” and then it was so. No, a lot more time and energy was spent that that. Psalm 139:13 says that God “formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” According to Luke 12:7, even the hairs on our head are numbered.  I think that God creating us was full of very calculated movements; our personality, our appearance, our emotions, and our entire life were very precisely planned.

Where I’m going with this is that everything God creates is his masterpiece. It is so easy for us to look at a white sandy beach with crystal clear waters or snow-capped mountains and say “Oh wow. God’s creation is beautiful.” We Instagram the landscape pictures with the caption that reads “God’s creation doesn’t need a filter.” But then, when we look in the mirror, all we see are flaws. We use filters to cover up that one blemish or to make ourselves seem more attractive. We don’t think about the time, energy or thought that went into creating us.

I’m willing to bet that if God had an Instagram, he would be posting pictures of His sons and daughters instead of landscapes. The pictures would be of all of us naturally- no makeup, no hair straighteners, no plastic surgery- with the caption “#NoFilter” because He sees US as the masterpieces He’s most proud of.

-Taylor

Wherever you would call me

Without a doubt, the song “Oceans” by Hillsong is one of my favorite worship songs. It’s great because it has a powerful message behind it, not to mention the vocals in this song are incredible. I get excited every time I hear those first few seconds of the song at church or FCA because I know some great worship is coming our way. Long story short, I am a big fan of this song.

The first time I heard this song, the phrase that is repeated multiple times throughout the song really stood out to me. It instantly became my prayer and wish:

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.” 

That truly is what I wanted. I wanted my faith in God to be drastically increased and I wanted to grow in deeper devotion to him. I didn’t want to hesitate when giving him every area of my life because I trusted Him without limits or conditions. I didn’t want to be afraid of Him leading me somewhere outside of my comfort zone because I knew my faith would increase in the process. That’s why I was drawn to this song so much! It summed up exactly what I wanted and was worded perfectly. 

Well, God heard and answered my prayer alright, but not exactly in the way I was expecting. Looking back on it, while praying this, I was expecting Him to lead me to an internship in Haiti, to work at a summer camp, or to share my faith with someone new. I was already okay with doing these things, so subconsciously I just assumed God’s plan would align with mine instead of the other way around.

As it turns out, God decided to increase my trust in a different way. I felt God was calling me to make a decision that I wasn’t wanting to make; but, I wanted to trust him, so I did it. I thought that after making that particular choice, things were going to get easier for me. Instead, I had a rude awakening. Since I’m being honest here, the route He decided to take was one I without a doubt hated. I was stressed, frustrated, upset, and quite frankly pretty mad about it. I found myself asking God why He had asked me to make that decision because it just didn’t make sense to me. Let’s be real, I was throwing a hissy fit in my mind that was directed towards God. 

Throughout this temper tantrum that was becoming my prayer life, I kept hearing God tell me that in the end, this was all going to be worth it. He was saying that He knows what’s best for me and He knows what’s in store for my future, when I don’t have a clue. Thankfully, my irrationality only lasted about two weeks (although I’m ashamed it lasted that long), but finally I chose to believe what God was telling me. He knew that this decision was the one thing that I hadn’t surrendered over to Him yet, and it needed to become His. 

Now, I’ve realized that God was right the entire time and I was simply being stubborn. The decision he called me to make was ultimately in my best interest, even though I couldn’t see it at the time. Plus, as an added bonus, he was increasing my faith in Him along the way. Because I went through that period, I learned so much and I can’t even explain to you how much I’ve grown in just a few short weeks.  

I know I was pretty vague about the decision I had to make, but that’s not the part of this story I want to focus on. This is a pretty recent experience, something I’m still processing and learning from. But so far, here’s what I’ve been able to gather:

• God knows what is best for your present and knows what’s best for your future. TRUST THAT. (but really, don’t think that the plan you have in your head is better than God’s because I can go ahead and tell you that it isn’t.) *Ephesians 3:20*

•  Don’t be conditional. By saying this, I mean don’t ask God to transform you to be more like Jesus, but then say He can only do so through ways in which you approve. It doesn’t
  and shouldn’t work like that. (again, refer to point #1)

• It’s okay to wonder why things are happening, but don’t question God’s intentions. He loves you more than anyone on this Earth, and He’s going to work things together for your good.

• You only have an earthly perspective, which has its limitations. You can see your perspective on your present and past. However, God sees how circumstances and events are going to impact your future, and also how they are going to bring glory to Him.

After all, bringing glory to Him is what it’s all about, right?

-Taylor