MOVE!

This week at UNL there is a Christian conference going on called ‘MOVE’ with around 1500 high-school students from all over the U.S.  It is so neat to see Christians all around campus! There are people hanging out outside reading their Bibles! HOW COOL IS THAT?!  I never see that! In fact, it has not only encouraged me to keep reading my Bible, but to do it where other people can see me sometimes!

On that note…Speaking of neat things.

Something else God has been speaking to my heart about the last week or so is about giving Him the glory for everything I do and everything that I am. Yes, He has given me gifts and talents and all that jazz, but He is showing me how to give HIM the glory through those things. One of the ways I have been able to see this in action is through some of my friends who do just that – without fail, I see someone give them a compliment and they immediately point out that it is because of GOD that they did/are whatever the compliment was for. Who knew people, YOUNG PEOPLE, did that?

So I started thinking and praying about this because I have a pretty big problem – I love, love, love to be recognized for things. It isn’t usually the reason behind my actions but I really enjoy recognition and building up my ego a little bit after. Who doesn’t? The Bible has some pretty strong statements about flattery, and believe you me when I say I’m busy Googling those verses and learning what they say! I need drowning in the Truth, so I’m going diving into it.

Also, what a cool witnessing tool! Twice this has happened in the last two days and before I might not have noticed and just felt flattered and good about myself, but this time, it kind of bothered me. So I gave God the glory (something that is new). At camp, I did a devotional with my campers about ‘Next Step’s.’ Well, for me, that was  big next step – and I told those two people that the compliments they were giving me are all just a credit to God. If I didn’t have God in my life, no one would see any good in me. By myself, I make terrible, selfish decisions that don’t do me or anyone else a half-ounce of good.

What a cool witnessing tool! I know it is really easy for Christians to fall into the mindset of thinking the only way to witness is go out, awkwardly approach strangers and then present the gospel in an altogether uncomfortable conversation for both parties involved. That isn’t what witnessing has to be! YOUR LIFE is a witness – you are a living testimony of and to Christ! By responding to compliments that Christ is the reason I am how I am? I am very openly giving testament to my creator – I am, quite literally, witnessing.

 I love being challenged and challenging others and making them feel uncomfortable. So, if you are reading this and feel uncomfortable or challenged? Good! Run with that! Examine yourself and figure out why the heck you feel that way and then figure out your ‘Next Step’ and then DO IT. Faith without actions is dead (James 2:17) so don’t let your faith die! Like the name of this conference going on – it is time for you to MOVE!

**Giving credit to God instead of yourselves is called being humble, something I absolutely suck at. Need verses (like I do!) about all that humility stuff?  Check it out HERE. **