I only have eyes for you.

"But God! Dear Lord, I only have eyes for you! Since I've run for dear life to you, take good care of me!'Psalm 141:8

Looking back upon the last four or five years of my life I am blown away. I shake my head at my teenage self and all of the poor life choices I made. But I can't say that I regret them, only that I have learned from them.

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

In the short 21 years of my life I have been through my fair share of struggles (some of them my own fault, some of them not.) However, I look at the place that I am in now and I am on my knees so thankful to Jesus for who I have become and all of the things I have learned. 

When I think about this time last year, I can't help but laugh. I was so hell bent on doing things my own way, living my life on my own terms, and making a very large mess of things in the process. When I went to YWAM in September of 2011, I remember being so done with my life and very ready to let God do whatever he wanted with it because I knew it was the only way I would be truly happy, the only way I would learn to be content. 

I can honestly say that I've seen every prayer I've prayed be answered right before my eyes. Not always how or when I wanted or expected, but always in a way that strengthens my trust and faith. My life is so full, and I praise God every day for the abundant blessings coming my way. 

What I've learned is this: 

Pray with everything you've got. Don't be afraid to admit you're scared, that you have a hard time trusting. Don't be afraid to go to God ever, in desperate times or when things are going fine. He will always come through, maybe not how or when you expect, but remember everything is in his time...not ours. Additionally I've learned not to just go to Him when I want something, but that I ALWAYS need Him. And He is always there to talk to, to thank, to hold my hand. 

Thank you! Everything in me says thank you! Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; most holy is your name, most holy is your word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength. Psalm 138:3