3 Things God Taught Me In Georgia

These past 3.5 months have been full of stripping away so many areas of my life that have chained me down in my pursuit of the Father. However, in the aftermath of being emptied, it allows the Father to FILL THE SPACE – laying down everything that I’m not to be filled by His characteristics and who He created me to be. 

I truly believe that I couldn’t write everything that I learned or else you’d be reading this blog for hours !! Each day felt like 100 new revelations so this blog will not be able to do justice to the growth I’ve experienced so far but here are three heavily influential things God taught me: 

PERFORMANCE !!

Within the first week, I was quick to realize that I was caught up in this rhythm of performing and impressing people. A big wound was opened when I realized that this bleeds deep into my relationship with the Lord too. 

I would wake up early in the morning and do my devotions but I would make sure to leave my bedroom door open in hopes that my parents would walk by and be proud of me. I would participate in conversation in bible studies but for my own personal gain and not for the sake of God’s glory. I was constantly striving for other people’s approval and attention over a true desire to grow in intimacy with God. 

In Luke 4, Jesus had just spent 40 days in the wilderness where He was tempted by the enemy and He goes to the synagogue in Nazareth. Then Jesus stands up and reads the scroll of Isaiah to all the people around Him. Jesus declares Himself the Messiah and reveals He is the fulfilled promise from Isaiah…just like that. Then He rolls the scroll back up and SITS DOWN – like mic drop. One of the speakers we heard from in our teachings said “sometimes the best way to live into your identity is to sit down”. 

Jesus isn’t striving to impress people. He knows His identity. He doesn’t stand in the synagogue and say fancy words for people to like Him. His worth isn’t based on that. He is confident in who His Father says He is that He just sits down to then glorify God, not himself. 

Our squad mentor, madie, said that we can’t lift God up any higher. He’s already seated on the highest throne. In order to glorify Him and lift God up, we have to lower ourselves. 

“Layna, sit down” has been a consistent reminder on my heart. HUMILITY IS HARD. 

God reminds me in the sweetest ways but saying, “Daughter, stop striving.” I continue to surrender this at the LORDS FEET DAILY. A new heart posture of humility and desiring authentic intimacy with God – just me and Him.

HEALTHY COMMUNITY !!

I love seeing people’s faces when I tell them I’ve been living in a community with 30 other people for the past few months. Sometimes people look confused and other times they give me a face of pity. The living together part is kinda fun. I actually love it now but God definitely had to soften my heart A LOT.  

However, community isn’t just living together. Maintaining a healthy Christian community and honor is more than difficult. We choose to fight for unity in the Body of Christ for the sake of the Kingdom. It would be easy to let bitterness harbor, to give up on each other, to gossip behind people’s backs, to choose frustration over forgiveness, or be exclusive because that comes naturally to our flesh due to a sinful world. We do this without even realizing it most of the time. Every moment, we have a choice to radiate life or death over someone else in our words and actions. Those are the only two choices, there’s no in-between.

so yes. I do life with 30 other people. That‘s hard. We each have lots of opinions. We probably get on each other’s  nerves sometimes. We all slip up and say the wrong things. We are all imperfect… but we all need each other !! we choose to navigate community in a healthy manner and invite the Lord in !! The Body of Christ functions together !! KINGDOM CULTURE IS WHERE IT’S AT!!

Gap D stacks their hands-on choosing to each bring life to the table. They love so hard !! They are hungry for the Word, they each walk in intentionality, they choose into making this a family, they value truth and honor, and each one of them has the smile of our Father. Oh how I love being in their space !!

SURRENDER !!

I can’t say that I ever surrendered anything to the Father before I started the race. I’ve made a commitment to God… that I would follow Him and rely on Him for the rest of my life. However, I was still holding on tight to the things that I wanted, a classic case of my fleshly desires pining for control. 

Then one of our speakers said, “God isn’t asking for a commitment, He’s asking for our surrender”. For the first time, I knew that living in His kingdom was going to cost me everything. I surrendered my life into His hands. 

Here’s the other kicker, I have to chose to surrender DAILY. It’s not a-one-and-done kinda deal. 

I desire a heart posture where I am willing to lay down whatever He asks me – because leaving everything I have behind is worth it to live in my Fathers dwelling place.

Thank you so much for reading!! I can’t wait to continue sharing with you the ways God is moving in my heart. I deeply appreciate your support and prayers!!

-Layna