Kingdom Mindsets and Eternal Glasses

Earlier this month I was able to go on a mission trip with our High School students. 67 of us went to inner city LA to do ministry with the Dream Center. It was a humbling and life-changing time for our students and leaders alike and I am so grateful God blessed me with the chance to go. I have been going hard since and have barely been able to reflect and process what God taught me and today I finally did that. As we walked the streets of Skid Row and talked to one person after the other, I was struck by how the people we met were not worried about what the rest of their lives were going to look like - they simply were trying to figure out how they were going to get their next meal.

As someone who likes to plan things, I find it easy to be in control. To know what is supposed to happen, when it is supposed to happen and how it is supposed to happen. I fail to realize that that is not how God works. I like to look at my future and think that I have it figured out. I know what it will look like and I think I know what will be best.

In LA, I realized that I was failing to live with a kingdom mindset. It is common for young people to not think much about the future and to think we are invincible. I sadly fall into this way too quickly than I would like to admit. I tend to have the "glasses" on that are a little bit fuzzy, but where I can see my hands and me planning my future because I have it in control. God took me all the way to LA to discover that I can't wear those glasses - I need to have eternal glasses on. When we look at life and look at our future with eternity in mind, everything becomes a little bit clearer. I can see farther and I can see my hands are open and surrendered to the one that holds the future in His hands.

The God who created the world, who lead the Israelites through the wilderness, who parted the Red Sea, who sent his only Son to die for my behalf is the SAME God that is holding me and my future. It grieves me to think that I so quickly put on the glasses that tell me I am in control and I can figure things out on my own because I really can't. I can, however put on the eternal glasses and suddenly everything becomes a bit more clear. Knowing what to say yes to becomes a little easier. Knowing the difference between now and not yet becomes a little clearer.

I want my life and my story to reflect a young woman who is completely surrendered to Jesus and His plans because He really IS enough. He really does know me better than I know myself. And if God can use me to change even one persons' eternity - it really will be all worth it. So my friends, which glasses are you wearing today? The ones that only show you 10 feet ahead of you - but tell you you have it figured out and you got it all together? Or the ones that are crystal clear but show your hands are open to what the future has becomes someone better is holding it in His hands?

As someone who needs corrective lenses to see farther away, I know which glasses I want to have on and pray they don't come off again.