{Every Good Thing}

Hey guys! 

SURPRISE! I'M ENGAGED!

Yep, I'm a bride-to-be! If you want the whole story, check out mimilywedding.com

Today, as I was nose deep in my Bible following along in my reading plan, I came across a passage in Genesis that struck a chord with me. It's the story of the Tower of Babel, a story I am familiar with but if I'm being honest, I haven't taken much time to study it in depth.

Genesis 11: 4- "Come, let us a build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves." 

One thing I love about my Bible is that it has a huge section of commentary and life applications on the bottom. I knew that I wanted to explore this passage further, and what the application had to say made me stop and reflect on my own way of living. Here is what it had to say: 

"The tower of Babel was a great human achievement, a wonder of the world. But it was a monument to the people themselves rather than to God. We may build monuments to ourselves (expensive clothes, big house, fancy car, important job) to call attention to our achievements. These may not be wrong in themselves, but when we use them to give us identity and self-worth, they take God's place in our lives. We are free to develop in many areas, but we are not free to think we have replaced God. What "towers" have you built in your life?" 

This made me pause and think. Why? Maybe there are towers in my life I need to knock down. I can't help but think back to the girl I was when I first moved to Nashville. I came in guns blazing, ready to conquer all that I needed to, motivated to get involved, and determined to make a name for myself. That's exactly what I thought I needed to do to survive this industry I'm in. I held fast to this belief that in order to matter, I needed to make a name for myself. I needed to prove myself. I was willing to do whatever it took to do just that. I realized quickly that it's an exhausting and rather selfish, not to mention pointless effort. You see, if there's one thing I've learned over the 6 months or so that I have lived in Nashville, it is this: all of the opportunities I've had, and all of the things I've been able to do aren't because of me. It wasn't me going out there and making a name for myself at all. It was God! It was God making a way for me. It's not because I am great, but because HE is great! It's been written all over my life story that it's not about making a name for myself at all, and it's not about the towers I build up. My life is about finding my place and my self-worth in Jesus Christ. My identity is not based on the clothes I wear, the car I drive, or the job I have. I am a daughter of the one-true King, and my life needs to be a testament to that, a monument to God, not to my own achievements and myself. 

Is achieving bad? No, absolutely not. Achievements are an opportunity for us to praise and glorify God for working in our lives! It's when we let our own achievements replace God in our lives, and we find our self-worth in the things WE do, that's when we get into trouble. Let's give credit where credit is due.  Apart from God we have NO GOOD THING. 

"I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord! Apart from you I have no good thing." - Psalm 16:2

It is when I realized this, that things started to fall into place and I saw God really work in my life. When I realized that it wasn't me making all these good things happen, I was able to develop a heart of gratitude. Over the past few months, I have become way more concerned with living a life that is pleasing in God's sight. I'm focused on HIS plans and His desires for me. I'm no longer concerned with "making a name for myself" or coming out on top. Sure, I still want a job that I enjoy, and a house to live in, a car to drive, and clothes to wear, but my identity isn't based on these things. The only name I desire is the one I was given at the beginning of time, "daughter of God". It is a name that is not based on my personal achievements or any tower I build. It is a name I did not earn and will never be able to earn. It is a gift, given by a loving God, who is the very reason for every good thing in my life, every heartbeat, every second I get to breathe. The purpose of my life is to bring Him Glory. I pray that all my towers are knocked down where they belong. What towers have you built in your life? Pray for God to knock 'em down! 

Keep Calm and Listen to Music

-E

The Afters – Every Good Thing