17 Years of Lessons + Announcement!

            This week, I turn 17. (Yes, I am 16 going on 17, and, yes, I have been singing the song all year long. :) I’ve been thinking about all the things God has taught me over the past few years. What I’m about to share today are only a few of the many important lessons I’ve learned (some of them rather painfully!).

1.  Progress Is a Process

Progress can’t be achieved overnight. So, enjoy the process and celebrate the small steps and milestones.

I’ve learned that being so focused on the final goal or destination can be tiring if you don’t take the time to appreciate each step you take to get there.

Embrace the not-quite and the almost-there. God is not just the God of the destination; He’s also the God of the progress.

2.  Reason

This one word has gotten me through so many struggles with insecurity and discontentment.

There have been so many times where I have compared myself to other teens and have been discontent with my own life. I’ve complained about not having as many friendships or relationships as I would have like, a lack of opportunities, and plenty other things.

Yet, through all of it, I always feel the Holy Spirit reminding me of that one word: reason.

That one word reminds me that no matter what I go through or where I am, God always has a reason for it. I just need to trust Him and remind myself that His ways are higher than mine and His plans are always for my benefit.

3.  Your Thoughts and Words Are Crucial

If you take away only one lesson from this article today, let it be this one. Applying this principle will change your life, just like it did mine.

Your thoughts determine the direction of your life, especially when you verbalize them. If you think and speak negatively, you will always feel badly. But if you think and speak positive things, things that align with what God says, you will be happier and find it easier to have faith.

The mind is one of Satan’s most targeted part of our lives. Every moment we must be ready to cast wicked and negative thoughts out of our minds and speech and replace them with true, pure, and God-honouring thoughts.

4.  Joy vs. Happiness

We often use these two words interchangeably, but there are actually quite different. Happiness is circumstantial and fleeting. It is temporary and entirely dependent on inconsistent situations, people, or moods.

Whereas joy comes from our unchanging God. It is not dependent on anything, nor does it simply dissolve when tested. It is deeper than happiness and more resilient.

True joy isn’t found in anything this world has to offer. It is a life-changing gift that comes only from our loving Father.

5.  Your First Draft Is Not the Final Draft!

This one is for all my writers 😊

I’ve seen how trying to be perfect in my first draft of a story or article can hinder my ability to get words on paper.

Let your first draft be messy. Let it make no sense to everyone but you. (Sometimes it won’t even make sense to you, but that’s fine, too!) Write your first draft like no one will ever see it.

Your early drafts will most likely not be perfect, but that’s perfectly okay. Embrace the imperfection and turn that messy draft into a masterpiece, one edit at a time.

Friends, out God is so good and so faithful. Though I’m more than a little nervous, I trust Him completely for this year ahead of me and for all that will happen in it.

Do you trust Him today?

Let’s trust Him together.

-Olivia

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📢📢 ANNOUNCEMENT!!📢📢

Since the early stages of planning to launch The Remnant, my plan was to post an article every other week. However, closer to launching I decided I could post every week for a month or two while I got the blog running and settled into a routine, later switching to posting every other week.

Well, 16 consecutive weeks of posting later...

Only by the grace of God have I been able to do this! I'm so thankful for the inspiration and endurance He's given me.

However, despite my careful planning and scheduling in advance, I do need a bit of a break. That is why December 3rd will be my last article on The Remnant until January 7th.

But, for those of you who are subscribed to The Remnant, I'll still be popping in a few times with a brief newsletter or encouragement via email. So, if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to The Remnant HERE so you don't miss a beat.

There's still one more article coming your way next Tuesday, though, and it is one I am excited to share with you guys!

I would really appreciate it if you would keep me in yours prayers, that I will be able to have fresh inspiration and energy to keep The Remnant going strong in the new year.

Thank you all so much again! I'm grateful for each one of you and pray for you all!

Until next week!

-Olivia