I learn from myself?

I realized something today, after reviewing some old reflective journals. This is quite an obvious statement, but it IS so obvious, it is often easily dismissed. I learn from my life. Obvious, yes. I go through the same feelings, the same valleys, and the same mountains, but from different perspectives. Every new moment feels like it is a new experience, that feelings are 100% different and just as confusing.

I have reoccurring feelings of inadequacy, brought on by allowing several other insecurities to get to me too often. This is nothing new, but through time, I never felt my responses to be similar. Today, I was very comforted by my own words written several months ago, in response to a daily devotion from a wonderful book called "Faith Alone" originally written by Martin Luther, but edited for today's readers by James C. Galvin. Every page I had read was so incredibly encouraging to me. Not only to re-read my "feel-good" words, but to acknowledge that, although they were written from a different perspective, were very applicably similar.

Faith Alone is my go-to book. I LOVE it. I have had this book for several years, but ironically, have yet to read it completely. I simply love my previously underlined pages so much that I find my progress to be slow. But I am okay with that.

I made a decision to share a few my responses through the span of a couple days, or weeks.. or longer. We'll see what plan ends up developing! I consider myself to be a fairly private person. I keep a lot to myself, which can be both beneficial and detrimental. I have a desire to stretch myself and grow as a person, but I don't always like to take the first few steps. Sharing my personal thoughts are a big step for me, but I think it will be a good move. I take this from my journal, so many of is posted may not entirely make sense, but maybe it will.

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August 2011
Topic: God Will Take Care Of You

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and the feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD
Deut. 8:3

Although this passage speaks directly of food and hunger. I interpret the message to be about "lacking" in general. When we are hungry, it means we are lacking energy, which comes from consuming food. We cannot maintain our energy by our own efforts. We cannot will it to return. We must rely on something outside of ourselves, food. Without it, we will fade and ultimately di. This resource is readily available to us at any time. All we must do is accept.

In the same way, our spiritual lives must be maintained by putting aside our own will to remain full. Our weaknesses may be recognized as our own personal demons appear. Feelings of inadequacy, lack of trust, motivation, ect. When our "energy" is running low, we must remember to sustain ourselves by allowing God to "feed" us. God will meet you where you ask him to, with so much more than you know. All you have to do is let him.

Just as our bodies physically need food, and on a regular basis, our soul, our spirit, needs renewal. It's a daily struggle to fight of those demons that wear you down and drain you, but God is there, always, to feed, to energize, to sustain.

I find myself thanking God of my abilities when I lose sight of them.

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p.s. Our lives will be soon updated to friends and family who are interested in reading about us. Explanations and a plea for forgiveness for this time gap are on their way, as well. :)