I don't know about you all, but this is hard. I'm not going to sugar coat it. This quarantine is restricting and overall unpleasant. I miss my grandparents, I miss friends, I miss the walks to class, leading Bible studies, Church and above all- peace and quiet. However, I choose to look past that and make the most of my situation... By an attitude of Gratitude, Praise/Worship, and lastly Forgiveness.
Here is why and how choosing those three over negativity are getting me through this quarantine...
An attitude of gratitude is something I strive for everyday. During my time with the Lord in the morning I always start my prayer with a simple 'thank you', thanking God for another day to praise Him. I think there is always something to be thankful for, though sometimes it is harder to realize that. When we become so caught up with life our blessing become mundane-- we take life for granted. The glass we see through becomes darker and darker and we become even more separated from God. This way of life is dangerous because one can start to think they have complete control over their life or they can start to believe that death is a far off possibility. Since we live in a state of 'unknowing' we must turn to God for peace. Only He holds the answers, and we must trust in Him.
"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
I'm going to be honest, trusting God for me can be fleeting. The worst part though is that I don't even notice when I no longer am trusting God! There will be times when I try and control the things in my life and forget to trust God. That means I am getting caught up in life. So, I have to slow down and breath and praise & worship the Lord to remember who I am, but more importantly who God is. Rejoicing should be a daily habit that happens several times a day. I find that rejoicing can be as simple as giving God the credit to "lucky" moments (there is no such thing as luck). I play my worship music and have recently started Biblical Meditation. In this quarantine it is so important to slow down and praise God...
"Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth." Psalms 96:9 (NIV)
As for forgiveness, just like giving thanks and worshiping, it is a choice. I tend to be quick to forgive those I love but slow to forgive myself and those who have hurt me repeatedly. However, I find that being thankful for God's grace can ease the tensions of a hardened heart and makes it easier to choose to forgive. Forgiveness is freeing and I know in this time when we're trapped in with family it can be so easy to get annoyed at every little thing. Choose grace and choose forgiveness. Thank God you even have a family, thank God for each of them by name and chuckle when you hear your little sister sneaking a 2am snack that happened to wake you up...
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
Your life is not your own. Don't spend this time in negative thoughts, instead spend it praising your Father and sowing seeds! Your only restrictions come from your own mind, and well the CDC... Stay in & stay sanitized!
Much Love,
Leena ♡
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