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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: REDUCE (11/05/15)
Reflecting

As I reflect back over my life, I have come to realize that every decision I have ever made was emotionally driven, based on my own choices and my free will. My life has been such that I have never had anyone I could truly trust, and rely on after the passing of my mother. I lived for many years with a prideful, independent disposition. Due to this state, I found it very difficult to ask for help from others and it was only after the birth of my children that I would swallow my pride and seek assistance in times of need. I had an attitude that was bent, on believing I did not need anyone to do anything for me, I could do it all by myself. I learned to depend solely on myself as I journeyed through those early years of my adulthood, struggling and hoping for the best. For some time now, I have found myself in a predicament, whereby I have had to learn that no man/woman is an island. People need other people if nothing more than a kind word, a gentle touch, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry upon and a smile to share.
In addition, the most important thing I had to learn was who Jesus Christ was. I had to learn how to seek His face, how to call Him up and hear His voice. I had to learn how to lean on, and place my trust in Him. For in trusting Him, I would learn that it was all right, to lean on and place my trust in those whom He positioned in my life to facilitate my needs. None of it was easy, especially when I had been used to controlling everything and every situation in my life. It took relational intimacy in the written word, patience with people and the gift of discernment to differentiate between those whom He placed in my life to assist me, from those who had their own motives for befriending me. Those who came in my life with the wrong intentions, and personal gain, those who were not sent by Him brought with them drama, manipulation, deception, and a whole lot of pain. All of which, for many years, caused me to lose focus and sight of my calling and purpose. The situations became very stressful and created much anxiety within me.
Furthermore, I had to spend more time in the word and in prayer in order that I might gain the wherewithal and the strength to know how to separate myself from many people. Many who knowingly sought to hinder the plans God has for me with the intent to destroy my destiny. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will, at some point in our lives have to reduce some of our relationships. Our circles will get smaller and smaller. Many times, it will have nothing to do with what we are doing wrong but with those things we choose to do that are right. There will be a lot of jealousies, envy and a bunch of unnecessary strife in relationships just to cause us to take our eyes off that which God has called us out from among them to do.
In conclusion, no matter what we go through along our life’s journey, we must hold to the fact that God loves us and He will never leave us nor forsake us. It does not matter how long we have to go through a thing, situation, or whatever, we know that He is going through it with us. We may appear to be alone in the natural realm of things, but He is ever-present with and to those who believe in Him. God has a way of filtering and pruning people out of our lives, and it is okay for us to do some reductions as well.


Word Count- 658- Reduce
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This article has been read 373 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Pat Small
11/16/15
Although you show insight in this piece, it was difficult to read due to improper punctuation and no spacing between paragraphs.
Donna Powers
11/18/15
This is an excellent testimony, but I agree with the previous poster. It was difficult to read due to lack of spaces between paragraphs.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
11/20/15
Your honesty brought tears to my eyes. I could see remnants of myself in your story. It is important to focus on Jesus, and in today's busy world, things like the Internet, TV, and even our jobs or family can all take precedent over our relationships with Jesus.

Instead of using modifiers, pick verbs that will paint a picture for your reader. For example this:
I found it very difficult to ask for help from others.
Can be switched to:
I agonized over asking others for help.
Overall, though I think you did a splendid job (sure you could add white space to make it easier to read and watch out for run-on sentences, but those are tiny details), and it took courage to share such intimate thoughts with others. God has a plan for this though, and by sharing these times in your life, you're allowing the Holy Spirit to work in everyone who reads this.
Congratulations on ranking 9th in level one. The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.