Breathe, Noelle, breathe.

I just wanted to share a little bit about what I read in my Bible today. I had read through Ecclesiastes over the last few weeks chapter by chapter, and upon finishing the book, I needed something else. I couldn't do another book of the Bible, because I feel by reading a chapter each day, I am only skimming the surface of the depth that even each verse possesses! So I started doing a google search, because hey, that's what my generation tends to do! As I looked over topics, I decided I didn't want to just do a bunch of verses, I wanted short passages that had to do with a particular topic. Charles Stanley was brought to my mind, so I was able to find a daily devotional through his website.

The topic for today is "Strength for the Lonely". But I'm not lonely God, am I? He knows better than I do, so I better get down to it! Passage? Isaiah 41:9-11.

Here are a few things that really stuck out to me:

• I have been chosen by God--of all the people of the earth, God chose me to accomplish a specific task according to His will that he has designated beforehand for only me to do.
• He calls me His own--I am His servant, but as Jesus said, "No longer are you my servants . . . but I have called you my friends"*.
• He has not cast me away--He has promised never to leave me nor forsake me* and no matter what happens I will always remain in His perfect grasp*.
• I am not to be afraid--He is always with me, no matter where I go or if I try to hide*.
• I am commanded not to be dismayed--dismayed is defined as discouraged, hopeless, alarmed.
• My God will strengthen me--He will make me more than I am, because I cannot do it on my own, I need His strength*.
• He will help me and uphold me--He will defend me in the face of hostility and inspire me with confidence by His righteousness and direct involvement in my life.
• Whoever rises up against me will be ashamed and disgraced--they will lose respect and regret going against me, because in the end they will come to nothing.

So why is this so meaningful for me (aka how do I apply this to my own life)? In my remaining days at home and during my weeks of training, I need to remember that God will be with me as I go down range, and He will not leave me to the mercy (haha!) of my drill sergeants because I will not be alone. He is right by my side and His Holy Spirit is living inside of me. I need to trust Him. When I think I can no longer do it, I will rely on Him so that when I look back I will know that it was not by my strength but by His. I am about to step out into the biggest adventure in my life, away from all of my friends and family, but with the Lord God. There is no need to fear because He will always be with me. I am going to need Him in a way that I never had to need Him before (Which means His power will be so much more evident to me!).

I only have about a week left so hopefully I will be a little bit more determined to write a few more times before I ship out. If for no one else but me, it helps me figure out a few things and clarify them for my own life. Well I've got 4, well now 5 books to read before I leave so I better get working on them!

Praise Him,

Noelle