ROAD to 31 Devotional Day 2: Leaving What you Know

Listen to "Little Girl Is Gone" - https://m.soundcloud.com/jeannie-ortega…/little-girl-is-gone

My song "Little Girl Is Gone" was written when when I finally made the choice to leave my home at 19 years old. Although I felt very grown, I was not and was terrified to leave what I knew. Still I had to find sanctuary. I didnt know it at the time but I longed to live out Ephesians 6:1-4

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord"

My parents did the best they humanly could with raising me, but I found myself filled with rage and could no longer honor them because of the amount of self pity I indulged in. I wanted to find my own peace, so I left. Before leaving, I felt this responsibility to be the "strong one" (even in grown up matters) which always left me exhausted and burnt out- longing for a refuge that I couldn't find. It wasnt until I left my dysfunction that God taught me He wanted to take my burdens. He never intended us to carry them but it wasnt until I was on my own that I finally let him have them.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In the quietness of my new empty home I had no restrictions, I found myself with no one to answer to and endless possibilities. That's where I had to make a decision - Would I allow my self-desires to run rampant or would seek God and find my true identity and purpose?

After a rocky start and a trip down heathenism lane, eventually things changed. I had this sense that I was ignoring Gods cues and it took a freak accident where I was stung by a jellyfish 6 times while in Puerto Rico paradise and another moment where I lost my hearing (I promise I'll tell the full story in my book), that I felt like I had to let go and finally seek God for His plans for my life. That's what I did, I took my quiet time in my own space and opened the Bible, determine to take each one of my struggles to God - unforgiveness, lust, flithy communication... etc and there my journey truly began...

Reflection: In your time alone what do you find yourself doing - Do you turn to social media, TV/games, chores, or sleep? Challenge yourself to take some of that alone time to sit with God and hear what He has for you. Make the quiet moments count 📷💖

Psalm 62:1 "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation."