I'm just a few days shy of my celebrating my 24th birthday and I'm in slight shock of how fast time is going! I'm more so shocked at how much I've learned so far in my 20's. I think it's safe to say that with age we are always evolving and learning something new. In life you never truly stop learning. There is always something to learn and process about life and anything in life for that matter. So as I approach year 24 or what is notoriously known as your #KobeYear I want to share a few lessons that I have learned so far.
One lesson that I've truly learned to an understanding is that forgiveness is key and that forgiveness is really for you and not the other person. I've learned that forgiveness brings peace and that there's freedom and new found strength in forgiveness. I used to really have a hard time fully forgiving those who have hurt or betrayed me but when I began to ask God to allow me to see people through the lenses that He sees them through; that's when my entire outlook on those who crossed me changed.
I learned that it's okay to be alone. I learned that being alone is a lesson within itself but I also learned that there's nothing wrong with alone time and it doesn't make you weird or abnormal. Actually being alone is sometimes life saving. Think about all of the things you avoided or bullets you dodged simply because you chose to stay put or be alone. I learned that there's peace in being alone and the greatest thing about spending time alone, by yourself is that you have the opportunity to learn so much about yourself and see things about yourself that you've never seen or noticed before.
I learned that whatever you truly put your mind to and aligned in God's will for your life is usually always bound to happen. When you focus on HIS plans instead of YOUR plans there is divine favor that is granted upon you and over your life. I learned that when you submit what you think is best for you to God, He will always has a plan or a bigger picture with something greater.
I learned that pain is inevitable but overcoming the inevitable is also inevitable in and with Christ. See we can't avoid the bad things in life but with God on our side everything that was ever meant for evil will always turn out for our good. Genesis 50:20
I have also recently learned pressure builds character. You need your character built?.... just simply ask God to stretch you. Lately I've been asking God to stretch me and use me more and to me nothing significant in my life has changed. God just intensified all of the new seasons in my life. From work, to school, to my relationship, to serving...everything is magnified by what feels like 1,000. As much as I've been wanting to throw in the towel some days, I've noticed that the intensity of these seasons are to build me up even more, to challenge me, to place me out of my comfort zone, and to sharpen the areas where I've been playing it safe in. I'm thankful that I have a Father who doesn't enable me and allow me to play it safe. He prepares me for the battles of today and for the battles of the future.
One other thing that I have learned is that the you have the authority to control how you react to everything that happens in your life. Your words hold so much value so it's extremely important to be mindful of how we respond to our stress and frustrations in life. I'm learning more the overall authority we have to change our thoughts and renew our mind. Something I've known for years but just now really receiving the true revelation of it. I'm still working in that area but I've noticed I'm much more mindful.
These are just a few lessons I've learned that have changed my perspective on a lot of things in life. I'm thankful for what I've learned so far and what I will continue to learn in the future. I'm even more thankful that I'm being taught by the greatest teacher alive....God.
Today my prayer is that we never stop seeking to learn and to evolve. I pray that we don't ever get comfortable and complacent in this life. I pray that we always strive to do more and self improve. My prayer is that we often self reflect and find growth within ourselves.
With love,
-Yours Truly, Eb