Hi friends! I'm so excited to take a moment to share some life this morning! I've missed posting while I've been here in Austin working on my first Physical Therapy rotation. So much has happened! Namely, I am now engaged to a wonderful man named Kenneth Kennedy! The picture above was taken right after we got engaged on the steps of the Capital. I'll save the engagement story for another post. Now, I'm so excited to share yet another lesson from Mr. Oswald Chambers.

Does individuality honor God? I've been thinking about this more lately since the engagement. What about my dreams, my plans, my friendships, my family. Me...me...me. I sound like I'm warming up for a production of The Sound of Music. Did God design us to be concerned with our own ambitions in the context of a healthy marriage. Or does He challenge us repeatedly in scripture to cast all our cares on Him and He will direct our paths?

Mr. Chambers shares, "Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes." But what does this actually mean? How do I lay my 'individuality' in exchange for more authentic spiritual growth that honors my Creator?

The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, "I can’t believe," it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, "I will not surrender," or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge.