Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The minute my eyes opened this morning I thought about the Love of my Life and I thanked Him for another day to Serve. Love and Gratitude are one thing, being made ready to take on a new day as a woman of Faith is an entirely different story. For that, I need Wisdom and Grace…a Compassionate Heart…and a willingness to Forgive. I need to Surrender this day and all that it is to Him. I need to be sure that I’m not harboring anything “bad” in my heart that could hinder my Witness to a dark world. I need supernatural Strength and I need Humility. My Journey isn’t possible without Him and I’m not capable of any of these things without His Help, so I seek His face each morning and I put Him first in all that I do. Isn’t that the way you begin your new day too?

It can be so easy these days for people to fight for their independence while they convince themselves that they’re fine all on their own – but God didn’t wire us to be on our own. God breathed the Rule Book into existence and He says “iron sharpens iron” and that “two are better than one.” He made Eve for Adam, He called Aaron to help Moses – He joined Elijah and Elisha to prepare for a time when the prophet Elijah would be taken Home. There are countless examples of how God reinforced relationships to strengthen His people; each one driving the message home that “iron sharpens iron.” It’s that same determination to be independent that can easily carry over into our Journey of Faith too, and before you know it we don’t think we need Him either! The more we work to convince ourselves that we don’t need anybody else, the farther away from understanding what it means to totally depend on God for it all. What the world sees as weakness is actually a sign of Power as we surrender it all over to God. There is no place for independence in the Journey of Faith.

Sometimes it’s funny to see the reaction when people hear me confess that I’m not nearly as “independent” as they think I am. I’ve flown solo most of my life but that isn’t because of a determination to be independent and it isn’t an outward sign of an inward need to be alone. It just is. I’ve survived well on my own – I managed to raise 4 kids on my own and they’ve grown up to be wonderful God-fearing people. I’ve built success and I’ve seen abundance – my family wanted for nothing. But I’ve also been overwhelmed by the burden of it all and I’ve cried myself to sleep more times than you want to know. That is UNTIL I surrender whatever it is over to God and confess that I can’t go it alone – and THEN GOD GIVES ME the one(s) I need to help me through the Journey. I’ve seen so many miracles that I can’t begin to count them all and I’ve had friends hold me up when I couldn’t hold myself countless times. I’m not ashamed to say I’m weak and I’m not too proud to ask God for help….the God that KNOWS that “two are better than one.” I’ve been flying solo for a long time but NEVER have I been alone, and I’ve matured in my faith enough to understand that His “power is made perfect in my weakness.” When I am weak and dependent HE IS STRONG.

I sit alone on the front porch at daybreak most days and I’m flying solo through life…but I’m not really alone. When I need help He’ll bring it to me because He loves me and He knows that I’m dependent. When I’m feeling lonely He’ll bring someone along to fill that empty space. I’m a Strong Warrior for the Living God and I walk out my faith with Boldness…but there is nothing independent about me or my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How about you?