My own little world

I was listening to the Matthew West song , "My Own Little World" the other day and it really got me to thinking.  In case you haven't heard the song before, here are some of the lyrics:

 In my own little world it hardly ever rains

I’ve never gone hungry or always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket
shoes on my feet
In my own little world
Population me 

What got me to thinking really, is the first stanza where he says he has never gone hungry and always felt safe.  You see, that is not the case for me.  My childhood was less than ideal and included a period of time where my family and I actually lived on a bus.  And always felt safe?  Well, many of you have heard enough of my testimony to know that I rarely felt safe!   Now, I am not saying that I was starving or that I grew up in a war zone, or anything like that, but I just can't relate to the lyrics in this first stanza. 

So then, does that mean that I am off the hook?  Well, not exactly!  I was thinking about how so many people grow up in less than ideal circumstances and situation and then allow satan to use that to cripple them for life.  Maybe you have met someone with this "Victim Mentality"  you know what I mean?  Someone who can never quite get past their past to live in their today?  Well, it is one of satan's meanest tricks and for a long time I fell for it.  Anytime I felt like I should teach a Sunday school class, go on a mission trip,or share my story, I would hear satan's remind me of how unworthy I was and how I couldn't possibly have anything to offer.  So I wouldn't teach the class or go on the mission trip, and I would certainly never share my story.  I don't know that I sat around feeling sorry for myself but I did allow these lies to immobilize me.

Then something changed, I read a book by Steven Curtis Chapman and his pastor, Scotty Smith.  And as I read it, the Lord began speaking to me about the truth of Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  The key word there was "ALL," not some things or good things but ALL things, and that included the troubles of my past.  God began to challenge me to share my journey, as a way of healing for myself.  Oh, i can promise you, i argued with him and fought him tooth and nail, but in hindsight, I am glad that I listened to His voice for Isaiah 61:3 is really true. It promises to give those who have suffered,"a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." 

Now, I am far from being called an, "oak of righteousness" but I can truly tell you that God has taken the ugliness of my past and made it beautiful!  And, I almost missed it because I was trapped in my own little world. So as I sign off for today, I pray you will meditate on the chorus of Matthew West's song and answer his questions for yourself, then get out there and shine!

What if there’s a bigger picture
what if I’m missing out
What if there’s a greater purpose
I could be living right now
outside my own little world