I moved into a house with three friends this week. Sounds like a pretty normal thing to do as a single lady in her mid 20's, but it was a big deal. I didn't know why it was, or even how I knew it was, it just was. I was pondering and praying, wanting to know exactly what the big deal was. I saw that over the last 3 years, I had grown up...again. At age 23, I had just graduated from college, I was working and financially independent, living with friends, fully capable, and taking care of myself. The world would say that's exactly what every 23 year old should be doing. I'm not so sure. Three years ago, I gave it all to the Lord to follow his leading. I ended up in a Discipleship Training School, where a college degree, work experience, financial independence, life stage, or worldly capabilities don't build your resume, but where intimacy with the Lord is the highest qualifier. I didn't choose any of my daily activities, had specific chores, consequnces, had to ask for permission to do almost everything. I ate what was put in front of me, and life was simple. Like a child. I think in some ways I really was like a child, and the outer lifestyle of a DTS student reflected my inner life, as a spiritual child. Children can be selfish, impatient, demanding, harsh, inflexible, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. There was little fruit in my life. Now here I am three years later, back where I started...but not really. The Lord has graduated me, and His pleasure washes over me. He's added back to my life what I thought I was already capable of, and what I thought I deserved. So, now I'm 26, working and financially independent, living with friends, fully capable, and taking care of my myself. The world would say that's exactly what every 26 year old should be doing. But now I don't care what the world says, because this time, God said.
