Debt-Free

     Going into college, my main priority is to graduate debt-free. For me, that means that if I don't have the money to pay for classes then I won't sign up for them. I won't buy anything that I can't afford and I won't register for classes that I don't have the money for. That seems like a pretty basic concept to me, but as I've been sharing my debt-free goal with more and more people I have been surprised to have received a couple negative responses! The negativity isn't because people oppose my goal, but it is because they think that it's impossible (especially if I won't take loans.) Despite the discouraging comments, remaining debt-free continues to be a conviction of mine.

"For with God nothing shall be impossible."

Luke 1:37

     In the height of my discouragement, I completely forgot that it wasn't just my goal to graduate debt-free... it was God's goal for me as well. I knew that He wanted me to graduate without debt, but at that point, I had no idea how he would do it. Remaining debt-free seemed impossible, but I had faith that if His will for me was to have no debt, he would provide the means for me to do so.
     The next day I had the opportunity to meet with a financial aid counselor from the college to discuss the costs for the upcoming year. I was prepared for discouraging news, but our meeting was exactly the opposite of that! The counselor told me that the aid I was going to receive would cover my tuition (all of my classes!) And since I would still be living at home, I'd be getting free room and board as well! I immediately smiled as I realized what had just happened. The Lord had provided, once again! Isn't God great?! I am thrilled to be entering into my first year of college knowing that the Lord has provided and I'll be completing it debt-free!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight." 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Still, My Soul, Be Still

   

     So, for those of you that don't know, this year I decided to take on the challenge of completing two years of high school in one year, so that I could graduate a year early! Though this is super exciting, it also gives me less time to look for colleges and pray about what to do with this next step of my life.

     Lately we've been really busy and I haven't been spending much time researching different college options. I started getting really stressed and felt like my mental 'to-do' list wasn't getting done everyday. On top of that, I was still having symptoms that the Candida Diet was supposed to cure and we were having issues getting ahold of my doctors. Now I felt sick emotionally AND physically.

     This morning before getting out of bed I stopped to pray. I prayed that God would give me a sense of direction about where to go to college. "Anything at all." I whispered.

     Peace. For some odd reason, that word popped in to my head. I thought maybe God was trying to tell me something. I sighed, then finished praying. "Yes... I need peace."

     After praying, I pushed my emotions aside and put my IPod on shuffle while getting ready for my day. The first song that started playing was Still, My Soul, Be Still by Keith and Kristyn Getty. Here's how the chorus goes. 

God, You are my God

And I will trust in You and not be shaken

Lord of peace, renew

A steadfast spirit within me

To rest in You alone

     

    When the chorus started playing, I paused what I was doing and just listened. I felt like those words were meant for me. Lord of peace renew... I will trust in you and not be shaken... a steadfast spirit within me, to rest in You alone. I thanked God as the song ended, but then continued my day and completely forgot about it.

     After finishing my schoolwork, I decided to do my daily bible reading. Some days I feel the Lord really speaking to me during these times, other days I feel like it's more mechanical. Today I guess I was expecting it to be more mechanical or something, because I know that I wasn't expecting to feel God's presence the way that I did.

     I opened my bible to the passage I was supposed to read that day and one of the first verses included the phrase, "Be still and know that I am God." I stopped and just shut my eyes. The Lord was giving me this moment to just be still. I felt this warmth spread through my body and just felt like the Lord was telling me to trust him. To be still and rest in him. Suddenly I didn't feel worried about this whole college transition. I didn't feel worried or scared about what to do. And most importantly, I finally felt like God was giving me a clear sense of direction. He was telling me to just trust him. 

     I felt so lighthearted as the day went on. Now, as I'm writing this, I still don't know what college I'll be going to. I don't know what this next year is going to hold for me, but I do feel God's peace as I continue trusting in him! Just think, by this time next year, I'll be halfway done with my freshman year in college!

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UPDATE

   
     Alright, well, I wrote this post last night but decided not to post it since I finished writing it really late and wanted to read over it once more in the morning. This morning my devotions were awesome! They were all about trusting God and about how he has bigger plans for us than we could ever imagine. But the best part of the devotional was definitely the scripture! Here are the verses that were assigned to me this morning.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

     Well, needless to say, reading that scripture this morning was a total God thing for me! I felt like it was just another way in which God was telling me to trust him. I was so worried about not feeling a clear sense of direction, but the last couple days I've really been feeling God's peace within me. I am so excited about this next step of my life and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me!

     God Bless,

     ~Hannah