What is age? just a number?

Today is a significant day in my life. It was on the 8 January 1995 that I decided to commit my life to Jesus, and submit to His Lordship. 22 years ago.

As I inch/crawl near to the 40-year-old mark [it is looming a few short years away]. I am tempted to start telling people my age not in relation to how long I have drawn breath but in relation to when i truly started living life in abundance, the day I committed my life to Jesus.

It's a more flattering number to vocalize.

Truthfully, even though I was drawing breath before then, I truly only came alive at this moment. Not in a cliched over-quoted phrase type of way. But in a genuine, my life was never the same again type of way. It has been an adventure and a half.

In our physical years, and in our spiritual years we all have expectations and milestones we hope to achieve. In the family culture that I grew up in, 21 was a coming of age, finally old enough to fully be considered an adult, to hold the keys to the house etc. It was a milestone and a mark of growing up.

The older I get, the more I am aware that just because technically I was an adult, that didn't make me mature.  The same expectation spills over year in and year out in my spiritual growth and walk with God.

I  expect to be more at peace, or more blessed/prosperous. I expect to be more mature. I expect to be more whole, have less issues. Have my issues effect me less. I expect to be mature in Christ, and displaying godly character. [if you drive with me and witness my road rage, you will know that Christ like character is not always my strong point.]

Depending on which church you attend and which doctrine's you have been exposed to along with you own thoughts and ideals . . . these expectations bombard us, and truthfully usually deplete our faith instead of building it up.

What I have realized is this and simply this . . . I Am His. I Belong to Christ and His desire/love is for me and He is always with me.

I am so glad that true biblical values are not shaped by society, social media, self expectations nor the expectations of leaders or family or friends.  Everything God ordained for us is simply rooted and based in love.

So I stand a 22-year-old Christian, who will love him and serve him with all my imperfections because He loves me with all my imperfections. . . as for maturity.... its over-rated... but wisdom is a pearl to search for  and treasure.... Here's to another new love filled, adventure packed year of knowing Christ.