PRAY MORE WORRY LESS!

PRAY MORE WORRY LESS

In all that you do, PRAY! It is more powerful to pray about your problems than it is to talk about them.

[MATTHEW 6:27 WHO OF YOU BY WORRYING CAN ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO HIS LIFE?]

This past summer was a bit hectic for me, there was so much going on, and my new phrase became: LIFE IS HAPPENING! To start, I told myself that I HAD to move off campus! Like I could not take it anymore, sharing my bathroom, living with freshman, and uncultured-privileged children. So from May to July I was on a desperate hunt for a new home and a new roommate. Somehow every roommate had reason to back out whether it was due to finances, parents, and sometimes the vibe just was not right. I got worried a few times thinking, okay I refuse to be homeless once school starts, and I am not returning to campus. I prayed, searched, had a few disappointments, but eventually met someone who needed a sublease for their 4/4 apartment. It wasn’t a 2/2 like I wanted, I’d still be living with randoms, but obviously this is what God had for me.

During that same time of searching for a new home I decided to take a visit to check in with my advisors, to check that I was on track to graduate Summer 16. I went in just to be proactive only to find that due to my minor classes that I would be reaching the excess hours limit. Therefore, I was informed that I would be paying a surcharge fee for my remaining semesters (paying out of state tuition). Heavens No, so my tuition was going from about $3000 to $9500. Um that conversation did not go well with my mom. I had to pray, but I will admit I did a lot of worrying in between. I eventually had to make the decision to drop my minor, oh when I tell you it hurt, babbyyyyy that was my only reason for choosing UCF. I prayed to God with confusion and sometimes anger. Like why did you bring me to this school just to let me down. But regardless of how I felt I continued to pray daily…weekly because despite me being upset I knew that God’s plan for me is bigger than my current circumstances.

[PROVERBS 3:5-6 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT.]

So I learned to accept the situation and embrace that I would be graduating a bit earlier than planned. But on the Brightside, all summer I kept praying for growth saying everyday “I am ready to be a WOMAN. I am ready to put childish ways aside.” I guess this was God’s way of positioning me for what I have been asking for.

So now summer is basically over, I’ve filed my intent to graduate, I’m in good spirits, optimistic that somehow I’ll get selected for the scholarships I’ve applied for and my finances will be taken care of as far as paying my tuition. I’m just ready for a fresh start and to gain my degree. My next step to being a graduate was signing up for Capstone. UCF College of Business has a mandatory exit course that you must take your last semester, and has it very own registration date. So just as the hundreds of eager seniors, I woke up bright and early at 9 a.m. to register for the class….ONLY to be DENIED and informed that I have a $315 fine on my account. MANNNN, I was fed up like what now??? I had just checked my account for fees and I was good.

I quickly made my way to the student accounts office. All I need right now is to have this hold removed temporarily so that I could sign up for my class and get the hell up out of here! Yep I’m mad, LOL! After being told no I was sent from one department to the next, and finally was told I was fined for my summer B course. Apparently my surcharge fees began in summer and not fall. I was then advised to do send in an email request for a surcharge review. I did so immediately, and two days later I received an email saying the charges were removed and that I would no longer be receiving surcharge fees for the Fall as well. Praise GOD!! This was the best news ever, because I did not know how I would afford paying my Fall tuition, pay for books, rent, and enjoy my last semester! BUT GOD, he heard my prayers and seen me working! So immediately after, I went to sign up for my class and once again I was denied access, can you believe it? This time it was a class time conflict error. Bruhhhh can a real girl just be great? LOL. I rushed to the College of Business office aggravated, it was hot, and I was just tired of all the obstacles in my view. I was then informed that there was an internal error that apparently many students were having.

After a few days I checked in, and sister girl had the nerves to tell me they could not override the situation and I’d have to register next semester. Ohhh – I went off! Matter of fact I went off so bad I had to go sit down. Like why am I talking to a student and does this young lady think that I am going to push back my graduation [even after yall had me drop my minor] for one class. NAH! I sat down to get myself together and I just prayed. Like God I need you because this is too much, all I want to do is graduate, LET ME BE GREAT PLEASE!

Just before I walked out this woman from the back of the office called out for me, asked me which class I need, and the next morning I received an email confirmation that they completed an override and put me in my needed class! Whew! Prayer really changes things! It sucks I had to go off on the girl, but God seen me through, and I went to apologies, as well as asked God for forgiveness. Lol. But I tell you all this story to encourage you to PRAY MORE WORRY LESS! I could have gave up and simply complained about every situation, which is how I started, but I learned to PRAY my way through!

P.U.S.H.

PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS

[PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUEST TO GOD. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.]

So my challenge to you all today is:
• Practice praying, not only when hardship arises, but when things are going great! [THESSALONIANS 5:17 PRAY WITHOUT CEASING]
• Find an activity/hobby to do during times of trouble; whether it be taking a run, singing, 10 second count down, or even a little WHOOSAAH.
• Be optimistic!
• Cast your cares on the Lord! [MATTHEW 11:28-30 COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.]
• Lastly, Join me on the first of every month at 9pm for a monthly prayer call!

“Turning negatives into positives one blog post at a time…”-Passionate Woman