What Are You Chasing After?

 Do you remember playing the game Tag growing up or perhaps you have played or seen it played recently? There are lots of twists to the game, but the general rule is one person is "It" and has to tag the other players in the game who are trying to run away from them. The other players are trying not to get caught by the person who is "It." To chase someone or something means to pursue in order to catch or catch up with. That's exactly what happens in the game of Tag 😊!! There are other games we can play that also involve something being chased. In life, we pursue different things as well. It may be people we chase, but it could also be goals, dreams, relationships, growth, status and likes. I read a Bible verse not long ago that stopped me in my tracks about what I should be pursuing. Looking at what we pursue will also have us looking at why we pursue what we do. It will have us looking at our motivation or the root of something. The Bible verse is in the book of Timothy. This book was written by Paul to Timothy, a young man in the faith. This is the second letter he wrote to Timothy. The verse I'm referring to is II Timothy 2:22 and says, "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Reading that verse one recent morning had me really check what I was chasing after 🙏. I have not always chased after the right people, relationships or things. This verse helped me realize what I should be pursuing: righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Every day, we have a choice of what we're going to pursue after. Popularity or peace? Drama or doing what's right? Showing compassion or compromising what we know is right? Counterfeit or authentic? Self-doubt or Self-care? I've learned and experienced that chasing the wrong things are draining. I've learned that I should not chase relationships and that the right ones flow naturally and are not forced and one-sided. I've had my share of the one-sided relationships. No more because those are exhausting!! We should be chasing after living right, believing God knows what's best and will work things out, loving ourselves, God, and others, and having peace 💗. My life journey is teaching me to chase what's good and pleasing to God. I'm learning to chase gratefulness and find the bright spots, especially on the days that are harder and uncertain. When we stop and look around us, we have so much to be thankful for because our situations could look a lot worse!! In this season, I'm learning to chase only things that will add to my life. Now, there is nothing wrong with pursuing goals and dreams and progress because those are definitely all good things 😊. In the midst of those, we have to make sure that we are living right, having faith, being loving, and being peaceful. Remember, you're "It" in this walk of your life. Be careful about what you chase because you don't want to tire out easily from chasing the wrong things.  Let's pursue only what allows us to be ourselves and stay on the right path 💗. May God continue to bless you!!