Caitlyn

Today, Caitlyn, of the Salt and Light Blog, shares insight about the impact we can have, a book about how our phones are changing us, and what living each day like it’s our last should look like.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: Matthew 6:33 is a continual favorite verse of mine. (But seek first God’s Kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things will be given to you, as well.)

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: God has been teaching me to use each day and moment for Him. Life is but a breath in light of eternity, and He’s been showing me that I should be careful how I use my time. Our lives are meant to be used for seeking Him and serving Him, and we are called to be salt and light to the world! Our lives can have such an impact on the lives of those around us, if we use them wisely, by His power and for His glory.

“Our lives can have such an impact on the lives of those around us, if we use them wisely, by His power and for His glory.”

Profession: Student.

A one sentence bio of yourself: I’m a young lady who loves the Lord and strives to bring glory to Him through my life and writing.

When did you first encounter God? I was saved when I was a toddler, like many people, but really started to seek the Lord a few years ago when I attended a girls Bible study. It really challenged and encouraged me to truly seek God, and to start a real relationship with Him. Eventually, I started to read and pray daily. My family and I went to a new church in this season as well, which really helped me in my walk with the Father. I don’t know if there was a specific day or time that I remember encountering God and His power, but I really started to experience it at our new church and in our Bible study, and it changed my life, for sure!

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? First and foremost, it’s my relationship with God. That’s where I talk to Him, and I learn about His character and His amazing Word. That’s what’s so important for our personal growth. Another thing that I LOVE and that helps me immensely is group Bible study, as well as going to church. I’ve been going to a Bible study with other people my age, and I love discussing Scripture and digging deep into it together. Those three things are really helpful in my growth.

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I’m currently reading 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke. Oh my word, this book is phenomonal. If you have a phone, I highly recommend reading this book. Even if you don’t have a phone, I might still suggest it! I struggle with being on my phone a lot, and this book is so challenging, encouraging, and convicting. It’s Bible-based but also gives some insight and research on people’s phone habits. It’s an amazing book and will definitely challenge you and push you to become more Godly in your phone habits! I can’t recommend it enough.

I recently read Love Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird, and HIGHLY suggest it to all single girls/women! Such a great book on love and romance according to God’s Word, and it has amazing practical advice on how to live out what they teach in the book.

Top three essentials: Oh man, only 3? Haha, let’s see… 1) My Bible 2) My family and friends 3) My guitar and computer (sorry, I love music AND blogging/writing!)

How did God speak to you recently? He spoke to me during a group Bible study and challenged me to use my time wisely. It’s something that’s been on my heart and that is honestly so humbling to think about. It seems scary to think that we don’t know how many days we have left, but yet, it should get us going! It should push us closer to God and to living for what really matters! All that will matter in the end is HIM and what we did for Him.

“It should push us closer to God and to living for what really matters!”

Hobby: I have a few. I love writing, reading, hand-lettering, Bible journaling, playing guitar and ukulele, knitting and crocheting, and making crafts!

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: First off, be sure to have a relationship with the Father. This is so vital to your spiritual strength. When you seek God’s face, everything else falls into place! I know that might sound cheesy, but it’s so true. Matthew 6:33 (the verse that’s my favorite!) says that when we seek God, all these things (referring to clothing and food and what we need) will be added to us. When we seek God, we find a fountain of living water. We find true love, true joy, true hope, and true peace. It’s so amazing and important to seek God first and to be working towards growth in that area daily. I definitely recommend having your time with Him (prayer and Bible reading) in the morning when you wake up, before you look at your phone or do anything else. This really helps set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2) and set your mind on the right things before you start the day!

The next thing I would recommend is to be alert and aware about sin and idols in your life. It’s so important to daily ask God to show you sinful areas and any idols and to help you overcome them. We have God’s strength within us to overcome sin, and must strive to do so daily, by His power and for His glory! We shouldn’t be living in sin.

The last thing I would recommend is to surround yourself with Christian friends. Now, I’m not saying having non-Christian friends is wrong, but you should definitely have Christians as your close friends. Having Christian friends is so refreshing and wonderful. You get to love God together, and this means you can talk about deep things together and also lovingly point out sins in each other.

“When we seek God, we find a fountain of living water.”

Favorite person in scripture? Probably David. His faith is so inspiring.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I want them to know God is real and that He is so loving. I want them to see that God brings the truest and realest love and joy to our hearts.

Favorite season? Autumn. I love the coziness of it and the falling leaves! It’s so wonderful.

Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving!

A dream you have? I would love to publish a book one day, and to grow my blog. Also to play guitar on a worship team.

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: We keep the Sabbath day on Saturday, and I absolutely love it. God’s Word tells us to keep the Sabbath on the 7th day (Saturday) and that is what we do each week. I love making challah bread to ring in the day. It’s such a refreshing day of rest.

“It’s such a refreshing day of rest.”

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? I don’t know… I’ll probably be so caught up in seeing Jesus that I won’t have anything to ask. I think when we all arrive in heaven, the glory of Jesus will be so beautiful and overwhelming that all the questions we once had will fade. His glory is so amazing, and just think, we haven’t even met Him face to face yet!

Thing you want to raise awareness about: I am a Torah keeper, meaning that I believe the Old Testament applies to us as Christians today, as well as the New Testament. This isn’t a worldview that is popular or well-known, but as I’ve embraced it, it’s been so amazing! Jesus says in Matthew 5:17: “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.” What He is saying is that He didn’t come to abolish the Old Testament laws, but to live them out and fulfill them! I believe that we are saved by grace through faith (see Ephesians 2), and because of that, we now live for God. His guidelines in the Old Testament are for our good and His glory! The feasts and festivals, aka His Holy Days, are so beautiful; and I’m just starting to learn about them and strive to keep them.

I’ve also, as previously mentioned, been keeping the Sabbath on Saturdays, and it has been amazing. Many might see it as legalistic or strict, or like I’m doing works for my salvation, but I see it as gifts God has given His children. He’s given us these amazing days to celebrate, and a day of rest each week, as well as helpful guidelines. His Torah, and His whole word, is amazing.

“Many might see it as legalistic or strict, or like I’m doing works for my salvation, but I see it as gifts God has given His children.”

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.? Spend Bible and prayer time with God.

What is on your nightstand? I don’t have a nightstand exactly. However, I set out my Bible, prayer journal, notebook, and also my thankfulness journal and book I’ll read before bed somewhere near my bed, and currently, I do have a table beside my bed if that counts.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Being saved by grace by God and living for Him because of it.

For more Caitlyn:

Blog: Salt and Light

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltandlightblog_/

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XOXO