A Renewed Strength

Isaiah 40:28-31: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”, (NIV).

I know you feel tired right now. I know you feel exhausted and may even be thinking about giving up on everything right now. I know sometimes it takes everything you have just to get out of bed and make it through an entire day. I know. I know sometimes you have thoughts of being worthless, and you think that no one cares or sees you in your distress. I know it hurts. I know. I know you are experiencing physical pain in your body. I know you are pondering how in the world to take care of yourself and prioritize your mental health. I know that sometimes it seems impossible just to get through the next 5 minutes. I know your kids are driving you crazy. I know that it feels like you never have time for yourself, let alone time to spend with God. I know. I know you are tired. I know.

But more importantly, God knows. He sees you in your distress, and he has not turned his face from you my friends. I was reminded of this passage in Isaiah this week, and have been reading these verses every single day as a promise to myself. These verses have reminded me that God promises to renew our strength when we are weary and tired, when we feel like we can’t make it another day. These verses, and this blog post, I hope; remind you that God SEES you and that he will give you strength you never thought you had.

If you are a tired mom, he will give you the energy you need to be there for your kids. He will help you make it through those days when it feels like you have NO time alone.

If you are an employee who just got laid off, God knows. He knows your situation, and he WILL provide for your needs. He is Jireh. He is enough. (NOTE: LISTEN TO THE SONG, “JIREH” BY ELEVATION WORSHIP & MAVERICK CITY IF YOU HAVE NOT YET. I PROMISE THIS SONG WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRITS AND ENCOURAGE YOU.)

If you are a teenager who feels like you don’t have any ‘real’ friends, first of all my heart goes out to you. Because I have been there too. But I also know that God will provide you with people you need if you pray to him and ask. I know this because it happened to me. God knows your needs, and he WILL provide for you.

If you are a doctor who just saw a patient’s life come to an end today. First of all, you are a hero for doing the work that you do; and second of all, God WILL comfort you in the deepest part of your heart where you are experiencing such an intimate emotional pain. God will comfort you, and strengthen you to make it through another day.

If you just lost a loved one. I am so, so incredibly sorry for that tragedy you experienced. My heart goes out to you. I pray that the Lord surrounds you with people to love you and comfort you during this time of grief. But I will also say this: do NOT doubt that you will make it through this. Do NOT wonder if life is worth living beyond this point. Give yourself time to grieve, yes; and take care of yourself, but please, do NOT doubt that God is with you. He will get you through this heartbreak, even though it doesn’t seem like it right now. He sees you. He knows your needs. He is crying with you, and his heart goes out to you. He loves you, and one day (even though it may not be today), you WILL be okay. ❤️

God sees you, friends. He will renew your strength and comfort you in your deepest pains. Just ask him. He loves you.

An honest prayer to God, when times seem uncertain.

This is a prayer I wrote in my journal recently. I am believing God to provide me with another job, and I am sure I am not the only one who has this prayer. I hope this prayer reminds you that you are not alone, and I hope it encourages you to trust in the Lord no matter WHAT is going on in your life. Here it is the prayer below:

God what do I do, please tell me.

Show me the jobs you want me to apply for, how you want me to spend my day tomorrow, what to say yes to in my life and what to say no to. I need your help very, very much Jesus. I need a job and you know that. Please show me the jobs you want me to apply for and help me to be faithful to you in this process of not knowing. Open the doors that you want opened Jesus, and close the doors you want shut. May you renew and transform my mind so that I can see YOUR perfect will (Romans 12:2), both for my life and for the lives of others.

Help me to see things like you see them Lord; to say no when I need to say no regardless of what anyone else may think or say. Help me to pursue freedom in every aspect of my life even at the risk of others judging me, thinking I’m “crazy”, or calling me selfish. Help me to relentlessly and fearlessly pursue your will no matter what it may cost me in this life.

I know you have a job for me, and I absolutely refuse to bow down to ANY fear that would try and convince me otherwise. You take care of your children, you always have and you always will. I will apply for jobs I see available and trust you to open the right doors and close the wrong ones Lord. I will not be afraid, for you are with me, your rod & your staff, they comfort me. I will soar on wings like eagles. I will run and not grow weary; walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

I will not be shaken and I will not be moved by fear, I will not give way to any anxiety in my mind that tries to make me doubt your character and give the slightest little ounce of hesitation that you will not provide for me. I. WILL. NOT. BE. MOVED. BY. FEAR. I will not bow down and give way to those lies that try to tell me that you do not see me, or that you will not provide ALL of my needs because I KNOW that you ALWAYS do Lord.

Your Word tells us that perfect love casts our fear (1 John 4:18). I know that you love me so therefore, I will not fear. I will trust you God, right now and forevermore. YOU are my provider. YOU will guide me along the right path (Proverbs 3:5-6) even when in this moment I have no idea what my future holds. I will CHOOSE to put my trust in you, Jesus. Now and always.

Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”, (NKJV).

Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”, (NKJV).

1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love”, (NKJV).

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 shall direct your paths”, (NKJV).

Thinking before speaking

I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been there. We have all been frustrated with others and/or felt like we have been treated unfairly, and so out of our minds boiling with anger that we literally feel like we are going to explode.

There have definitely been times when I have felt mistreated and wanted to respond in anger. And, there have been times when I actually DID respond out of anger, letting me temper get the best of me in the heat of the moment. And those moments are certainly none that I am proud of.

So what does the Bible say about all of this? About responding in anger when people treat us unfairly?

It says a lot, actually. But everything it says boils down to one simple point: never respond out of anger. Never, ever let your temper get the best of you. I know it may seem like it will ‘feel good’ after you get the anger out of your system, but I promise you (speaking from experience here), it NEVER feels better afterwards. You only feel guilty for speaking rudely to the other person (even if they were the ones who spoke rudely to you first).

If someone has spoken rudely to you and/or treated you unfairly, I am so sorry friend. I am. But I would encourage you to take the higher road, and instead of yelling at the other person and responding to them in anger, consider doing these things instead:

1. Take some deep breaths.

2. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you in this moment to not speak out of anger or in haste.

3. Pray for the other person.

4. Walk away if you need to.

—> This is by no means the only things you can/should do when you are tempted to speak out of anger, but they are a start. The point is that you PAUSE, and pray and ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to be silent when all you want to do is scream or to yell at the other person. Pray and ask the Lord to give you patience, and to enable you to turn the other cheek when someone treats you unfairly. And remember that God is your ultimate vindicator.

Matthew 5:38-40: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well”, (NIV).

Luke 18:7b-8a: “So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant them justice quickly!” (NLT)

James 1:19: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires”, (NIV).

Knowing God

So I have been thinking and praying a lot lately about what I hope for in my life, what my dreams are, what I feel God calling me to do to glorify him with my career (and in my life in general), how I can be a good daughter, sister, friend (and one day, I hope – a wife and mother). How can I glorify God in every area of my life, and how can I truly live that full and abundant life that Jesus says he came to give us in John 10:10?

I think the answer is actually quite simple. I think the answer begins with this: knowing God.

The very foundation and core of our identity is rooted in Jesus Christ. Everything we are and everything we do: it all centers on and rests on him and who he is to us. The quality of our relationship with Christ will directly impact every single thing we will ever do in our life, and it is also foundational to the type of person we will become.

So before we start thinking about what our hopes for the future are, what kind of career we hope to pursue, what we feel God leading us to as the next step in our life, let’s remember this…

Everything in our lives starts with knowing God more. Before praying about the next step in your life or direction on a decision that you have to make, start with praying just to know Jesus. Spend time with him, JUST to know him more. Spend time in silence with him, listen to worship music and soak up his presence, pray to him in your car, talk to him about life, spend time with Jesus just like you would spend time with a friend. And the thing is, when we truly make an effort to spend time with him to KNOW him, the direction that he wants for our lives will naturally become clearer to our minds and in our hearts.

When we begin to know God more, we see things the way that he sees them and we hear the voice of his Holy Spirit more clearly. Our mind is transformed into the mind of Christ, and when we begin to think like Christ, THAT is when we will naturally know what he wants for our lives because our thoughts and our deepest desires will be immersed with HIS. The most important thing we can and will ever do in this life is to know God more, because THAT is what ultimately shapes us into who he has called us to be by transforming our hearts and our minds to become more like that of Christ’s. And when WE are transformed into the image of Christ, not only do our minds become more clear on what God wants for our lives and help us see how to make decisions we are currently facing; it also enables and empowers us to bless and love OTHERS more deeply. It is through an outflow of God’s love in our lives that we are able to love ourselves and love others just the same.

Everything truly does begin with our relationship with God, my friends. Every single thing in our lives. So before going to a friend for advice, thinking you made a wrong decision on something, or worrying about what the next step is in your life, spend some time with God, and let your heart and mind be transformed by his Holy Spirit.

Read Scripture, even if it’s just one verse. Pray, more than just before you eat a meal and before bed. Pray just to TALK to God. Write out your prayers in a journal. Write down Bible verses. Write down 10 (or more) things you are thankful for. Ask God to put someone on your heart that he wants you to bless. Watch a sermon online. Go to church on Sunday as often as you can. Buy a friend’s lunch for them. Listen to a Christian podcast that encourages you. Feed your spirit friends, no matter how inconvenient it may seem in the moment. Spend time with your Lord and Savior who loves you so, so dearly. Let the Holy Spirit transform your heart and mind so that you become more like him. Surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, allowing your mind to be transformed so that you think as Christ thinks; and allowing your heart to be transformed so that your desires become enmeshed with God’s desires for your life.

John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”, (ESV).

Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will”, (NIV).

What will you say?

What will you say to yourself when there is no one there to encourage you? What will you say when you feel all alone and want to give up on everything you are working so hard for? What will you say, when there is no one beside you? When you feel all alone, like no one is watching and no one cares. What will you say, to you?

I hope you tell yourself that you are doing awesome. I hope you celebrate the fact that you are trying. I hope you don’t let the thoughts or opinions of others dictate how you feel about yourself. I pray that you do not live by the compliments of others, because that would then also mean that you die by others’ criticism. I hope and pray with all of my soul that you choose to be confident in your choice to obey Christ. I pray that no matter what other people say or what they think, that YOU would stand firm in your decisions. Stay the path. Don’t quit. Don’t be deterred by people who may criticize you, call you crazy, or just simply not understand. Sometimes Jesus calls us to do things that may seem crazy to some, but they actually make perfect sense in the eyes of God. Don’t look back, don’t look to your right, or to your left, look ahead. Look ahead and press on. Don’t worry about what others think or what they may say to you in the process. Stay focused, and when there is no one else there to encourage you, you encourage you. You encourage yourself, my friends. Let the Holy Spirit empower your heart and mind to do so. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you, and always be confident in your obedience to him.

Philippians 3:13b-14: “…but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”, (NLT) (italics mine).

Made in God’s Image

Be yourself. So cheesy and cliché to say, right? You probably feel like you hear someone say this to you every other day, and you hear it so often that you probably don’t even think about what it means at this point.

But seriously, BE YOURSELF. Be proud of the person that God made you to be, and be GLAD that you are you. God did not make you to be like someone else, he made you exactly as you wanted to be. So friends, I encourage and challenge you to stop comparing yourself to others. Stop wishing you looked liked someone else, you acted like someone else, or that you had someone else’s personality. You are not meant to be someone else. You are meant to be Y O U.

God loves you just as you are, my friends. He sees your imperfections and your deepest insecurities that you try so hard to hide. He loves EVERY part of you, and those parts of yourself that you hate? He loves those, too.

Let’s surrender our entire selves to God, friends. Let us be thankful that God made us exactly how he wanted us to be, and praise his name that we are uniquely and wonderfully ourselves. Let us surrender our anxieties to him, and trust that he holds us in the palm of his hand.

Whatever it is we are insecure about – our body, our temper, constant fear/worry, debilitating anxiety, bad habits we continue to engage in even though we know we shouldn’t – let us SURRENDER these things to him. Let us come to the realization that we CAN surrender our bad habits to God and that even though we cannot be perfect, we can and should always strive to be a work in progress by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And those things about ourselves that we cannot change? Let us finally learn to truly ACCEPT ourselves the way that we are. Let us love to love our bodies, and if we may have a strong personality that shows up in anger let us learn to channel that passion for righteousness. Let us transform our worry and anxiety into worship. Let us crave the presence of God more than we crave food. Let us praise God whether we are an introvert, extrovert, loud, quiet, organized, “go with the flow”, tall, short, pale, tan, black, white, poor, rich – let us praise God no matter WHAT. Let us celebrate who we are, realize that we all have bad habits and imperfections, and I pray that we learn to constantly and continuously surrender our bad habits to the Holy Spirit while learning to love and embrace our imperfections that we cannot change. Let us genuinely LOVE the truest, most genuine version of ourselves.

Psalm 139:13-14: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well”, (NIV).

Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good works that he planned for us long ago”, (NLT).

Ephesians 4:22-24: “You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness”, (NRSV) (italics mine).

Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”, (NKJV).

Scripture Reflection: Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua 24:14-15: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”, (NIV) (italics added by me).

This passage of Scripture has been heavy on my heart these past couple of weeks. Who are we serving? Are we truly serving God, or are we serving other things in our lives (some or all of which have possibly become idols)? Do our lives point toward the reality that Jesus Christ is not only our Savior, but also our Lord? Have we surrendered everything we have to Christ, or are there still things in our lives that we are choosing to cling to and put before God?

Joshua was clear in this passage to the Israelites – he told them to choose this day whom they will serve, suggesting that we cannot serve God and something (or someone) else. It can only be one or the other. This has a similar point as Jesus did in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money”, (NIV) (italics added by me). Even though Joshua was not explicitly talking about money in Joshua 24:14-15, it is clear the point that he was making:

You can only have ONE God.

Nothing and no one else can or should take the place of the one true God. We must choose to serve him, and put him above everyone and everything else in our lives. We must choose this day whom we will serve, and as Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, we cannot serve both God and money – nor can we serve God and ANYTHING or ANYONE else. We must serve God alone. We must surrender to him and make him number one in our lives. Let’s give our God everything, my friends. Let’s surrender everything we have to him, each and every day of our lives. Let us choose this day to serve the Lord – not money, other people, sex, pornography, food, alcohol, etc. NOTHING in this world (people or things) can EVER take the place of the one true God, and may our lives reflect and point daily to this reality.

Vision Boards – Never Stop Dreaming

So one of the places I currently work is a residential behavioral health facility. It is a 28-day treatment center for anyone struggling with substance abuse. There is a men’s unit and a women’s unit, and I usually work on the women’s unit (which I also did yesterday). Yesterday, for our group time, we had the clients create vision boards for themselves, to remind them of why they are in recovery and what their goals are for when they leave this treatment center. I originally was not going to make one of my own and planned to just watch the clients do theirs, but my co-worker kept encouraging me to participate, so I finally [although somewhat reluctantly] agreed to do so.

At first, I was nervous, because I wanted to make sure my board looked “perfect” and I am also notorious for being really bad at art (particularly drawing, painting, or any other sort of “crafty” thing). I was afraid mine would look terrible, and, even though I did tell my co-worker I would make a vision board, at that moment I was so overwhelmed to start that I regretted saying I would make one at all.

I was also hesitant to start this board because I could not think of WHAT I would want to put on it. Should I include pictures of a house I want to live in someday? Clothes I like? Food I enjoy? Places I want to travel? Inspiring quotes and/or Scripture verses? I had only ever made one vision board before this which was about 4 years ago, so I really had not had much experience doing this sort of thing.

After looking through various magazines and scrapbook materials, I found what I wanted to start my vision board: a quote that says “Life is all about creating balance.” I knew this was the foundational quote for my board because all throughout my life, I have struggled to find ‘balance’ in just about every possible area (balancing school/work with home/social life, balancing spending money on bills/other necessities with spending money on fun things, balancing eating healthy with allowing myself [unhealthy] foods I really enjoy, balancing time I spent on schoolwork with time I spend doing fun things, etc. – you get the idea). Balance is very hard for me to maintain steadily in my life, and I knew that a quote like this would focus my mind and heart on the guidance, wisdom, and power of the Holy Spirit, which I am in desperate need of in order to truly live a life of balance.

After I finally got started, I was a lot less intimated because I started to get some ideas for the kinds of things I wanted to include on my board. I wanted to include things that inspire me, goals I have for my life, places I want to travel, things that make me smile, and any other thing no matter how small that bring joy to my life and peace to my heart.

The Holy Spirit gave me so much peace and gratitude in the midst of making my vision board. I listened to His voice within me and sought to only put things on my board that would draw my heart and my soul closer to Jesus Christ. I am so happy with how my board turned out because I know the Lord has allowed my mind to be renewed and refocused through the process of making it, and has used it to graciously remind me of all the little things in life that bring me joy. It can be so easy for me to get caught up in the seemingly “mundaneness” of everyday life that I forget how much there is to be thankful for, and how even the smallest of things can bring true joy to our hearts.

I smile because I am reminded of the beautiful things that God has blessed me with in this life, and now I have this vision board as a tangible reminder of the goals I want to achieve in life and the dreams I have for my future. I can be reminded of what I feel the Lord calling me to in my life which is to travel the world and preach the gospel for His name’s sake. I can be encouraged that life is not so bad when sometimes it feels like all I do is school and work. I simply need to take more time to “stop and smell the roses” and appreciate the little moments/things in life I very often take for granted. Looking at this board reminds me that I am striving to be a better person every day, just like the clients I work with at the residential treatment facility. While I certainly understand that not all of us are/need to be seeking recovery from drugs, the reality still holds true that all of us have things we are working towards (the specifics of those things might just look different for each person). We are all trying to be a better person today than we were yesterday, and while some people may not realize it, we all need the Holy Spirit in our lives to work inside of us and transform us into the best version of ourselves we can be – which is someone who reflects the deepest, most gracious love of Jesus Christ.

I encourage all of you, if you can/have the time, to make a vision board for yourself. It takes your focus away from all of your worries and refocuses your mind on positive, uplifting things. It forces you to ask yourself questions like: what kind of person do I want to grow up to be (or, if I am grown, what kind of person do I want to be in the here and now?)? What things in life bring me joy? What could I look at on this board that would put a smile on my face and make me an overall happier and more grateful person? What kind of [inspirational] quotes are encouraging to me and awaken a deep longing within me to strive to be the best possible version of myself that I can be? What goals am I currently working towards in life? What do I want to be remembered for? Am I truly making the most out of each and every day I am living? Am I rejoicing in the Lord each day, or do I spend most days complaining and/or wishing my life was somehow different? How can I be more grateful and joyful in my life?

I encourage you, friends, to take more time to smell the roses and to appreciate the small things in life. Smile more, and laugh often. Ask the Lord to instill in you a heart of gratitude and to transform the way you see your current circumstances. Ask Him to give you true joy and to help you be more thankful.

Psalm 118:24: This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it”, (NLT).

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”, (NIV).

Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”, (NIV).

John 12:1-11 – Jesus Anointed at Bethany

John 12:3: “Then Mary took out a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume”, (NIV).

This week I have been thinking a lot about the story of Mary pouring perfume on Jesus’s feet. I have been thinking a lot about how what she did would not have made any sense to anyone around her. That perfume was worth an entire year’s wages, so it makes sense that most people would be confused as to why Mary would’ve poured it all out on Jesus’s feet and seemingly “wasted” it.

But then I realized why Mary did what she did.

To Mary, this perfume was not wasted. Pouring it out on Jesus’s feet was the most amazing thing she could have done with that perfume. Why? Because she knew who Jesus was. She had faith and believed that Jesus was the Messiah he claimed to be, and she knew that when she saw Jesus, it was six days before Passover (John 12:1), and she was using this perfume to anoint and prepare him for his upcoming burial (John 12:7). She knew that even an entire year’s worth of wages does not even remotely compare to the eternal and astronomical value of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When we know who Jesus is and we understand his sacrifice for us on the cross, then we realize there is absolutely nothing on this earth that can come even the slightest bit close in value. Nothing in this world, not even something worth an entire year’s worth of wages, can compare to the value of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we encounter Jesus for who he is, when we recognize that he died on the cross to save the sins of all of humanity, when we understand that he rose again on the third day after being buried; when we realize the immense, unfailing, never-ending love that he has for us, what could be worth more than this?

Tonight I want to encourage all of you to think about what Jesus is worth to you, and if you truly know him for who he is. Do you think often about Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection, or is it something that only crosses your mind on Good Friday and Easter Sunday? Do you think often about how Jesus Christ directly affects your day to day life, and how you can live differently and even be transformed from the inside out because of him? Does your heart long to be conformed to the image of Christ? Do you long for Christ more than you long for the things of this world?

Who are you in the story here (John 12:1-11)? Do you identify with Mary, or perhaps with Judas who suggested Mary sell that perfume and give it to the poor (John 12:5)? Do you intentionally set time aside each day to spend with your Lord and Savior? Is your soul rested, or is it weary? If your soul is weary, what kind of price would you be willing to pay to experience God’s peace that passes all understanding and to feel rejuvenated in the deepest part of your being?

Who is Jesus to you? Is he worth that entire bottle of perfume? What would equate to that bottle of perfume in your life? Is there anything you possess that is SO valuable that people would call you crazy for ever giving up, but if Jesus ever called you to do so you would give it up in a heartbeat? Would you be willing to make those kind of sacrifices for Jesus? Is your heart willing to lose your life in order to find it, like Jesus discusses in Matthew 10:39? Are you willing to “pick up your cross” to follow Jesus in the way that he explains to his disciples in Matthew 16:24-25? Are your mind and heart ready to give up everything to follow Christ? Are you a Mary?

Matthew 10:39: “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it”, (NIV).

Matthew 16:24-25: “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”, (ESV) (Italics added by me).

You got out of bed today

Sometimes, there are days when getting out of bed seems like the most we can possibly do that entire day. It takes all the strength we can muster up within ourselves to not lay in bed all day and actually decide to get up and try to do something “productive”.

I just want to say to everyone out there tonight, if today was one of those days for you where you felt like ALL you could do is get up out of bed, maybe brush your teeth and wash your face too…GOOD FOR YOU FOR DOING THAT. Good for you for getting up and deciding not to lay in bed all day when you really wanted to. Good for you for not allowing the worst of your thoughts to get the best of you and keep you from giving this day the fighting chance that it deserves.

My dearest friends, I know what it’s like to have one of those days, and I am right there fighting with you and praying for you. I know what it feels like to have absolutely no strength – physically, mentally, or spiritually – and to feel like you legitimately cannot function on those days that all you want to do is lay in bed. I know that feeling of being so worn out that every step you take after getting up for the day seems like a mile. I KNOW the feeling friends, and it is not a good one. All I can say to all of you is to CRY out to God when you feel this way. Pray the Psalms when you don’t know what else to pray, read them word for word if you have to. Tell God how exhausted you are and ask him to give you the energy and strength you need for this day. Tell Satan that the lies he is feeding your mind have no authority or truth to them, and that JESUS has the ultimate authority in your life. Tell Satan to flee from you by and through the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you, and DEMAND that he go back to hell where he belongs.

Plea the blood of Jesus over you – over your body, your mind, and your spirit. Thank the Lord for clothing you in the armor of God from the top of your head to the souls of your feet (Ephesians 6:13-18). Thank God that you have victory over your mind and that no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). Believe that God CAN and WILL renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31) even on the days when it feels like you have none. Trust that God will provide you what you need each and every day, even if sometimes it is hard to see (Matthew 6:31-34). Trust that God has your back, that he IS taking care of you, and that tomorrow is a brand new day.

God has not forgotten you. He sees you, he loves you, and he is ALWAYS fighting for you (Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 3:22, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 118:6).

Sweet dreams and sleep well tonight my friends. ❤️🙏🏼😴📖