Category: Fear/Don’t Fake Brave

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

The First Step

If you ask any parent, having an obedient child is a blessing. Training kids to listen and follow-through is an ideal goal, but so hard to do consistently. Obviously, life definitely goes more smoothly when children do what they are asked. Yes, I’m speaking from experience. 😉

As Christ-followers, God expects us to be obedient, too. In fact, Jesus said being obedient (doing what He says) is a mark of our love for Him. It seems obvious, yet, like dearly loved children, we often struggle, too.

Elisabeth Elliot wrote, “A whole lot of what we call ‘struggling’ is simply delayed obedience.” How true!

Thankfully, even one small step of obedience can pave the way for growth. The first step, taken in faith, can create even more opportunities to trust God.

Recently, I took a small step of obedience which really felt like a long shot. I had been praying for some answers regarding a friend who had been ignoring me. I wondered if I should ask this person over for dinner, but was feeling hurt and fearing rejection.

I had several other tasks to do that night, and dinner with this friend wasn’t the most ‘convenient’ option. But, I put aside my feelings and to-do list. I extended the invitation anyway, leaving the outcome in God’s hands.

I made one of my friend’s favorite meals, hoping that would entice her to come. It worked!

God honored my simple act of obedience, and the tasty food made way for meaningful conversation. As a result, our lines of communication were restored and we grew closer. 🙂

I love that God used my obedience to mend our friendship and teach us both valuable lessons. My first step in the right direction helped my friend take her own steps of obedience. Then, we each gained more opportunities to serve others and trust God.

I don’t know where you are in your relationship with God, but I know He is calling you to be obedient today. If you aren’t sure what that means, go back to the last time you remember a specific direction from God. It may be a specific Bible verse that spoke to you, a gut feeling, or simply seeing someone in need.

It may not be convenient, but it’s always the best idea. God rewards obedience and will honor your efforts. He will help you follow-through! 

Simple examples may include: Putting aside your own feelings to serve someone else. Or, taking a big step forward even if you’re afraid. Or, letting someone else take the lead on a project, even if you don’t fully agree.

Needless to say, always look for ways to be kind, gracious, and forgiving toward others. You don’t have to figure it all out. Just take the first step!

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God, thanks for being so patient with us. Thanks for Your grace, kindness, and forgiveness. Help us listen to you and obey Your word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is God asking you to do? Are you doing it? Why or why not?

Tasks: Read this throwback post, one of my first posts from 2015:  Put on Your Pants!

 

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Rest in His Love

Recently, I have been reading and scribing in John 17 as part of my time with God. In this chapter, among other things, Jesus prays for His disciples.

Then, He prays for us who came after.

As I read and re-read His prayer, I’ve been so touched by His words. I can see the strong relationship Jesus has with His Father.

And, I can see we were on Jesus’ heart just before He is arrested and condemned to the Cross. Of all things, He tells His Father about us.

Wow! Jesus poured out His heart on our behalf.

In John 17:11, Jesus prayed, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”

What love!

Jesus is concerned for us and doesn’t want us to be alone, so He prays for our protection (and later, sends the Holy Spirit). This shows me how good, gracious, and forgiving He is.

He knew all about our sins even before we were born. Yet, He chose to die for us because He loved us so much. Being separated from us for eternity was unthinkable to Him!

When life gets crazy, we can trust that Jesus cares about what is happening. He is seated at the right hand of God, still advocating and praying for us! He already died on our behalf; there are no limits on what He can do for us. Indeed, we can’t earn His favor… we already have it!

So bring all your anxieties, doubts, failures, fears, problems, and questions. He cares for you and has a good plan for your life! Trust Him.

Also, bring all your joys, successes, and victories! He wants to celebrate with you!

Because of Jesus, we have peace with God and can rest in His love!

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Father God, thanks so much for Jesus! Help us bring everything…good and bad… to You. Help us rest in Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When you read John 17, can you sense Jesus’ heart and love for us? Have you accepted His love and forgiveness yet?

Tasks: Regardless of how you are feeling or what you are doing today, bring it all to Jesus. Rest in His love!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Prayer

Finding Grace #185

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a full, but good, week!

The weather turned quite warm again, which was a nice change from last week. Still, I am ready for cool weather. That said, I am not quite ready for snow. I still need to finish outdoor chores, like getting my patio furniture inside!  I did notice my trees are starting to change color this week!

Work went well and was steadily busy. I felt helpful and productive! I also had orientation on Thursday and Friday, because, in August, I couldn’t make the timing work until Lydia was in school. It was long but worthwhile. I enjoyed learning more about the history and mission of the VA, and the many important services we provide.

Lydia had a good week and let it slip (twice!) that she is really enjoying the Y program, after all. I happily teased her about it because her original attitude was pretty negative. Thanks for your prayers! 

Tornado sirens went off last night after dinner. I was not concerned because I was tracking the thunderstorm and knew it wouldn’t last long. Lydia was a little scared, though, which gave us good reason to snuggle on the couch downstairs. We talked about big topics like “if I were to die, what would happen,” wills, guardianship, and life insurance. Along with grief and death, we are used to talking about the “what ifs” in our house. Lydia’s fear soon left as she realized God is in control and we are as prepared as we can be. It was really sweet to hear Lydia pour out her heart to Jesus and receive His peace.

Today, I caught up with another widowed, single mom friend over the phone. We connected years ago, and she encouraged me after Dave died. She had some questions for me today, and I was able to help her. It was fun to catch up!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer

Finding Grace #184

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

So many awesome things happened this week!

We had several days of rain, which I didn’t mind. I was happy for the sunshine when it came, but I really loved running to my car after work and getting soaked from head-to-toe!

On Sunday, I contemplated mowing but knew the rain would make the grass grow even more. I decided to wait until today (Saturday) when the weather improved so I could focus on other things! However, on Tuesday, a friend volunteered to mow for me (again!). Then, he asked if he could trim the two trees in my front yard. This was a blessing and answer to prayer. I had just told a neighbor I needed to figure that out. The trees and my yard look so good!

On Wednesday, I caught up with a dear friend over the phone. We shared our recent updates and successes, along with some prayer requests. It was just what I needed, and I’m grateful for godly friends. Iron sharpens iron!

Then, on Wednesday evening, we started AWANA at church. It is our first year being involved, and Lydia and I both had fun. I have six little kids in my group. I’m praying these kids learn God’s word and learn about His love for them!

After we returned home on Wednesday night, a new friend contacted me for help. We don’t know each other super well, but she needed a safe place to stay overnight while some personal issues were resolved. This friend does not have family nearby, so I was honored she asked. I’m grateful God has given me a house with a spare bedroom to use as a blessing to help others. My friend’s issue resolved and she went home the next morning. She is brave!

This week, my ladies Bible study had a breakthrough of sorts. These friends have grown quite close, but God took our relationship to another level. One lady shared a part of her testimony (how God saved her and forgave all her mistakes). As a result, another friend was finally empowered to share her similar story, too. She has carried her past burdens for many years, and I have been praying she would find relief and forgive herself. It was a true transformation. Our stories of God’s saving grace are such a precious gift! If we are willing, He can use our failures, weaknesses, and mistakes to bring life to others! Thank You, Jesus!

Work went well, and I am still learning new things. Each week, I take on a little more responsibility. I learned about the MOVE! program, covered the nutrition clinic (scheduled appointments), and covered the walk-in clinic while someone was off. I am proud of myself!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Pray and Prepare

It’s hurricane season and my parents live in Florida! 😮 Hurricane Dorian has come close to breaking records and has already had a major impact.

Recently, as my mom and I were talking, she mentioned the need to have about ten days of food and water on hand, just in case the storm shuts down her city and local resources.

My parents have spent the last week watching the weather forecasts, all while planning for several possible outcomes. Mom said, “We don’t quite know what to expect, so we pray and prepare.” Smart move.

Regarding Dorian’s trajectory, last week, meteorologists mentioned that all they had were educated guesses based on radar and data from previous hurricanes. “We won’t know where it will go or what will happen until it actually hits.”

We now know Dorian hit the Bahamas as a deadly Category 5 hurricane, and then started to weaken. Yet, the wind and rain could still do a lot of damage and bring flooding to several states along the Eastern coast.

We all face uncertainties and storms in life. A hurricane shows up on radar several days before it hits, but tornadoes can happen within a matter of minutes.

Sometimes, we have a long time to adjust to the inevitable, but often we are blindsided by grief and despair. Examples may include long-term terminal illness versus a sudden, accidental death. Both are tragedies.

In planning, it is best to pray AND prepare. Prayer is a priority because we invite God into our situation. He is our Creator and can do the impossible. He is the difference-maker.

God can weaken any storm or turn it away. We trust Him to protect us and provide for us.

At the same time, we would be foolish to ONLY pray. God has given us many resources to use, such as creative thinking, strong bodies, hands to work hard, and other people who offer practical support.

Often, by preparing and helping each other, the impact of life’s storms is minimized. We can build a stronger community when we all come together and help.

Even before disasters strike or hardships come, we can pray, asking for the Lord to intervene. Then, we can use our God-given resources to spread love and encouragement to those in need.

God’s grace shows up in the ‘sweet spot’ of prayer and preparation.

On Monday, I was struck by a hurricane headline that stated ‘Millions united in fear.’ What a misguided scare tactic! We have God Almighty on our side… Regardless of what happens, our Victory is in Jesus!

We do not need to fear when bad times come… Instead, we can live prayerfully and give generously knowing the Lord will provide for us and use us to bless others.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for your provision and protection. Help us to seek You and see the needs of those around us. Help us be a blessing to all we meet. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have a disaster plan for your home and family? Does everyone understand the plan? Do you regularly practice what to do in an emergency?

Tasks: If you don’t already have a disaster plan, create one! Do this out of wisdom, not fear. Think about all sorts of what-ifs, like fires, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Keep a small store of water, canned foods, blankets, flashlights, and cash on hand.

 

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #180

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a really full, but fun week.

My birthday was on Monday. It was rainy but Lydia and I enjoyed the day anyway. I appreciated all the love from family and friends!

On Wednesday, I had my last day at work before moving on to my new job next week. It was a busy day and a little bittersweet. I’m grateful for the stability of that job, but I’m really excited to keep moving forward.

On Thursday, Lydia and I flew to Florida to see my parents! We wanted to make the most of the opportunity before work and school begin again. Our fun has included going to an adventure park and the Museum of Science and History (MOSH). It was cool seeing different exhibits, including the history of Jacksonville (Spanish, French, British, and Civil War influences). It has been fun trying new things and eating yummy food!

I’m extra thankful for the neighbors and friends watching our house while we are gone. Thank you!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom

No Problem!

For a planner like me, interruptions to my schedule used to throw me off. If I had several tasks on my to-do list, but then someone needed something, it would stress me out. It’s not that I didn’t want to help or hang out, but my perfectionistic personality was easily overwhelmed as I (most likely) tried to figure everything out on my own.

If I spent time with people, I sacrificed getting anything else done. But if I focused on tasks, I felt like I was neglecting friendships. It was frustrating and I rarely felt like I was doing a good job at anything. I was stumped. 😉

Of course, people take priority. And, life is full of interruptions and distractions (some good and some not so good). Thankfully, God took my gnarled mess and helped me adjust.

To start, parenthood, cancer, and grief, all provided dramatic circumstances for God to transform me. With His refining, the hidden blessing is I now have balance.

When people request my time, I see it as God’s gentle reminder to take a break and have fun… or serve others with my whole heart. When I do have more time to myself, I feel free to work on projects and tasks without guilt. I have learned both work and rest are good.

Now, I can usually just roll with it, knowing God will help me accomplish everything I’m supposed to do. After all, He knows exactly where and how I need to spend my life.

Lately, I have been thinking about how God orchestrates our lives in perfect timing. Similarly, our struggles can be perfect opportunities for God to show up. From ancient times, we see He has a certain dramatic flair and enjoys displaying His power and might!

Creation started with His words, “Let there be light,” as if He was setting the stage. Then, He created a vast universe, which we still have not fully discovered. Wow!

In the Bible, we see lots of other dramatic interventions where God steps in to save the day. He rolled back the Red Sea to save the Israelites out of Egypt. He helped David defeat Goliath with five smooth stones. He protected Daniel in the lions’ den. He walked with the three men in a fiery furnace; they came out unsinged and didn’t even smell like smoke!

God even forewarned King Nebuchadnezzar and then made a fool of him by making him act like a mad cow, eating grass on his hands and knees for seven years until he repented of his prideful ways. Can you imagine?!

Jesus was born of a virgin, made wine from water, calmed a storm, walked on water, and paid His taxes with a coin from the mouth of a fish. He healed many people, raised the dead, and performed other miracles. He also died on the Cross to pay for our sins (with a dramatic earthquake and tearing of the holy veil from top to bottom). Boom.

Then, God’s power raised Jesus from the dead precisely when He said it would happen (cue another earthquake rolling away the tomb!). Later, the Holy Spirit enabled uneducated outcasts to perform miracles and turn the world upside down as they spread the gospel message. Whoa!

I guess you could say God loves a good story!

Seriously, God can do far more than we can ask or imagine! And, if you let Him fight for you, it’s likely He will come through for you in creative ways you would have never guessed possible. Just wait on Him!

Whatever challenges you are facing, bring them to Jesus. Sickness, debt, sadness, anger, frustration, fear, confusion, disappointment, bitterness, resentment… big or small it all matters to God. He knows how to handle it.

Example: Recently, one friend had her (rather large) bill from surgery forgiven, while another friend received back pay from an old job she had forgotten about, and still another friend got a new job with more pay. It was cool to see how God creatively provided for each of them according to their unique needs!

Nothing is too big or impossible for Him! It’s no problem!

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Ah, Lord God! Nothing is too difficult for You! Your plans for us are good! Help us trust You as we wait for You act. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What challenges are you facing right now? How can you trust God more? Are you willing to let Him move on your behalf?

Task: Make a list of all your previous challenges and then mark down how God was faithful. Watch for His creativity and look for hidden blessings.

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Worship

Sweet Celebrations

Here we are in July! This summer, I feel more relaxed yet more proactive than I have in the past. I am content to go with the flow, but I am also making plans and stretching myself more than normal. It feels good.

This feels like a season of celebrating for me. Each year that goes by, grief seems less strong. I don’t define my life by losses or challenges, but I am now grateful for them.

Right now, I am celebrating that Lydia is able to do more on her own. She can read to herself and is growing in independence. It’s a challenge at times to see her make mistakes, but she is growing and learning through it all. I’m so proud of her!

This summer, reading with Lydia is a joy. It has been so fun to see her interest in the stories. She can identify with the characters and is shocked when they go through their own trials. It is interesting how she is learning life lessons through fictional friends.

I’m really grateful for where we are right now. I know life constantly is changing, but God has us in a good spot. We are reaching out to those around us and have a lot going on, but we aren’t chaotically busy.

With the slightly slower pace, Lydia and I are enjoying good food, friends, being outside and being together. I’m loving fresh fruits and vegetables! She’s enjoying ice cream treats…

This summer, I’m learning a new level of trusting God. I always feel like I have a lot of personal responsibility as a single parent, and it is sometimes overwhelming. I’m being more intentional with my time, and there is freedom in not having to figure it all out.

I’m also celebrating sweet answers to prayer. Lately, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see God come through for me in ways that I could have never predicted. Praise the Lord!

God always is working in our lives, but when we cooperate with Him, it goes much better! 😉 We do our part, and He does His. He is faithful.

This week, as we celebrate our freedom(s), take time to celebrate what God is doing around you. Praise Him for His goodness and faithfulness. Rest in His love, grace, and peace. He is so good!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for the freedom and protection we have in Christ Jesus. Thanks for all you are doing in our lives right now. Help us trust You for greater things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any 4th of July plans? How are you celebrating God’s grace in your life?

Tasks: ‘Let go and let God’ take care of all that concerns you. Imagine how freeing it will be when you see Him move on your behalf. Trust Him!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Holy Hustle

Sometimes I just have to laugh when we struggle and then we see how silly we are. We are fooling ourselves if we think we can handle life on our own without God.

As a mom, when it comes to self-care, I have to be creative. For example, when I exercise with Lydia, I have to slow down to her pace. As a single mom, I have other inherent issues. So often, working out indoors is my best option. Getting outside is a bonus!

Recently, I prayerfully started looking for a new treadmill. My old one is over 11-years-old and has a few glitches. The dashboard only works when it wants to. Sometimes I can’t control the speed or incline, and the belt catches at higher speeds. Twice now, it has suddenly stopped right in the middle of a run. It’s becoming a safety issue.

Dave and I bought the treadmill two weeks after getting married. It was our first ‘big’ purchase together, so it does have some sentimental value. However, I’ve accepted the reality: I am afraid to use it for higher speeds because it is unreliable. I don’t want to get hurt!

For the last 3 years, and even more in the last 6 months, I’ve been telling myself that the slower, safer pace is just as effective. Slow walks are better than nothing, but at some point, I need to step it up for a better cardio workout. I do have other equipment, and it’s not necessarily a rush. But I need to stop making excuses.

So, I have been looking online for new and used treadmills. I have been reading reviews. My friend who was visiting this weekend is an avid runner so she helped me too. I even went to scout out some options in the local stores.

For now, I haven’t found anything that stands out aesthetically and is also a good price. I don’t need all the latest features, but I do want something that will last since this is not a frequent purchase.

On the one hand, home exercise equipment can be worthwhile if used regularly. For me, it’s an investment in my health. I want to take care of myself so I can take care of Lydia and all God has given me. It’s a fine balance.

Then again, I’m trying to be a good steward and use my money wisely. I can rearrange my budget to some degree, but I have been working towards other financial goals and can use my money elsewhere. It is good to be content and weigh my options!

Besides, when it comes to buying a new (or new-to-me) treadmill, there could be several hidden costs. Some places charge shipping or delivery fees. And, I would likely need help removing the old treadmill and assembling the new one.

There are many different factors to consider… Yesterday, after praying again for wisdom, it occurred to me that maybe I could fix my current treadmill.

Perhaps that’s not the best idea because replacing the individual parts could really add up. But I decided to at least clean it well and see what happens. It was worth a shot!

I watched some YouTube videos on what to do. I learned how to check the belt and internal components. I learned how to tighten screws and grease joints so it is less squeaky. It seemed fairly simple!

Then, in the afternoon, I started to deep clean the machine. I vacuumed up dust and checked the belt. It seemed fine because I’ve done regular maintenance on that. Next, I took off the motor cover and **GASP!!** it was sooo gross!

It was clear to see that it had not been cleaned inside for over 11 years. I was both embarrassed and slightly amazed it has lasted so long while being so dirty! Frankly, I praised God that it never caught on fire with all the dust and debris I found!

I did what I could but time will tell if it was enough! The dashboard still has electrical issues, but I’m hoping I can work around those. It’s still squeaky, but the above picture shows the improvement after cleaning.

My treadmill is a good object lesson for me. We often try to fix our own problems. We look for solutions but go nowhere fast. There are times to hustle, yes, but we still need to trust God to provide. We can’t neglect our relationship with the One who has the Master plan for our lives.

We often make excuses for our behavior. Unfortunately, living in our own strength often brings fear, frustration, and even failure. But when we seek God’s input through prayer, we can be grateful while we wait for Him to handle it and provide for us.

He generally doesn’t make all our problems go away overnight, but He does give us wisdom and grace to handle them. And, sometimes He shows us how to “clean up” our lives and messes so we can live freely, unhindered by all that tries to weigh us down.

I hope my treadmill is able to last a little longer with maintenance. Perhaps I can run outside this summer, though I’ll have to make some adjustments for Lydia. I’ll also keep looking for a good deal, knowing God will help me find an upgrade in His timing.

He is so good!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all You do for me. Thanks for reminding me of Your grace in tangible ways. Help me trust you, work hard, and wait for Your timing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: What is your favorite exercise? Do you prefer cardio or strength exercises?

Tasks: Check out the “Trust, Hustle, Rest” devotional in the YouVersion Bible App. Also, consider this your friendly reminder to deep clean your exercise equipment! 😉

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Worship

Known and Loved

Yesterday morning, I was serenaded by a little songbird called a tree swallow. Blue is my favorite color and the male’s blue coloring was particularly pretty. The female is more of a greyish brown. She joined him on my deck after he had been singing for a few minutes.

I thought it was sweet to watch as I was eating my breakfast. Soon, however, I started to discern something else might be going on. I’m no bird expert, but it seemed like I was watching a turf war!

A third bird kept landing on my deck, which prompted all the birds to ‘hiss’ at each other and scatter. I don’t know if the males were fighting over the female or if there was a nest nearby.

I would have loved to stay and watch this scene on repeat through my binoculars… but I had to go to work. Still, it reminded me that we are also in a daily battle that often is difficult to discern.

There is a battle for our souls. Our enemy will use any means necessary to distract us, get us off course, and make us doubt God’s love. We have to be aware of these methods or we will start to lose ground.

Case in point: Yesterday afternoon, I was fighting a bad attitude because I perceived something unfair. I was a little upset about things I can’t control. Left unchecked, I then let even minor inconveniences affect me and become major annoyances!

For example, when I walked to the bus to pick up Lydia, the wind kept blowing my hair into my face. Grrr… Yes, I could have driven around the block, but didn’t. I could have grabbed a hat, but then I would have had hat hair… oh, the injustice! 😉

Thankfully, I soon confessed what was bothering me to the Lord. I also apologized for being annoyed about the wind. It wasn’t a quick turnaround, but slowly, I switched gears. Walking against the wind on our way home from the bus also helped!

Lydia happened to be in a really funny mood, which also helped mine. After listening to her chat about her day, I turned on the radio to help me get out of my funk. Lydia had plenty to say about the songs, and the lyrics spoke precisely to my heart.

I was glad to draw near to God and worship. Each song felt like it was hand-picked by Him—I felt He understood just what I needed. More of Him.

As Lydia and I made dinner together, I prayerfully poured out my heart to the Lord. Later, I explained the basics of how I was feeling to Lydia and thanked her for helping me cheer up. She hadn’t even noticed!

I didn’t tell her all the details, of course, but she was supportive and gave me lots of hugs. We talked about our various emotions and how we can bring them all to God—good or bad. We don’t have to live in fear, doubt, or defeat.

I could have stayed in my bad mood, but I’m glad I asked the Lord for help. God knows each of our needs even before we come and ask. We can trust Him to take good care of us because He loves us so much. His love never fails!

God provides for all the birds and knows each one. But we are far more valuable to Him. He knows us fully and sees all our selfishness, yet He loves us anyway. Wow.

With Jesus, we have all that we need….and He already won the war. We don’t have to fight it out on our own. We just have to stand firm and not give up any territory. Victory!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for Your forgiveness and grace. You take such good care of me and provide for all of my needs. Help me trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When you are in a foul mood, how to do you get out of it? What do you do to renew your mind with God’s love and truth?

Tasks: Let your emotions lead you to Jesus. Listen to the song, “Known,” by Tauren Wells.