Keep praying, sweet parents. Because the prayers we pray for our kids never die. They linger. They walk with our kids throughout their life. And they’re heard by the Creator of the universe. Isn’t that a comforting thought?
A prayer of surrender to start this new year: Yes, Lord. I will go where You want me to go. I will pause when You want me to pause. I will pray the dangerous prayers of change. I will say yes to Your invitations that make no sense. I will. Just because You ask me to.
There's something so beautiful about a woman rising up in the middle of being deeply hurt & demonstrating the beauty of still choosing to walk out biblical truth. Still choosing to honor God. Still choosing to look like she spent time with Jesus.
A prayer of complete surrender we can pray:
I trust You, Lord. I trust Your plan. I trust Your goodness. I trust what You can see and I can’t.
I trust You with my life, my hopes, my dreams, and my disappointments.
I trust You with it all, Lord.
3 things that Satan wants you to believe about your situation:
1. You can't.
2. God won't.
3. It will never get better.
When we hear these lies from the enemy, it's time to saturate our thoughts with God's Word and read it like the love letter it is.
The devil wants you freaked out with fear. God wants you standing firm with faith.
Put on a worship song. Declare the name of Jesus over and over. And let Him fight for you.
"Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this," Psalm 37:5
What if our to-do lists looked a little more like this in the new year?
1 - Listen to God.
2 - Do what He says no matter what.
3 - Trust Him at all costs with the outcome.
Yes, Lord. I want this to be the way I live my life. Each and every day.
Don’t stop praying, friend. Don’t stop hoping & believing. But also, don’t believe that your way of getting to the other side of your circumstance is the only way. God has a perfect plan for a path to a renewed joy & a redeemed future that’s probably one you can’t even fathom.
Heart check:
What comes out of our mouth is a direct reflection of what’s stored up in our heart. If we want to assess how we’re doing, all we have to do is listen to what we’re saying.
The devil wants you freaked out with fear. God wants you standing firm with faith.
Put on a worship song. Declare the name of Jesus over and over. And let Him fight for you.
"Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this," Psalm 37:5.
Let the sweet gift of sleep be yours tonight. God is good at being God. He is protecting you, working things out, and making good plans for you. Whisper a prayer of trust and obedience and then let the rest go. He’s got you. He loves you.
A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.
Dear Lord, remind me to pause before I react. Please forgive me for poor reactions in my past. And please prepare my heart for everything that I’ll be facing today, tomorrow & in all my tomorrows to come. Amen.
Lord, keep reminding us we don’t have to know the plan to trust there's a plan. We don’t have to feel good to trust there's good coming. Instead, we can fix our eyes on You ... knowing and trusting that You are good.
When I sit quietly with God instead of trying to figure everything out, He takes my anxiety & replaces it with His peace, wisdom & security.
Lord, I hand this situation over to You. Humble me. Show me what steps to take. And help me to trust You with this every. single. day.
A depleted girl can quickly become a defeated girl when she lets emotions dictate her reactions.
Sometimes we need to slow down, say no, take a nap, and regroup.
Life is much more enjoyable and we are a lot less irritable when our pace is not set to the rhythm of rush.
I don’t know what your life holds right now, sweet friend. But I do know the One who is holding you. Keep trusting Him. Keep walking with Him. He’s got you. Psalm 139:7-10
When the days feel too long and the wait feels too hard, may we remember... God loves us too much to answer our prayers at any other time than the right time. And He loves us too much to answer our prayers any other way than the right way.
Your heart is much too beautiful of a place for bitterness, anger, and resentment.
That hurt you experienced is real. But it’s taken enough away from you.
Time to let some peaceful and pleasant seeds take root and flourish and crowd out the weeds.
Sweet friend, let me be a gentle voice of encouragement to you today.
Just because you don’t see God’s work at this moment doesn't mean He's not working.
God is working. He is.
Trust the process. Saturate your mind with truth. And let His voice be the loudest in your life.
When I sit quietly with God instead of trying to figure everything out, He takes my anxiety & replaces it with His peace, wisdom & security.
Lord, we hand our situations over to You. Humble us. Show us what steps to take. And help us to trust You with this every. single. day.
Prayers don’t have to be tidy to be heard. Pray and just pour it all all to God. He’s safe. You can be messy and messed up and mad as you just get it all out.
Trust He is good. And He is working this out even when you can’t see it or understand it.
Not every thought needs to be shared. Not every opinion should be aired. If we truly want to be thought leaders, we must lead our own thoughts first.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14
Here’s a cheat sheet of how Satan whispers:
If only you were...
People think you’re so...
Why can’t you just...
You're too much.
You're not enough.
Don’t help him get you into a state of defeat by believing & repeating his scripts. God knows you completely & loves you fully!
I spend way too much time trying to figure things out. So, I'm on a little quest to simply honor God step by step and trust Him to work it all out.
Want to join me?
Remember, the one who obeys God's instruction today will develop a keen awareness of His direction for tomorrow.
Lord, when our hearts are hurting and confused... when things aren't turning out the way we thought they would... when we just don't understand... remind us of the truth that we are called to live by faith, not by sight. And help us trust in You.
When I sit quietly with God instead of trying to figure everything out, He takes my anxiety & replaces it with His peace, wisdom & security.
Lord, we hand our situations over to You. Humble us. Show us what steps to take. And help us to trust You with this every. single. day.
Two years of healing. Two years… and I’m good. Better than good. I’m surprised by how far I’ve come and how honest my laughter is now. My life looks different but it is full and joyful and I’m more grateful than I’ve ever been. ❤️
You’re not who people say you are. You’re not who social media says you are. You’re not who the scale says you are.
You’re who GOD says you are. And He says you're loved. He says you are held. He says You're His.
Forever His.
When I obsess over things out of my control, it makes me act out of control. A much better place to park my mind is to look for God's protection, provision, and lessons on perseverance in the midst of whatever I'm facing.
Heart check:
What comes out of our mouth is a direct reflection of what’s stored up in our heart. If we want to assess how we’re doing, all we have to do is listen to what we’re saying.
James 3:1-12
Not every thought needs to be shared. Not every opinion should be aired. If we truly want to be thought leaders, we must lead our own thoughts first.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14
Take heart, sweet friend. God is using all of your experiences, both good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling. And He cares so deeply for you in this process.
You’re not who people say you are. You’re not who social media says you are. You’re not who the scale says you are.
You’re who GOD says you are. And He says you're loved. He says you are held. He says You're His.
Forever His.
Dear hurting one, you are not forgotten. God has prompted me to pray for you so many times. And while I may not know exactly what you’re facing, He does.
I’m asking God to help you see glimmers of His goodness in unlikely places. And to help you remember you are not alone. ❤️
Heart check:
What comes out of our mouth is a direct reflection of what’s stored up in our heart. If we want to assess how we’re doing, all we have to do is listen to what we’re saying.
James 3:1-12
God is mighty.
God is caring.
God is worthy of praise.
God is loving.
God is able.
God is in control.
Nothing takes God by surprise.
Some sweet truths to hold on to tonight.
God is mighty.
God is caring.
God is worthy of praise.
God is loving.
God is able.
God is in control.
Nothing takes God by surprise.
Some sweet truths to hold on to today.
That thing you can't stop worrying about?
Verbally give it over to the Lord. Say out loud, "God, this is hard for me. I feel like I have more control if I keep worrying about (insert worry.) But I fully give this to You. I trust You. You are good and You are good at being God."
Don't believe the lie that someone else's calling is better. Don't waste a second wishing for another person’s life.
God has special assignments for YOU! Out of all the world, He's chosen you. Called you. And equipped you. Believe it, friend. And live it.
When a Jesus girl rises up and unexpectedly gives grace when she surely could have done otherwise? She reveals the power and the mystery of Christ at work - in her life and in the world.
Let’s be rare.
Let’s give grace.
Let’s reflect the light and love of Christ.
God isn't going to waste one bit of your hurt and hardship. Trust the process. Hold fast to God's ways. Hang on. Redemption is coming.
A new strength is being developed in you by God for a good purpose.
This breaking of you will be the making of you. A new you. A stronger you.
I know how hard it can be to wait on God when you want to move forward and you’re seeking His guidance.
But while you wait on His answer, don't lose confidence in His goodness. Be strong. Be patient. Cling to His Word. And keep trusting in His unfailing love.
When my heart aches over not-yet-answered prayers, I know I need to stop and remember the times God has clearly provided for me in ways that only He could. Ways both big and small.
Looking at God's faithfulness to provide helps me see if He did it before, He will do it again.
The cure for having unrealistic expectations of those we love?
Remembering God never intended for us to look to others for the kind of love only He can give.
Take heart, sweet friend. God is using all of your experiences, both good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling. And He cares so deeply for you in this process
If something is meant to be, it isn’t up to us. It’s up to God. We give what we can give. And then wait for Him to give what only He can give.
"Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
That battle? The one for which you've run out of solutions and answers… the one that makes you weary and worried and worn out?
God's got it. Let the Lord fight for you.
Your job is to be obedient to God. God’s job is winning this battle.
If we don’t lay being grumpy, negative, anxious, selfish, and angry down at the cross… we’ll carry it with us everywhere. Changing locations won’t fix what we carry inside of us.
Choosing to stay calm in the midst of being offended is as much a gift to myself as it is to my offender. And it’s the kind of gift I want to give more and more each day.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
God is good at being God.
We don’t have to try to fix what He hasn’t assigned us to fix. No need to manipulate, control or spend all our emotions trying to figure it out.
We can let Him be God & free ourselves from the impossible assignment of trying to keep it all together.
No human should have to carry the weight of being their own god, but so many of us do.
We say we trust God & then we work our fingers to the bone & our emotions into a tangled fray trying to control it all.
Lord, help us remember that You are good & You are good at being God.
When I obsess over things out of my control, it makes me act out of control. A much better place to park my mind is to look for God's protection, provision, and lessons on perseverance in the midst of whatever I'm facing.
Let the sweet gift of sleep be yours tonight. God is good at being God.
He is protecting you, working things out, and making good plans for you. Whisper a prayer of trust and obedience and then let the rest go. He’s got you. He loves you.
One day ... God WILL make everything right.
No more death.
No more pain.
No more sorrow.
No more weeping.
Until that day, we must live with eternity tucked into today's reality. We know the end of the story. Our God is now and forever faithful.
Food can fill our stomachs but never our souls. Possessions can fill our houses but never our hearts. Real satisfaction can’t ever be found absent of God. There are deep places within our soul that God hand designed & reserved only for Him to fill.
What if we viewed disappointment in light of the fact that God isn’t trying to break our hearts but rather make us ready for what He sees just ahead?
We might not understand why He does or doesn’t allow some things to happen. But, oh, sweet friend, may we choose to trust Him.
When I am deeply hurt by something someone has done or said, I have to give myself permission to be honest about my feelings. But I don’t have to compound the hurt by reacting out of those feelings.
I don’t want today’s reaction to become tomorrow’s regret.
Forgiving someone doesn’t mean we’ll get our storybook ending. But it will bring peace and honor to a situation that would otherwise leave us bitter, defensive, and hurting.
Forgiveness releases the offense into the hands of God so we can heal.
Seeking God is more than just reading a few Bible verses. It's sacrificing the things I feel compelled to chase so I can notice God’s clear direction.
Whatever we chase gains our full attention.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
Life. It surprises us. Delights us. Confuses us. Often brings us to our knees.
But one thing we know above all else is that God has a plan … a beautiful plan … a plan with ups and downs and twists and turns.
So thankful that through it all, He is with us and He is good.
That thing you can't stop worrying about?
Verbally give it over to the Lord. Say out loud, "God, this is hard for me. I feel like I have more control if I keep worrying about (insert worry.) But I fully give this to You. I trust You. You are good and You are good at being God."
Lord, help us make peace with the fact we will disappoint people. Help us make peace with the fact other people will disappoint us. And give us the perspective that not every disappointment is epic.
Trusting God’s plan is the only secret I know in the gentle art of not freaking out.
I'm not sure what is making your emotions feel a little tangled tonight. But I do know when I spend a few minutes reminding myself of God's promises, my problems are put back in perspective.
God wants us to stand on the absolute truth that He is with us no matter how our feelings may betray that reality. When I process life through my feelings, I am left deceived and disillusioned. But when I process life through God’s truth, I am divinely comforted by His love.
Sweet friend, let me be a gentle voice of encouragement to you today.
Just because you don’t clearly see God’s work at this moment does not mean He is not working.
Ask Him to help you to trust Him. Keep hoping, keep praying, and keep watching for His hand.
Everything broken doesn't have to be completely fixed for us to be completely fine. We can be scared & brave & frail & unbelievably strong all in the same leap of faith. We can be hurt but we don't have to live hurt.
Broken is what people are. Beautiful is what God makes them.
Lord, help us make peace with the fact we will disappoint people. Help us make peace with the fact other people will disappoint us. And give us the perspective that not every disappointment is epic.
We must remember that sometimes when we feel passed over for someone else, when God seems busy elsewhere or purposefully unmoving, the truth is He is at work, maybe doing something entirely beyond what we were thinking.
He is present. He is loving. And He knows what we need.
Satan wants us to believe the lie that we can’t trust God to work things out. But God wants us to remember He can make a way.
Here is a simple verse we can put on repeat tonight:
“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.” Psalm 25:1
Choosing a gentle reply doesn’t mean you’re weak; it actually means you possess a rare and godly strength.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
Most of us spend years chasing things in this world that we think will make us feel loved.
But everything this world has to offer is temporary. Everything. The kind of love our souls crave is lasting, eternal. And only God can fill up our hearts with that kind of love.
God is absolutely trustworthy, but it’s okay if it takes time to find your way to that truth.
Life can be hard & confusing sometimes. Be patient with yourself & one another. I promise, God is patient & kind & able to handle your questions.
He loves you ... more than you know.
Our circumstances may not change today, but our outlook surely can.
Here's a simple prayer we can pray…
Lord, I don’t love this situation. But I love You. Therefore, I have everything I need to keep putting one foot in front of the other until I get to the other side of this.
In the midst of all that’s disappointing or heartbreaking in our lives, we must stop and purposefully praise God simply for who He is.
He is good. He is loving. He is merciful. He is our only true source of joy. And we can trust Him at all times.
Satan wants us to believe the lie that we can’t trust God to work things out. But God wants us to remember He can make a way.
Here is a simple verse we can put on repeat tonight:
“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.” Psalm 25:1
Keep praying, sweet parents. Because the prayers we pray for our kids never die. They linger. They walk with our kids throughout their life. And they’re heard by the Creator of the universe. Isn’t that a comforting thought?
God really does have it all worked out. The gaps are filled. The heartache is eased. The provision is ready. The needs are met.
Fully. Completely. Perfectly.
In Him. With Him. By Him.
Lord, I know this is true. Help me live today as evidence that I believe this.
It’s a rare and beautiful thing when we choose to offer love in situations when most people would choose to scorn or ignore.
Let’s be rare and beautiful.
In the midst of whatever difficult circumstances you might be facing in this very moment, pause and whisper these fear-calming, soul-settling truths to your own heart:
God loves me.
He has a plan.
And He absolutely can be trusted.
Forgiving others can be hard. But I'm learning it takes just as much energy to stay bitter as it does to walk the path of forgiveness.
Forgiveness frees us to walk a much less exhausting path - allowing our souls to exhale & untangle as we stop recalling resentments over & over.
Not every thought needs to be shared. Not every opinion should be aired. If we truly want to be thought leaders, we must lead our own thoughts first.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14
That friend who speaks truth? Listen to her. Stay connected to her. Let her speak truth into your life even when you’re tired of hearing it. Stand in the shadow of her faith when you feel your own faith is weak, and let her lead you back to God time and time again.