Comparison is a dangerous trap. Instead of being grateful for all of our blessings, we look with disappointment on things we want and don't have. This leads to self pity, sadness, anger, despair, and disappointment. When life doesn't happen as we hope or plan we get discouraged and shift our attitude to a negative perspective. If we spend time focusing on what we don't have, we lose the present, our happiness, and we forget to appreciate and thank God for all the things we do have. It's usually not our circumstances that need to change, it's our attitude. Going back to one of the first blogs I wrote..it's all about choosing happiness. True joy is not found in having all of the things someone else has, their life, wealth, health, position in life, or success. Perhaps we've had some of these thoughts before.. -I wish I had his/her body -I want their house -If only I had as much money as them -I wish my marriage was as happy as theirs -His/her life looks perfect, they have it all together, I wish mine was like that -I wish I had his/her job -I wish my life wasn't so hectic & crazy so I had time to go the gym, clean, and relax and so on... When we fall down the hole of self pity, when the insecurities and jealousy sneak in, we must put a stop to the devil's work in us. It is unhealthy to compare ourselves and be envious of other people, we are not here to compare or compete. When a jealous thought or insecurity pops in your head, we must immediately put our shield up against the devils negative thoughts that he puts in our head to try and tear us down. Do not confuse these negative feelings with God's truth. Be happy for others, cheer everyone on, when it comes to serving The Lord someone else's success is a win for us all! Choose happiness, have a grateful heart, true joy will only be found when we live a life for God and put our faith and hope in Him. Embrace YOUR journey! "It's not about being perfect, it's about being perfectly surrendered."-Lysa TerKeurst. Be happy everything He has blessed you with knowing that you are exactly where you need to be! Love the life he's given you, love your body and exactly how God made you, love your imperfections! He has designed an amazing plan for each one of us! Declare that you are a Child of God. You are enough. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and you are SO loved by Him. Declare this over your life: God will do exceedingly, abundantly above all that I ask or think. Because I honor Him, His blessings will chase me down and overtake me. I will be in the right place at the right time. People will go out of their way to be good to me. I am surrounded by God's favor. -Ephesians 3:20 A passage from Lysa TerKeurst: Envy and jealousy are friendship killers. They are celebration killers. They are love killers. Real danger comes if we let our minds run rampant with envy. We secretly wish something will happen to taint that other person’s perceived perfect situation…their perfect marriage, their perfect home, their perfect kids, their perfect financial situation, their perfect job - and prove they are not so terrific after all. Oh my friends this isn’t little. The presence of envy in our heart shouldn’t and can’t be brushed aside, excused, or ignored. We must, must, must fall on our knees today in utter repentance and raw admission. I’m challenging us right now to ask God to reveal where envy has entangled itself in the depths of our hearts. We must not resist what God brings to mind. Then we must - with every ounce of intentionality - address this, deal with it, learn how to replace it, and rip it up by its very root. Don't skip over today's quotes and verses! "Jealousy comes from counting others blessings instead of our own." "The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday." "Your world is not falling apart, it is falling into place." "You have incredible worth. Not because of who you are, but because of whose you are." "The grass is not greener on the other side, it's green where we water it." "Don't compare your beginning to someone else's end." "Live from the heart of yourself- seek to be whole, not perfect." "Comparison is the thief of joy." "Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want." "We rise by lifting others." "Rejection from man does not mean rejection from God." "We may be overlooked by others, but we are hand-picked by God." "Our calling is never to one up the next person, it is to lift up the name of Jesus." "Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others. Assume your own responsibility."- Galatians 6:4-5 "We wouldn’t put ourselves in the same class with or compare ourselves to those who are bold enough to make their own recommendations. Certainly, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they show how foolish they are."- 2 Corinthians 10:12 "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."- James 3:16 "She hold onto hope for He is forever faithful."- 1 Corinthians 1:9 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."- Romans 12:2 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."- 1 John 2:15 "Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant."- Galatians 1:10 "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."-1 Timothy 6:6-8 "The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need."- Psalm 23:1 "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."- 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."- Philippians 4:8 Embrace where you are and who you are, love your journey! You are a beautiful work of God! His love for you is unwavering and certain. You are enough! Thanks for reading! Hope your day is as amazing as you are!
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"In the Bible we read many stories about men and women who did great things for God. The Bible is full of acts of obedience. God is calling each one of us to step out of our comfort zone to do something great for Him. We can go to church, read scripture, pray..all fantastic in strengthening our relationship with God. But what can we do for the Kingdom of God? How about inviting someone to church or Bible study, helping someone seek God, reaching out to a stranger, helping someone in need? It requires getting a little uncomfortable and doing something we wouldn't usually do. We need to get out of our comfort zone and into Christ's zone. This is a gift, it is where we find His strength and fully rely on Him, and in return He rewards us for our obedience. Ask yourself..what else can I do to seek The Lord and His kingdom? Where is He calling you to get out of your comfort zone in order to rely on your faith, gain ground, lead others to Him, and strengthen your relationship with Him? Make a difference for God. He does SO much for us. How can we use our passions to serve God and His kingdom? How is He calling us to step outside our comfort zone and use our gifts for a purpose? We have a short time here then we're going to our true home. What are we going to do to make a difference in the kingdom of God in the short time we have here on Earth? Stop fighting yourself, stop caring what other people think, stop letting your fear get in the way, do something that matters, do something that will make a difference, watch how you grow as a Christian, watch your relationships with people around you grow, watch how your relationship with God gets stronger. If we stay where we are, we'll never grow as Christians. Imagine if we all did even one thing out of our comfort zone for God the world of difference it could make in the world, our own lives, and in the lives of others. It's time!! Faith means getting out of our comfort zone and fully relying on Him and His strength. A life following God and living for Him isn't always comfortable and easy. Though it may not be easy, it is totally worth it!! Get a feisty faith, go out on a limb for Him and He will bare you much fruit. Prayer: "Dear Lord, help me to be obedient to you in all circumstances. Lead me out of my comfort zone into areas I can lead others to You and Your Kingdom, clinging to Your hand for strength and guidance. Allow me to humble myself before you in humility and be free as you make clear my next step of faith and obedience for You. Amen." "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."- James 1:22 "Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus."- Philippians 7:5 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."- 2 Timothy 2:15 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."- 2 Timothy 1:7 "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."- Philippians 4:13 "And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."- Mark 16:15 "Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!"- 1 Chronicles 16:8 "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:6 "Even when you're afraid, keep trusting." -Psalm 56:3 "Clothe yourselves with humility."- 1 Peter 5:5 "I may be weak but Your spirits strong in me, my flesh will fail, but my God You never will." "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you may call me, take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior." "Set a fire down in my soul that I can't contain and I can't control. I want more of You God, I want more of You God." "Do not worry that you're not strong enough before you begin. It is in the journey that God makes you strong." "Lord lead me so I can lead others." "The smallest act is worth more than the largest intention." "Know Him, and make Him known." "If your dreams don't scare you they aren't big enough." "Sometimes small things make a big difference." Wander out of your comfort zone and into Christs zone! See what happens! Get a feisty faith, light a fire in your soul, notice little things you do become big life changers! Make a difference for Him today!! Thanks for reading! In times of happiness and breakthroughs our job is to praise God, in times of trouble and suffering our job is to praise God. Sometimes it's easier to thank Him when things go right, but He tells us to thank Him in times of pain and adversity, trusting that from our sufferings He will bring joy. When things go wrong, the very act of thanking Him releases us from a negative focus. It is impossible to praise or thank Him too much! The Lord says, "When you thank me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from whom all blessings flow." The secret to being thankful is seeing our lives from His perspective. Thankfulness draws us near to Him and helps us live in the intimacy of His presence, leaving plenty of room for all of His blessings. As we bring God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, regardless of how we are feeling, it allows Him to work more freely through us until we are overflowing with His blessings. A heart of gratitude allows us to see His light shining through all of our circumstances. Each new day is precious, unrepeatable gift from God, everything we have, all that has been provided to us, every opportunity and blessing has been showered on us with love from God Himself. When we let thankfulness rule over our heart it allows us to see more and more of His glorious riches. When we live a life full of praise to God, we live a life centered around Him and can enjoy abundant life.
Joel Osteen Shares, "Paul said in Philippians 2:14, 'Do all things without complaining.' When you complain, you remain. But when you praise, you'll be raised. When you're always thinking about God's goodness, you'll see His favor." A passage from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young: "Be prepared to suffer for Me, in My name. All suffering has meaning in My kingdom. Pain and problems are opportunities to demonstrate your trust in Me. Bearing your circumstances bravely, even thanking Me for them, is one of the highest forms of praise. This sacrifice of thanksgiving rings golden toned bells of Joy throughout heavenly realms. On earth also, your patient suffering sends out ripples of good tidings in ever-widening circles. When suffering strikes, remember that I am sovereign and that I can bring good out of everything. Do not try to run form pain or hide from problems. Instead, accept adversity in My Name, offering it up to Me for My purposes. Thus, your suffering gains meaning and draws you closer to me. Joy emerges from the ashes of adversity through your trust and thankfulness. It is impossible to spend to much time thanking and praising Me. I created you first and foremost to glorify Me. Thanksgiving and praise put you in proper relationship with Me, opening the way for My riches to flow into you. As you thank Me for My presence and Peace, you appropriate My richest gifts." The Prayer of Jabez: "Oh Lord, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10 My prayer of Thanksgiving: "Dear God, THANK YOU!! Thank you for everything!! Thank you for this life, thank you for waking me up this morning, thank you for another day in your beautiful creation, thank you for all the people you've put in my life, thank you for all that you've provided, thank you for adversity and times of suffering, thank you for all of the opportunities and blessings in my life, thank you for the things I take for granted, thank you for all of your promises, thank you for your presence in my life at all times. Thank you for sending Your son Jesus Christ to save me. Help me to remember to give you praise at all times and in all circumstances. Amen." "Someone else is praying for what you take for granted." "What if you only woke up today with the things you thanked God for yesterday?" "It is not happy people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are happy." "An attitude of gratitude brings opportunities." "There are people who would love to have your bad days." "Why wake up stressing, when waking up is a blessing." "The greatest test of faith is when you don't get what you want, but still you are able to say, "Thank you, Lord." "This is the day that The Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it."- Psalm 118:24 "Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with joy." - Luke 17 "Worship Me by living close to Me, thanking Me in all circumstances."- Isaiah 29:13 "I will praise You with my whole heart."-Psalms 138:1 "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him."- Exodus 15:2 "He is your praise, and He is your God, that has done for you these great and terrible things, which your eyes have seen." -Deuteronomy 10:21 "Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, and I will sing praises to Your name.- 2 Samuel 22:50 "Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name."- 1 Chronicles 29:13 "I will give you thanks in the great congregation: I will praise you among much people." -Psalms 35:18 "And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long." -Psalms 35:28 "Then will I go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy: yes, on the harp will I praise you, O God my God."- Psalms 34:4 "It is indeed good to give thanks unto The Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, o most high."- Psalms 92:1 "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to him, and bless his name."-Psalms 100:4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."- Ephesians 1:3 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."- Hebrews 13:15 "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."- Revelation 5:12 "Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God for ever and ever. Amen."- Revelation 7:12 "God can give you all gifts in abundance, so that at all times you have all you need plus an abundance for all good deeds."- 2 Corinthians 9:8 God is SO good, there is so much to be thankful for, PRAISE be to God!! I went to a women's faith conference this past weekend in St. Cloud with some lovely ladies in my life, 2000+ women in one room worshiping The Lord and telling their stories. It was amazing!!! I can't even begin to describe it, God's presence was so alive in that place. The speakers, Lysa TerKeurst and Susie Larson were outstanding, their messages were so inspiring, refreshing, and renewing! I encourage anyone who is wanting to seek God and feel the power of the Holy spirit changing lives to go to this Thrive Conference next year! I am already looking forward to the 2016 retreat! I wanted to take some of the things I learned from this experience and some of the areas they gave me a fresh perspective on and pass it along..enjoy!
Start with Jesus. Stay with Jesus. End with Jesus. Every single day we're on a journey with Jesus. How are we going to live it? Will we let life get in the way, will we let the devil interfere..or will we cling to God, His promises, and His presence in our life at all times. There will always be ups and downs in life, put all of your life events on a timeline..life is truly like is a roller coaster! Some high points, some low points, some areas where we're just coasting along waiting for our next big adventure..what we refer to as "the waiting season." One thing is for sure, there is no dead end on our faith journey, only spots for breakthrough. We are never called to go backwards, we are called to gain ground. And while we wait, our only job is to be obedient to God. Coasting time (waiting) is an area of character development, its an encouraging time, God is getting us ready and preparing us for whats next. God is FAITHFUL, God is GOOD and He loves to give good gifts. The devil is going to do whatever he can to stop us, those fears, worries, doubts, insecurities, lies, excuses, negative thoughts..he puts them in our head and tries to get us to believe them. "You're not good enough..she is skinnier than you..you don't deserve that..he makes more money than I do..I can't do that..I don't matter...and so on. This isn't the voice of God, this is the devil trying to get us to believe a lie. We will not let our insecurities, fears, and doubts, rule over God's love for us. The devil wants to control our feelings, when we let our feelings run ahead of God's plan for us we find trouble. We must remember our true intention, before our feelings ran away with our emotions what was our true intention?? Feelings are good indicators, not good dictators. We must elevate past our feelings to the spirit of God. We have a different assurance! There is nothing we are going to go through that God hasn't already planned to walk through with us. When we journey with God we focus our thoughts on Him and we set ourselves FREE. We are enough, because we are a Child of God, and He loves us no matter what. The strongest position we can put ourselves in is one of humility, this is a position that honors God. "Humility is never a position of weakness but of rare and powerful strength." We cannot come to Christ without passing through the door of humility. Humble yourself before The lord and He will lift you up and set you free!! Pay no attention to foolish thoughts, they will ruin our perspective and send us down a spiraling hole of darkness. Grab God's hand and follow Him down a path of light. "You will steer where you stare." We must watch where we focus our attention. If you want to put God first in your life, give him your first thoughts. "Exchange whispers with God before you exchange shouts with the world." We all have this system, right? Today I'll get up and enjoy coffee and devotion for a half hour then I'll take the kids to school and be on time for work. I'll pack a healthy lunch and eat at work. I'll have a productive day and get my whole to-do list done. After work I'll quick hit the gym before I go get Billy from practice, then I'll go home and make supper for the whole family and catch up on laundry. Oh and I'll make that pan of bars for church really quick before bed...perfect!" Reality..Pressed snooze because I didn't sleep well and barley had time to make my coffee, but split it on pants while I rushed to take the kids to school and got there with no time to spare, didn't have time to pack my lunch so I'll just go get something downtown. My day has been chaotic already and that only continued when I got to work. So many unexpected things came up I only got two things done on my to-do list so I guess I'll stay later and skip the gym to get everything done. Grab Billy from practice, go home exhausted and make supper for the family, after I'm all done cleaning that up I'll make bars. Finally I'll go to bed and hope my system works tomorrow. We cannot rely on our own systems in life, they will always fail us. We have these ideas in our head..once winter comes it'll slow down..once the kids are out of school it'll get less chaotic, tomorrow I'll start going to the gym. It becomes a cycle and we look to the future to find happiness. We must put our hope in The Lord, not in how we wish things could be. We can't follow our systems, we must follow God. When we stay in line with God, we stay in line with His plan. We learn to embrace where we are and be content in our circumstances. When we tuck wisdom into little choices we make each day, we make decisions today that are still good tomorrow. If God is your savior you stand on certainty, not the uncertainty. You take your problems and you fill them with God's promises. Fill your thoughts with those of the Lords, focus every intention on Him. The will of God is in the unexpected, the fear of The Lord leads to life. Remember who you are..you are a child of God and HE loves you. What the enemy means for bad, God turns and makes good. GOD IS GOOD. GOD IS GOOD TO ME. GOD IS GOOD AT BEING GOD. "Your worst day with God will be better than your best day without Him." "Turn your worry into worship and watch God turn your battles into blessings." "Don't just pray, obey." "We can't always see where the road leads, but God promises there is something better up ahead we just have to trust Him." Thanks for reading!! Enjoy this beautiful fall day! :) I've decided to dedicate this post to my grandmother, Marsha Kay Picht, who was one of the most inspirational influences in my life. My grandma passed away of cancer at age 52, when I was just 8 years old. Though I was young and we only experienced a short time together the impact she had on my life continues with me. I feel so blessed to have the time I spent with her and that God made her my Grandma. Growing up I was very fortunate to live close to my grandparents and be able to spend a lot of time with them as a young child, some of my favorite memories! I remember sitting on the front steps at the farm waiting for my Grandma to get home from work with such anticipation. She would get home and immediately drop everything as I ran to her and gave her the biggest hug, both of us smiling ear to ear. It brings tears to my eyes as I write this because I remember this memory and feeling so well. We enjoyed so many activities together. It's funny to me, all the fun things we did together when I was young are still some of my favorite things to do as a young adult. She installed in me a love for cooking and baking..which we did very often! We would exercise in the basement together (Teabo videos to be exact)..funny I became so passionate about exercise I made it my career and love every minute of it! We would watch Christian movies together and she would always read me a Christian book or a passage from a Children's Bible before bed. I'm forever appreciative that she (as well as my parents) taught me at such a young age how important it is to have Christ in your life and what it means to be a Christian. Her and I spent lots of time together with God, and it was obvious that He was the most important thing her life...it was also obvious that family was second. If we weren't watching a Christian movie or reading a book, we were jamming to gospel music and shouting at the top of our lungs. Our two favorites were, "Lord I lift your Name on High." and "I Can Only Imagine." There isn't a time I've heard those songs since she passed that I haven't thought of her and shed a happy tear as I imagine us boogying around the basement singing them together! We also enjoyed going to church together, I knew every time I stayed with them Sunday morning we'd get up, go to church, and go to DeToy's for breakfast. I also knew every night before bed we would have homemade pudding and ice cream with homemade fudge..did I mention I love food as much as I love to exercise? Thanks for that too, Grandma! She LOVED being with family, besides just our quality time together hanging out at their house, I remember going to retreats, craft shows, vacations, holidays..I knew anytime that involved the whole family together her heart was so full, as were all of ours! I enjoyed her love for life and her ability to see beauty everywhere, even in the simplest of things. When we would plant and water the flowers or just go outside and take in the sunshine, she taught me to slow down and enjoy God's beautiful creation. Not only did she see the beauty around her, she found beauty in every person she met. She was the most positive, kind, generous person and such a joy to be around. Always putting others before herself and letting everyone know she was thinking of them. She was selfless and beautiful inside and out. One of my favorite things about her was her smile and laugh. The only memories I have of her was pure happiness, always making the best of every day and living life to the fullest. Her laugh lit up a room, her happy and kind heart shined through her smile! I also admired her strong faith. Even when she was diagnosed with cancer she had such a positive attitude, all she would say is "God has a plan for me and I know it's a good one!" I remember two sayings on her kitchen window. One read, "Let go and Let God." The other read, "Good morning, I will be handling all of your problems today so enjoy! Love, God" Those two sayings have stuck with me and sure came in handy through the years!! Her strong faith and positive outlook on life inspire me every day. It was obvious she loved being a grandma, I could tell she loved spending time with me just as much as I loved being with her! She attended every event, she always wanted to know how school was going, and about everything in my life. I always felt cared for and so loved. I know she would've been at all of my games and school activities in high school, homecoming, shopping for prom dresses (I blame her for my love of shopping too), when I graduated from college, to starting my first job. She was always so supportive, encouraging, and truly happy for all of our kids accomplishments and never hesitated to tell us how proud she was! I know I was extremely fortunate to have her in my life just by all the people growing up who have told me what a blessing she was to their life. It's hard for me to comprehend how just as a young child I was able to retain so much. Even though I was only 8 years old when she passed she was one of the biggest influences in my life to this day. I've looked up to her since day one and have always wanted to be just like her. My favorite compliment of all time is, "You remind me of your Grandma Marsha." It is amazing what a positive impact just one person can have on your life, even in such a short time. She has helped shaped me into the person I am today, pushed me to strive to be the best I can be, and taught me the importance of being a good Christian. She taught me what is truly important in life, that God is our number one priority and family comes second. She taught me manners, morals, respect, and to treat people the way I want to be treated. She was an amazing example and I am forever thankful for the time we had together. I wish everyone would have had the chance to meet her. I look forward to the day we are reunited...this time she'll be sitting on the stairway of Heaven waiting for me..and we'll greet each other with a hug just like we always did. Miss you Grandma Marsha Kay, Love your little Shadow Rae! I'm sure reading this many of you can relate to the loss of a loved one who you miss dearly. We all have memories that stick with us forever. Though they're gone, our hearts can be at peace knowing they're in a better place and someday we will see them again. It's reassuring to know that they're spirit is still with us and they're watching over us always. Though they may be gone, the memories and influence the had on our lives will be with us forever. This post was to let everyone know what amazing example I had in my life and how grateful I am for this wonderful lady I was lucky enough to call Grandma, but also so others can relate..maybe it made you think of a loved one who had the same affect on you, also to let Grandparents know how much we look up to you and appreciate you and what a lasting impression you can leave with us to pass on to future generations. Maybe it will inspire you to thank someone who has made a positive impact on your life or appreciate having that person, maybe it will serve as a reminder of how you can be a blessing to so many people..what do you want to be remembered for? I'll forever remember my Grandma by all of the beautiful qualities she had and I thank God for letting me be apart of her life! Thanks for reading!! God Bless! "Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and very dear." God's word directs our steps and serves as resource of God's will for us. It's there for us to read, live by, and spread to others. His word is full of direction, commands, promises, miracles, words to heal, protect, encourage, help, teach, and guide us. Through God's word we get to know Him, the wonders of His glorious works, and the stories of His people. Reading scripture is one way we can draw near to God. It fills us with his peace and promises. It might be used as a way for him to speak to us, and sometimes we know it's exactly what we need to hear at the time. When we fill ourselves with God's word there is no room left for worry or fear. We should always set aside time in our day to read scripture. In my opinion, of all the things we read in our time here on Earth the most important is God's word. God did not design a life for us that doesn't allow us to know Him more fully and deeply. Every day we should spend time focusing on God's word and learning more about our Savior. Dig deep into His word, find a passage you can relate to, lean on His word for support, encouragement, and guidance. It is our job to live out God's word. To practice taking these words and letting them redirect our steps, refresh, renew, and enlighten us to live out His word daily. It's also our job to spread God's word. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Find ways to get to know the word of God..join a Bible study at your church or create your own with a group of people, set aside so many minutes each day to read the Bible, sit in church and truly focus on the readings/message and what it means, we're extremely tied to social media..use it in a positive way and find Bible and/or scripture apps and have them sent to your phone each day, find books that relay God's word..I start each morning with "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young..I LOVE it! Keep a journal..as you read verses that speak to you or something you're going through, write them down. If something you read speaks to your heart in some way and feels like He is speaking directly to you about your life, HE IS. Go back and read your journal entries and scripture that has related to your life in some way..see how your faith has been strengthened and how God has worked within you personally. Invite friends, loved ones, or anyone who is hungry for the word of God and welcome them to explore God's word with you. The word itself tells us how powerful His word is.."For the word of God is alive and active." - Hebrews 4:12 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light onto my path."- Psalm 119:105 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22 "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him." - Psalm 30:5 "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." - Isaiah 40:8 "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”- Luke 11:28 "In His word I put my hope." - Psalm 130:5 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." - Matthew 7:24 "For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all he does." - Psalm 33:4 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1 "Submit brokenness to The Lord, find truth in scripture and a promise in God's word." "I want to receive God's word, retain God's instruction, and reflect God's character." "Even when there is no one else encouraging you, get your beautiful face in God's word, and make an effort to encourage yourself!" A message from Proverbs 31 Ministries: Fullness comes when we remember to be with Him before going out to serve Him. He wants our hearts in alignment with Him before our hands set about doing today’s assignment for Him. So, He extends what we need and invites us each day to receive in prayer, worship and truth from His Word. And He lovingly replenishes our cup while whispering: This isn’t a race to test the fastest pace. I just want you to persevere on the path I have marked out especially for you. Fix your eyes, not on a worldly prize, but on staying in love with Me. That’s an agenda that’s always completely satisfying. -Lysa TerKeurst <-- (Side note: I get to hear her speak this weekend at a women's faith conference in St. Cloud and I am BEYOND excited!) Receive His word each and every day, live it, and spread it to the world!! Thanks for reading! Have a blessed day! |