Trust Habits #3

Self Care

As we pursue habits that enable us to develop a greater trust in our Risen Lord, I want to talk to you about something important: Soul care. Now soul care is far more important than the traditional ideal of “self care”. It isn’t so much about vegging out in the front of a computer screen. It is about taking care of every part of us. It is choosing to place our spiritual needs, ahead of those specific and important physical needs.

Soul Care

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again (1 Thess. 5:23, NLT).

In 1 Thessalonians, we are reminded that the Lord will make us holy in every way. How can we put physical and emotional care ahead of our own spiritual needs? We need to come and sit with our Lord Jesus. “Come away with Me” is the message the Lord is giving us.

Come Away With Me

And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat (Mark 6:31, BSB).

An important part of trusting the Lord is surrendering control. It can become far too easy to hold a tight grip on the temporary things, and in the process, we miss the opportunity to cling even tighter to our Lord Jesus Christ.

What are we doing, friends, when we place “self care” as a much higher priority than our own souls?

What self care sorely lacks is the soul rejuvenation that is going to carry us through the hard stuff. We can watch our favorite show for countless hours and end up far more depleted, and all in the name of self care. Self care is not a bad thing. It is actually a very good thing. But, let’s make it a better thing. Like Mary of Bethany, may we choose the better thing that will not be taken away from.

“But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend,^] you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”“

Maybe, the thing we truly need is to change how we care for our entire selves, so one area is not lacking.

How can we better meet our soul’s needs?

Assignment: Evaluate your way of self care. How can it promote soul care?

 Maybe, you take a prayer walk.
Maybe, you just sit in God’s Presence
and allow Him to hold all of the anxieties you hold inside. 
Maybe, you talk with the Lord about your struggle with control.

May 2018 Goals {Update}

We are half way into the month of May. How are your goals going? I wanted to share a little bit about how it is going for me. Maybe, my sharing will help you set some goals or carry them out with a bit more enthusiasm.

We all need friends who lift us up, help us to walk this journey of life, and continue to trust our Lord God!

Remember Moses, Aaron, and Hur’s inspiring moment? Moses was in need; Aaron and Hur were there for him, and left an eternal impact. That impact has stirred my heart since 2011 when I began my journey of accepting my health decline and using this time as a way to give|receive help.

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset (Ex. 17:12, NLT).

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We know sharing and community are important for our journey, and that of others as well. So, let’s get to sharing in this Christ centered community.

As I sit here and evaluate these things, I know the ultimate goal has to be found in the delight myself in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord finds good pleasure in being with me, and I need to keep drawing nearer to Him – and seeing what is hindering me.

Do

Guilt free rest? No.
Keep up on housework? More than before.
Exercise without flare up? For most part, yes.
Eat more plant based? Actually yes!
Listen to more sermons? Not really. It’s an area, in which I do need to grow.
Praise music|coloring as worship tools? Yes, but need to color more (mental health).

Read

Have I been reading? I actually have! They are mostly Kindle books, so off the intended list of books. But, I am really loving the opportunity to listen and gain spiritual insight from other strong Christians who are learning to trust the Lord and surrender everything to Christ!

What have I been reading?

• “How Can I Be Blessed?” – R.C. Sproul {Finished}
• “5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit” – Nicki Koziarz {50%}
• “Party of One” – Joy Beth Smith {59%}
• “Made Like Martha” – Katie Reid {13%}

My not so secret to reading has been taking my Kindle with me on my walks. I have begun walking each morning, as a way to greet God and begin my day on a good note. The depression has made life unbearable, and exercise is one of the best ways I know to handle it.

Be

. . . Flexible.

Have I…

been able to get up early to get stuff done? Yes. It has only been in the last week, though. So, I need to make it a continuing habit.

allowed myself to simply listen to Scripture versus compulsively taking notes? I am slowly growing in this area.

seizing family time? I seem to be more available during the week for my family, aside from night time. The true test of this will be on the weekends, when I have the opportunity to spend time with my “nearly 8” year old niece.

Featured image by Estée Janssens from Unsplash.

Seeking Him on the good days and bad,

The One Goal to Keep {Inspiring Women}

Hi friends! For the months of May/June, we will be using a reading plan given to us by Sweet to the Soul Ministries. Feel free to stroll through their Facebook page and blog. They even have a journaling kit and Bible study for this month’s plan.

I bring before you all a special verse for Christian women. This is the verse. It can spark excitement in our hearts, but it can also scare some of us. This is a place, where we can learn to live out our faith in Jesus Christ and allow our sister-relationships to become a greater priority.

⁴ These older women must train the younger women to live quietly, to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ and to be sensible and clean minded, spending their time in their own homes, being kind and obedient to their husbands so that the Christian faith can’t be spoken against by those who know them (Titus 2:4-5, TLB).

Community: Friend or Foe?

I love this passage of Scripture, but sometimes I don’t. My heart chases after deep Christian community, and sometimes it can be difficult to find. Being with my brethren is what my heart wants. In Christian community, we grow leaps and bounds and build lasting relationships. This is why we are urged to seek out godly friendships with other women.

Even if this pursuit takes a little time (or a long time) for fruition, it will be well worth the wait.

Worth Fighting For!

However difficult this pursuit for Christ-like relationships with other women, I feel like this is worthy of fighting for!

When we live out this Scripture in our daily lives, we are placing our trust in Jesus Christ and choosing His way of life over our own. These kind of relationships require vulnerability, feeling uncomfortable, and accountability. But, this is the place of being loved beyond measure, and our faith in Jesus Christ is tested/matures too.

Finding Our Willingness

Now “older woman” doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be 80 years old, but I wholeheartedly believe they have a wealth of spiritual treasures to pass onto the next generation. Women of all ages would greatly benefit from these distinctive relationships. We just need to be willing to obey God, as we come alongside someone else in the faith.

Far too often, we have stepped aside and ignored this Scripture – to avoid “interfering in another’s life”. Truth be told: We need for another woman, who is following Jesus, to come alongside us and lovingly interfere. We need to grow in our willingness to allow  (even invite) another to step into our lives. 

Speaking as a younger woman, but older than some, I know my need to be –

(1) Taught how to apply my faith in Jesus Christ to specific situations

(2) Reminded of biblical truths

(3) Prayed over

(4) Given Encouragement

 

Let’s cling to the truths of Titus 2. We won’t be able to live it out perfectly, so if you feel like you are failing – take heart, you aren’t alone. But, let’s remember the grace of our great God and focus on obey God in living this thing out – no matter what it looks like.

Feature image by Helena Lopes.

The Jesus-Girl Who Confesses

Hi friends! For the months of May/June, we will be using a reading plan given to us by Sweet to the Soul Ministries. Feel free to stroll through their Facebook page and blog. They even have a journaling kit and Bible study for this month’s plan!

As daughters of God who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ, we need to willfully enter our prayer closet and bring before God our desperate need for His forgiveness and deliverance.

The most sacred thing in our lives, is our relationship with God. No act of human influence can compare to Jesus Christ who has touched our souls, for He has chosen to rescue us!

Lord, I told you about the evil I have done. I am sorry for my sin (Psalm 38:18; ERV).

This is what we need to do, because we are accountable to God for what we have done. While we may avoid this truth, if we could, the reality is – we can’t hide from our sin. No one has been able to successfully hide from their sin. Adam and Eve tried to, but they ended up only hiding from God. Walk out of the darkness, by entering Jesus’ well-lit presence!

Before we can become a woman of influence, we have to be a woman with a humble heart who acknowledges her sin before a most holy God. We must allow Jesus Christ into our lives.

Here are some truths we must grasp –

(1) God is set apart, and cannot even look upon sin.

O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal. . . But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil (Hab. 1:12a, 13a, NLT).

(2) Even though it is uncomfortable to think about our sin, let’s find comfort in our Christian community where we all must confess our sins and turn from them. Also, let’s confess to one another, so we may be prayed for and healed.

But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed! We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! (Isaiah 53:5-6, TLB)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16, ESV).

(3) Most importantly: As we repent of sin, let’s celebrate Jesus Christ as our Redeemer. He has paid the ultimate price, and loved us with an eternal love.

. . . Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice (Psalm 51:7b-8, NKJV).

I invite you to enter a quiet place, where you can talk to God about the struggles with sin and seek His forgiveness.

Want to learn more about confession, sin, what God says, and having a relationship with Jesus Christ? I am hosting a daily devotional on 1 John over at Indoor Outreach. Join us, as we dive into God’s Word!

Featured image by Ben White.

Rising Above Temptations {{Trials Tuesday}}

((Friends, don’t forget to ‘tune in’ this Saturday – as we kick off our online Bible study right here on Gracefully Overcoming))

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Temptations are a fact of life, and affect the best of us. Often times, we don’t want to face this truth that – temptations are real. Temptations are, indeed, very real. Even the best people faced temptations. This is why we can face our temptations head-on, versus pretending like they are not there (hello Stacey, understand this!).

Temptations We Face

As we sit with our friend, James, I want us to remember that…

While temptations are part of the human experience, it does not mean we have to give into them.

Because, they are destructive.

Because, there is a way out! (see 1 Cor. 10:13)

Through Jesus Christ, we can rise up and conquer the deadliest of temptations.

Before we can rise up and conquer temptations, though, we have to be willing to do something.

We have to admit that we are one who struggles with sin. And, realize how temptations affect us (leading us to death).

Does anyone else find it peculiar that the craving thing we face, promises life, but in fact brings death?

That thing you crave, is not going to deliver its promise of life or satisfaction. Thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ, He will satisfy and bring life!

Grab Your Bible, Friends!

I invite you to join me, as we take a closer look at James 1:13-15. Read the selected passage, and then join me back here – so we can sit and talk.

What temptation are you facing right now?

We often think of sexual temptation when we hear the word “temptation” thrown around. But, temptations come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Money, relationships, and keeping a busy schedule are just a few temptations we might face.

Craving

In Ephesians 2:1-3, we are reminded that, before Christ, we chased after everything we craved.

If there is anything we know, it’s temptation. We experience it every day. From the moment you get up out of bed, temptation will find you… especially if you are a follower of Jesus Christ.

We need to get honest right now, with whatever temptation we are facing; see it for what it is. We need to let these words of truth be sown into our spirit right now.

Lessons From James

Temptations are…

1… real.

2… not of God.

3… coming from our own desires.

4… dragging us away from Jesus, our loving Savior, and the things of God.

5… gonna destroy us (and others), if we do not put them in their proper place.

Call to Action

Today, I want us to do something – as we look this temptation in the face. Whatever your struggle may be right now, look it in the face and see it for what it is.

“_________ does not honor God. It does not bring me closer to God. Whatever it is promising to do for me, is a lie. I am going to choose to trust Jesus to help me with this.”

Our desires, if not subdued, will carry us away from God. Our desires will try to get us to compromise, in order to soothe whatever the longing is for. They will seem subtitle and like they aren’t a big deal. But, they are.

How can you confront the lies of your current temptation, and accepting the truth of God and His Word?