Healing

Each day I ask God to heal my heart, soul, body and mind.

This past month or so has not been an easy one for me. I’ve had a great deal of heartache, confusion, and endless questions that I’m too afraid to ask. I’ve been working on growing through what I’m going through.

Some days are easier than others. I’ve been listening to worship music each morning, and periodically throughout my day when I’m feeling a bit low. I’ve been reading several devotionals and have also started a book that I should have started months ago. I’m working on renewing my mind to be more Christ-centered and less self-centered.

As I stated, I’ve been asking God for His healing. I’ve been told that healing is yours if you take it. It’s a decision. By this, I don’t mean you decide one day, “I’m healed” and never have trouble again– you do. But each time that feeling or thought pops in your mind, you have to cast it back into the sea.

In the beginning, I wanted to complain and I did. “Why did this happen to me? Where did I go wrong?” Yet, we should not complain. (Philippians 2:14 – 16) We know not what He is doing for us.

God delivered His people from the slavery in Egypt and was bringing them to the Promised Land, but do you know what they did? They complained. He was working wonders for them– yet they complained. And they didn’t get to see the Promised Land.

God has done so much for us and is doing for us and will do for us. We may not see it, but we have to trust and know that He is God. Appreciate how God has blessed you, despite your heartaches.

“What if your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near? What if the trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”

You can complain or you can pray, but you cannot do both. 

With love and grace, be blessed.

In The Highs And Lows

Today was an eventful day. I travelled between two different hospitals, one for a birth and one for an emergency. Great exciting news and not so great news.

First, I went to the hospital where my best friend was going to deliver her baby. I was so excited on the way over there, I was singing and praising God, thanking Him for His blessings and this beautiful moment that was going to be experienced.

While there, I got a message from my mom saying she was in the ER at a different hospital. I rushed out, headed to her. I felt very conflicted– I wanted to be there for my best friend to have her first baby, but I also wanted to be with my mom.

On the way to my mom, I thought about earlier in the day, when I was dancing and praising the Lord, and I asked myself, “Why did this have to happen? Today was going so well.” Almost immediately after I said that, a verse came to mind. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18) Instead of allowing myself to become upset I decided to thank God for everything. I thanked Him for healing my mom and for a healthy and safe delivery. I prayed about the situation, lifting my momma and best friend (and baby) up to Him. I said, “God, You are holy. And You are good.”

We have to train our brains to think Godly not worldly. If you can do that, you will be able to respond to situations instead of react to them.

My best friend had a healthy delivery and my momma was sent home. Praise the Lord.

With love and grace, have a blessed day.

Seasons Change

Lately I have been reading a variety of devotionals and inspirational works that are all Bible-based. There are questions that I have that I don’t have answers for, and the best place to find the answer is in the Bible.

Change has always been difficult for me and particularly in this season, I am truly struggling. So I’ve been leaning on Jesus a great deal and asking for Him to love on me a little extra each day.

Something that I have learned is that we go through seasons. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 – 8 NIV) When we go through a season of difficulty, it is to make us stronger and wiser. You have the choice to grow, and thats what I’m choosing to do. Yes, I have my weaknesses and doubts and negative thoughts that creep into my mind, but I fight against them with the hope and faith in my God– He is greater.

One of the biggest questions that I have been asking is, “Why?” I keep thinking with my human mind about all the reasons what is happening is all wrong or shouldn’t be happening and I have to take a step back and remember God’s mind is way greater. (Isaiah 55:9 NIV) He knows what is in store for us and it is good. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

I may not receive my answer today or tomorrow– it may never come clearly, who knows. Yet thats what this is all about! Even if we don’t understand why something is happening, we have to put our trust and faith in the Lord! (Proverbs 3:5 – 6 NIV) That is what He wants– He wants our belief and trust in Him. He wants us to lean on Him during our struggles and to praise Him always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 NIV) God loves us.

Straight from the Bible here are three things to remember during our difficult seasons:

1. Rejoice (in hope)
2. Patience (during your trial)
3. Prayer (continuously)

Don’t let your struggle bring you down; don’t let anything steal your joy. I know it is tough, we are only human. I have ridden an emotional rollercoaster each day since my season began; some rides wilder than others. But we have to push through. We can and will overcome because God overcame the world.

Seasons change; this one will not last forever. Keep the faith.

With love and grace, enjoy your day lovelies.

Understanding God’s Ways

Understanding– that’s a phrase we seem to have trouble with more often than not. I know that I struggle to understand many things. Life is not clear cut; if you use the Bible as your instruction manual, it can be way easier. Yet, we seem to get caught up in our human lives and stuck inside our human minds, unable to step away and take a different look at the situation. We have to do that, otherwise we won’t overcome our trials. If you’re trying to make it through a difficult time or experience without God– you’re going to fail.

Simon Peter knew this. When Jesus told him to put the net into the water, after they had repeatedly done so, Simon did just that. “Because you say so, I will.” (Luke 5:5 NIV)
God tests your faith. When nothing you’ve tried has worked, when you’ve exhausted all your options, maybe it’s time to stop and ask God what He would do. You have to be willing to listen– it is your choice to listen to the right voice. You will know which one is right based on what you’re told. God would only ask you to do something good– never anything bad.

If you use the story (Luke 5:1 – 11), you can see that God works in three main ways.

1. He uses the common for the uncommon. (Look for Him in your day-to-day lives and you will notice His works.)
2. He will move you out of the security (shallows) to the risks (deep). The blessings and the trials are both part of the same “sea” of life. You can’t have one without the other.
3. He allows you to go through one experience to teach you another. Those men became “fishers” of men.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We have to put God first in all aspects of life. We have to seek Him; read and study the Word. God loves us; He has promised to supply all our needs, He cares about every individual concern of ours.

I know it can be hard to understand what is happening or why it is happening, but I have been leaning on the belief and knowledge that God has everything planned out for me. As confusing and painful as my experience may be, I know inside that God is doing what is best for me. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

With love and grace, have a good day lovelies.