Little Miss Scatterbrained

Copyright: Roger Hargreaves Mr. Men and Little Miss

Scattered

I found myself stressed, anxious and on edge for the last few days. I just wanted these feelings to go away! 

The thing I realized some time last night is this: I had not really prayed or gotten in God's presence in the last few days either. 

So I began to worship. I began to sing and lift my hands and my heart in praise. God is so good. I began to mull over Luke 12:26-28. 

"If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?"

In the last month I have been more obsessed with worry over money, bills, presents, and other little things than I ought to be. In reality, God met every need we had and provided above and beyond every time He moved on someone's heart to give toward my mission's trip.  

It Ain't no Thang

Money is a little thing. Since I have little of it, then I have a choice. I can either choose to obsess over what I do not have and worry about what I am going to do to get things I do not really need or I can trust that my Father would never leave me begging bread and that the least of the kingdom issues (MONEY) is taken care of. 

After all God is the perfect Father and provider. He provides according to His riches in glory. 

I use money as an example of how little things can take over our minds and edge out our faith. Song of Solomon calls these things "little foxes". The things we think on are the things that begin to take predominance in our lives. That is why Paul said this to the church in Philipi. 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Paul knew the importance of our thought life. We need the mind of Christ if we are to live the lives of over-comers  If we want to say "I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus" and it be true then we must train our minds to focus on the goodness of God, not the bigness of our needs. 

I had spent way too much time building my unbelief instead of building my faith because I was focused on the wrong thing. 

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he..." Proverbs 23:7

So I will begin to sweep out the polluted thinking and meditate on the pureness and goodness of my God. His mercy is new everyday.   I will run off the little foxes that try to sneak in and steal the fruit God is growing in my life. I will focus on doing what God has called me to and let Him work out the rest. 

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

I recently heard someone say this: "Worry and anxiety are you meditating on the wrong things. Instead of you thinking on God's goodness, you are focusing on your lack." 

How true this is. 

My Prayer

Father, forgive me for losing sight of You and your goodness. I know you are more than enough. Your grace is sufficient. Father help me to be about your business without getting sidetracked and busy with the details that I should be trusting You for. You are good. You are faithful. Your love never fails. Have your way in my life. Rule and reign in my heart. Lead me by Your ways, and show me what it is to love like you. In the name of Jesus. Amen. 

Join the Conversation

Have you ever battled worry and anxiety? What helped you? 

How to Win the What-If Game

The What-If Bully

There are moments when we all struggle with the "what ifs" in life. We wrestle with them like bad WWE characters and wonder will I ever truly defeat this doubt? 

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

That is what the "what ifs" are: workout sessions with doubt. Doubt comes down to this one thing: a lack of faith. Rather than building our faith "muscles" we are letting doubt grow larger: like a body builder on steroids. 

"What if I got that job, would I then be able to pay all my bills?" 

"What if he loved me? Would that make me happy?"

"What if I write a blog, or a book and no one reads it? Will that mean I am a failure?" 

See, we all play the what if game. 

We let doubt pull us into a wrestling match, and soon we are pinned to the mat wondering why our lives never seem to go anywhere? Sometimes the pin comes so fast we are left dazed and wondering "what just happened?" 

STAND UP! 

We have to stand up. If we can't stand on our own right away, we have to tag team. Call a friend who will listen to you just long enough to get angry at the enemy, then let them pray for you and encourage you. Don't have a friend like that? Then call pastor or get into see a Christian counselor. Better yet, go to the Counselor, the Holy Spirit and let Him tap in. 

When God goes to work on your behalf, watch out! 

Now it is ON! 

We are made to be conquerors and the Bible is clear: 

"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."   Ephesians 6:11-13 

We need to learn to put on the armor, piece by piece so we can begin to understand who we really are. We are the righteousness of God in Christ. We are saved by grace through faith and we know the truth- that most freeing truth- that once we are bought by the blood of the Lamb of God, there is nothing that could rip us out of the hand of our Redeemer unless we let it. 

So when you feel the "what ifs" begin to crowd in, circling like a big bald guy with a bad tattoo, then you need to remind him who he is facing. 

Like David you tell your enemy what lies in store for him. Come in the name of the Lord, in faith believing, 

"that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s" 

and He will deliver you out of your enemies clutches. 

I will be sharing in the coming week more on the Armor of God and I hope you will begin to recognize that the enemy of doubt is a defeated foe and you are more than the sum of your parts when you belong to God!  

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Do you need someone to encourage you? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or email me at ayearinthespirituallife@hotmail.com and I will do my best to help you face your foe equipped so you can get ready to win your battle. 

The Secret of Godly Success

Self Doubt can be overcome! Photo Credit: Creative Commons

 “God doesn't require us to succeed, He only requires that you try.” Mother Teresa 

Selling Myself Short

I have been beating myself up lately. Picking on my ideas, and criticizing my goals. Who am I to want to write a book? Why are my ideas so important I want to share them with the world?

The answer of course is I am a child of God. Created for a purpose. I've been given a mission. I must try to do what I can to get the message out, because it isn't really my message. It is God's.

There is nothing new under the sun. God has been working toward one goal since the fall in the garden: the restoration of mankind into right relationship with Him. I have a small part to play in spreading that message so others can grow closer to God.

I am no Paul. I am no Peter. I am no Billy Graham, or Amy Grant, or Joyce Meyer, or any of the other people I admire. I am me.

And you are you. Made for a purpose. Born with a unique calling: to be who God made you to be and to share that with others so God gets the glory.

Encountering Resistance 

There was a man named Nehemiah. He had a job working for one of the most powerful men in the world. He was good at his job, he was even friends with his boss. Then he began to feel a tug. A call to do something big. A mission to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. He was changing. 

He  traveled thousands of miles only to find resistance. From officials, and from enemies. But he did not give up, he tried anyway. 

He gathered the resources and he worked 24/7. He recruited everyone he could to help. He became foreman of one of the largest construction jobs in history. 

And he nearly failed. 

Enemies worked against him. Rumors flew. He had to work with a shovel in one hand and a sword in the other just to get the work done. So what did he do? 

He prayed. 

Sometimes resistance comes from within: like the doubts I have experienced. Sometimes resistance comes from our co-workers who wanted the promotion you just got. Perhaps you are experiencing resistance from a family member who does not support your dreams like you want them to.

Where ever the resistance comes from you have to press through it. 

Do Not Give Up

So what you get knocked around a bit. What is a bruise in the grand scheme of eternity? Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again. What you do now, this great thing you are doing, will reverberate through time. This will be a legacy that will live through eternity. What you do now is what matters! 

Whether you are trying to be the next great American novelist or just be a Godly parent, your purpose is worth working and fighting for. Like Nehemiah, you may need a shovel in one hand and a sword in the other, but do not give up! 

Keep pressing in and pressing on! Keep going! Don't stop! Don't listen to the detractors, shush the voices that tell you "you can't"! You can! You have a purpose, you matter! 

God's promises are yes and amen! He has a plan for you. He makes your paths straight and lines up your footsteps. Trust in Him and go, go, go! The real success is in the trying. 

Join the conversation: Do you struggle with moments of self-doubt? How do you pick yourself up? 

Facing Your Giants: 6 Steps to Becoming Your Best You

Wow, I love this movie! If you haven't seen it, I suggest you watch the whole thing. Facing the Giants (Sherwood Pictures, Destination Films) was made on $100,000 budget and is not going to win academy awards, but what it lacks in budget and acting, it makes up in heart and message. 

This scene is my favorite. 

Here are the things I want you to take away from this scene today. 

1. You cannot look at the circumstances. Put your head down and just go forward. 

This coach blindfolded Brock for a reason. When we can see what is around us, we focus too much on the limits we give ourselves, the limits others give us, and the reactions of those around us.

2. You have more to give than you think! 

When everything is burning, every muscle, every heartbeat aches, we often stop and say enough, but you can do it. There is more in you than even you know. 

3. Do not give up! Your best is yet to come. 

When we persevere through the challenges, the rewards are more than making it to the end zone. The rewards begin when we understand what we "know" can change. Brock said "if I know we can" at the beginning of this clip. What he needed to know is that he could. He had it in him to go farther, to be more, to push himself and to succeed. The end zone was just the beginning! 

4. We all need a "coach". 

A support system is invaluable. When we feel like giving up, having someone to remind us of the goal can move us forward. "10 more feet, 5 more, you are almost there!" Jesus sees you as you are, yes, but He sees you as God meant you to be. He wants only the best for you and He is leading you, coaching. You can do this, keep going, just a little farther! 

5. People are watching. 

There are those who are waiting for you to fail. Those people you just have to put out of your mind. You need to think about the people who are on the sidelines. The ones who want to go where you are, but are afraid, or doubting. They are watching you. When they see you inch your way to success through amazing circumstances they will become inspired. By doing you are LEADING! 

6. Alright, who's next? 

Share what you learn, coach someone else. Lead by example. God has gifted you, do not waste that gift. Are you a singer, a writer, an artist? Create. Are you an engineer, an administrator, an accountant, then lead in your field. Do not discount what you are passionate about. God has given you these talents and abilities for a reason!

It won't be easy. Brock's muscles burned, his back ached, his heart doubted. BUT HE KEPT GOING! 

What is holding you back? What giant do you face? What is waiting in the end zone for you? Where would you go if you knew that you could? 

How to Overcome Insecurities

Insecurities:

Everybody has at least one. Most people have more than one. 

In the Webster’s Dictionary Online insecure is defined as 

1: not confident or sure: uncertain; feeling somewhat insecure of his reception; 2: not adequately guarded or sustained: unsafe; an insecure investment; 3: not firmly fastened or fixed: shaky;the hinge is loose and insecure; 4 a: not highly stable or well-adjusted;an insecure marriage; b: deficient in assurance: beset by fear and anxiety; always felt insecure in a group of strangers. 

How do we turn uncertain, unsafe, and shaky into certain, safe, and steady? First we have to realize where insecurity comes from. 

Insecurity comes from believing a lie. 

We have all been there. We have believed we aren't smart enough to go back to college or good enough for that promotion. Whether you believe a lie your parents told you all your life “you are not good enough” or a lie you tell yourself “nothing ever seems to work out for me” lies have power only as long as you believe them. Once you stop giving them fuel to rule your life, you can see them for what they are: chains. Shake them off. Jesus freed us from our chains nearly 2000 years ago. 

Insecurity comes from lack of faith. 

The disciples were freaking out. A storm was tossing them around and there Jesus was, oblivious because he slept. They had no faith that God would protect them, keep them and bring them to the other side of the storm. Jesus was annoyed his nap was interrupted. Nevertheless he speaks to the storm and there was peace. He admonished his crew for their lack of faith. After all, Jesus was in the boat! 

Insecurity comes from lack of understanding who we are in Christ. 

You are God’s creation but more than that, at salvation you become a son or daughter. Adopted into a royal blood line, you now are joint heirs with Jesus, who sits next to God. When we were sinners, Christ died for us. When we are redeemed (bought back) by God He adds value to us that was not there before. We become more than we ever were. We become filled with Jesus. Now we can do all things because Christ gives us strength and value we did not have before. 

What’s next? 

Next we have to develop our Automatic Truth Response. When we are confronted with feelings of inadequacy, doubt, lack of faith, or lies (quietly spoken ones or the ones that shout in our heads) we have to respond with the truth – the word of God- so that we can deflect the enemies attack, and grow in the confidence God designed us to have in Him. 

You have a call of God on your life. You are important to God; in fact, you are his most prized possession. He owns the cattle on 1000 hills; he knows every star and calls them by name. He knows how many hairs you have on your head, and He cares for you. So much so, that he gave his only Son for you. Really, why do you doubt God’s love? 

Growing in Security 

God’s got this! Whatever “this” is. 

There is nothing too big for Him to handle. There is nothing too small for Him to care about. Since we are the thing He cares most about, He is active in our lives. He wants you to be active too; actively pursuing Him. 

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added.” Matthew 6:33

What things? Your everyday, human concerns: those things. What to eat, where to live, what job to take, what school to send your kid to… all of these things God knows you have need of, because He cares for you. 

When we trust that God has our best interests at heart, that He makes our paths straight then what do we have to fear? What do we have to doubt? Why would we shake or feel uncertain or unsafe when the storms come? 

We can be secure in this: that God has a plan, that plan is centered on you and that plan is more than the sum of who you are alone: that plan needs God to make it happen! Trust Him to direct you and lean on Him when you are not enough.

BE certain of WHO you are: A child of God. BE steady in your faith, believe all things are possible. BE safe in the knowledge that God loves you and He has got you! 

One of my insecurities is centered on this blog. Do I have any business writing this, teaching, sharing, preaching here? Alone, the answer is no. With God, all things are possible. 

Join the Discussion and Comment Below: 
What is one of your insecurities? 

Victory over Monsters: a Personal Testimony of Overcoming Homosexuality

Rashad McConico is a Freshman at Texas Tech in Lubbuck, Texas. He recently shared a testimony with his friends and family and I wanted to share it here for you. 

When we struggle for a long time with an issue, sometimes it is difficult to not grow weary. Rashad has continued to press forward, serving God with all his heart. His transparency can be felt as you read his words in this guest post. 

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