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In: Emotional eating, Encouragement

The closer I get to God, the harder it is for me to drift away. My heart feels “not right” after I barely glance at my devotions for a few days. I get a sour feeling in my stomach when I eat too much and realize I have slipped. God uses these empty feelings to draw me back to Him. Psalm 27:8 is, “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). God calls me to draw close to Him even when I go through the motions. I amRead More →

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When I think about everything God has done for me, I know I can never thank Him enough. Not only has He saved me from sin, but I have a life worth living. I can face whatever life throws me as long as God is by my side. 1 Chronicles 16:34 is, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). We are commanded to thank the Lord. Early in my Christian walk, I took God’s blessings for granted. I was embarrassed to admit my successes were blessings from God. My faith grows when IRead More →

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On my own, I am weak and powerless. I forget my limitations and try to make things happen. My efforts waste both time and energy. I keep forcing things to work and worry when it falls apart. I end up tired and stressed. Isaiah 40:29 is, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015) God gives me strength to do what He wants me to do. Without Him, my efforts are useless and accomplish little. God also gives me wisdom so I don’t waste time on things he doesn’t have for me. He gives me allRead More →

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This school year, I agreed to co-direct one act play. So far, I am having fun being creative. But, these added responsibilities increase my stress. During my morning quiet time, my mind reminds me of things I need to do. I have to work harder to connect with God. Psalm 37:5 is, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). I have to trust God and leave everything in His hands. When I commit my plans to Him, He guides and calms me. In the past, I stuffed my face with excess foodRead More →

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Lately, racing mind won’t stop to seek Jesus. When I read my devotions, I think about everything else except the Lord. Even though my life seems full enough, I try to squeeze more in. My stress increases while my mind works harder to stay focused on God. Exodus 14:14 is, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still”. (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). God desires for me to quiet my brain and reflect on Him. Last week I had to “fake it until I made it“. I pushed through my devotions even though I did not feel like it. ContinuingRead More →

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Sometimes, I don’t feel like reading my Bible or praying. I get tempted to skip it just this once. I try to keep reading, but my mind wanders. I either have to quit without finishing or rush through. I feel disconnected from God and guilty for wasting time. Sometimes, I have to force myself to spend time with God. If I fake it long enough, my spirit catches up to worship Him. Psalm 51:10 is, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). God renews my spirit and cleanses my mind. Recently,Read More →

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Sometimes, I don’t have time to pray or read my Bible. I start my day without Jesus and forget to include Him later. One day stretches into several as I find another excuse to skip or rush my daily quiet time. Eventually, my devotions just go through the motions. I don’t understand why I feel distant from Him. Before I realize why, everything in my life seems wrong. I am cranky and complain about small details. When God is the first priority in my life, my desires fall behind my love for Him. Matthew 6:33 is, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, andRead More →

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I am impatient and don’t like uncertainty. Waiting brings me feelings of restlessness and anxiety. Knowing that God will create something better than I can imagine does not help me let go. Instead of trusting God, I do whatever I think will fix my problem. I create a bigger mess and more stress. God is the only way to find peace. Psalm 46:10 is“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). It is hard for me to wait or be still. God resolves my unknownsRead More →

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I hear voices telling me I am not good enough. Lies tell me I am a failure and point out my mistakes. They try to convince me that work I do for God will never measure up to His standards. When enough things go wrong in my life, I am tired, or not feeling well, I succumb to these lies. I feel guilty that I have failed again and give up. I can’t fight against these lies alone. John 8:44 is, “…He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies,Read More →

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Fear stands in the way of my success. Doubt convinces me I have failed before I start. Anxiety keeps me from trying something I can achieve. I want to share my story with others, but don’t because I am afraid. Even though I know God wants more from me, fear keeps me from going forward Psalm 56:3 is, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). I can walk away from fear by trusting in God. He gives me strength and courage to finish what I start. All I have to do is trust God.Read More →