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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 →

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My life has never been trouble free. In the past, food helped me survive, but failed to take away pain. Complaining about my struggles does not fix my problems. Turning to God is the only way I find peace and joy. James 1:2 is, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). I find joy while crying my heart out to Him. God comforts me and uses tough times to bring me closer to Him. I would rather face troubles with God by my side than enjoy pleasure without Him.Read More →

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Most people think submission is weakly giving in. Deep down, I hate submitting to others and would rather do what I want.  I know His ways are nothing like mine and I should trust He knows the best for me. Instead of surrendering my will to Him, I stubbornly hang onto my wants.  I end up stressed and unhappy if my desires are not met. Job 22:21 is, “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). On my own, I keep holding on my selfish ways. As I spend more time withRead More →

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I am a professional worrier. My mind is a dangerous place that assumes the worst will come. I waste time planning how I will fix make-believe headaches. Worry keeps me from finishing what I need to take care of. My energy is drained and I ignore happiness in my life. Matthew 6:34 is, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015) Many times I worry about events that never happen. Worry never solves problems. Instead, it causes me to feel hopeless. The time I waste worrying keeps me fromRead More →