Choose Trust Over Fear
Friend, last week I introduced you to a new way of thinking. I call it FLIPFLOP. Choosing to live a FLIPFLOP lifestyle is a game changer. When we FLlPFLOP the lies of satan we are bringing truth in and giving truth(GOD) authority over our minds!!
We live in a fallen world, and Satan knows his time is short. He is clever and quick and deceiving (this starts in our minds). He even knows Scripture. He had the guts to tempt Jesus (WOW). We have to replace Satan‘s lies with God’s truth. When Jesus defeated Satan, HE reassured us that He is on the throne (Rest in knowing this TRUTH today)!
Our challenge/goal is to replace fear for TRUSTING in God!!
There is power in Scripture! Take some time to look at the following verses today:
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
Let’s pray together:
Dear Heavenly Father, it is an honor to come to you, I need your help this day! I want to TRUST in you. I CHOOSE to focus on you over my fear. Please help me to FLIPFLOP the circumstances in my life that I cannot control. Thank you for coming to my rescue. I PRAISE you! Amen.
FLIP FLOP
Hi friends!! I just wanted to say woohoo and a job well done. I really enjoyed studying the fruits of the spirit together!! But now, drum roll…Summer is here! So, let’s get our FLIP FLOPS on!
What does that mean? Don’t worry, it will be a lot of fun and we will learn together. FLIPFLOP is something that God has taught me. It has been life-changing, so I have to share it with you friend.
God wants this to become our new way of thinking!
We must FLIPFLOP the lies of Satan!! Friend, this is huge and can be done only when we choose to FLIPFLOP the negative thoughts into positive thoughts. What does this look like?
For example:
Lie: I am not good enough.
Flipflop Truth: I am made in the image of God!
Psalms 139:14a says, “I praise you, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Another example:
Lie: I’m not beautiful/handsome enough.
Flipflop truth: The wisdom of the Lord makes me more precious than rubies!
Proverbs 3:13-15 says, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
As you know, Jesus, I have been going through a lot these days and have been battling some different struggles. I need Your help! I choose YOU! I choose FLIPFLOP!
(Sigh, that feels good…) WAY MAKER, I want to turn the negative (thoughts/outlooks) into Your CONFIDENCE and SECURITY this day! If I do this I know you will set me FREE! Amen!
So let’s put our flip-flops on and do a freedom dance!!
GOD-CONTROL
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and SELF-CONTROL.” - Galatians 5:22-23a
Friend,
God wants us to have SELF-CONTROL, or as I like to say GOD-CONTROL.
Jesus modeled self-control and he wants us to have self-control. There is so much for us to learn about this topic from scripture. Let’s take a look together and learn from Jesus how we can have self-control.
Let’s read Mark 14:32-42 says,
“32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and Johnalong with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[f] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
God is sovereign and holy! We may not understand why we are called to suffer and do hard things but just as Jesus said, “not my will but your will be done.”
Jesus surrendered His will to His Father. Friends, we should also surrender our will to the father daily.
God sees you and loves you and HE overcame it ALL.
Our challenge is to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) so we are ready for battle. As we continue to seek truth and wisdom, we will learn to fight in the spirit and not in the flesh.
Holy Father, thank you for the gift of SELF-CONTROL! This is a big topic, and I know that I’m going to need your help! Together, I know I can experience a life of SELF-CONTROL! I’m so excited! Father, thank you for the gifts of the fruit of the Spirit. I pray that you would equip me with all of them from this day forward! I can’t wait to see the world in a whole new way! Amen.
STRONG GENTLENESS
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith faithfulness, GENTLENESS, and self-control.” - Galatians 5:22-23a
GENTLENESS can only be gained through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT and through humility.
This all starts with putting others before ourselves.
Like it says in John 3:30~he must increase, but I must decrease!!
Friend!! How can we achieve this because gentleness is an active word that will equip us with a meek and quiet spirit. This all starts with listening and spending time with God in His word and talking to the Holy Spirit throughout the day. Friend, the quieter we are the more we can hear HIS VOICE OF TRUTH.
For our challenge, I encourage us to know that the Holy Spirit is here to help and guide us. Let’s ask him to help us today!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of GENTLENESS! I want to be equipped with your GENTLENESS this day! My hope is to reach out and be a selfless light for you. It is an honor to serve you! Thank you, Lord, that when I am weak you are strong. Amen.
GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience ,kindness, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness, and self-control.” - Galatians 5:22-23a
Friends, Let’s take a look at Enoch's life in Hebrews 11:5-6:
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Scripture tells us that Enoch was a man who was FAITHFUL and pleased God. God wants us to rely on HIS FAITHFULNESS. When we are faithful it shows us that the Holy Spirit is working in and through us.
His faithfulness is always reliable, steadfast, and true (let’s take a minute to let that sink in). We are faithful to what we find to be important in our lives. A couple examples being: Family, Work, Worship, Ministry, Etc.
God sees us and wants us to remain faithful because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Friend, I want to challenge you to have God’s dreams, heaven bound dreams. Greater dreams than you could ever think are possible.
Let’s pray! Dear FAITHFUL Father, I just have to say, thank you! Thank you for the gift of FAITHFULNESS. It truly fills me with your strength, hope, and courage that I need to face my day. I am so excited to see all that you have in store! My hands are raised in expectation. It is in your name we pray, amen.
CHOOSING PATIENCE
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23a
Let’s read this verse a couple of times- James 1:4, “Let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Let’s also read the parable of the lost son in Luke15:11-32. This story is an incredible depiction of a father’s PATIENCE. He exemplifies grace and unconditional love for His children. All of these attributes are also given freely to us from our Heavenly Father. Like this father in the story, when we are patient, we will not lack anything!! We may even experience God’s character!! And we will learn the beauty of patience when He reveals Himself to us.
The Spirit produces the fruit of PATIENCE in us, and we can rest in the peace of this promise-Whoo-Hoo!
My challenge is for you to spend 20 to 30 minutes being still with God. (This could be walking, time on our front porch, cooking dinner etc.) I want you to make this a time of gratitude. Thank Him for His patience.
Let’s pray together.
Father, I NEED YOU! I want to experience Your PATIENCE this day. Please show me how. I am going through a lot, but I know that with Your helpwe can CONQUER IT together! Thank You that when I am patient it leaves room for You to work in my life. I want to experience that everyday! Thank you for coming to my rescue. Amen.
THE PEACE OF GOD
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” - Galatians 5:22-23a
Friend, Just like Jesus and his disciples in the boat- What storm are you battling today? Where does your heart need PEACE? I just want you to know that GOD SEES YOU, and He wants to give you HIS PEACE that surpasses all of our understanding.
God knows the details of your pain, and He can calm your heart and mind just like he calmed the waters! His peace can be freely yours this day because it is a gift from God!! WOW!!
I want to challenge us to be still and KNOW that He is GOD. He will calm the waters in your life no matter how big the storm.
Let’s pray! Dear faithful Father, Wow! Thank you for your PERFECT PEACE! I want to pray that you would help us to experience it as we walk through our day. Thank you that you see us, and that we are not alone! You are our REFUGE! Amen.
“Can I Hear from God?”
People are always saying to me, “I wish I could hear from God.” You can!
Hope starts with a personal relationship with God. Just like me, you might be broken in some way. Maybe your finances are broken, your marriage or your emotions. Maybe you have been through something painful and your life will never be the same again. I want you to know that regardless of your circumstances, you can be healed in your soul with the peace of God. If you have a disability, I want you to know that God can still use you. He doesn’t look down on you. He looks on you MORE. The weakest people have done the most for God... because in our weakness, He is strong!
God wants you to see the potential of who you are going to be with His help.
Every morning when I roll out of bed, I land immediately on my knees and surrender my day to the Lord. I know I can’t take one step without God’s help. Because of my brain injury, I don’t know what day it is or what year it is. I am desperate for God and know I need Him just to get through the day. My prayer is simple and sounds something like this...
“Good Morning, Daddy!
I can’t wait to experience You today! I need You every hour. Please empty me of all my fears and fill me with Your strength. I choose to walk in the power of Your Holy Spirit. I don’t want to miss one plan You have for me today. I know You will equip me to do the things You want me to do. I love being on an adventure with You. You are so fun and exciting! Thank you for using me just as I am. Amen.”
Recently, a beautiful little girl came up on stage to talk to me. She clung tightly to my leg and looked up at me with tears in her big brown eyes and said, “I don’t have a daddy I can call.” I replied, “Oh sweet girl, you have a Heavenly Daddy. He loves you so much. You can talk to Him anytime, any place, and He will listen. He is holding your hand and He will never abandon you!”
Do you need peace, courage, or strength? Ask your Heavenly Father for what you need. His power is available to you, too. He longs to come to your rescue. I am praying that He will cradle you in His everlasting arms and whisper hope in your ear today!
Taken from Hope Out Loud Prayers- Get Yours Today: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/jens-prayer-book-bundle
Spanish Version: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/hope-out-loud-prayers-spanish-paperback
Russian EBook Version: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/russian-prayers-of-hope-ebook
The Lord Carries You
Lord Jesus, thank You that even when I feel alone, I can put my hope and trust in You. Lord, You are walking by my side and holding my hand. I’m so grateful for how You carry me on the hard days. I want to be so close to You that I feel Your heartbeat. Thank You for whispering to me... “I love you. I’ve chosen you. I’ve called you to this. Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. And I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” Amen.
The best is yet to come!
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10
Stop Begging and Start Praising!
When Jen was emerging from a coma after her brain injury, the only time her voice sounded clear and uninjured was when she was praying. She would talk to God for hours but didn’t ask for one thing. All she did was PRAISE Him! She would say over and over, “Lord you are so good. You are so faithful. There aren’t words to describe You.” Jen would praise God for healing her and raising her up, even though she could not sit up or follow a verbal command. She was choosing to praise God in advance with childlike faith as if He had already answered. It was in those moments in the hospital that God was teaching me to stop begging and start praising. When we praise God, it puts our focus on who He is instead of our own circumstances.
One night when Jen was in extreme pain, our whole family was kneeling around her bed praying for God to heal her. Her dad was rubbing her feet for over an hour to calm her. Suddenly, Jen started praying out loud,“Lord, did I meet all Your expectations today? Did I fulfill everything You had for me to do today?” She was so broken and in so much pain, yet all she cared about was praising and serving God. My prayers were always, “Lord serve me. Help me.” I had never prayed a prayer like Jen’s before where I was asking God how I could serve Him.
It is such a privilege that we get to have direct communication with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If you could see Jesus, what would you do? Would you kneel? Would you bow before Him? God is worthy of all our honor and glory and praise.
“When we praise God, we are putting our hope in Him. He is our EXPECTATION! When you put your hope in something, it is what you believe in. When we Praise God, it takes the weight off of our shoulders. It reminds us of WHO He is... the Great I AM! Praise shows a grateful heart. If we don’t praise Him even the rocks will cry out. We were made to praise Him. He deserves our praise. He conquered death for us. He gave us a second chance.”
Stop begging and start PRAISING! I challenge you to try it! You will be forever changed!
GOD’S JOY
Galatians 5:22-23a “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23a gentleness and self-control.”
As Christ followers, JOY is an unlimited gift from God! JOY is renewed day by day.
Friend, JOY is “TRUE” contentment based on our relationship with the Lord and our faith in Him (Let’s stay here for a moment and let that sink in)! By God’s grace, may you experience his JOY this day!
Dear friends, here is our challenge for today:
JOY ACRONYM:
J= Jesus
O= Others
Y= You
I encourage us to live our lives with this mindset!
Let’s pray together! Dear Heavenly Father, WOW!! I am so honored for your gift of JOY!! It means so much to me!! I want to be filled with your JOY this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DOWNRIGHT DISAPPOINTING
Sometimes our circumstances feel permanent and downright disappointing. It’s easy to dwell on the way things used to be or how we wish they were. But God wants us to look beyond.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
That is our hope! Not what is right in front of us, not the painful realities or even the momentary joys of today, but the wonderful things God has in store for us in the future.
Where are you placing your hope right now?
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Dear God, sometimes it feels like nothing will ever change. Give me faith to believe in the things we cannot see. Remind me, Lord, that the future with You is absolutely amazing.
Does My Pain Have A Purpose?
A few years after our accident, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This was really tough news for my parents because they found out my cancer was the result of all of the x-rays and scans I had on my head after our car wreck. They felt like I was still suffering because of the sins of someone else. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you are still suffering because of the poor choices someone else made that hurt you.
I saw it differently. I had seen God use my brain injury, and I had no doubt that He could use my cancer too. In fact, I told my parents, “Not many people can relate to having a brain injury, but everyone can relate to cancer. Everyone knows someone who has cancer. God is expanding my ministry! I’m going to share Jesus with every person in the cancer center!” That is exactly what happened. When I went to the UVA cancer center for radiation treatment, I took copies of this prayer book you are reading right now and handed them out to every nurse, doctor and patient I met.
Two years later, I was speaking at a church with my parents, and a precious lady named Florence, wearing a navy blue baseball cap came up to me after the service. I could see that she had lost all of her hair. She hugged me and pulled a tattered and worn book out of her purse. It was my prayer book! Florence had been battling cancer for two years, and one of the nurses at the UVA cancer center had given her my book to give her hope. She said, “I hope it’s ok. I’ve been praying your prayers for two years. I even prayed the prayer in the back of the book to accept Jesus as my Savior!”
Six months later, Florence passed away. At first I was tempted to be disappointed with God, but then I realized that she was completely healed in Heaven, dancing on streets of gold. If I had never had cancer, Florence would not be with Jesus. WOW! That’s how God turns our pain into purpose. Your pain might save a life. God never wastes a tear or a trial. He wants to use your story to change someone else’s eternity. So, whenever bad things happen to you, know this: God is up to something big. He has a great purpose for your story. It may be tough for awhile, but it will all be worth it in the end.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Taken from Hope Out Loud Prayers- Order Now: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/jens-prayer-book-bundle
Spanish Version: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/hope-out-loud-prayers-spanish-paperback
Russian EBook Version: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/russian-prayers-of-hope-ebook
Changing Your Scars into Beauty Marks
Do you have any scars? The other day, I was looking at my scars in the mirror and was curious to know how many I had, so I started to count them. As soon as I discovered the number, I heard God whisper to my heart, “Jen, the number doesn’t matter. When I look at you, I don’t think, she’s the girl with all the scars. I think...You are beautiful. You are worth it. You are priceless. You are mine.”
The same is true for you. When God looks at you, He doesn’t see your brokenness or your scars. He sees you as beautiful, priceless and redeemed. It doesn’t matter if you have physical scars or emotional scars. Many of us have scars hidden deep in our hearts. God sees those too, and He knows about all the pain that you have endured.
One of the verses that has helped me the most is Psalm 56:8: You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. God saw each and every tear you have ever shed. He cares about each and every pain you have ever felt. He keeps track of your tears and your scars, so He can wipe them all away one day in Heaven where there is no pain or suffering forever.
I have to admit, I don’t like my scars very much. I used to talk about them all the time and my mom told me something really cool about my scars. She calls my scars beauty marks and told me they were evidence of God’s faithfulness, that He had spared my life and helped me survive something impossible. Now I choose to see my scars as beauty marks. My scars are my story. They give me a voice to help encourage others. Your scars have a story too. God has something very important for you to do with your story. That’s what makes your scars beautiful.
Taken from Beauty Marks- Order Now https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/beauty-marks-paperback
SCARS
I have a scar. It runs from one eyebrow to the other. It’s like my own permanent road map marking the shortest distance between one eyebrow and the other. My scar is evidence that I was wounded in the accident that changed my life forever. I should probably have plastic surgery to get it fixed once and for all. But when you’ve lived in the hospital for months, had multiple orthopedic surgeries, had a husband battling prostate cancer and a daughter with a traumatic brain injury, the last thing on your priority list is elective cosmetic surgery. So my scar remains.
Scars are evidence of wounds.
Though my left side was completely crushed, the scars no one saw were on my heart and in my soul. If you’re like me and a lot of women I’ve met over the past few years, you may be living with internal scars as well.
Maybe it was something a father said or didn’t say.
A betrayal by a friend.
A promise a spouse didn’t keep.
A dream shattered by a boss or coach or spiritual leader you once admired.
A misunderstanding among neighbors or business partners. Something unexpected.
Something unthinkable.
Something unspeakable.
Whether it happened yesterday or fifteen years ago, it still stings. You’d rather not revisit the source of that hurt, yet it left a mark on you that’s impossible to erase. It resurfaces when you least expect it and flares up even though you try to suppress it, reminding you that you are no longer whole. You were wounded.
Scars are reminders of the wounds we’ve endured. They trigger memories of the traumatic experiences we’d rather forget. We think scars are ugly. That’s why we’re driven to alter them, minimize them, or hide them. But even with all the Mederma cream in the world, they never completely fade.
The good news is that God longs to transform the scars on your wounded heart into marks of beauty. He can use them to bless the world. Beauty marks are wounds that have been transformed into purpose. They remind you that God is redeeming what you’ve suffered and can heal you from the inside out. Maybe your heart feels as if it’s bleeding right now, and healing seems impossible. Trust that the God who created you and loves you is able to heal every broken place.
Your pain makes you passionate to help others. Every time you use your story to encourage someone and share your faith, God is turning your scars into beauty marks of purpose for His glory!
Taken from Beauty Marks: Healing Your Wounded Heart- Order Your Book Now: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/beauty-marks-paperback
LEVERAGE YOUR LIFE- GUIDANCE OF THE SPIRIT
Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Truth” and promised He would remind us of all truth. The truth Jesus was talking about is the Word of God. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). Not only does the Holy Spirit guide and direct us to these absolute truths in the Scriptures that He inspired to be written thousands of years ago, but He also helps apply these truths specifically to our unique situations. Once again, you just have to ask Him. The Holy Spirit is there to help you know God’s best plan for every situation.
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Here is an example of how to replace lies with truth by the power of the Holy Spirit:
UNLOVED
Name the Lie: I am unloved.
Discover the Root: Holy Spirit, please show me when I first felt unloved.
Speak Truth Over It: Nothing can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39).
Receive God’s Love: Holy Spirit, give me a picture, a word, or a feeling of how much You
love me. Write it down. (Every time you feel unloved, STOP and picture what God revealed to you about how much He loves you and choose to receive it.)
Taken From Leverage Your Life: Six Week Study That Will Empower You To Make A Difference-Order Yours Now: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/leverage-your-life-small-group-curriculum
GOD’S LOVE
Galatians 5:22-23a “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
God’s LOVE is PERFECT!
It is AGAPE LOVE!
LOVE originates in God!
LOVE is the perfect gift of God’s Son, Jesus! God’s LOVE is always steadfast, regardless of our circumstances!
Only through God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can we LOVE like this. We LOVE because he first LOVED us (1 John 4:9-11)! Friend, With Gods help let’s take this challenge together to REFLECT the LOVE of Jesus to the world!
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am so excited to be equipped each day with Your LOVE for the world! Please help me to reflect Your LOVE in every way! Amen.
Don’t Cover Up
Every day I watch my daughter Jen raise God. She isn’t bitter or angry about her brain injury. Instead, she is honored that God would use her for His glory. She has the wonderful FREEDOM of childlike faith for each and every moment.
When I am sad, she will say to me, “Mom, your problem is that your brain gets in the way and you think too much. You need to let go and trust God!”
Jen is absolutely right. I think too much. Like any mom, I want to fix Jen’s problems. My heart aches when she is in pain, doesn’t fit in, or can’t remember where she is going. It’s a constant battle with my mind: Has God been good to my family? Why would God want Jen to suffer when she loves Him with all of her heart? Am I going to be disappointed with God?
Just like you, I have the choice every day to be ‘bitter’ or ‘better.’ For several years, I concealed my emotions to cope with the pain. I put up walls and told myself I was ‘fine’ because I didn’t want to hurt anymore. I was trying to do things in my own strength instead of asking God for help. Maybe you can relate. Everyone else thinks you are fine, but the truth is you’ve been covering up. Your friends and family might be fooled, but God isn’t. He sees the cover-up and knows what a mess you really are inside.
The good news is that your Heavenly Father loves you just as you are. He doesn’t try to fix you before He helps you. God says, “Come to Me just as you are. I know everything about you... every failure, every past mistake, every heartache and... I still love you.” God wants to take all the broken pieces of your life and put you back together again into a beautiful masterpiece that He can shine through. With God’s help, you can be ‘better.’ You can win the battle every day for your mind. You can have hope and a future.
Jen often reminds me, “Mom, Jesus is standing right beside you holding your hand. Ask Him for what you need.” Your Heavenly Father longs to give you what you need to get through the day. He is just waiting for you to ask.
Taken from Hope Out Loud Prayers book – Order Now: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/jens-prayer-book-bundle
UNBREAKABLE
Have you ever been broken? Do you know what it feels like to run out of your own strength? Chances are, you’ve been run over by something in life. It may not have been a full-sized truck, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t full-sized. Maybe an addiction, a betrayal, a loss.
I want you to know it’s OK for you to quit trying to be strong. It’s OK for your life or your family’s lives to be in pieces because of something you did or couldn’t do. The fact that you might be running on empty means that there is room for God to become powerful in you. My hope and prayer is that one day at a time, God’s power will become perfect in your weakness as you begin to surrender your broken parts to Him.
In the months and years following our accident, we often survived moment by moment on the promises of God. We kept a book of promises, Bible verses organized by topics, on our kitchen table. We sat around that table in wheelchairs, with feeding tubes, before and after surgeries, and repeated those promises out loud while God slowly began to heal our hearts and bodies.
It was in the midst of that desperate survival mode that we learned there is only one thing in this world that is unbreakable, and that is God’s Word.
We survived by clinging to the promises in His Word. They became our lifeline. We read them out loud, prayed them out loud, memorized them out of desperation, and slowly but surely saw them override our helplessness with hope.
Taken From Unbreakable- 30 Days To Strengthen Your Faith- Order Yours Today: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/unbreakable-30-days-to-strengthen-your-faith
LEVERAGE YOUR LIFE- THE SECRET WEAPON
Once you receive God’s Spirit at the point of salvation, you can never lose it. He does, however, come to dwell in your flesh, so the natural human desires of your flesh and God’s Spirit are now at war within you. If you choose to live by your flesh, you’ll be exhausted, depressed, and full of anxiety, shame, and burdens. Anytime you experience those feeling, you simply need to pray and ask God’s Spirit to give you His unlimited joy, love, or peace through His authority and power.
It’s almost like recharging your cell phone. It’s something you have to do again and again daily. The “charger” is prayer. All we have to do to access the power of the Holy Spirit is truthfully ask for it! Sound too simple? Well, have you actually taken the time to genuinely ask the Holy Spirit for His fruits to supernaturally shower over your life?
The next time you feel defeated, try praying:
“Holy Spirit, you know I am struggling right now. I can’t do this on my own. I believe you are more powerful than my flesh. I give my situation to you. Please give me your joy, peace, self-control (or whatever fruit of the Spirit you need).”
He can, and will, give you exactly what you need in your moment of struggle if you come to His throne room with a humble heart.
Taken From Leverage Your Life: Six Week Study That Will Empower You To Make A Difference-Order Yours Now: https://www.hopeoutloud.com/store/p/leverage-your-life-small-group-curriculum