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The Truth Behind Finding Your Purpose
There is a lot of talk in the world about finding your purpose in life. In order to find your purpose, you don’t need to look to your friends, take all the personality tests, or read all the latest self-help books. Finding your purpose in life starts with…
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you have aspirations, hopes, and dreams when you were a little girl? Is that what you’re doing now?
When I was younger, I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. It’s not that I didn’t have any high aspirations or goals, but the only thing I ever wanted to be was a mom. So when high school came around and it was time to start thinking about college and selecting a major, I struggled. I remember it felt like I just picked a major out of thin air because it sounded interesting, and because going to college and pursuing a career was what I was “supposed” to do.
That mentality put me on a course of transferring schools 3 different times and changing my major twice…all within 2 ½ years of college. From Virginia to Philly, back to my hometown in PA, you could say I spent my time on an East Coast college tour.
It wasn’t until the end of my college experience that I came to a revelation. In the Speech class I was taking, we had to do a short presentation about what we wanted to do after we graduated. I remember fumbling around with what to say because I was only thinking in terms of careers; I mean, that’s what we were there for right? It was then that I realized, that wasn’t me. That wasn’t what was on my heart and I knew if it had to be a passion I made up, it probably wasn’t real.
So I did my presentation on why I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.
That was the point that I realized how foolish the last 2 ½ years had been. I’d been walking on a path leading to nowhere instead of following something the Lord had put on my heart.
Flash forward 17 years later— and I bet you’ll never guess what I do now. ;)
I know many who are living out their childhood dreams, just as I am now blessed to stay home with my kids; and I know many more whose lives look completely different than they imagined. I’m sure you do too.
And, guess what? Both scenarios are ok.
Oftentimes we have no idea what we want in life (and I’m talking about us now, as adults!). We think we do; we think we know what’s best, and sometimes we may to a degree. But, many times what we would choose for ourselves is not what the Lord would have for us.
The key question is always, “What does the Lord have for me?”
How to Find Your Purpose
There is a lot of talk in the world about finding your purpose in life. In order to find your purpose, you don’t need to look to your friends, take all the personality tests, or read all the latest self-help books.
Finding your purpose in life starts with seeking the Lord. He is your Creator– He made you; He formed you in your mother’s womb and has all of your days fashioned (Psalm 139:16). He knows your worth, your value, and what He has planned for your life.
It starts with the Lord, sister. It begins with prayer– coming before your Heavenly Father and bearing your soul to Him.
Ask Him to reveal to you what it is that He is calling you to do. He may not give you every detail and notion and layout His entire path for you in one sitting, but He will reveal something to you. You just need to be ready to receive it and to obey, especially if it looks nothing like what you thought it would (which happens often!).
“My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God. ”
Your Desires, or God’s?
Psalm 37:4 says that when you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart. But take caution— that doesn’t mean that He’ll give you anything and everything that you desire or want.
What it means is more along the lines of this: When you seek Him and all He is with the purpose of growing deeper in your knowledge of Him, and therefore getting to know Him better, you’ll begin to delight in Him (I mean, how could you not– He is such a good God!). When you delight in Him, your heart will begin to change, the desires and plans He has for your life will become evident to you, and they will become your desires as well.
So, as a Christian woman, the question is not how to find your purpose; the question is, how to seek God more deeply so you can get to a point where you wholeheartedly delight in Him.
Seek the Lord. Pursue righteousness. Delight in Him. As He reveals His will to you, find your calling in Him, not in the world or your own will.
RELATED: How to Pursue Righteousness
A Lesson from Paul
Paul was called to preach the gospel, and he knew it. For him, it wasn’t an option– the Lord called him, and he would be obedient to do so. The word woe is an exclamation of grief. In other words, to Paul, it’d be a tragedy affecting the deepest depths of his soul to not preach the gospel.
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”
Do you feel that way about anything in life? Is there anything in your life that you feel would cause you to literally die if you don’t get to do it? For me, it’s being a mom. I always knew in the depths of my soul that I wanted to be a mom. Woe is me if I can’t be a mom.
Paul was walking in such close steps with the Lord that He knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was to be preaching the gospel.
I don’t believe Paul was any more special than you are today, sister. The Lord created you as His workmanship: He has good works that He prepared for you before you were born, and He desires for you to walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).
To determine and carry out what the Lord is calling you to do, you need to use discretion, discernment, and eliminate distractions. Let’s briefly dive into each of these and see the role they play.
What is Discretion?
The general description of discretion is the right to choose what should be done in a particular situation. Biblically, discretion often goes hand-in-hand with obtaining wisdom. When we receive and properly utilize God’s wisdom, knowledge and discretion will be found in our lives (Proverbs 8:12). We’ll be able to approach a situation with God’s view in mind, and act accordingly based on His Word.
We see that the Lord used discretion in creation:
“He has made the earth by His power,
He has established the world by His wisdom,
And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.”
Sister, if you are seeking the Lord as we talked about, you’ll be in close communication with the Father. This means that His will for your life won’t be unobtainable knowledge floating around in some vast unknown. As you’re wrestling with knowing what the Lord is truly calling you to do, you must use discretion in the form of godly wisdom to filter out the noise.
Does what you presume to be your calling line up with the Word or does it seem to have a worldly bend to it? Will it keep you on the Lord’s path, or provide opportunities to pull away from Him? These are all things you can consider when finding your purpose.
Because discretion is one of the results of obtaining wisdom (Proverbs 8:12), you can rest assured knowing that God’s wisdom never fails. If you allow it, discretion will preserve you (Proverbs 2:11), keeping you safe as you venture into the Lord’s will for your life.
Discernment in the Bible
Then comes the path, sister— the path you take which the Lord has called you to. In order to stay on this path, faithfully doing what the Lord intends requires discernment.
Whether this path is ministry, a new job, relocation, selecting a future spouse, or school choice for your kids– you must use discernment while walking out your calling. It’s imperative.
The standard dictionary definition of discernment is the ability to judge people and things well. As we view discernment in the Bible, we see that it goes much deeper and more specifically than that.
Under the Law, one of the roles of the priests was to teach the people the difference between right and wrong; holy and unholy (Ezekiel 44:23). They were to help them to discern the difference between the world’s ways and God’s way. But for us, now living under grace, in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. He then brings us spiritual discernment— day by day, moment by moment.
Sister, as you grow in the Lord, seeking Him, and spending time in the Word, you progress in spiritual maturity. Thus, your discernment grows.
“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Without spiritual discernment, you are susceptible to falling into the world’s traps. You don’t realize what you are doing. You’re blinded and more easily engage in foolish living. You can’t distinguish between the Word of God and man’s philosophy.
Indeed, discernment is what helps you to have understanding and to walk uprightly (Proverbs 15:21).
No matter what the Lord is calling you to do, it’s folly to venture into your calling with a lack of discernment. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you have the ability to discern good from evil, unholy from holy; fruitful from fruitless. And, this is not just in the big things, sister! In even the smallest of the “next steps” or decisions you have to make, the Spirit will guide you if let Him.
Don’t ignore Him!
When you cry out for discernment and ask for understanding, the Word says you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:3;5).
I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good deal to me!
Eliminate Distractions and Focus on Your Calling
Distractions keep up from focusing on the Lord’s calling in our lives. The first step to eliminating distractions is to identify and acknowledge the things that are in fact distractions. Don’t waste another moment of unnecessary time, sister! Download the FREE Time Wasters Log containing easy, actionable steps to win back your time.
Fill out the form below.
Eliminate Distractions
Again sister, you’ll find a lot of information and direction from the world teaching you how to find your purpose. Just do a Google search and you’ll see. Yet, I believe two of the main reasons most people never live out their purpose are because:
Their will does not line up with God’s will. Without belief in and acceptance of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, there’s no way they can be in tune with the Lord.
They decide their purpose (on their own), and additionally allow every other facet of their life and voices in the world to distract them.
Remember that story I told you about my college experience? Yup, that was a few years of being distracted!
A distraction is a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else.
A thing. Any thing.
Sister, your best attempts to serve the Lord and your best commitments to your church can be distractions if they aren’t what the Lord is calling you to do. Even if He was calling you to something during a previous season of your life, it may not still hold true now. His will for you at this moment may look differently now. This is why you must stay in constant communication with the Lord– He knows what you need and where you need to be at any given time.
Distractions don’t allow you to fully engage with the Lord as you should, and therefore you’ll likely miss what He is calling you to do.
Do you struggle to eliminate distractions in your life? I think most of us do. But it’s so important if you are to stay focused on His mission.
A Few Tips to Eliminate Distractions
#1: Identify
The first thing that I’ve found to help me eliminate distractions is to first identify the distractions. We won’t get rid of them if we don’t see them as distractions, right?! Take an honest look at your life— what frivolous things are you doing that waste your time?
#2: Evaluate
Evaluate your personal screen time. TV, social media, or games on your phone can be huge distractions if done too much. I don’t mean to sound harsh, sister, but if you never miss a beat on your Facebook feed but find it difficult to have a daily quiet time with God, you’re distracted.
#3: Ask God for His viewpoint
Ask God to point out any good things that you may not initially view as distractions. This could be in the form of areas where you’re serving or certain relationships you have. Your heart and intentions may be pure, and you’re likely doing a really good thing— yet, if it’s not what the Lord has for you at this time, it’s distracting you from His will for your life right now.
#4: Pray for Protection
Pray and ask the Lord to help you keep distractions at bay. You can’t do it in your own strength! Distractions have a way of looking shiny and enticing. Let God help you stay focused.
#5: Seek the Lord
Seek God for His will for you now. Once your major distractions are out of the way, you’ll be able to see more clearly what He wants you to do. Again, “finding your purpose in life” as they say, only comes in Him and through Him. So step one is always seeking the Lord.
You’re Called for a Purpose!
You are a woman created on purpose, sister! Don’t forget that. You were created on purpose, yes, but the Lord also has a purpose in mind for you. Don’t miss it. He wants to reveal it to you, and He wants you to continually seek Him and be aware of when He’s telling you to transition from one season to the next.
Although yes, I am a stay-at-home mom, I wasn’t always. I worked full-time for a good 13 or 14 years (and became a mom during that time) before staying home. My working career brought me many blessings and taught me numerous skills that I now use in ministry and in writing this blog. So it served a purpose the Lord had in my life… for that time, AND for such a time as this, right now!
But when the season changed, and He called me to stay home, that’s what needed to happen. He has different plans for me in this season, and I need to stay in tune with Him so I’m always aware.
Sister, His purposes for your life may not look the same in each season, but God is the same. He doesn’t change. He will be faithful to carry you through and guide you as you remain faithful to Him.
So, join me in spending less time seeking your purpose in life, and instead just seeking God. That’s where all the answers are found.
More Encouragement in Christian Living
Separating Darkness from Light in Our Faith
When it’s dark by 5:30 pm…ugh. This is my least favorite time of year. I love living in a part of the world that has a full array of all four seasons, but I must admit…
When it’s dark by 5:30 P.M.…ugh. This is my least favorite time of year. I love living in a part of the world that has a full array of all four seasons, but I must admit: once Daylight Savings Time hits late fall, I dread the early darkness. There is something about darkness that is just so…dark.
The evening seems to fast-forward, making it feel later than the clock foretells. The lack of sunshines changes moods. The winter air seems a bit colder. Things are just a little more bleak.
Maybe I don’t like the dark because I’m not much of a night owl (although, getting up super early this time of year means I’m greeted by darkness too!). Or maybe, it’s because the darkness outside reminds me of the darkness within.
The sins that still ensnare. The negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions that creep in when I let them. The darkness of the hearts in the world at large. The reality that, without Christ, things are just…dark.
And sister, if we’re being honest– sometimes even with Christ, we still allow ourselves to step back into darkness.
It’s not His fault; He is the Light of the world, the light of life (John 8:12). But when things are a little less cheerful and sun-shiny, and when we’re feeling the weight of the dark world on our shoulders, we can allow ourselves to forsake the light He so freely gives and wants to radiate from us.
When we accepted His free gift of salvation, He immediately brought us from darkness to light. So, let’s not turn back.
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Moving from darkness to light is an important aspect of our walk with the Lord. Let’s chat about 5 truths of the reality of light and darkness in our Christian faith.
#1: we should Separate from Darkness.
Light.
The first recorded words of God in the very beginning. His proclamation that light shall be, and it was. Not only did He see that it was good, but the Word says that He separated it from darkness.
“Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”
God’s light brings us life, which is where He wants us to be– in His light, separated from the darkness. He provides a way for us to do so when we abide in Him (John 15:4-5). When we do this, we bear good fruit and draw from the well of His strength.
We can use His wisdom and our good sense to separate ourselves from darkness in our everyday lives. Being careful not to engage with worldly things that contradict the Word of God, being mindful of what we’re watching and listening to, and being wise about the company we keep are all ways that we can do our part to not purposely engage in darkness.
When we are truly abiding in Him– moment by moment– darkness cannot overcome us because He is the Light.
#2: we must Recognize the Light.
Moving from darkness to light and back to darkness can happen so easily. We let our guard down. We aren’t mindful of our company (1 Corinthians 15:33). We allow negative thoughts into our minds.
“For it is You who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. ”
All of the above is true, but let’s be real: the main reason the darkness becomes so enticing is that we forget who the Light is. It’s not us. We lose focus of the One who brings the light in the first place; the One who sparks the light within us.
Let’s not try to do this on our own, sister. We don’t have to work extra hard to stay out of the darkness– we just need to remember that it is the Lord who lightens our darkness and to step out of the way and allow Him to do so.
Here’s what I mean: Just the other day I was trying to put something together, and out of nowhere, darkness set in. By “out of nowhere”, I mean my eldest son stepped in between the object and my light source.
In the darkness, it was harder to see and to function. The task became that much more difficult.
And so goes our life, sister.
As He lights our paths, let’s be sure to step out of the way so we don’t block His light. He won’t force us out of the way. He loves us too much to make us His puppets. Sister, He wants you and me to willingly and wholeheartedly recognize Him for who He is and what He can do in our lives, and to follow His guidance. Life is oh so much harder when we get in His way.
#3: WE NEED TO Walk in the Light.
“For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
In our newness of life, our life in Christ, we have the power, ability, and desire to walk in His ways. In an instant, He delivered our souls from death. Continually, He is willing and able to keep our feet from falling. As we move from darkness to light, it’s our choice, sister, to walk with Him in this newness of life.
You see, we can be easily distracted by looking to the left or the right and therefore choose to step off His path. Oftentimes, it’s easier to do this than to stay the course. We must ask for wisdom to faithfully choose Him– to seek Him, draw closer to Him, and do His will. Without His wisdom, walking in the light 100% of the time is impossible.
Make time for God, seek Him diligently, and abide in Him, sister. There’s no greater place to be.
ABIDE in His Light: FREE STUDY TOOLS
Spending time in His Word daily is the best way to ensure that we’re drawing closer to Him and walking in His light. Download your free set of Bible study printables to guide you in your study of the Light of the World. Fill out the form below.
As we spend time in His Word, let’s not just read through the text as if it’s a novel. Let’s take time to truly STUDY! I like to have a good set of Bible pens and a journal to jot down verses to stick out to me. Maybe you’ll like the ones I use?
#4: He is Still Present in the Darkness.
But what about when we’re going through hard times? When our life circumstances weigh on us, cause anxiety and stress, and rob us of our joy?
The darkness encompasses us at these moments. It surrounds us, drowns out any flickers of light, and seems heavier than we can bear. Yes, darkness bears weight.
But God.
“When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.”
He is still there! He’s present with us in the darkness we face, and He still provides the light. Sister, we just have to choose to take hold of it. It may take more effort to peer through the black, and the light may seem forever dim to us, but trust that His light does not flicker nor fade.
It is often said that darkness is the absence of light. Yet, the Lord is ever-present and always with us. So even in our dark times, He is not absent. We just have to choose to recognize Him and want to see His light shine. His light always pierces through the darkness.
Light always wins.
#5: God is Bigger Than Any Darkness.
Let’s just tell it like it is sister— darkness has nothing on the Lord! He is bigger than it all. He is God over ALL. Darkness does not frighten Him. It doesn’t drown Him out. It doesn’t make it harder for Him to see, function, or guide us.
“Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”
He is our ultimate night-vision goggles.
Realize that in Him, we have nothing to fear, even in our darkness. He knows the beginning from the end, and therefore darkness and light, night and day are equally clear. Our job is to trust Him and rely on Him. His hand is out, ready to lead us where He wants us to go.
Will You Go?
Which way will you go, sister? As you move from darkness to light, will you allow the Light of the World to lead you, whether through the dark times or even during your brightest of days? What will it be?
Remember that in God, there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Join me in abiding in Him, sister– in His light, His love, and His ability to sustain us, lead us, and guide us. So even though it’s 5:30 pm in December, grab your sunglasses. Where He is, it’s always gloriously bright.
The Comparisons of a Christian Woman
Comparisons. There are opportunities all around us– all the time. All day, every day. But, is comparing yourself to others a good thing, sister? Whether you’re…
The mother in the school pick-up line. The new mom whose photo on Instagram flaunts the fact that she is back to her pre-baby weight. The kids who are reading two grade levels ahead of yours. And, the kids who are running amuck in the clothing store and you’re glad they’re not yours.
Comparisons.
There are opportunities all around us– all the time. All day, every day. But, is comparing yourself to others a good thing, sister?
Whether you’re the victim or the hero of the comparison, coming to a mental space where you can stop comparing yourself to others is monumental in your walk with the Lord.
While we can think it’s trivial or even insignificant to compare, and that it leads to little or no repercussions, the Word of God paints a different truth for us.
Sister, you are made in the image of God, handcrafted by God, His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 ESV).
So– if all of that is true, then you should know, trust, and believe that God did not make any mistakes making you, you. He not only has specific purposes and plans for you, but also specific works for which you were specially created to walk out.
Therefore, it’s unfruitful to compare because your hand-crafted path is your path, and not for anyone but you. That also means that others’ paths are not for you either, right?
The Dangers of Comparing Yourself to Others
We are fearfully and wonderfully made by our creative, powerful, all-knowing God. He has made each of us according to His omniscience and will. He doesn’t make mistakes.
We can rest in that.
Comparing yourself to others never brings about the joy and happiness that so many seek for their lives. We know this before we start playing the game, yet we still end up playing, expecting different results. Or, perhaps it's just a habit.
Based on my personal experience, I've noticed that comparisons can lead to a few unfruitful attitudes that harm our walk with the Lord:
Discontentment
1 Timothy 6:6 tells us that contentment should accompany godliness, and when it does, it proves to be a great gain. Why? Because all we have comes from the Lord, and when we realize this truth, we focus more on His goodness and His provision– not on what we don't have (which becomes so clear when all we do is compare!).
It's so easy to be unhappy with our own life when we compare it with the life of someone who seems to be doing better than us. Yet, when we are mindful to look to Jesus, seek His will for our life, and realize that in His omniscience He gives to each one of us as He wills, we can know, trust, and believe that our life is what He desires for it to be.
In short: The Lord’s goal for us isn’t happiness. Seeking the Lord and His will leads to contentment in Him. Comparisons lead to discontentment.
Pride
Yes, pride. For most, thoughts of comparing yourself to others come from the perspective of seeing others as greater. However, there are always two sides to a coin.
Comparisons can lead to a sense of pride when we view our life, situation, or circumstances as the greater one (or maybe pride was already there, and the comparisons just made it come to light).
“For who considers you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? ”
We live in a world where people believe they are gods of their own information, thoughts, and opinions. If someone doesn't agree with their viewpoint, there is a sense of arrogance and pride that ensues. Many believe that the only “truth” that exists is what their opinion represents.
But, we have no right to consider ourselves superior to others. We have no room to boast unless we are boasting in the Lord, for He has given us everything (1 Corinthians 4:7). He is the Truth– not our thoughts and opinions.
Comparisons put us in a place where we're only thinking about ourselves, either positively (pride), or negatively (discontentment), and not thinking about Jesus.
Envy
Sister, when we don’t rest in the fact that God has given us His best for our lives in His creation of us, it’s easy to long for something “more.” More wealth, more beauty, more followers, more status. But God’s Word tells us in James 3:16 that disorder and every evil thing come from jealousy and selfish ambition.
This envy begins in our hearts, manifests in our thoughts, words, and attitudes, and then seeps out into our environment. Envy is felt like tension, so thick you can cut it with a proverbial knife. It’s not good, sister.
Again, we know this, but when we’re stuck in the mindset of comparing ourselves to others, it’s the “natural” route to take.
But oftentimes, the Lord’s ways are not what seems natural. It’s not the easy route. Focusing on Jesus can be more challenging than focusing on all of the tangible things we see right in front of us.
However, it’s necessary. Our walk only keeps to the Lord’s path if we walk in the Lord’s ways. He directs our steps and lights our path for a reason. We only stumble when we step off the path.
Reasons to stop comparing yourself to others
There are so many reasons why comparing is not good, but let’s focus on these two really big ones. When we’re stuck in the habit of comparing ourselves to others, there’s not a lot of room left to see our lives through His eyes. And here’s what the Lord desires for us to remember:
We don’t exist to please people.
We’re indeed to be a light in this dark world and serve people, but in doing so, the intention of our hearts should not be to please people.
If it is, then we’re doing it for the wrong reasons.
We exist to be a bondservant of Christ, living to please Him. If we’re constantly seeking to please other people and find favor in their eyes, they’ve become our god and we’ve become their bond-servants, not Christ’s (Galatians 1:10).
We only need to look to Jesus as our standard.
Hebrews 12:2 calls Jesus the “author (or originator) and perfecter of our faith. If it is from Him and through Him and to Him that all things flow, including our faith, then why do we take our eyes off of Him so often, and let others trip us up? We know that if we’re running a race, the blinders must stay on— we shouldn’t run while looking in the stands or on the sidelines to see what else is going on. Yet, our Christian walk consists of this mistake so often.
We see the beautiful photos highlighting what this mom did with her kid last week. We sit and contemplate what that mom’s little did at this morning’s playgroup. We wonder why the mom at the grocery store had angelic children who walked quietly at her side, while ours ran up and down the aisles. Or, we think, “so glad that’s not my child” when we see a mom with a screaming toddler waiting in the checkout line.
All of these mental antics are evidence we are playing the comparison game, sister. We are letting the obstacles and the sin which so easily ensnares us trip us up (Hebrews 12:-1) because we’re focused on the sidelines.
And, do you notice that Jesus’s name isn't a part of any of these scenarios? None of the above had anything to do with the One who holds us all together.
That's because when you're comparing yourself to others you're not thinking about Jesus.
He and He alone is our standard. We look to Him for our decisions in how we raise our children and carry out the gift we've been given as mothers.
Let's be mindful to remember that, as the Author of our faith, what He has for us and our child is what He has for us– even if it looks drastically different than the life of the mom next door. No two faith walks and journeys through motherhood will look the same– so we need to stop expecting it to.
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: 5 Practical Tips
When you’re mindful to keep your eyes on the Lord, and not everyone else, major things can happen. Here are a few practical ways you can do so.
#1: Focus on the Word of God.
Make time for God. Spend time studying the Bible and growing in your walk with Him. As you study the Word, you grow in His wisdom and gain a perspective in life that truly matters– His perspective. Focus more on who He is, and less time on who you think you should be.
#2: Read Ephesians 2.
How often do you think about who you are in Christ? I know the world wants you to think about whether or not we’re following the latest fashion trend and if the lighting for your last selfie was good enough. But body types and beauty standards don’t define you. Christ does. His definitions for you trump all hashtags on your social feeds. Grab your Bible and read His Words so you don’t fall for the lies.
RELATED: Modern-Day Idols That Trip Us Up
#3: Trust God for your contentment.
As Paul says in Philippians 4:11-12, you too can be content, no matter your circumstances. Remember, it is the Lord who supplies you with all you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), and gives you things for your enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17). You need to look no further than Him. And, sister– you don’t have to strive for it. He freely blesses those who trust and rely on Him. You may not have everything you want, but rest assured, in Him, you have everything you need.
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#4: Live for Christ.
When you live a life that is in constant communication with the Lord, yielding to the Spirit’s promptings and work in your life, you’ll remain on the right path. Your mind will be focused on His plans and purposes for you, so much so that it’ll be as if you have spiritual blinders blocking your peripheral vision. You’ll be forward-focused, not allowing the world’s ways to infiltrate you from the side.
This is what I mean by you being a woman created on purpose. You know that you were not only created on purpose, but that your heart, soul, and mind are set on the purpose He has for you– and you are determined to walk in it.
#5: Take a break from social media…
…or remove it from your life altogether! Social media just shares the highlights of others’ lives– every day doesn’t look like that for them. You know this, yet it’s still easy to get caught up in comparing your worst to someone else’s best.
“A woman created on purpose has her heart, soul, and mind set on the purpose He has for her– and she is determined to walk in it.”
You are fearfully and wonderfully made, sister!
There’s no need to feel that you must be anything other than what God wants for you. There’s no “better path” than the one the Lord has for you. Allow Him to guide you. Trust in Him, not in your own understanding or perspective of the situation. Live life to glorify Him and Him alone. His way is enough.
RELATED: How to See the Lord How He Sees You
Bible verses about comparison
Not only are there numerous Bible verses about comparison, but if we read closely, we’ll find the truth in why there just simply is no need to do so. The Lord has better things for us. He didn’t create each of us individually unique so that we could spend our time focused on why we’re better than her, or she’s better than us.
He created us differently because He is a creative God, and He wants us to see the many facets of who He is through all aspects of His creation.
Here are a few more verses about comparison, and I encourage you to comb the Scriptures for more truth about the dangers of comparing yourself to others.
But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another. For each one will bear his own load. -Galatians 6:4-5 NASB
For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding. -2 Corinthians 10:12 NASB
Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. -Matthew 7:1 NASB
Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” -John 21:22 NASB
you may also like to read:
5 Astonishing Things That Happen When We Seek God
Seeking God isn’t a game. It’s a decision on our part that affects the trajectory of our lives on a daily basis. The Lord knows the beginning and the end. He has…
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click the link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no extra cost to you, but it helps me to further serve you in your walk with the Lord!
…6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…ready or not, here I come!
Didn’t you love a good game of Hide and Seek when you were a kid? I know I did. I remember liking the hiding part much better than being the seeker, however. Seeking was more difficult, took more time, energy, and wits— especially if I was up against good hiders. And, each game seemed to have its equal share of skillful hiders, and poor hiders.
The thrill of the game always came when everyone was found. No one wanted to be found, of course, but the seeker always did all he or she could to find the hiders. As a seeker, you couldn’t hold back or give up– otherwise, you’d be left wandering around for quite some time!
I recently heard someone share a memory of a time she played hide and seek with some sports teammates. A good game turned sour as she, the seeker, was left alone outside for over an hour because unbeknownst to her, the hiders had decided to forsake the game and go inside to watch TV.
Despite her best efforts and her persistence, she didn’t find the hiders because they were no longer hiding; they did not want to be found. Even though she tried her hardest, they didn’t care whether she found them or not.
Sister– this is not our God.
God calls us to seek Him, but He isn’t hiding. He doesn’t call us to come and find Him, yet change locations or change the rules of the game. He wants nothing more than to be found by His beloved.
The Importance of Seeking God
Seeking God isn’t a game. It’s a decision on our part that affects the trajectory of our lives on a daily basis. The Lord knows the beginning and the end. He has the strength, knowledge, and power that we do not.
When we seek God, we’re able to fully tap into the wisdom and power that He so freely wants to display through us. When we choose to do things on our own, we easily fail; or worse– we succeed, but He gets none of the glory.
One thing we can clearly see when studying the Bible is that there are those who seek God, rely on Him, and do right in the eyes of the Lord; and, there are those who don’t. But, more deeply relatable than that are the countless biblical figures who lived their lives as a mix of both– sometimes seeking, sometimes neglecting.
I think we all fall somewhere along those lines, right, sister?
One such person is Asa. The account of his story that I’ll reference can be found in 2 Chronicles 14-16. Before diving into the rest of this article, I’d encourage you to open your Bible and read it so you can follow along with my observations.
What Happens When We Seek God?
Asa was king over the southern kingdom of Israel, namely, Judah. He was Solomon’s great-grandson. 2 Chronicles 14:2 and 1 Kings 15:11 says he did right in the sight of the Lord. As we’ll see, Asa spent many years of his reign seeking God.
The Bible promises that when we seek God with all of our hearts and souls, we will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29).
So, what does finding Him look like?
Looking through the lens of King Asa’s reign, here are a few things that happen when we seek God:
#1: We live righteously. (2 Chronicles 14:3-5)
Seeking God puts us in a position to have a strong desire to do what is right, removing the things from our lives that the Lord hates. We pursue righteousness. We see that Asa removed the altars, pillars, and anything leading to the worship of idols. His heart was devoted to the Lord, and he wanted his people to do the same.
When we seek God, we desire to honor Him in our actions. Not only did Asa remove the places of idol worship, but he also restored the altar of the Lord (2 Chronicles 15:8) and commanded the people of Judah to keep the law and seek God (2 Chronicles 14:4).
RELATED: HOW TO PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS
#2: We encourage others to seek God. (2 Chronicles 14:4)
When our heart is rightly turned towards and devoted to the Lord, we desire for those in our midst to do the same. Seeking God allows us to see more clearly His majesty, wisdom, and faithfulness. How could we not want others to experience these things as well?
Asa knew that seeking God was in the people’s best interest. Keeping the law wasn’t a way to punish them; it was God’s way of protecting them.
#3: The Lord gives us rest. (2 Chronicles 14:6-7)
Chapter 14 verse 7 tells us that because the people of Judah sought God, He gave them rest. You see, sister, there is safety under the shadow of His wings. There is protection in His presence and in His will. We just have to seek it; seek HIM.
I believe that many times we’re stressed, frazzled, and weary because we’re trying to fix our own circumstances instead of relying on the Lord. In these times, we must seek Him. When we look for Him, He will be found, bringing us clarity, comfort, and wisdom for what we’re facing.
We’ll find the peace of God, and in that peace, we find rest.
#4: Our trust in Him grows. (2 Chronicles 14:11)
Did you ever play dodgeball? Have you ever been the last one standing on your team, and you’re up against 3-4 players from the other side? As they all face you with balls ready to launch, it kind of feels like “you against the world”, does it not? They clearly have the advantage over you, and there are just a handful of tactics you can implement to ensure a win for your team.
Well, King Asa faced a very real “dodgeball” moment in his reign. An Ethiopian army with one million men came up against him and his men in Judah. Asa’s army was half the size. He could have given up or retreated, being afraid. Yet, he called out to the Lord for help.
“LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; help us, LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You.”
Because Asa had practiced seeking God, he not only had an accurate view of the Lord’s strength and power, but also his own weakness and dependence. Asa knew it would only be by the Lord’s hand that they’d secure a victory over this huge army. He put his full trust in the Lord, and allowed God to work.
#5: We help others see God’s faithfulness. (2 Chronicles 15:9)
Asa was king over Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel (read more about Israel’s northern and southern kingdoms during that time, here). Yet, verse 9 tells us that many from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon resided with them, for many defected to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.
The fact that King Asa was doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord drew others to his side of the fence. They saw that Asa not only sought the Lord, but he also chose to abide in the Lord as well, drawing strength and discernment from Him in the way he reformed the land.
And, the same is true for us. When we follow the Lord with conviction and boldness, being faithful to what He is calling us to do, others notice. They see our commitment to Him and His ways, and our commitment to living a lifestyle that glorifies Him— and they can’t help but to come along for the ride.
People don’t want to see a “one foot in, one foot out” kind of faith. When we show them we’re all in for Jesus, it helps them believe that this God we follow is also all in for us.
SEEK GOD & HIS FAITHFULNESS IN THE PSALMS
So many truths about the Lord can be found in the Psalms. Dive deeper into the Word and focus on God’s tremendous love for you in this 16-page Bible Study of the Psalms. Fill out the form below.
A Warning: When We Don’t Seek God (2 Chronicles 16)
But sister, as we continue to read Asa’s account, there’s a warning here, and it goes like this:
When we don’t continue to seek God, bad things happen.
Because of Asa’s faithfulness to the Lord, God gave him rest until the 35th year of his reign. But, in his 36th year, King Baasha of Israel makes moves against Judah. Instead of trusting in God and calling out to Him as Asa did with the Ethiopian army (2 Chronicles 14:11), he relies on a foreign land to help him win.
He bribes this foreign land with treasures from the Lord’s house, convinces them to break their treaty with Israel, and to instead make a treaty with Judah (2 Chronicles 16:2-3). His plan is a success, and this foreign land helps him overcome Israel.
That’s great right? No, definitely not.
Asa and the people of Judah (as well as those who came from various places in the northern kingdom) had entered into the convent with the Lord during his 15th year of reign. They vowed to rely on and seek God— not just one time, but always.
Yet, here we see Asa calling out to another man instead of calling out to God. He chose to put the people’s safety and trust into the hand of another king, not the King of kings.
And for this grave mistake, something bad happened; not just during that war (2 Chronicles 16:7), but something that would be ongoing.
“For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will have wars. ”
The Lord would take away Asa’s rest.
The rest that came because he chose to seek God would now be gone, due to the fact that he forsook his commitment to seeking God (2 Chronicles 16:9). Asa’s reign would from then on be sprinkled with wars.
Purpose to Seek God, Sister!
The Lord is searching for us. He desires to strongly support us. Will we be found as one whose heart is completely His?
Will we abide in Him continually, or will we take matters into our own hands?
We can see in Asa’s life that there is a clear distinction between seeking God, and relying on ourselves or others. Even at the end of his life, as he lay with a disease, he again chose not to seek God— and he died.
Sister, once we get into the habit of not seeking God, it becomes easier and easier to do.
Thankfully, the other side of the coin is just as true. If we are mindful to put the Lord first in our decisions and actions, calling out to Him amidst our troubles, we’ll seek Him. And as we continue to see His faithfulness towards us, it gets easier and easier to place our trust in Him each time in the future.
I exhort you, sister, above all else— seek Him.
Seek His Word, His truth, and all that He is.
Purpose to know Him.
The more you know the Lord, the more you'll yearn to please Him, and not yourself. In pleasing God, you will see just how pleasing He is to you.
Our God is not hiding. He wants to be found. He wants to be known by you. So sister, don’t hide from Him. Let Him find you in a place where you are searching for Him.
Bible Verses About Seeking God
Here’s some extra encouragement! Allow these Bible verses about seeking God to remind you of His promises toward those who diligently look for Him and trust Him.
The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. -Psalm 14:2 (ESV)
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. -Deuteronomy 4:29 (ESV)
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. -Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! -1 Chronicles 16:10-11 (ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. -Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
An Evening Routine that Honors the Lord
Maybe for you, the night is your time to shine. You’re perky, peppy, and love burning the midnight oil. If so, then creating a God-honoring nighttime routine will…
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click the link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no extra cost to you, but it helps me to further serve you in your walk with the Lord!
One of my favorite things about summer on the East Coast of the US is that the sun stays out until almost 9:00 PM. Yes, I love that long light. I love the nighttime darkness that just doesn’t seem to want to come. Even though it makes it tough to put the little ones to bed because it’s “still daytime,” I enjoy it.
While there are many things about fall that stir my heart to happiness, I don’t look forward to the sun getting low before 7:00 PM. As the nights get longer and longer, darkness fills the streets and our homes for what seems to be an infinite number of hours each day, pushing the sun away harder and harder as we slide into the winter months.
Yes, I’m being a bit dramatic. But honestly, darkness just isn’t my thing— not the literal darkness that comes with the absence of daytime light, and not the sinful darkness that comes with the absence of the Light.
You get my drift, sister?
This darkness sweeps in and tends to stay for a visit much longer the more we forsake our quiet time with God. Spending time with the Lord each day in prayer and through studying the Bible is key. It’s what keeps our hearts in the right place, humbly bowed before Him and having a proper perspective of ourselves and the world.
Even in the darkness of night, you can still dwell in the Light.
Maybe for you, the night is your time to shine. You’re perky, peppy, and love burning the midnight oil. If so, then creating a God-honoring nighttime routine will help you grow in your faith and remain close to the Lord.
If a Morning Routine or an Afternoon Routine isn’t for you, let’s talk about the way the Lord can work in the hearts of you night owls.
How to Prepare for your Quiet Time with God
Before jumping into a new routine, especially one as crucial as your quiet time with God, it’s best to seek the Lord to determine all He has for you. Walking into anything in your own strength leads to doubts, struggles, and low commitment levels. Trust me, I’ve been there– I know!
There are a few things we can do to help us prepare for our quiet time with God:
#1: PRAY and ask the Lord to help you be consistent in your schedule.
Is the evening really the time of day the Lord wants you to have your quiet time? If so, ask Him to help you block off your schedule and commit. A wishy-washy commitment to Him equals a wishy-washy faith.
#2: FIND A specific TIME THAT WORKS FOR YOU.
Since the evening is the last portion of the day, it truly is now or never. If you’ve gone all day without cracking open your Bible and spending time in the Word, the evening is your last shot. Pray and ask God for a specific and exact time in your schedule each day for your quiet time.
#3: PICK A SPECIAL SPOT in your house to study the Word.
As I shared in my Morning Routine and Afternoon Routine articles, whether it’s a favorite chair or a quiet room, selecting a place where you have your quiet time with God each day helps you stay consistent. After a while, this place will mentally become synonymous with your quiet time.
Does that sound silly? Well, think of your workplace or your laundry room. As soon as you step into that building or room, you know exactly what you’re supposed to do there because that’s the main thing you always do in that particular place. It’s the same way with your “quiet time place.” Soon, you won’t be able to walk by that couch, coffee shop, or desk without the gentle reminder that it’s time for quiet time.
What Studying the Bible Does for Us
Studying the Bible is more than just an item we check off of our to-do list. It’s an important, crucial, and necessary spiritual discipline every believer should have. No matter the season of life we’re in, we can never—let me repeat, sister— never be too busy to read God’s Word.
I shared the importance of reading God’s Word in my Morning Routine and Afternoon Routine articles. If you missed that, take a look at those articles:
READ: A Morning Routine that Honors the Lord
READ: An Afternoon Routine that Honors the Lord
But now, let’s take a moment to focus on a few things that studying the Bible does for us, through the lens of Proverbs 6.
“My son, comply with the commandment of your father,
And do not ignore the teaching of your mother;
Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
When you walk, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And rebukes for discipline are the way of life.”
Firstly, there is an urgency and persistence we see being given. We are to be sure to not only comply, or keep, the commands, but to also be mindful that we are not blatantly ignoring the Word. We should hear the Word, and keep it.
And not just keep it, but to continually bind it on our hearts. Continually.
The only way something gets imprinted on our hearts is for us to be exposed to it over and over. There is a repetitive process that must happen so that the Word becomes ingrained and interwoven into the fabric of our lives.
This is what studying the Bible does for us. And when we do so, God’s Word permeates our being, bringing us more clarity, perspective, and direction than we could ever muster up for ourselves.
God’s Word guides us as we walk through the trials, decisions, contemplations, and joys of life. We’re able to discern God’s promises from the world’s ways when we have an accurate view and knowledge of who He is.
The Word of God keeps us as we sleep, providing the peace that only Jesus can give us. There is less room for fear, doubt, and anxiety when the Word is bound in our hearts.
When we’re awake, God’s Word speaks to us from the depths of our souls, making plain His Will versus the world’s devices and deception. The Holy Spirit will bring specific verses to mind in our time of need. He will remind us of God’s promises, faithfulness, and wisdom in the little and big things of life.
God’s Word is always ready to light our path, showing us the way to go.
Yet, when we forsake studying the Bible regularly, we allow this light to go dim. We quench the Holy Spirit more easily. We have less peace and more doubt. We lead ourselves. All of these things happen because, even if it’s just for a moment, we’ve forgotten who He is.
10 Steps to a Quiet Time with God in the Evening
In our quiet time with God, as we pray and study, we will be drawn closer to Him. This is something to take seriously, and I exhort you, sister, to find a time of day—daily— that works for you!
If it’s the evening, here are some tips to help you get started.
#1: Put your scheduled time in your calendar every night.
Set up a calendar reminder or alarm, if needed. If you know you have an event happening during your normal quiet time, plan in advance to have your quiet time earlier in the day.
#2: commit to keeping your scheduled time, no matter how tired you are.
Know you are going to have busy, eventful days that tire you out. But, God doesn’t deserve your leftovers. Give Him the time, energy, and commitment of which He is worthy! Reserve some energy for your Lord.
#3: Realize this isn’t legalism.
Although your quiet time with God is undeniably the most important piece of your day, give yourself a little grace. If you miss it or have to cut the time short, remember that the Lord isn’t angry with you. Just purpose to do better in your planning tomorrow.
#4: Wait until the kiddos are off to bed and the house is quieter.
I don’t know about yours, but my kids don’t exactly put the “quiet” in quiet time! If you want to be able to study the Bible with little distraction, pick a time where you can truly relax in the quietness of your home.
RELATED: 22 Ways to Make Time for God as Busy Mom
#5: Know your limit.
Even though you’re likely a night owl, at some point, dear sister, I know tiredness kicks in and you’ve had enough for the day. If you tend to crash quickly once exhaustion sets in, purpose to not make your quiet time the very last thing you do before bedtime. The last thing you want is to fall asleep in your Bible every night before you’ve really gotten to soak up the Word.
#6: Communicate with your spouse.
If you’re married, and this is a time you regularly spend catching up with your spouse, be sure to talk to him before making a change to your “married couple” time. Find something that works for both of you.
#7: Prepare your study tools earlier in the day.
The better prepared you are beforehand, the more likely you will complete the task at hand (this goes for anything!). If you have to scurry around at night looking for your things when you’re already getting tired, the less time you’ll spend before the Lord. Grab your Bible, pens, journal, or whatever you need early in the day, and place them in your designated quiet time spot so you’re ready to go.
FLOURISH DURING YOUR EVENING QUIET TIME WITH GOD
Looking for a place to start in your Bible study time? Dive deeper into the Word and focus on God’s tremendous love for you in this 16-page Bible Study of the Psalms. Fill out the form below.
#8: Turn off the screens!
Unless you’re using a Bible app on your phone for study references, try to keep your phone, computer, and TV out of sight! It can be tempting to wind down at night via screen time, but leave the social media scrolling and TV show-binging until after your quiet time with God is concluded.
RELATED: 5 Surprising Ways Moms Waste Time
#9: Pray before you start.
No matter what time of day, pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you more of Himself in your time together. Ask for minimal distractions, and a heart to stay as focused as possible on Him and His Word.
#10: Let go of the day.
There are probably tasks you felt you needed to do earlier in the day that you didn’t get to. Let them all go. Don’t allow the never-ending items on your to-do list to cloud your time with the Lord. There will always be something to do, work on, or complete. Follow the Lord’s leading and keep the most important thing, the most important thing.
“But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night.”
Sleep Tight, Sister
We can keep the Lord the main focus of our lives, no matter what time of day we set aside to commune with Him. He never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:3), and He is always ready to welcome you into His presence. No matter how weary you are, how your day went, or how bright-eyed and energetic you may be at 10:00 PM, He wants to hear from you. Bask in the Lord and His goodness. Allow His Word to strengthen you, gently lead you, and give you the peace you need for a restful sleep. When you rest in the safety of His care and under the shadow of His wings, you will surely sleep tight.
4 Impeccable Accessories for Every Christian Woman
When we think about our Christian character, we think about who we are in Christ. We are a new creation in Him, and our old ways, characteristics, traits, thoughts, and mannerisms are…
I must admit— I’m not the fanciest or trendiest person. I like to keep up as best I can, but you likely won’t see me rocking the latest style jeans, dresses, sweaters, or fill-in-the-blank. Being an Instagram-worthy fashionista is just a little bit daunting to me.
But, even if my cute sweaters are a little too “last season”, throwing on the right accessories kind of distracts from that a bit, am I right? I can put on some eye-catching earrings, a belt, or fancy shoes and give an old outfit a new look.
Accessories can heighten and change the look of almost any outfit— in or out of style.
So it is with our Christian character. While the Lord calls us to put on some new things once we become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and we are walking in His light— just like with our fashion— there needs to be a constant putting on of these things, daily. It’s not a one-time, “get it right forever” deal. It’s a regular yielding to the Spirit to help us live this way.
And, even with these “new things” that we put on, there are certain accessories that will heighten the way our new dress looks. These accessories upgrade our Christian character and conduct because being mindful to wear them means we are allowing God to control our newness of life, not ourselves.
Christian Character
When we think about our Christian character, we think about who we are in Christ. We are a new creation in Him, and our old ways, characteristics, traits, thoughts, and mannerisms are to be gone. When we allow the Lord to work in us and change us from the inside out, we become more and more like Him– walking in His ways, according to the will of God.
As we pursue the Lord and His righteousness, our Christian character becomes more crisp and resilient.
What are accessories?
If you haven’t read my post 7 Things Every Christian Woman Should Wear, take a few minutes to read about the main dress every Christian woman needs! These are the vital things we Christian women should be mindful to put on as we live out our new life in Christ. These traits are laid out for us by the Lord Himself in Colossians 3:12-14.
But, the accessories that go along with these 7 traits are very powerful parts of our Christian character that we should be mindful to put on— or rather, that we should allow to rule our inner beings.
As I state in my above-mentioned post, any well-put-together outfit strategically uses accessories to pull it all together. According to www.shopyourwardrobe.com, “Accessories provide interest to your outfit. Without them, you run the risk of getting bored with your wardrobe, and your outfits looking boring, because they’re always the same. Accessories extend the life of your clothes and familiar ensembles.”
The bottom line is, that we can try to pursue having a strong Christian character on our own and in our own strength, but these accessories are what hold it all up. That’s because they come from the Lord and are the workings of His might, not ours.
4 Accessories for Every Christian Woman
So sister, let’s heighten our dress with these important accessories.
#1: The Peace of God
True peace is only found through God— specifically through our acceptance of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. As believers, we are called to the peace of God as believers. As a fruit of the Spirit, when the Holy Spirit dwells in us and we allow Him to lead us, we will fully experience His peace.
Having the peace of God means that we have comfort, security, and a calm that is present deep within our souls, no matter what our outside circumstances look like. We know that the Lord is our safety, He has us, and He will protect us.
It’s like Jesus sleeping on the boat in the middle of the storm. His disciples were in a state of panic. Jesus showed them the example of God’s peace.
His peace should rule (control) our hearts. This means that our thoughts, feelings, and emotions should NOT control us. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things— this is why His peace needs to be in control, not our hearts.
His peace exists amidst ALL circumstances, not just the good ones.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
We won’t always understand all of our circumstances because His peace is greater than our trivial understanding. It surpasses it. And, as we let it rule our hearts, it guards our hearts and minds against all uncertainty, doubt, fear, and emotions that lead us astray. Let His peace stand at the gates where our enemies dare to enter.
RELATED: Discover more about the importance of the Peace of God.
#2: The Word of Christ
As a Christian woman, it’s likely you know the importance of the Word of God in your life. But, let’s stop and really think about a few things.
The Lord writes the Word on our hearts and minds (Hebrews 10:16); therefore we should not forsake it. It should dwell in us richly.
The word for “dwell” in the original Greek means to inhabit; or to dwell in and influence for good. This isn’t just talking about head knowledge— anyone can memorize the Scriptures or “know” what the Bible says. Sister, this is more than that.
It’s as if the Word of God is to take up residence in our lives, so much so that it permeates our being and influences every thought and action we take.
“But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”
The Lord gives us His Word so we have a standard, roadmap, and a manual by which to live. It is to dwell in us and be written on our hearts so we can live it out, not just know it.
The Word of God should become our internal operating system.
And, as Colossians 3:16 says, it won’t just dwell, but dwell richly. The Word of God can dwell in us richly because He gives it abundantly. What God gives us, He always gives us richly and abundantly (1 Timothy 6:17; Titus 3:6; 2 Peter 1:11).
The Word allows us to walk in wisdom (Psalm 119:98) — wisdom that comes from God– true wisdom. It guides us in all righteousness. But, we must know it, meditate on it, and live by it.
Ask yourself: What effect does the Word have in my life, actions, and conduct?
Bible Verses about the Word of God
These are just a few Bible verses about the Word of God. Comb the Scriptures yourself and discover many more! God desires that we know and understand the importance of the Word of God in our lives.
Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:98; Joshua 1:8; Luke 8:21; Luke 11:28: Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 19:13.
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#3: Knowing the Importance of Worship
When the word dwells richly within our hearts, we have a greater understanding of who God is— His kindness, mercy, grace, goodness, and faithfulness. We feel and know the depth of His love for us. How could we not then have a worshipful heart? How could we not desire to sing praises to Him?
What is worship? Worship is to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion. When we worship, we give God the honor and reverence He deserves. He and He alone is worthy to be praised.
Yet, sometimes our worship seems dry and forced. Ever feel that way, sister? We don’t have the umphf and pizazz we usually do. Well, I don’t believe this attitude within us has anything to do with the Lord. He doesn’t change. He is not less praiseworthy today than He was yesterday.
“He’s laid it all out for us— the expression of who He is written in the form of His Word, and physically seen through Jesus Himself. ”
No— I believe this lack of enthusiasm in our worship comes because we have not been spending ample time with the Lord in His Word. We have not been finding delight in His Word (Psalm 119:47), and therefore, our delight in Him is lacking. This is why making time for God is so crucial.
You can’t get to know someone you don’t spend time with. And, would you really speak praises to others about a person you don’t know? Of course not.
He’s laid it all out for us— the expression of who He is written in the form of His Word, and physically seen through Jesus Himself.
It’s our job to grab hold of the revelation He’s given us. The importance of worship shows itself in the end result: a heart that desires to teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16).
RELATED: 22 Ways to Make Time for God
#4: A Consistent Christian Character
When we do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, we act consistently with Who He is and what He wants for our lives.
We yield to the Spirit in our everyday lives. No matter what decision we’re faced with, we take it to the Lord, allowing Him to guide our steps, direct our paths, and convict us on whether or not our actions line up with His Word.
“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining or arguments; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…”
When we do all in the name of the Lord, we show the same compassion for others as He does. We do His will without complaining, no matter how insignificant the actions seem. We are more concerned with God receiving the glory through us (1 Corinthians 10:31), as opposed to our comfortability.
RELATED: How to Make Decisions as a Christian
The Beautiful Accessories of Our Christian Character
Sister, what will it be for you? Will you don the eye-catching, spirit-lifting accessories the Lord calls us to wear? Will you spend ample time with the Lord, gain a deeper knowledge of Him, praise and worship Him, allowing the Word of God to dwell within you richly?
It’s a choice. Just like you choose to add accessories to any outfit you wear, you choose to put on these additional pieces of your Christian character.
I exhort you, sister to do so. In the process, you will grow in your love of the Lord and sing His praises to others. Is He not worthy of that?
More in Christian Living
11 Things to Stop Doing During Tough Times
Trusting God during difficult times is not easy. Whether it’s tough for a day, a week, or several years, we can draw our strength from the Lord and look to the various examples He’s given us in His Word.
2020.
I bet I don’t have to say too much to remind you what kind of year that was. Many of the events that transpired during that time are still very fresh in our minds.
Maybe you lost a loved one. Perhaps you were very sick. Or possibly your greatest struggle was juggling your new work-from-home position alongside your new school-from-home kids.
We all faced tough times, in various ways.
I was pregnant in 2020. What I thought would be a wonderful, exciting time of sharing my pregnancy with my loved ones— especially after experiencing a miscarriage and then struggling to get pregnant for a year following it— turned out to be a year of loneliness and isolation.
We could barely leave the house. We couldn’t go to church. We couldn’t see our families. I remember sitting around and wondering if anyone even remembered that I was pregnant. Between morning sickness, the flu, perinatal depression, and other minor pregnancy difficulties, I became withdrawn and down in the dumps.
Eventually, I didn’t care about seeing anyone, anyway, even if Covid restrictions hadn’t been in full gear. I had little motivation to do things that mattered.
Sister, it was a tough time.
Although my situation was not as terrible as what many faced during that season, it was my situation, and I had to walk through it. And, while walking through it, I had a decision to make.
Would I dwell on all the difficult, uncomfortable things swirling around me, or would I draw my strength, comfort, and peace from the Lord?
It’s the same decision we all have to make today, and one that David had to make countless times, several thousand years ago.
David’s Tough Time
If you’re familiar with the life of David before becoming king, then you know that he faced numerous trials and tough times at the hands of his predecessor, King Saul. What began as an amicable relationship quickly turned to rage and jealousy towards David as Saul became threatened by his power and favor among the people. Therefore, David spent a lot of time running from Saul, who wanted nothing more than to take his life.
1 Samuel 23 tells of a particular time when the Philistines went up against the people in the city of Keilah. Simultaneously, David was fleeing for his life from King Saul. David heard the news of the Philistine’s threat, and he inquired of the Lord about whether or not he should fight the Philistines. The Lord told him to go, as He would hand the Philistines over to David (verse 4). Of course, with the Lord’s help, David delivers the people of Keilah.
Following these events, David knew Saul was aware of his location and would pursue him, likely destroying the city David just saved in order to do so. Once again, David inquired of the Lord, asking Him for confirmation on whether or not Saul would come and if the people of Keilah would turn him in. The Lord answered ‘Yes’ to both of these questions.
The people David had just rescued were ready to betray and hand him over to Saul.
What’s Your Default During Tough Times?
Has this ever happened to you, sister? Have you been hurt, betrayed, lied to, or stepped on– despite the good works you’ve done for others? It stings, no doubt. But, it’s the reality we often face in a fallen world.
What’s your default during times like these? Do you retaliate? Fight back? Whine a little bit? Ask God, ‘why’?
These reactions may give you relief for a moment, but sister, let me tell you– there is a better way.
Let’s take a moment and look at David’s default during this particularly tough time in his life.
7 Lessons from David in Psalm 54
There are so many encouraging Psalms in the Bible. Psalm 54 is one of them– not only for its encouragement but also because it gives us an outline of how to respond when we’re personally going through tough times. The notes at the beginning of the Psalm tell us that David wrote this Psalm about the challenge he faced when the people of Keilah gave up his location to King Saul.
“Save me, God, by Your name,
And vindicate me by Your power.
Hear my prayer, God;
Listen to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen against me
And violent men have sought my life;
They have not set God before them. Selah
Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
He will pay back the evil to my enemies;
Destroy them in Your faithfulness.
Willingly I will sacrifice to You;
I will praise Your name, Lord, for it is good.
For He has saved me from all trouble,
And my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.”
David’s default was to inquire of the Lord– about what to do both physically and emotionally. He acknowledged his situation, yet didn’t wallow in it.
Let’s break Psalm 54 down into 7 observations:
1.) First, David calls out to God.
Save me, God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power. (verse 1)
David is aware of where his help comes from (Psalm 121:1-2). He immediately turns to the only One who can save him.
2.) David prays to God.
Hear my prayer, God; listen to the words of my mouth. (verse 2)
At the time, David was camping with hundreds of his men. He could have turned left or right and received any bit of counsel he sought– yet, He knew his best option was to speak to the One who is all-knowing.
3.) He acknowledges his circumstance and sees it for what it is.
For strangers have risen against me and violent men have sought my life; they have not set God before them. (verse 3)
David is aware of what he’s facing. He knows that Saul is trying to kill him. Upon learning from the Lord that the Ziphites would turn him over to Saul— and although he likely feels betrayed— he still is able to see the situation clearly. He knows the main reason they are willing to do this is because they have not set God before them.
4.) David recognizes God for who He is.
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul. (verse 4)
Again, David knows there is no one besides God Himself who is able to help, save, and sustain him. His hope is in God alone.
5.) David is aware of God’s power and what He can do.
He will pay back the evil to my enemies; destroy them in Your faithfulness. (verse 5)
The Lord is always faithful. David knew that the Lord would come to his defense and that He has the power to handle his enemies in a just way. David didn’t have to devise a plan to retaliate or seek vengeance on his own. He trusted the Lord to handle it as He saw fit.
6.) He decides not to dwell on the situation at hand.
Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, Lord, for it is good. (verse 6)
David makes a choice. Instead of setting up camp in a land of self-pity, he decides to praise the Lord for who He is. He honors and praises him through sacrifice for the fact that He is good. His mind is set on the Lord, not on the disappointment surrounding him.
7.) David knows and believes what the Lord has already done, even if he hasn’t fully seen the outcome yet.
For He has saved me from all trouble, and my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies. (verse 7)
He believes God has saved him from his enemies because he knows that’s what the Lord does as his helper and deliverer. David trusts God at His Word.
“I will raise my eyes to the mountains;
From where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth. ”
How to Get Through Tough Times
11 Things to Stop Doing Now
It’s inevitable– we will face tough times in our lives. Trusting God in difficult times is not easy. However, whether it’s tough for a day, a week, or several years, we can draw our strength from the Lord and look to the various examples He’s given us in His Word as we march forth through our trials.
It’s about leaning on Him in the decisions we make. Will we honor Him in what we do, or get in His way and trip ourselves up?
Here are 11 detrimental things we should stop doing so we can begin trusting God in difficult times.
If you’ve made any of these mistakes before— take heart! I have too, which I why I know how detrimental they can be to flourishing in our faith and walk with the Lord. So, let’s dive in so we can grow together!
#1: Don’t seek outside counsel before praying.
God is your number one source for all the information you need. Although there is wisdom in a multitude of godly counselors, others’ advice shouldn’t trump God’s– which can easily happen when He is second on your contact list. Gain revelation from Him first.
#2: Don’t dwell on your circumstances.
In the hard times, it’s much easier to dwell on the situation at hand– how difficult it is, the many questions we may have, or the anxieties about the unknown outcome. Your mind holds a lot of creativity and imagination and can lead you down roads so far from reality. Focus on the Lord, not your circumstances.
#3: Don’t forget who God is and what He is capable of.
In the midst of maneuvering through a very real situation, you can forget that God is more real and more true than whatever you face. He holds the power to strengthen you, lead you, and deliver you from your enemies.
#4: Don’t forsake time in the Word.
Anxiety has a way of consuming your mind, making it hard to concentrate on anything other than your troubles. However, this is the time when you need to be vigilant about what’s going into your mind. The Word of God is living, powerful, and active (Hebrews 4:12); it has the ability to break the strongholds of death and defeat, especially when they overtake your thoughts. Let His Word dwell within you deeply.
#5: Don’t make moves without inquiring of the Lord.
David knew the best decisions to make because he wasn’t the wisdom behind them– He drew his wisdom from the Lord. Allow the Lord to direct you and guide your steps, no matter how small. The road may be difficult, but in His will, you’ll be safe.
RELATED: Trusting God in Hard Times
#6: don’t spend too much time with those who do'n’t provide support for you.
Many in your life are well-meaning, but not all will give you sound and solid advice. Some will flat-out lack the support you need at this time. Purpose to spend time with those who uplift and encourage you, and exhort you prayerfully in the Lord.
#7: Don’t withdraw or skimp out on fellowship with other believers.
The enemy will tell you that it’s time to withdraw and focus only on yourself. Don’t buy into this lie. The Word tells us to not forsake assembling with other believers (Hebrews 10:25). During tough times, you need godly support, friendship, hospitality, and encouragement the most.
8 Bible Verses to Help You During Tough Times
Instead of listening to the negative rhetoric that can flood our minds during difficult times, let’s fill our minds with the power of God’s Word.
Use the form below to receive your FREE Download featuring 8 Bible verses about trusting God in difficult times. Print it, hang it on your mirror, or carry it with you for a reminder of God’s goodness throughout the day.
#8: Don’t forget to grieve.
It’s ok to grieve. Whatever needs to be grieved, sister, do that. You don’t have to bottle it up or hold it in. You are not weak because of it. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and He hears your every cry.
#9: Don’t wait for your circumstances to change to bring you joy.
Our circumstances are not our source of joy. Joy comes from the Lord– from being in His presence (Psalm 16:11). When you’re walking through a tough time, don’t fall into the lie that you have to wait for things to get better before you can experience true joy. Draw close to the Lord, and allow Him to fill you with His peace and joy.
#10: Don’t carry the burden on your own shoulders.
Tough times are heavy. Feelings, thoughts, and emotions can weigh you down if you let them. But, the Lord tells us to give Him our cares, anxieties, and worry (1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22). Sister, remove the weight from your shoulders– you are not strong enough to go it alone. Allow Him to carry you through and remove the burdens you’re used to internalizing.
#11: Don’t try to avoid your circumstances.
Like David, acknowledge what you’re going through. Pretending as if everything is fine or sweeping all doubts, fears, and emotions under the rug are not healthy ways to cope with tough times. Ask the Lord for His perspective in the matter, see things for what they really are, and seek to walk through it according to His leading.
“You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
The Lord Triumphs Over Tough Times
Tough times can’t be avoided. In fact, they’re a guarantee we face in this life (John 16:33). The key, sister, is relying on the Lord. Walk hand-in-hand with Him every step of the way. He is ready, willing, and waiting for you to seek Him more deeply, see Him more clearly, and love Him more wholeheartedly through your trial.
Remember– He is the One who saves you from all troubles. Praise His name.
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An Afternoon Routine that Honors the Lord
When the afternoon weariness sets in, we turn to the next cup of coffee, our favorite podcast, or maybe a walk around the block to revive us. All of these things are great, but they don’t…
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This one is for all the weary mamas. And, you know what– it’s for the energetic, pumped up, “get it done” mamas too. We’re all somewhere within that spectrum on any given day, and at any given moment. We all need a little boost of encouragement to help us flourish in our motherhood for the remainder of the day.
The problem is, that many of us are looking for that boost of encouragement in all the wrong places.
When the afternoon weariness sets in, we turn to the next cup of coffee, our favorite podcast, or maybe a walk around the block to revive us. All of these things are great, do not misunderstand me. Yet, they don’t fully revive and restore our souls the way the Word of God does.
In the first part of this series on routines, we focused on the early-bird mamas and how to create a morning routine– but not just any old morning routine– one that honors the Lord.
Starting the day in the presence of the Lord certainly sets the tone for the remainder of the day. But, if morning Bible study time is not what the Lord is calling you to in this season of your life, hang on! Don’t put off your daily meeting with God just because time has escaped you. You can still have a beautiful, intimate time with the Lord when the clock rotates to those “PM” hours.
The fact of the matter is that spending time with God is what matters, not the hours on the clock. So whether you have an effective morning routine, afternoon routine, or your Bible time comes hours after sunset, you can still make the Lord a priority, any time of day.
How to Prepare for Your Afternoon Routine
Mornings can be hectic when you need to get everyone up and out of the house on time. When I was a full-time working mom, my mornings did not include a beautiful, serene quiet time before the Lord! I know many working moms who have different stories, but just know that your story is your story, and you have permission to seek the Lord and what He desires for you in this season of your life.
Afternoon routines can work well for working moms, homeschool moms, or even stay-at-home moms with infants who keep them up all hours of the night. No matter what your situation, remember that the Lord is always present with us– in every moment and circumstance; during every task.
It is our job to be diligent to take our eyes off the tasks at hand and instead set aside time to focus our full attention on Him with no (planned) interruptions or distractions.
We’re talking about coming before the Lord– the Creator of the universe, the Great I AM, the Almighty God! How amazing is it that, as His daughters, we get to have a regular calendar appointment with Him, whenever we want?!
But, before creating a God-honoring afternoon routine, I think it’s essential to do a few things:
#1: Pray to find a time of day that works for you.
First, determine whether the Lord truly wants to you have your quiet time in the afternoon. You may think that’s the best time, but He may have other plans! If the afternoon is His will, then seek the Lord in what specific time in the afternoon to block off.
Whatever time of day you prayerfully choose, ask the Lord to remove obstacles you may face day to day.
#2: Pray and ask the Lord to help you be consistent in your schedule.
We all know that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). We may truly want to be consistent, but distractions, calendar changes, and outside influences can easily throw us off track.
Pray for strength each day, so you don’t constantly give into your flesh.
#3: Decide where you will do your quiet time.
We’re creatures of routine and habit. Pick a special spot to study the Word, whether it’s a favorite chair, your car, a park bench, or a quiet room. Eventually, this place will become mentally synonymous with your quiet time.
The Importance of Spending Time with God
Spending time with God is more than just taking out our cute journals, pens, and beautifully-bound leather Bible, and doodling in the margins. While there are numerous methods we can use to study the Word, it’s not about finding the perfect technique.
Above all else, spending time with God is about communing with the Father— the One who created you, who loves you, and desires a close relationship with you. And, we can only have close relationships with those we spend time with, right?
“Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.”
Reading the Word of God gives us a better understanding of who God is, what He’s done, and what He desires for our lives.
As we see in Psalm 119, when we prayerfully read and meditate on Scripture, God gives us an understanding of His Word. He shows us the path we’re to take, gently leading us to take off our false, fleshly ways and leave them in the past.
Spending time with God gives us the desire to choose the Lord’s way— one of faithfulness because He is faithful.
So, sister— let’s not forsake the Father’s heart for us. There will always be time for the tasks that need to be completed, no matter how small or how significant. Yes– be responsible and fulfill the commitments He has entrusted you with; however, even in doing so, put Him above all else on your priority list.
STAY FOCUSED DURING YOUR AFTERNOON ROUTINE
Download this set of FREE Bible Study Printables to assist you during your quiet time! This 5-page download includes a place to take notes, create a weekly or monthly reading plan, and capture verses that speak to your heart. Fill out the form below.
10 Hassle-Free Steps to Creating an Afternoon Routine
Just like creating a God-honoring morning routine doesn’t have to be difficult, neither does building an afternoon routine. Remember– spending time with God is about spending time with God– not about perfection.
#1: Mark your calendar.
Once you determine a time, mark it as a daily appointment in your calendar. This will help you stay consistent and remind you to schedule other appointments around it.
#2: Eliminate distractions.
There are so many things in our lives that determine to waste our time. Turn off the TV, put your phone on silent, and vow to check emails later. Menial tasks and entertainment can wait.
#3: Understand that this is your shot.
Since the morning has come and gone, and your evening can quickly become busy with dinner, activities, and bedtime routines, this may be your best shot at uninterrupted quiet time. Sister, don’t waste it! It’s not the time to skimp on spending time with God or put it off until later. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into believing that there is something more pressing to do.
#4: Be Prepared.
First thing in the morning, or perhaps even the night before, gather your Bible and any study materials, such as journals or pens, that you’ll need during your quiet time. Pack them in your bag if your afternoon quiet time will happen outside of the home, or put them in your study spot in your home. You don’t want to waste time scurrying around last minute when you could jump into the Word immediately.
#5: If you’re home, put aside household tasks.
Lunch clean-up, dishes, and laundry can wait! Mama, you don’t have to strive for the Pinterest-perfect house in each moment. Be a little more Mary and less Martha during this time.
#6: If you’re home, make it a big deal with your kids.
Explain to them what you’re doing, why you don’t want interruptions, and give them a few things to do to occupy themselves during the time. They may distract you at first, but if you stay consistent, eventually they will come to realize that this is an important time that mommy has with God. It may even impact them so much that they’ll be encouraged to have their own quiet time!
#7: If you're home, utilize nap time.
If you still have afternoon nappers in the house, first of all— hallelujah, right?! A child’s nap time can be such a refreshing time for a weary mama’s soul when used properly; yet, it can easily be a time to get a little lazy, binge a bit of Netflix, or take a scroll through Facebook. But, I think the Lord has better things for us. This is the perfect time to spend time with God in the quietness of your house, and many times, the only uninterrupted time you may get during the day. Put God time first, then do a few other things for yourself that you enjoy in the time you have left.
#8: If you’re a homeschool mom, work your quiet time into your homeschool day!
Schedule it as a time when your children can be independent in their work for a bit. Or, make it a scheduled part of their curriculum whereas everyone, including mom, has “Bible Time.” You could even take turns discussing what everyone read when quiet time is over.
#9: If you’re at work, utilize your lunch break.
The 30 minutes to an hour of freedom you have every day is golden. Don’t overlook how much you can get done in this brief amount of time. Eating and studying the Word simultaneously works great! Just stay focused.
#10: If you’re at work, find a spot where you can sit quietly alone.
When I was a working mom, there were so many times I’d go sit in my car to read! If an alone spot is not possible, politely ask your co-workers to not disturb you (and who knows how they’ll be impacted by seeing you read the Bible daily!).
“There’s no such thing as perfect balance— the Lord’s importance should always outweigh everything else on your life’s scale.”
Above all else, Pray.
No matter where your quiet time will happen, your afternoon routine will eventually fall to pieces if you don’t pray first! Start your time in prayer, asking the Lord to eliminate external distractions, internal dialogue, and thoughts. Ask Him to help you focus on His Word, give you an understanding of the text, and a willingness to receive all that He has for you during the time.
Encouragement for Spending Time with God
Sister– seasons change, schedules change, and circumstances change. But God and His Word do not change. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is always ready for us to come to Him. It’s our job to make the choice and decision to do so.
Not once. Not sometimes. But, consistently and regularly.
Spending time with God is one of the most crucial tools in our arsenal to help us not only grow in our own faith, but to be equipped to train up our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). So whether it’s in the afternoon, morning, or evening, just choose, sister. Choose Jesus. His counsel. His instruction.
He’s ready for your lunch meeting tomorrow! Are you?
Don’t stand Him up.
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Barnabas: A Lesson in Encouraging One Another
Take a moment and recall something someone said to you as a child that you still remember today. Remember the words and how they made you feel. Think about…
Take a moment and recall something someone said to you as a child that you still remember today. Remember the words and how they made you feel. Think about where you were, approximately how old you were, and who said it. Do you have the mental picture?
I bet you do. I also would guess that the words you heard were either extremely hurtful or amazingly encouraging.
How do I know that? Because we tend to remember– long after the incident has passed– words spoken that had a strong impact on our emotions, thoughts, and being.
Both hurtful and encouraging words do that.
We have the ability to do both in the lives of those around us— to either encourage one another or cause pain.
God has given us the ability to put off our old selves, which are filled with corruption through our evil desires, and instead walk in newness of life– a new life created in the likeness of God, exhibiting true holiness and righteousness (Ephesians 4:22-24).
When our minds are renewed by Christ and we allow Him to guide our thoughts and tongues, it is easier to encourage one another.
But, it is just as easy for us to allow our flesh to take over and do harm with our words. For when we relinquish the power of Christ in our minds for a moment, the power of our tongue, backed by our innate deceitful desires, takes over. Even if it’s just for a moment, we may end up speaking a phrase that will be remembered for years to come.
Power of the Tongue
Our words matter. That likely comes as no surprise to you. Since childhood, we’ve heard the rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I know the ultimate goal of this elementary teaching is to not let others’ words affect us so much and to learn how to not take things too personally.
But the truth is, words can, in fact, do hurt us.
Our tongues are a powerful little thing. They have the ability to speak deceit and evil (Psalm 34:13), or speak justice, and wisdom (Psalm 37:30), and tell of the Lord’s righteousness (Psalm 35:28).
Good vs. evil. Both are available in this small part of our body.
Our words have the power to tear down, build up, inspire, and belittle. With over 100 references in the Bible about the tongue and its capabilities, what makes us think that words hold no power and can never hurt us?
Sister, one of the facets of pursuing righteousness comes in the form of being mindful of the things we say. As believers, the Lord calls us to be uplifting and encouraging in our speech (Ephesians 4:29). To think we have no control over whether we do so is blindness.
What does the Bible say about encouragement?
It’s important to understand what the Word of God commands us not to do, but we cannot stop there. Knowing what the Bible says about encouragement and how we use our words gives us a basis for how we’re to conduct ourselves. And, using that knowledge, it’s our job to walk out that instruction day to day.
For example:
“Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ”
This verse is a go-to in terms of our speech. Not only does it tell us what not to do, but it also sums up beautifully how we should talk as believers.
In those moments when a thought pops into our heads and we’re contemplating whether or not to share it, we can come back to Ephesians 4:29 and ask ourselves,
Is this a corrupt or unwholesome thing to say?
Will it honor the Lord?
If I say it, will it encourage and edify those who hear?
Is this wasteful speech or will it fill a need at the moment?
Will it give any measure of grace?
we learn how to encourage one another from the Source
Encouragement is not a thoughtless and pointless gesture. Romans 5:5 says that God is the God of endurance and encouragement. If He is the God of encouragement, then know that encouragement is direct, precise, and purposeful, just as the Lord. It should be so as it manifests in our words and deeds as well.
The fact that He is the God of encouragement is good news for us! Although God uses us to encourage one another, we are not the source of the encouragement. We only need to look to Him, who He is, and all He has done.
There is encouragement in Christ (Philippians 2:1) — by the love He showed while living on earth, in His ultimate death on the cross, and through the power of His resurrection. When we allow these truths to permeate our being, we are filled with His encouragement and that is what we share with others.
“He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
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I’ll say it again, sister— our words matter! Our conduct matters. Gracious speech that is based on His truth can turn even our greatest enemies into our friends and gives us the ability to gain the confidence of kings.
Barnabas in the Bible
Let me tell you about an often overlooked friend in the Bible. Acts 4:36 tells of a Levite man named Joseph, who the apostles called Barnabas. Barnabas means son of encouragement.
Barnabas is described as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith in Acts 11:24.
Shortly after Saul’s conversion to Christianity, Paul (formerly Saul) began preaching the name of Jesus. He came to Jerusalem where he attempted to join the disciples, but knowing Paul’s history of persecuting Christians, they were afraid of him. They didn’t believe that he truly was a disciple (Acts 9:26).
But, the son of encouragement steps in. Barnabas immediately went to Paul’s defense, personally bringing him before the disciples and sharing with them the details of Paul’s conversion and his preaching of the Word in Damascus thereafter (Acts 9:27). Barnabas, as a trusted brother in the Lord, was able to bridge the gap and alleviate the disciples' fear of this once-ruthless man.
The truth he shared about Paul encouraged the disciples enough that Paul then became one of their own— able to join them in preaching the name of Jesus in Jerusalem (Acts 9:28).
Barnabas’s encouragement cleared the confusion and promoted an atmosphere of peace amongst everyone involved.
Encourage one another with this free resource.
Sister, encouragement doesn’t take a lot of work, and it doesn’t have to be hard! However, it is something that the Lord wants us to take seriously and walk out intentionally.
Grab this FREE resource with 25 effective, purposeful, and intentional ideas to help you be an encouragement to those around you.
Encourage & Connect Like Barnabas
There is actually much we can learn from Barnabas in the Bible. Although Paul quickly becomes a highlighted character in much of the New Testament, Barnabas is steadily present in much of the book of Acts, playing what seemingly looks like a supporting role. Yet, there is so much to glean from the man who lives up to his name that helps us understand the capabilities that encouragement has.
Encouragement inspires others to “do”.
When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. -Acts 11:23-24 ESV
Because of the encouragement the people received through the work of the Holy Spirit, many came to the Lord. Not only that but those who had already come to the Lord were exhorted to remain faithful to their calling and in their walk.
Encouragement inspires connections that carry out God’s purposes.
So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. -Acts 11:25-26 ESV
Barnabas knew how God wanted to use Paul, and he did things in his power to provide Paul with those opportunities. Bringing Paul to Antioch allowed the Christians there to be encouraged by the Word through Paul and Barnabas for an entire year.
Encouragement inspires others to encourage.
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.” -Acts 13:15-16 ESV
The rulers of this synagogue in Antioch undoubtedly knew the work Barnabas and Paul were doing. They’d been encouraged by it, and now, in turn, they sought an opportunity to pass that encouragement along firsthand to those who were in the synagogue that day.
Encouragement inspires others to seek the Lord.
And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. -Acts 13:43-44 ESV
One of the most important purposes of encouragement is to inspire people to seek the Lord for themselves. Barnabas and Paul didn’t want the people to follow them; they wanted them to seek the Lord and have a yearning for His ways and His Word.
Encouragement emboldens the encourager.
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly… -Acts 13:46 ESV
So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord… -Acts 14:3 ESV
That fire within, that only comes from the Lord, burns fiercely when we let Him, as the God of encouragement, lead our steps and direct our words.
For so the Lord has commanded us… -Acts 13:47
They were willing to do what the Lord called them to do, no matter the reception, response, or persecution.
But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. -Acts 13:51 ESV
They could withstand persecution from the Jews who were angry at them for preaching to the Gentiles, shake it off, and move on.
Encouragement brings comfort.
When you are naturally an encouraging person, the atmosphere you create permeates those around you. You don’t have to try or work hard. The Holy Spirit is powerful and is always bearing witness to the Lord and all He is. Through Him, you will bring comfort to those in your midst (Colossians 4:7-11), and uplift them during trials.
How to Encourage One Another: 5 Ways to Uplift
Let’s face it. The Bible calls us to encourage one another, so why not ask the Lord to help us do it in a way that He desires? Here are a few biblically-based tips:
#1: Rely on the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:24).
We see Barnabas was filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. We need to recognize and remember that we are not the source; we can rely on the Source to guide us.
#2: Encourage through the Word of God (Acts 13).
People are yearning to hear the truth of the Word, sometimes they just don’t know it. Once they receive the life and refreshment the Word brings, they’ll thirst for more (Acts 13:42). There is nothing wrong with general encouragement, but biblical encouragement based in the Word is influential.
#3: Take encouragement with you everywhere you go (Acts 15:31).
Even when you’re delivering news or truths that are tough to understand and swallow, you can still leave those around you encouraged. Be mindful of your words, tone, and body language; even correction can bring the fresh air of encouragement.
#4: Be a faithful friend.
Not only did Barnabas initially defend Paul as a new believer and connect him to the Church, but he also stuck by Paul’s side, traveling with him on many missionary journeys. Travel the miles with a friend. Go through trials together, encourage others together, and encourage one another.
#5: Seek the Lord in whom you should encourage.
There are things happening in others’ lives that you may not be aware of. They may be facing hard tasks (Deuteronomy 3:28), struggling to make a decision, or wrestling with instruction from the Lord. Even if you have no idea why you are to bring encouragement to them, if the Lord tells you to, do so. Ask Him for the words to speak— if the words are from Him, they will always match up with the circumstances they’re facing.
Encouragement for you, My Sister!
May the God of encouragement, the One who sustains us, guides us, and cares for us provide eyes to see all He really is. May He allow you to see clearly the things He is doing in your life, and give you wisdom and discernment to know what to do in every moment.
You are a daughter of the Most High King, chosen, beloved, and blameless in His sight due to the blood of Christ.
You carry within you an incorruptible beauty that can’t fade away.
You have a purpose and He has given you the knowledge, skills, and talents to carry it out according to His will.
You are wonderfully made and all of your value is wrapped up in who He is, not what you do.
May you be strengthened by the Lord and His might all the days of your life.
RELATED: Find more encouragement straight from the Word in the BRIEF NOTES OF ENCOURAGEMENT series:
Trusting God as Jehovah Jireh
It can be difficult to see up ahead, can’t it? We want to. We try to peer into the future as…
It can be difficult to see up ahead, can’t it? We want to. We try to peer into the future as far as we can see, calculating steps along the way, obstacles that will surmount, and triumphs we’ll make. We squint with all of our might, but the truth is, our finite minds can only see so far.
We can only come up with so many scenarios and so many “best” routes and possible outcomes.
We aren’t God.
Shortly before my daughter was supposed to start kindergarten, I was squinting hard. You see, my husband and I had talked since before she was born about how we planned to homeschool our kids. After numerous years of digesting our thoughts and praying over them to be sure it was something God was calling us to do, we discovered that yes, homeschooling was the route we were to take.
Yet, with the school year quickly approaching, I still found myself sitting in front of a computer every day at my full-time job. I knew working and homeschooling simultaneously wasn’t what the Lord had for me, and I’ve always had the strong desire to stay home with our kids; so, why did I sit at my desk, hesitant to back away?
As I shared in my 2-Part series about the idols we have in our lives, I struggled with leaving work because I didn’t think we could survive as a one-income family.
Even though I knew the Lord was calling me to stay home, I held onto the false belief that my monetary contribution to our family was greater than what God could do for us on one income.
Deep in my heart, I didn’t honestly believe that He could provide for us. I didn’t trust God’s promise of provision.
RELATED: Modern Day Idols in Your Life
God’s Provision is always available
But God.
He allows us to go through trials, be tested, and face hard decisions so that we can learn to trust in Him more.
According to Merriam-Webster, the word “provision” means the act or process of providing. It can also be thought of as a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency.
So when we fully understand provision, we can see that not only does God provide in terms of providing what we need at the moment, but He also provides what we need to prepare us for things to come.
This may not be obvious to us at the time (we can’t see into the future, remember?), but He’s putting the puzzle together for us. He knows what the full picture on the puzzle box looks like; we see just one puzzle piece at a time.
Release Your Grip and Grab God’s Provision
Please know that God’s provision is always there for His sons’ and daughters’ taking, but we don’t receive the blessing of His provision if our fists are clenched, tightly gripping what He’s asked us to release.
Maybe it’s something we have to physically let go of, like a job; or, perhaps it’s a decision we face that requires us to step out in faith. Whatever the case may be, the more we try to gaze into the future through our strongest prescription lenses, the more we are relying on ourselves, and not on God.
“God’s provision does not need our assistance. God will provide because He is good, gracious, and loves His children.”
So, when I finally took the step of faith and left my job to stay home and homeschool our daughter, I got to see the power of God’s provision firsthand. Of course, I’d seen it before; but this time it was evident to me. My husband’s income increased, expenses we previously struggled with were covered, and it was not stressful in the least bit.
I had the Lord’s peace.
And now, four years and counting— through various job changes and losses— God is still providing for us as a one-income family.
Bitter Sweet
Many of us are likely familiar with the events that transpired for the Israelites following their exodus from slavery in Egypt.
As we step into the scene in Exodus 15, the Lord had just saved the Israelites by parting the Red Sea for them and then closing it on top of the pursuing Egyptians. They praised the Lord in song, and as they entered the Wilderness of Shur, they found no water that wasn’t bitter in Marah.
God had just saved them through water; would He allow them to die by lack of water?
No. There, in Marah, the Lord miraculously turned the bitter water into sweet water. Traveling on, they came to Elim, where there were not one, but twelve wells of water.
First, parting waters. Next, sweet water; and then, an abundance of water.
God provided.
The Story of Manna
It’s easy to forget God’s provision sometimes, isn’t it sister? This is what the Israelites did. Just a month and a half after they witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, freedom from slavery, and more recently— fresh, sweet drinking water, they began to complain.
Exodus 16:2 says that the whole congregation of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. Not just a few of them. All of them. They complained because they lacked food in the wilderness, yet had plenty to eat while in the hands of the Egyptians.
Despite recently witnessing the power of God through the 10 plagues in Egypt and the miracles that followed, they forgot about God’s ability to move His mighty hand.
But God.
God is Jehovah Jireh. He has compassion. He cares. He provides (even when we complain a little bit!).
The Israelites once again had a chance to view God’s provision, this time in the form of manna from heaven. God would rain down this manna each day; they only had to collect it according to the measurements the Lord instructed and trust Him that it would be enough (Exodus 16:16).
Since He promised to make it rain down every day, why did they have to trust Him that it’d be enough?
Because they were only to gather so much per person, and they couldn’t leave any leftovers. Some followed this command. Others lacked trust in God’s provision and tried to save some for the next day. The result– it spoiled (Exodus 16:19-20).
“And the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?””
But, here’s the thing about God’s provision. God is in control. Even after He gives it, He’s still in control.
We see this in the fact that the Lord instructed them that on the day before Sabbath they could gather twice as much manna because He would not rain down manna on Sabbath. Whatever manna they gathered and was leftover for Sabbath did not spoil. This shows that God was in control of His provision and whether He allowed it to spoil or not (Exodus 16:24).
We also see in Exodus 16:21 that the Israelites had to be disciplined to gather manna early in the morning.
Why? The manna melted when the sun got hot. God was in control of His provision. His desire was for them to trust in Him as He provided, but He also didn’t want them to be lazy as they trusted in His provision. He provided, but they still had to be diligent to do their part, according to the instructions He gave them.
Trusting the Lord as Jehovah Jireh does not mean we sit around with our feet kicked up. We allow the Lord to work in our lives, being mindful of what He is simultaneously asking us to do.
What does Jehovah Jireh mean?
Jehovah Jireh is one of the most well-known names of God in the Bible. We see it mentioned shortly after God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, yet in the midst of Abraham’s obedience, God provides a ram to be sacrificed instead.
“And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” ”
Even given what many would consider the most soul-troubling of commands— to sacrifice your own son— Abraham’s faith in God did not waver.
In fact, his faith was so deep-rooted that he didn’t hesitate, and fully believed that no matter how God carried out His purposes— whether God would provide a lamb for the burnt offering (Genesis 22:8) or God would raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19)— that he told the servants who had traveled with them to Mount Moriah that after the sacrifice, “we will come back to you.” (Genesis 22:5)
He said “we”, not “I”. Did you get that?
Abraham trusted in God’s provision; but more importantly, he trusted in God Himself— Jehovah Jireh.
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How to Trust God: 10 Practical Tips
Coming to grips with how to trust God in our needs is possible, sister. Will we make mistakes sometimes? Yes. Will we forget what He’s done in the past as we approach a new situation? Sometimes. But, there are a few lessons we can learn from Abraham, and the countless descendants that came through the line of his “almost” sacrificed son, Isaac.
#1: Seek the Lord in your need.
Get to know Him. Stay close to Him. Cry out to Him, and He will hear you.
#2: Know that the Lord will never lead you astray.
Isn’t it amazing that Abraham, having never seen God raise someone from the dead, would have enough faith in the Lord to believe He could! As illogical as God’s commands may sound sometimes, know that His wisdom is infinite and He knows what He is telling you to do.
#3: Step out in faith.
Just believe. Search the Scriptures for Bible verses about trusting God, re-read Hebrews 11, and then go read the stories of each person mentioned in the Hall of Faith. You will be encouraged.
#4: Remember God’s provision in the past.
Think about the small and big ways the Lord has provided for you in the past. It will ignite your faith in trusting Him with your future.
#5: Praise the Lord.
Just as the Israelites praised Him in song after they left Egypt, you can praise the Lord as you see His goodness in your life. Write the praises in a journal so you can turn back to them in the future. Journaling will help you immensely with tip #4!
#6: Follow the instructions the Lord gives you.
Don’t go looking for manna on the Sabbath! Sister, the Lord tells you the things to do for a reason. His directions don’t need your editing or manipulation.
#7: Be diligent.
Be a good steward of God’s provision in the way you handle it, keep it, and use it.
#8: Prepare for hard decisions.
Sometimes what the Lord calls you to do may be hard. You may have to wait longer than expected before you see His provision. That’s ok. He knows what He’s doing. Do you believe that?
#9: Expect to see Jehovah Jireh.
He can provide. He will provide. Trust and believe that He will do all He says He will do.
#10: Stay in prayer.
Communication with the Lord is crucial. He is your lifeline. As my pastor always says, “Don’t hang up the phone!”
Bonus Tip: Take a few minutes and read Psalm 78 which gives insight into many of the things we discussed in this post!
Be Encouraged
Sister, God is ready and willing to provide for you, just as He has for countless people since the beginning of time. He loves you, and won’t leave you hanging. God’s provision is real.
Don’t make the mistake I used to, trying to see too far up ahead into the distance. Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. The Lord is near. Refocus your eyes. He’s right here.
When you feel blocked and are facing hindrances to prayer, what do you do? That desire to pray, even when it feels dry…