How Can You Practice Contentment?

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

LEARN

Seasons of life pass by like the wind. Let's look at what King Solomon also shares in Ecclesiastes 1:13-14. “And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

I find myself clinging to God more as life passes by with a big smile on my face. What a seat we have in the arena of life as a Christian. We go through many seasons of our lives from birth to death leaving a trail of memories good and not so good. For myself at 59 with the golden years to come each season seems to build upon the last where I notice myself waining and the Lord waxing, less of me, more of Him, trying not to lean on my own understanding, heading for that smooth stretch of highway as my husband Michael likes to say. Which season has been the hardest so far? It has always seemed to be the one I just finished!

KNOW

Jesus is always with us and our relationship with Him is constant! Developing our relationship with Jesus, not in a religious way but having a constant personal relationship, one on one communion with Him is key in all seasons of life. Do you have this relationship with Jesus in all seasons? Do you believe He is always there with you? Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) teaches us: let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

DO

Practice being content and aware of your communion with the Great I AM !

Where is Jesus in The Midst of our Now?

Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 7:24-25

LEARN

Hello Beauties!

I am so excited to be back with you again. I love having the opportunity to feel as though, for a moment, I can sit with you and relate our stories to one another. This last couple months I had a lot of big changes in my life that have required me to step up and show up in ways I haven’t felt equipped to do. Many moments I felt so bogged down by the weight of it all and burnout knocked on my door like a girl scout during a diet. I wanted to throw in the towel and give up. However, I had, and still have this nagging feeling in my heart like in this season it is essential I keep showing up. I do my best to do this every day. Yet, in the midst of it, sometimes it is hard to pause and take a look around at where God is in the season and what He is actually doing. I so often take on too much. I add too many things to the ever-present list. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do things perfectly, especially the things I have never done before. Before I know it, I am exhausted and left wondering where the purpose is in anything I am doing.

Have you ever felt like that, in a season of transition? Maybe you just moved or started a new job. Maybe you recently graduated and are now navigating the world around you and processing how the day to day looks very different than it did in school. Perhaps you just became a mom and are transitioning into this new and completely life altering stage. Or maybe those little ones, are now out on their own, and after spending so long raising and protecting them, you feel whole new sense of “what do I want to be when I grow up?”

I want you to know that Jesus is with you in every single stage. The Bible talks about how Jesus literally is our advocate and is continually praying for us (Hebrews 7:24-25). How amazing is that!? That our Jesus who sacrificed Himself for us now sits at the right hand of God, and knowing all that we think and feel and go through day to day, advocates and prays prayers specific to us! That right there takes a burden off my shoulders!

KNOW

I just want to take a moment and honor your story. Where you are in the timeline of your life. Where you have been. Where you feel called to go. Or maybe this season is confusing because for the first time there isn’t a big to do list and call to anywhere in specific. Rest in the fact that Jesus is your ever-present help (Psalm 46:1). He not only leads, but He comes to comfort. Rest in the fact that because of what Jesus did on the cross, we are free to come before the throne of God, to make our requests known to Him, to be vulnerable with Him.

In my current season, I am learning a whole bunch of new things. I feel stretched, spread thin, and like those growing pains you used to get as a kid in your legs (anyone with me) are now happening in my spirit. During my time with the Lord I have been picturing going before the throne of God, and literally curling up in the lap of the Father, or sitting at His feet resting my head on His knee while He strokes my hair, and reminds me of my identity in Him. I am His daughter, adopted, and co-heir with Christ. These times, even if it is a 30-second deep breath at work, fixing my eyes on God is keeping me going.

DO

I encourage you to start asking Jesus to show you where He is in the midst of your now. Take it a step further and think back on times and seasons of your life that have been very challenging or in some way have robbed you of your joy, and ask Jesus to show you where He was in those seasons too. Maybe He shows you a picture, or it becomes one of those Jesus moments where you just understand where He is (was).

It is okay to be vulnerable with God. An amazing encouragement is reading through the Psalms. David was SO good at vulnerably laying out his drama before the Lord. Once in that place where David felt free to express his worry, frustration, or fear to God, he was able to move into a place of praise and encouragement reminding himself of who God is, and where God was in his season.

Here are some passages that I have found really encouraging through my seasons. May these give you a starting place.

Psalms 88 and 89 read together. David literally goes from despair to praising the Lord and it is beautiful and so relatable.

Psalm 56: 3-4, Psalm 34:4-5, Psalm 46:1-3, Psalm 126

Will God Never Give Me More Than I Can Handle?

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

LEARN

We’ve all heard it and many of us have probably said it ourselves- “God will never give you more than you can handle.”  1 Corinthians 10:13 is a verse in the Bible that is often misquoted and many people use it as a Christian “catch phrase” to mean that God won’t ever give you anything more than you can bear.  I don’t know about you, but there have been plenty of times in my life where I’ve thrown my hands up and said, “God, I can’t do this!” The Scriptures are full of examples of people who cried out to God feeling like they were forsaken-Psalm 22 being a vivid example.  Psalm 88:1-3 says: “O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.” Jesus himself prayed, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death…My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:38-39).  

In this life, we are promised tribulation and sorrows, but we can also stand firm in the promise that God is our refuge (Ps. 16:1, 57:1, Prov. 30:5).  Saying “God will never give you more than you can handle” gives off the impression that God measures what He allows to come my way on the basis of my ability to endure it.  It focuses on self and not God.  My “handling” a difficult situation doesn’t depend on my own strength.  If that were the case, I would fail miserably every time because of my sinful heart.  It is purely God’s grace that provides a way for me to be able to endure life’s trials and unknown situations.  My being able to bear a situation doesn’t mean I will never feel like giving up or that I will never falter. But through the grace of God, He equips me and works in me to choose the right thought patterns and to make Godly decisions.  And when we face situations that are morally confusing or we are actually being tempted into sin, God always provides a way of escape, which is the context of 1 Cor. 10:13.  2 Cor. 9:8 says: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” Acts 2:13 says: “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

It is Christ alone, in us, who gives the strength to bear whatever it is we are facing.  Whether it’s embracing constant change in our lives, whether we are facing financial hardship, broken relationships, feeling completely overwhelmed by the demands placed before us, He is the one who withholds us and we are not independent of God’s mighty hand to help us do what we ought.  As John Pipers states: “God will never give his people trials in which he will not sustain them to bring them through to everlasting glory.”

Even now, my family and I are facing the transition of moving across the country in a few months where country life reigns supreme.  This city girl will have a lot to adapt to, but more importantly, I will be put in a position where I must rely on Christ to meet some pretty deep needs.  My husband will be deploying often and will be doing much training as is required for his particular job. Many people will often say to me after finding out that I am a Military wife, “I don’t know how you do it!  I could never do that.” I never thought I could “handle” this lifestyle either, but it is God who sustains me and my family. It is God who equips me to walk through this life as a Marine wife, to face so much uncertainty, too many unknowns, and countless times of patiently waiting through transition periods.  We are often away from family and close friends. We must learn to make new friends and adapt to the life and culture of wherever we’re stationed at the time. I fear for my husband’s life as he does rigorous field training and overseas deployments. But through it all I can’t help but think of the words of Psalm 74:25-26, “Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

KNOW

1. Are you experiencing a time of change or transition right now?  Do you feel like it’s too much to bear and you don’t know how you can face so many unknowns?  Lay it before the Lord in prayer and be reminded of His truth through His Word and the promises He has for you.  Remember His faithfulness and His ability to help you face those times of uncertainty.

2. How does 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 give you hope?

DO

1. Read 1 Corinthians 1:8-9.  Confess to the Lord about a situation where you have doubted His faithfulness and His ability to see you through.  

Can You Have Contentment In Whatever Season You are in?

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13

LEARN

Why do so many of us women struggle to be content with where God has us? We have a propensity towards dissatisfaction, complaining and jealousy. We don’t need to be taught how to complain but we must learn, through discipline, how to be content. Our discontentment usually stems from two main areas of sin: not believing and resting in God’s sovereignty and looking for ultimate satisfaction in things of this world. The Apostle Paul says, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” He was a prisoner, old and near the end of his life, and it was in these circumstances that he was able to rest in the secret of learned contentment that could only be achieved by an utmost dependance and trust in Christ.

Through the course of our lives, it is easy to dwell upon places of emptiness, on what is missing for us. For many of us, our experiences are broken and tainted by sin- the absent earthly father, the frustrated relationship with mother, the lackluster job, the unrealized dream, the perpetual illness, the barren womb, or the empty space in our bed. Because of our unmet expectations or the sufferings that we are going through, we want and want and want- and the things we desire seem out of our grasp. Then when we do obtain those wishes, we are on to wanting the next thing that we don’t have. Often times, we are too bitter, self-centered and “wanting” to recognize the merciful blessings that God lavishly bestows on us. Instead of having thankful hearts, we have complaining ones.

I have gone through this cycle of discontentment and wanting so many times in my life. For far longer than I had hoped, I was in a season of singleness. Relationship after relationship would fail and I would continue to dream and long for a husband (unsatisfied). When I was 28 years old, I married my husband Jacob. Five months into marriage, I got pregnant and then miscarried our baby. The loss was devastating and my already present desire for a baby grew so intense that I couldn’t even go on social media because of the pain in seeing pregnant mothers or new babies (unsatisfied). Six months later, I found out I was pregnant with my first born son, Caleb. A few months into his life when the nights were long and the days were lonely, I longed for the freedom and sleep that I used to have (unsatisfied). Do you see a pattern here? Even after God so graciously blessed me with such good gifts that I had wanted for so long, I still found places in my life where I was dissatisfied, where I wanted more. In realizing my cycle of discontentment, God began using his word to convict me of sin and reshape my thoughts.

First, I was not trusting in God’s sovereignty and goodness. I was not confident in him being in control instead of myself. A piece of me believed that God messed up with something. (That’s impossible for him to do, by the way). I had to learn to trust him by learning about him, taking him at his word, and relying on his ability to take care of me. If we are to learn to be more content, we have to learn to trust him more. The full measure of our time on earth, every single season that we enter into has been completely planned and orchestrated by an all-sovereign, all -knowing, and all-powerful God. He has planned every day of our lives before there was even one (Psalm 139:16). He knows our sin, our longings and our pain- even these were planned before the foundations of the world. And if we are in Christ, he is perfectly weaving every one of those details for our good and his glory- two things he will never falter in or compromise (Romans 8:28). If not for his relentless grace- we stand before him condemned, filthy and deserving of his wrath. But God, being rich in mercy stepped in to justify his children through the atoning work of his son, Jesus. He made us right with himself so that we could not only one day be with him forever, but so that we could grow each day in love and enjoyment of him. As we remember this, fixing our eyes on Christ and what He has so faithfully done for us, we rely on His power, not our own. This is how Paul faced all situations with contentment and how we can too.

Second, I was not finding my satisfaction in Him. I was looking elsewhere for true and full joy, thinking that the things of this world would ultimately satisfy me. Psalm 107:9 says that God “satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” In John 6:35 Jesus says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” If we are God’s chosen ones, Jesus Christ is that “good thing” that the Lord promises to fill us with. We don’t have to run from one dream to the next with hopes of being filled. We have all of our fulfillment, our sustenance, our pleasure in Christ. Psalm 16:11 says, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” So how can we learn contentment with this truth in mind? We have to learn to be satisfied in him. We have to trust that He is good enough. And in believing that to be true, we need the self-control and discipline to live in light of that. What does that look like for you? Less Netflix? Talking with your friends about Christ instead of crushes? Being honest about our sin, confessing it and repenting? Reading more scripture instead of sleeping in? Clinging to him in constant prayer? Singing more songs of praise?

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

KNOW

1. How are you not content in the current season that you are in?

2. What circumstances has God placed you in to teach you to depend on him and trust him more?

3. How has God been faithful in your life, even in the midst of suffering or hardship?

DO

Make a Gospel List: Make a list of what Jesus has done for you. What did he do? What are the implications of this? How is your life changed through what he has done? This shouldn’t be a short list! Sing a song of praise and thanksgiving.

What do Christ and CrossFit Have in Common?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

LEARN

As Romans 12:1 states, we are called to offer our bodies as a sacrifice to the Lord. I find this verse to be particularly helpful when it comes to the topic of exercise. This takes the pressure off of whether working out is good or bad and brings the focus back to where it needs to be. Are you working out as a sacrifice to God?

Because we are sinful, we are really good at twisting something good and God given into an idol. Fitness is one of those areas that can turn into an idol if we are not careful and honest about why we do it. For a long time I worked out purely because of how it would make me look. The only motivation I had was the prospect of changing my reflection and attaining the body that would finally make me desired and worthy. I would work extremely hard only to be disappointed at the end of the day when I still did not look like a Victoria Secret model and the same body that I loathed was staring back at me in the mirror.

I started CrossFit about two years ago and it was such an eye opening experience. There were no mirrors anywhere and all the girls were all different shapes and sizes. It is a completely performance based sport and it was so refreshing. The lack of mirrors made me realize how much time I was wasting picking apart my body instead of thanking God for giving me a strong, capable body that works and moves! I began taking my focus off myself and placing my focus on Christ for the first time in my fitness journey. As cheesy as it sounds, the trials of the extremely difficult workouts I was enduring were translating into my perseverance as a Christian outside of the gym.

As long as you are working out to glorify God, I strongly believe that engaging in physical fitness is wonderful for both your body and mind. We are called to be good stewards of our bodies and exercising regularly is one way that we can strive to be obedient in that area.

Just like there are bad reasons to work out, there are also bad reasons to forgo working out. Laziness or poor time management are often two reasons for people skipping the gym. There are, of course, seasons when we will not be able to work out as much as we would like to and that is okay. It is important to be honest with yourself about why you don’t work out and discern if that is a God glorifying decision or if it is a lack of self-discipline.

We are all in different places when it comes to our physical abilities. You don’t have to run a marathon tomorrow, but you can start taking care of your body today. Stay grounded in God’s word and honest with yourself about why you show up to the gym. If your motives are not pure, ask God to change your heart. He is so faithful.  

KNOW

1. If you could work out but your body would never change, would you still do it?

2. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what motivates you to go to the gym?

3. When you opt out of the gym, what is the main reason?

DO

This week, journal about your exercise experiences. How did you feel while you were at the gym? Did you find yourself fixating on your own reflection? If you couldn’t make it to the gym, did you feel a sense of anxiety? Reflect on all of your emotions that come up surrounding your workouts or lack there of this week.

Is it Sinful to be Fit?

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:8

LEARN

To be or not to be exercising is a question that comes up in my mind everyday. There is a long legacy of athletes in my family. My mother’s father was a football coach growing up and my grandmother taught swim lessons while also enjoying watching and playing many sports herself. Both my Mom and Dad grew up as athletes playing sports throughout their lives. My Dads love for sports continued into college where he played football for Tulsa University, and my mother also attended Tulsa and was a cheerleader. Now at age 85 they both are still very active! Being raised in a family of four girls my parents were good at keeping us busy growing up. Funny story - my Dad at bed time would have us do push ups and sit ups before jumping into bed. Looking back on my childhood I remember early morning swim team practices where many times I just wanted to sleep in, and also going skiing in snow blizzards while wondering why are we skiing in this? But through it all, it instilled in me an exercise discipline that I still have today, and gratefulness for the opportunities we were given to experience many types of sport activities.

I find this topic of exercise interesting to ponder on because we can see all around us how some people focus too much attention on their physical bodies and neglect their spiritual growth and godliness, while others focus too much on spirituality and neglect the physical temple that God has given them. I believe we can all agree that both these practices are not pleasing to God and out of balance. You know the saying... what would Jesus do? I began to think about that and wondered how Jesus exercised. Well...I think it was walking!

KNOW

The bible does clearly show us that we are both physical and spiritual beings and we are to take good care of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) but also warns against vanity (1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 31:30; 1 Peter 3:3-4). We see above in 1 Timothy 4:8  that God does tell us that exercise is valuable, while also saying that godliness has value for all things! We all know what exercise is but what is godliness?  Bible.org shares “Godliness is a personal attitude toward God that results in actions that are pleasing to him. This personal attitude toward God is what we call devotion to God. The practice of godliness is an exercise or discipline that focuses upon God. God centered actions as well as attitude, living no longer to our own will and lust. In 2 Peter 1:5-8 we see a cascade of helpful supplements to practice along with our faith - virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection & love. For me self-control and steadfastness really jumps out.” When it comes to your physical and spiritual life what actions can you practice better that would be pleasing to God and give him glory?”

DO                                                                                                                         

If you find your balance tethering more on the spiritual side try what I call the Walkie Talkie exercise. Enjoy a walk and talk with a friend or with my best friend Jesus! If you find your balance tethering more on the exercise side try taking a time out with pulling up a chair and pouring yourself a tall glass of living water by  reading the bible! In either case practice listening to the still quiet Holy Spirit inside you that wants to guide you down a more joy-filled healthy path.

What does it Mean to Live Life for the Glory of God?

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

LEARN

If we are to do all things, even the seemingly insignificant things of eating and drinking for the glory of God what does that mean for our pursuit of a healthy lifestyle? It’s obvious that society emphasizes that we should be healthy and strong. It is also clear that God commands that our bodies be cared for well because they are His temple (1 Cor. 16:19). Though we see similarities in both societal and biblical directives for the care of our body, the motives behind them are world’s apart. Behind the voices of society, there are hearts, a group of people with motives that tells us why we should be desiring this kind of lifestyle. Our why behind everything that we do determines if we will bring God glory while doing it. Confronting our why is the beginning of understanding if we are worshipping God or ourselves.

In Jeremiah 17:9 the Lord calls our heart “desperately wicked”. One can assume then, that it is wise to examine the motives behind goals we make. Is the goal to workout or change our diet ultimately to look a certain way, to gain attention, to be attractive, to find our inner confidence? We may hear from time to time the health benefits of a strong body but what we will most likely see advertised in this world is the physical physique we can have by working out and sticking to a diet. Since we are flawed humans it is easy for our why to be for our own personal glory. Most of us are easily enticed by the vanity of “getting fit.” When the most common thoughts we have are how we want our body to look, it reveals that we want the glory of looking good more than the health of our body. The last thing we tend to think about is actually the most important part of us in need of health, our soul.

To workout for the glory of God means our heart or soul is in a posture of worship towards God. It is not worshiping the workout, the diet or how we look. Though we may be pleased with how we look, feel and what we accomplish, this has to be secondary to the joy we have through using what we’ve gained to serve God. A heart worshipping God may workout and recognize that this workout is possible because of what God has provided- it turns to thank and praise God. It uses self-discipline to meet goals and finds the strength to be disciplined by relying on God through prayer and faith. The strength gained through working out is a tool to further Gods kingdom. Working out allows us to experience more energy, and with that energy we can use it to read God’s word, be a healthy mom, wife, daughter, and most importantly a good steward of His temple. Being healthy and strong is a privilege and blessing that we can pursue as a means to make God look great. When this is our aim, our goals will reach beyond strong muscles, good blood pressure, feeling good and result in the health of a God glorifying soul. This kind of healthy pursuit is one that will count for eternity.

KNOW

To pursue working out, feeling good and looking good more than the pursuit of God reveals who we are really worshiping- ourselves or others. To glorify God while we do anything means putting that anything second and the glory of God first.

If you were to number God and working out in order what do you think you prioritize more?

Do you believe God is more important than your workouts?

DO

Plan your week effectively with intention to make God look great. Using the same commitment and self discipline you have for working out or eating well, use it also to read your bible at a set time for the majority of the week. If working out takes up most of your days and leaves time with God second, pray diligently. Each night before bed write a prayer in a journal. Pray over your heart, ask God to make you a good steward of your days that you may place him first before all things.

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Can We Love God and be Into Health & Fitness?

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11

LEARN

When we think of the Christian faith, most of our conversations revolve around how to love God well by growing in relationship with Him and serving others. You don’t usually hear conversations about exercising for the glory of God, and if it is brought up, it is often a divisive topic. Much like any divisive topic, we tend to position ourselves in one camp or another depending on what our preference is. In terms of health and wellness I think the two camps can be summed up as - the “health nuts” or the “not-so health nuts.” A general summary of both views can be summed up like this…

“The Christian Health Nuts Camp”

Main Scripture references:
“Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and STRENGTH.” (Luke 10:27)
”So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
”Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Belief: Focusing on our health and wellness is a way we can honor God and be the best version of ourselves.
Frustrations About The Other View: Not-so health nuts are lazy, unmotivated, and undisciplined.
Potential Drawbacks: To overly focus on self and under-focus on God.

“The Christian Not-So Health Nuts Camp”

Main Scripture References:
”For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6)
Belief: Focusing on our spiritual life and relationship with God is the most important, and focusing too much on self detracts from that, especially since our bodies will be fully restored in heaven.
Frustrations About The Other View: Health nuts are vain and self-focused.
Potential Drawbacks: To neglect stewarding their bodies in the present time to glorify God.

So as you are reading this, being persuaded one way or another, or getting fired up again about your thoughts on the topic, I would ask you to to take a deep breath and think instead on this question. Can the issue about whether we should exercise as a Christian really be answered through agreeing with one camp or the other?

I believe the bible would say no. A healthy, biblical perspective seems to be the sum of both understandings where we are to cautiously examine our sinful tendencies to focus on self. Focusing on self can come in the form of idolizing your body, but it can also come in the form of neglecting your body for your own comfort or pleasure. The extremes of both views ultimately lead away from our main purpose as Christians, that purpose being to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

So with that purpose in mind, instead of trying to figure out where you stand on the issue, why not figure out what your motives are for wanting to exercise or not exercise. Our desire to glorify God should always shape our motives and actions. The best way you can do this is to ask yourself 5 things. These 5 things you should ask yourself not just when it comes to exercise but throughout your day as you are working towards being a purposeful Christian. If you can remember before anything you do in life, to pause and reflect on who, what, where, when, and why, you will be able to more fully understand and work towards thoughtful living on mission for God.

KNOW

1. Who? Ask yourself who am I doing this for, really? (Am I doing this for myself, for another person, or am I doing this for God.)

2. What? Ask yourself what am I doing this for? (Will this action draw me closer to God, or will this action draw me closer to getting my needs or desires met.)

3. Where? Ask yourself where you should be doing this? (Is this thing at this place going to be a place where I could fall into temptation with lust, laziness, binging, etc. and if so how can I have better accountability to not fall into temptation in order to glorify God)

4. When? Ask yourself when is an appropriate time to do this? (Am I prioritizing exercise, friends, t.v., jobs, etc. over my relationship with Christ? )

5. Why? Ask yourself why do I want to do it? Is it because I want glory, acceptance, fulfillment, connection, status, _______________ / or is it because I want to glorify God with my actions.

DO

Pray over your motivations to workout or not workout and ask God to forgive your for being selfish. Then re-read the main scripture passage from this blog and reflect on this week how you can be glorifying God more fully with your life.

Can Christians Have an Identity Crisis?

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Colossians 2:6-10

LEARN

When I was 26 I had what I thought was an identity crisis. I had broken up with my boyfriend of two years and I was lost. I idolized love in that relationship so much that all of who I was, I wrapped up in that relationship. It was when that relationship ended that I had an emotional breakdown because I felt like my whole identity was taken away. I had made my comfort and sense of security, my home, in something that was not secure. I was not rooted in Christ during that time, and that is why the crisis happened. Being a girlfriend, wife, mother, sister, and friend are all parts of our identities, and if those are taken away from us we should feel a sense of loss and sadness at times, but the loss I felt was so deep I was crushed. To answer the question about whether or not Christians can have an identity crisis- the answer to that question should be no, but if we are turning to things outside of God to give us identity, then yes. If God, the creator of the universe made us to glorify him and then we go and try to seek fulfillment through other identities outside of Him, we will feel as if we are in crisis when that identity is stripped from us. When we are rooted in Christ we do not have to worry about coming to a place in our lives where we will have some midlife crisis. It is only in the times like what happened with me when I chose to put my identity in something other than God, that the crisis happens.

So why did I allow this to happen? I thought that what was most important in my life was to be loved by my ex. I thought that giving into pleasure and temporary comfort was ultimately better then the comfort that comes from God. I chose to have my identity be rooted in something that could easily be uprooted. I chose the thing that was most convenient instead of the thing that was best. I was in a relationship that was not growing my faith and I still chose to put everything I had into it. I sinned in order to get my desires met, instead of leaning on God and His promises to sustain me.

I wanted to share my story with you as a reminder that choosing something over God will always end in heartache. We can only get lasting peace, and stability, and joy when we choose God. Anything else pales in comparison to putting our hope in God. So friends, even if the heartache isn’t there now and you feel happy and everything appears to be going well in your life, you will be disappointed if you have placed all of your security in something other than God. And for those of you who say I don’t need someone because I can do it all on my own- you can’t. Even you will let yourself down. You will not measure up to your expectations, and you will only be fulfilled when you realize you are a dependent being needing to find true identity in Christ. We should not be dependent on ourselves, our spouse, or our status, or our job, or our kids. We should be dependent on the one who created us. He created us to depend on him and to be complete in him. Paul Washer sums it up well. “Nothing in this world that is thrown at you ought to be able to take away your joy, and nothing this earth could ever promise you ought to be able to give you joy.”

KNOW

1. What thing or person do you find security in? What are you rooted in?

2. Who do you go to when you need comfort?

3. What are you hoping for in this life to give you joy? What thing do you think will finally give you lasting joy if you were able to get it?

DO

Pray to God over the thing or things you are putting your identity in, apart from Christ. Ask the Lord to forgive you for not trusting that he will satisfy you. Then be bold. Pray big prayers that God would give you the strength to make dramatic changes in order to rightly posture your life in adoration towards Him. Write down what you are choosing to commit to God today and what you are going to work towards taking away in order to do that.

Whose Kids Are We?

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV)

LEARN

From the day we are born we start the journey of finding our identity. Even at a young age, adults like to ask kids what they want to be when they grow up. Most kids look to who they admired most to imitate. For me as a young girl it started with wanting to be like my mother. Then as I grew I started wanting to be like other people who were a part of my life, like my older sisters, teachers, and coaches. Looking back it’s funny and sad at the same time how even growing up going to church I never thought to say I wanted to be like Jesus. The world made me feel as if I needed to be someone other than who God made me to be. Someone who others would admire because of my talents, accomplishments or job title. I was told if I went to college or would start my own business or get married and have a family I would finally be somebody. Perhaps this sounds familiar?

As time went on I did do all that - college, started several businesses, got married, had a family, but my soul still yearned for more. I wasn’t content.

My Days became months, months became years and before I knew it my children had grown up and moved out on their own, along with my husband and I selling our surfboard business. My identity of being a full-time mom and business partner was no longer needed and I began looking in the mirror asking myself, who am I now? I found myself desperately clinging to my raft as my identity sunk beneath the waves. Maybe you haven't gotten this far in life but you too find yourself looking in the mirror asking who am I ?

I began to look for my identity in the word and found it in 1 John 3:1.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of  God” There it was…. We are His kids!

So why do we still have a hard time believing our identity is only found in Christ? The remainder of this verse helps us understand why we have a hard time finding our identity in Him...“Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

From childhood we are dropped into this world looking for our identity in what the world has to offer us, but the worlds identity is not in Christ, because the world does not know Him. No wonder we find ourselves not feeling complete. 1 John 3:2 shows us “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be”. The truth is, with love, Jesus has bestowed on us our true identity as His kids and we don’t have to search for what we are to be here on earth. The Word tells us to believe our identity is in being a child of God. Now that I believe this I have stopped searching in this world and have contentment. I now know who I am in Jesus Christ and He is who makes me whole!

KNOW

1. Christ in us is who we are  “but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2
Has Jesus revealed himself to you? Do you believe He alone can give you contentment?

2. “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” 1 John 3:3.  Our souls are purified through our faith by union with Christ and our obedience to His word. Is your hope in Him first and are you being obedient to His word?

DO

1. Take time asking the Lord to show you who you are in Him through His word. Meditate on those truths.

2. Then “(purify) your souls by your obedience to the truth”.  1 Peter 1:22

Continue to believe in what He has revealed to you and take time daily

to trust that you are and will only ever be fulfilled in Christ!  

What is our True Identity?

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:17

LEARN

Your identity is not what you do, but who you are. This is a statement I have come to realize not many people live by. Society focuses on what you do as far as career and profession as the standard of identity. Think about one of the first questions asked when you meet someone new. “What do you do?” From this point on in the conversation this defines who you are to the person you are talking to and vice versa.

I have seen this happen time and time again and I’ve tried to defer the question or avoid it, but it seems to pop up in every conversation I have. Even with friends I haven’t seen in awhile. In our society, what you do defines who you are. But this, my friends, is not your identity. You should not use what you do as a label for who you are. If you are a blogger, entrepreneur, therapist, doctor, athlete; this is what you do, but it shouldn’t define who you are.

As a child and into my college years, I thought my identity was being an athlete. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t playing a sport or participating in some form of physical activity. I enjoyed it and it brought me life, it still does, but I allowed it to take over my life and become who I was. In high school, I was voted “Most Athletic” by my senior class.

One day everything changed. I was in a snowboarding accident. I fractured my right humerus (upper arm bone and no it was not funny). I had to be in a cast with a sling for three and a half months unable to do simple things like get dressed or shower normally. I didn’t know if I would ever play sports again. I stood on the sidelines as my college volleyball team continued the season without me. I was devastated and depressed. The person I had thought I was was stripped away from me in an instant.

Through this period of my life, I realized I had labeled myself as an athlete. This was my identity. With the support of friends and family, lots of praying, some journaling (it was hard to write because I broke my dominant arm), physical therapy visits, and the grace and love of Jesus, I was able to redefine my identity in Christ and heal from the inside out.

I am a daughter of the King. I am loved by the Creator of all things in heaven and on earth. I am a co-heir with Christ. God thinks I am beautiful. He views me as special and unique. God made me in His image. He gave me the gifts and talents I have that are specific to me to use for His glory.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:17

KNOW

Who do you say you are?

Do you believe in the ways God sees you and has created you to be?

Are you living out of fear of what others think of you and what society says your identity is, or are you stepping into your true identity and focusing more on who you are rather than what you do?

This can be hard. I get it. I struggle with this. But we need to remind ourselves who God says we are. I challenge you to look through the Bible and write down who God says you are. Ask God how he sees you and write it down. The act of writing something with a pen on paper is powerful and studies have shown there is a chemical response in our brains when we do this. Try it and see what happens.

DO

Helping people realize their authentic selves and stepping into their true identity has become a passion of mine. I want to shine light on the whole person focusing on their mind, body, and spirit, because you can’t have one without the others. Becoming aware of your whole self is how you discover your true identity. This is why I have started a podcast called “True Identity” which was released this week! We will be discussing topics regarding your health, wellness, business tips, routine, and spiritual growth to name a few. If this sounds interesting to you, check it out. Available on iTunes. If you want to hear more of my story, I share on my website nikkiromani.com.

I’m praying you will step into this journey of discovering your true identity. Remember, your identity is not what you do, but who you are. You are a child of God.   

What is the Point of our Existence as Christians?

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Colossians 3:1-4

LEARN

Who are you and what is the point of you existing? We can all think of the basics when it comes to who we are. There is our name, what we do for a living, where we live, our relationship status, how many kids we have, etc. Those are the little ways that we typically describe ourselves. As Christians, many of us know that the right answer would be to say something about being a child of God but if we are honest, our identity is far more rooted in what our status is on this earth and how it makes us feel.

Here is what the bible says about our identity and what we should be focused on. Colossians 3:1-4 says “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

All of the things we are looking for to fulfill our longings and desires can be found in Christ. The brokenness that we all experience in our lives happens when we try to find our satisfaction, security, and identity in anything other than God.

My Story

From a young age, I have desired to be beautiful, accepted, and recognized. There has never been a conscious time in my life that these desires have not been present. I didn’t find out that I had two huge idols in my life until I was in my 20’s. The number one idol that I worship is control and the other close second is approval. These two idols combined make for a powerful duo, one that has caused me to sin in countless ways, stunted my spiritual growth and hurt many people throughout the years. By God’s grace, I have found myself in a local Gospel-centered church that I have called my home for 5 years. In this time frame, I have received accountability and discipleship in these areas. This community helped me see my sin and in turn also helped support me as I aggressively went to war against these deep-rooted areas of idolatry. However, the war is not over. I still struggle daily, but God is winning my heart and I have hope in the finished work of Christ and his promises.

If you are anything like me and you struggle with putting your identity in worldly things, I want to encourage you to reflect and to ask yourself who the main character is in your life narrative. Our sole purpose on this earth is to make known Christ’s identity. He gave you your unique talents and abilities to show how glorious God is in a wicked and dark world. Those unique talents and abilities were never meant to be worshiped or compared. We were never supposed to seek our own identities outside of God and try to measure up on our own. It’s all about Him. It’s always been about Him.

Dr. Richard Lints, who serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the main campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, north of Boston says it best. “Idolatry is the honoring of things as ultimate which are not ultimate and which, therefore, reshape us after their own image.”

KNOW

1. Where does your hope lie?

2. What do you think gives you significance?

3. What do you really at heart desire to become?

DO

Your challenge this week is to journal about what area or areas you are placing your identity in apart from Christ. Write out verses that will remind you of the identity you have in Christ and place them throughout your house as a daily reminder.

Who Do You Say That I Am?

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” and Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 16:15-18

LEARN

Hey Ladies!

Anna here, and good golly, am I excited about something. Preparing to write this post led me into my bible and listening through so many podcasts. I am stirred up! Before I get into it, I want to ask you a couple questions. Who are you? Like broad spectrum, who are you? What are some things that make you who you are? What defines you? What gives you a semblance of identity? Or to put it another way, what or who, is your identity in? For example, are you the nerdy one, the athletic one, the artsy one, the stylish one? Is your identity wrapped up in that thing? If for some reason it was taken away from you, would you still have direction in life?

A couple years ago I bought a 1999 Land Rover Discovery II. It was big and blue, and looked like you could take it out on a safari, amongst the wild creatures, and explore to your hearts content. It was the first car I owned that could really take me up into the mountains and I didn’t have to worry about getting stuck. It was powerful and rugged. This car made me feel free, like the wilderness was mine to explore and no one could stop me. I recently had to sell this big, blue beauty, because it was just old, and it was becoming less likely that I would make it back home from any exploration. I am almost embarrassed to say selling that car nearly broke me. After all, it was just a car. However, this is when I realized how much of my identity was wrapped up in having some type of adventure mobile. Even worse how much of my identity was wrapped up in that specific car. I had to go back to the true source of our identity and ask Jesus, “who do you say that I am?” I felt like He responded first with “well, who do you say I AM?” Woah! So, my bigger question became Who. IS. Jesus. What do I actually believe about Him? Is my thought pattern correct?

This began a process of really renewing my mind, and making sure I was believing rightly about God. I started this by listening to pastors who taught the Word of God, then I really began reading the Bible (it is important to find out for yourself what the Word says). It turns out the more I have dug into reading my Bible and the more time I spend listening to teachers of the Word, the more my original question, “who do you say that I am” has been answered. This is because the more we know about who Jesus is, the more we will find out what He says about us, and why He made us the beautiful way He did.

Who does Jesus say YOU are?

KNOW

1. YOU ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE - There is nothing wrong with being sporty, or girly, or smart, or creative, or talented in any area. Also know, it is very okay to be more than one thing. God made you with a mind, heart and soul, and you are capable of being a great many things through Him. I am totally the sporty one amongst friends, but I so love getting dressed up for a dinner now and again, and I really love challenging my mind and learning new things.

2. YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD - At the center of who God is, love abides. It spreads forth from there. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am sure (some translations say “convinced”- like the whole world couldn’t change your mind) neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor ANYTHING (emphasis added) else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. At the beginning and the end of every day, you are still loved by God. Not because of anything more than Jesus’ gift to us on the cross and the very nature of God.

3. YOU ARE MADE WHOLE THROUGH CHRIST - God is the master of renewing and repurposing our identity. Do not be afraid or ashamed to come to Him, and ask what He thinks of you. Know that when God looks at you, He sees the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for you. Jesus’ death and resurrection have made you new and now you get to walk out becoming whole, with Him by your side.

4. YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU - The Holy Spirit is a wonderful teacher. He will teach you and help you in the process of learning, just like He did for Peter in our first verse.

DO

1. It’s a bold prayer, but ask Jesus to fill you with a hunger to find out more about Him.

2. Write down three things you believe about God and ask Him to show you what the truth is about

each thing.

3. Write down three things you believe about yourself, and same, same, ask God to tell you what He thinks about you in these areas.

Here are a couple awesome resources I have loved in my journey to find my identity in Christ.

1. “Captivating” by Jon and Stasi Eldridge
2. “The Power of Right Believing” by Pastor Joseph Prince

What are the Benefits of Confessing Sin?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

1 John 1:9

LEARN

Why is it that we desire to look put together externally, even when everything is internally falling apart? Well, I believe oftentimes we do it because it is the quickest and easiest “solution” to not have our deeper problems get in the way of how people perceive us. We have gotten very good at putting a nice paint job over many layers of filth, old paint, and decaying wood to cover up our imperfections. It is not desirable to rip up and expose all of the dirty layers that are chipping and cracking, because then there is a chance that everything will have to be replaced- and that takes so much more time and effort, but any good carpenter and painter knows that you can’t fix a faulty foundation by simply applying a fresh coat of paint. In the same way, God knows we can’t fix our sin problem by covering it up and hoping we stay intact, and that is why he desires us to confess our sins to Him.

So how can we change our thinking about confession to understand why exposing our foundation is ultimately better than covering it up, even if it isn’t always our desired choice? Let’s look at a few reasons why confessing our sin and exposing our weakness is far better than hiding behind a fresh coat of paint.

Faulty thought #1 - We view confession as a punishment.
Believe: GOD IS A GOOD AND LOVING GOD

When we view confession as God desiring for us to be humiliated or embarrassed in order to learn our lesson, we will be less likely to want to confess. Luckily, the bible would say that thinking is flawed. Our God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). God desires us to confess our sins because he is a gracious and loving God who knows that we need an awareness of our sins and accountability from His church to depart from our sin and turn to Him.

Faulty thought #2 - We think God still needs to forgive us, or that he my not forgive us.
Trust: GOD HAS ALREADY FORGIVEN US

God is not waiting for us to confess our sins so he can finally forgive us. We have already been forgiven through Jesus. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). We need ongoing forgiveness not for our ultimate justification but for our ongoing sanctification. God knows that when we confess our sins it allows us to feel at peace with Him, and not distant from Him because our confession shows where our heart is at. We are justified in Christ once and for all, but confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness is ongoing until we are glorified in heaven and no longer sin. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (proverbs 28:13).

Faulty thought #3- We have to be perfect in order to be holy, and we have to do it on our own.
Understand: CONFESSING OUR SINS LEADS TOWARDS HOLINESS

Each time we confess our sins because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are reawakened to what Christ has done for us. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). It is such an undeserved gift that when we confess our sin, God makes known our security in him and the assurance of our salvation as we draw closer to Him and he removes the guilt and shame we so desperately try to hide. It is through our confession that our guilt lessens and our hope and strength magnifies in the Lord and we grow in holiness.

KNOW

What is the main thing that keeps you from wanting to confess your sin to God and others?

Do you believe that God is a loving and gracious God? Do you believe he loves you?

What do you need to confess today that you have not wanted to confess? Is there someone in your life you can share your sin with who can pray for you and help you work through your sin?

DO

Memorize, print off and color this scripture to remind you of the promise God gives you when you confess your sin to him!

Are You Giving God Lip Service?

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Psalm 95:1-7

LEARN

As I came across this passage in Psalm 95, I had one of those moments where the Holy Spirit convicts you like a ton of bricks. The part that broke me was while I read “let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” My conviction was absent as I read most of the text until I came across the part about kneeling. As I tried to visualize kneeling humbly before the Lord I began to weep. When in the past few weeks has my heart posture actually been focused on kneeling? I focus heavily on worshipping and giving thanks to God, but I often shy away from the parts in my life that require me to actually posture myself as a servant. Even when I am at Church, a place where I should be going to focus on God in community, I want to be seen. I want to be praised, if even for how my hair looks, but more for the ways people view me. I want to be acknowledged for my ability to shepherd other women and speak truth into their lives because I am important. In these times I desire to stand next to God instead of face down before him.

Paul Washer says it well, “most of us in our hearts want to be called a servant, but none of us want to be treated like one.”  I like the idea of humble submission, but not actually playing the part of a servant. The problem with me bowing before God in surrender is that I don’t want to. Worshipping is fine because I am still present for others to see me, but bowing takes the focus off me and onto God. It is humbling and bold and the sin in me says- sorry God thats a bit too dramatic, how about I courtesy instead?

It is ridiculous of me to think I can worship God without actually giving my life to Him, but I do it every day. Worship is not just words or thoughts, but actions. It is a continuous posture, not just a moment. God doesn’t just want our lip service, he wants us to surrender our lives to Him as an act of worship. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we are true worshippers when we can’t even bow down long enough to allow others to look to Christ. “True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” John 4:23.

KNOW

What posture do you have towards God (standing beside Him, blocking Him, or kneeling before Him)?

Are you a true worshipper or just giving God lip service?

What are you not willing to give up in order to be a servant for God (power, approval, status)?

DO

When we idolize ourselves, we desire to take the focus off of God and put in on ourselves.

1. Think about the things you do on a daily basis that focus too much attention on yourself and too little attention on God.

2. Make a list of the things you do each day that are for your own glory.

3. Pray over those things and confess them to God as you seek to put your idols to death.

Here are some great resources for further study on true worship and servanthood.

-Bible:

Read the Psalms

-Read Matthew, Mark, Luke or John - focusing specifically on how Jesus acted as a humble servant for God during His time on earth.

-Books:

  When People are Big and God is Small  By Edward T. Welch

  A Taste of Heaven  By R.C. Sproul

Worship: Adoration and Action  By D.A. Carson

What Should Productivity Look Like for Christians?

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

LEARN

We live in a society where time is money and productivity reigns king. In the workplace, efficiency is usually a good gauge at how well someone is doing as an employee, but this also infiltrates into non-workspaces. We as wives, moms, students, siblings, and roommates struggle with this too.

“How come she is able to have a clean home, perfectly kempt hair, and take care of her three kids, while I can barely take care of myself?”

“Why does it take me 2x longer to finish my assignments than my roommate. She always has so much more free time than I do. If only I was able to finish things quicker.”

“My Sister graduated a year after me and is already financially stable and got a promotion and I still don’t know what I want to do.”

We all make these internal comments to ourselves when we feel like other people are more productive and therefore better than we are at managing life. Most of us feel like we have so much to do and so little time to do it, so people who can accomplish more are obviously people we envy right? We read books on productivity and time-management. We multi-task all day and listen to podcasts while driving home so we can fill our time with as much as we can. We believe that if we could just figure out how to manage our time better we wouldn’t be so held back. If we could only get everything checked off our list we would finally get past the rat race- and so we push.

But let’s rewind a bit.

All of these ideas have been built upon the belief that productivity reigns king, but shouldn’t we instead believe that the only one who reigns King is God? So what does God have to say about productivity? As we see in Colossians 3:17, it appears that productivity in God’s view isn’t just about getting things done, it is about getting His things done. The only work that matters is the work that brings Glory to God, and therefore we should be ordering our life around this work. However, when we think about that a bit more we don’t always like hearing that. It is far more desirable to be productive in order to gain relational, financial, and societal status than it is to serve God with our lives. Status allows us to rank ourselves, to feel superior or inferior. Status motivates us, but as children of God, our status will always remain the same- His children whom he loves. What we are commanded to desire instead is to be on the lookout for ways to love others, and glorify God in all areas of our lives. We are to work wholeheartedly for God, and we do that by consciously thinking about the motivations we have behind the all that we do.

It is in our daily tasks at home, work, or school that the bible calls us to love others well because of our love for God. We must understand that relationships are not always efficient but they are important. At times loving others well and glorifying God might mean stopping everything on our to-do list to talk to our neighbor longer and invite them to church. It might mean sacrificing our morning routine to go take a meal to someone who is sick. Or, it might mean taking breaks at work to read the word, in order to focus rightly through our tasks for the day and respond lovingly to people at work we find difficult to be around. Relationships derail us, they mess up our timelines, and they take work- but when we realize that God is King and love rules over productivity, we can then have a better gauge at what we should be doing and how we should be viewing our status as his child, whom he loves and accepts, without needing to find satisfaction or reassurance from societies standards of productivity. True productivity is found in cultivating a right relationship with God.

KNOW

AS CHRISTIANS PRODUCTIVITY LOOKS LIKE….

1. Sharing the gospel. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

2. Doing good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

3. Working wholeheartedly for God. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

4. Making loving God and loving others our motivating factor. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

5. Fighting laziness. “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9)

6. Using our time wisely. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

DO

How can you better prioritize God when you think about being productive?

What might change in your internal dialogue when you stop having societies view of productivity rule you and start having scriptures view rule you?

What steps can you take today to focus more on God in your busy life? (maybe you need a mindset change, or you need to actually change some things you shouldn’t be prioritizing)

What first step can you take today?

How To Get out of a Funk When You are Sick and Tired?

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

LEARN

Recently I have been sick and tired. No, not the sick and tired of life and its difficulties, although I admit I always struggle with that, but literally and physically sick and tired. Since the start of the year I have being dealing with a wide range of on and off ailments that keep getting worse, and the confusion keeps getting greater. I share this story because I know I am not the only one struggling in some way and feeling confused, overwhelmed, and frankly tired of pain and suffering. Seasons of sickness are not comfortable, and restlessness tends to creep in when we feel trapped due to our limitations. I personally don’t do well with slowing down and resting when my body is telling me to, and perhaps you can relate?

As I have forced myself to slow down and reflect for a moment on something other than my suffering, I’ve realized all I have been wanting during this season is to figure out what is wrong so I can make it right. It is as if I see this time in my life as a hiccup, and until it can be fixed, my life won’t be as complete as it could be. I’ve been praying that God will heal me and give me information as to what is going on, but I also have been worrying and pitying myself. Why God do I have to go through this? What if a diagnosis never comes, and it is not in your plan for me to be healed? What then? It is in these moments I feel the race is far too difficult and the journey is far too long and I don’t like the path I see set before me.

Does this sound like your story? Are you also struggling to trust God and perhaps feeling sorry for yourself?

The best thing to do when we are here is to realize that God is not void and we are not God. Even when suffering and love seem contradictory to us, God is greater than our ability to comprehend the why’s of life. So for a moment, let’s pause the research, put our stress to the side, and remember Christ. His words of life are present, right now, waiting for us to read. He is in control, He is suffering with us, and He loves us. Instead of focusing so much on WHY we are suffering and how to fix it, we can be using this time instead to trust God and ask Him WHAT NOW should we be doing in the midst of our suffering?

What now are you teaching me, Lord?

What now can I do to find rest in you?

What now do you want me to do in the midst of my pain?

What now allows us to seek His guidance and not our own. It redirects our focus from one of entitlement to one of dependence on Him and it gives us joy because no matter where we are in life our purpose will always be the same- to love God and others and magnify His glory. God is ready for us to come to Him to find rest in our restlessness, stop asking why, and start asking him WHAT NOW?

KNOW

1. What are the WHY’s you have been dealing with? Write them on a piece of paper, and then pray for forgiveness and a greater ability to trust God with your WHY’s as you reread Isaiah 40:28-31.

2. Write down the WHAT NOW questions you want to work on asking God when you are going through times of doubt, pain and suffering.

DO

Suffering is draining on our body, mind and spirit. During this season especially, notice the times you may need to rest more than normal and adjust your routine as you see fit.

Turn to God.
Don’t push yourself.
Get good sleep, if you can.
Tell people no.
Eat whole and balanced meals.
Allow others to help you.
Pray.

These are all things we know, yet usually they are the things we fight the most when we are in denial about our limitations.

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What Makes up our Inner and Outer Self?

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body. 

Romans 7:22-23

LEARN

Don't you hate it when you bite your lip and then it happens over and over again? It is the worst! Yesterday I had that dreadful experience at least three times. I continued to cause my own pain because my immediate desire to devour my food took over any caution I had for what was going on in my mouth. I always get so mad with those types of pain encounters because I essentially inflict the pain on myself. When I am not being intentional in my mind with what is going on in my body I allow my flesh to overrun my soul. 

This happens often though doesn't it? Not just with biting our lips but with our mind not informing our actions. This phenomenon of how God created us is what the bible talks about as the inner- self and the outer-self. The outer self is what makes up our physical body and the inner self is made up of our soul. Our bodies love taking over to indulge in whatever they want when we aren't being conscious about what is best for us. The danger in that though is our bodies are at war with our spirit, so our mind always needs to be on guard with what our body is up to because as Christians this can lead us to sin. It is as if our bodies are toddlers, always getting into mischief, and our minds are the parents trying to correct the behavior. I don't know about you, but knowing my depravity it is exhausting having to constantly look after my toddler self to make sure I am not up to more mischief, and frankly I check out often. I go on a coffee break and let whatever havoc takes place happen to me and I choose to deal with the mess later. I simply allow my body to take over.

But God calls us to more.

He calls us to be constantly at war with our bodies, and he gives us the help we need to overcome our flesh. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that our soul can have the strength each day to stay focused on glorifying him in our thoughts and actions because in our soul he graciously gives us himself. Each day we get to commune with God and be filled up to have the strength to not just check out in life when it gets hard. The Spirit at work in us can make our days that started with pain, end with promise. The promise that each moment God gives us on earth is a gift to be stewarded with intention and hope through Christ. 

KNOW

DO

As you go about your day at work or wherever you are, notice the times where you are wanting to check out, then ask yourself...

1. What causes my body to rule my mind? Is it laziness, exhaustion, carelessness? 

3. What can I do today to be more filled with the Spirit and go to battle with my flesh? 

How Can We Find Wholeness?

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:1-7

LEARN

Why do I lack self-discipline and have little victory over my sin struggle when it comes to laying down my life for Christ? When I experienced the healing of knowing Christ for the first time, I found a lot of my fears, shame and idols diminishing. My heart was healed and the most important part of my soul was now replaced with God’s indwelling spirit. Still, after a few years of being saved and enjoying the nature of the Christian culture I began to have a different response to this gratitude for salvation. The realities of being Christ’s, was (and is) the best thing in the world, but my self-centeredness led me to waste this blessing instead of using the blessing on others or to sincerely fight the good fight of faith to bring God the glory. I desired to be obedient to God through difficult moments in life, but only to gain relief from my troubles, not for the sake of His name being praised alone. You see, I can read about the riches of being his, identify myself as a believer, even enjoy the cultural norms of Christian community but struggle to have victory in my own life. My identity was more like those the bible talks about who have an appearance of godliness but deny its power. I may have been healed from a lot of things in my past through coming to know Christ, but idleness became my norm and I failed to keep walking towards holiness.

Being made whole is progressive. It is not a one-time healed, mountain top experience, it is a journey past the one mountain top, down through various valleys and up different peaks through an array of scenery. It is daily walking hand in hand with Christ. This journey to wholeness is what keeps going as long as we keep responding to what Christ has done in his finished work on the cross. We don’t stop when the healing comes or when our issue subsides. His glory is better than our temporary satisfaction. We are healed so we can continue becoming whole.

Wholeness mirrors our sanctification. It is what we are in Christ positionally, but also what we are presently becoming. We are going from less sinful tendencies to even less sinful tendencies while holding in our hearts the promise that powerfully fuels our endurance all together, “where sin abounds grace abounds more” Romans 5:20. The grace of God doesn’t just provide us the forgiveness we need, it transforms us to into Christ’s likeness. As we continue from the initial healing of being Christ’s, we need a continual practice of running to the source of wholeness. Even though our nature is sinful, and at the point of salvation Christ covered us with his righteousness, our souls will always need saving. Healing work is not yet finished. We experience wholeness by experiencing Christ. As we seek to obey Christ we can continually increase in being wholly his. This is not a lofty unreachable concept. The bible outlines practical and concrete ways in which we can experience Christ and know what He is doing and what He promises he will do right now in our lives. Though many brothers and sisters are healed by Christ’s powerful work in that now they see him and long for him, we need his continual healing power to become more and more like him. Join us as we reach to the depths of God’s promises for the power to keep on keeping on; becoming less of us and more of him.

KNOW

Meditate on 2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

DO

What does God say will give us strength for Godliness and life?

What promises of God give you strength for your current season right now?

*Find a friend to keep you accountable to keep going on this venture towards holiness.

Can Self-Love be Biblical?

Check out our first Vlog where we tackle the tough topic of self-love/self-care and how to biblically care for our bodies. 

"For physical training is of some value, but spiritual training is a value for all things."
1 Timothy 4:8