694 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ 

-Encourage- 

Therefore encourage each other and build each other up just as you are doing. 1 Thess 5:11

I have so much to share. It’s unbelievable how challenging this week has been but through it I am discovering so many things. I was hurting pretty bad. I feel as I move forward in this journey I’m going to hit these tidal waves but I’ll get stronger and less defensive with each wave that hits. 

I honestly was at work last night and cried. I cried because for the first time since Day 120 I felt like quitting again. Another wall! Truly I literally put my hands up and then many things happened. A girl at work saw me hurting and asked what was wrong. I told her I felt like quitting my ministry. Then I cried. She then told me, “Don’t you have been on my mind and you have made me want to have faith again!” My heart warmed up. Then I went out to my car and messaged my friend Ann and she said, “Ha you are in no way quitting!”

The Challenge: 

Build a network around you of encouragers! When you are down they will be who pick you up. 

693 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ 

-Breakthrough- 

Though I walk through a valley of a shadow of death I will not fear evil for you are with me. Psalm 23:4

I feel a bit abandoned by God and I’m in a pit right now. Job of the Bible felt this way a long time but then God blessed him for his suffering. I feel as though my endurance is being tested harder then ever before. I have my mom upset with me, a client upset with me and a bunch of people from my hometown talking bad about the posts I’ve been sharing. Tonight I want to quit! But if I quit I will feel like dying. This ministry is my heartbeat.

Lord please help me endure this storm. I’m trying to be steadfast but the water is rising up. Although I’m drowning I see you peek through with encouragement. Thank you for that but please keep me strong through the hash waves! Just as I felt the waters rising I also feel breakthrough is on the horizon! I hang on to that hope! 

692 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ 

Be bold

We are called to be bold. Joshua 1:9

Everyday I wake up and think what would Jesus do but many of those days I fall short. I despise not doing things perfectly but I also have come to learn God didn’t design us to be perfect but instead designed us to be perfectly used in ways that he needs us. Many days I fail but today I feel I passed a test. I was driving on a main street in our city. I looked over to the side and watch a man fall out of his motorized wheel chair and lay helplessly on the grass between the road and sidewalk. I’ve had dialogue before with God telling him if I see those that desperately need help I’ll stop. So today was the day I was tested on this. After I passed him my mind suggested he’ll be okay someone else will help him. Then I remembered what I told God and immediately turned around and went back. By the time I ran up to the man there was a about six people standing around him staring and wondering what to do next. A few wanted to just wait on the ambulance. I looked at them and said, “How is he?” “Did you ask him?” Trying to feel out the situation. Then I got closer to the man laying on the ground and said, “How are you feeling?” “Are you hurt?” The man said, “No, I’m not hurt.” I then felt my dominate spirit take charge. This boldness I have within can sometimes put people off but today I truly think God used it. We were all there capable to help! We didn’t need to embarrass the man any further by getting him an ambulance. Another man there said, “I agree if he’s not hurt let’s maybe try picking him up.” He was a heavier man. Four of us bent down picked him up and put him back into his chair. We helped organize his stuff and then he said, “Embarrassing!” I and the other man assured him there is nothing to be embarrassed about. He then drove his wheel chair down the street and we all continued on with our days. 

The Challenge: 

Do not be afraid of your bold spirit when it rises up. God will use that in a way he needs even if others don’t see it that way! 

691 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ 

Be Real 

A person without self control is like a city with broken down walls. Proverbs 25:28

Speaking of positivity. I have been battling with the idea of being fake verses having that gifted self control. Trying to learn and share  what the difference is between the two. What I have discovered is it’s more of a spirit connection. If we are feeling down it’s okay to be down and if we are feeling joyful it’s okay to be joyful. What’s not okay is pretending your incredibly happy when your really down in spirit. How can others reach out to you if they do not understand you are hurting inside? 

The Challenge: 

If your happy be happy but if you are down don’t pretend to be at 130% when your truly just not. That’s not listening to the spirit inside you it’s pretending your something that your not which will hurt in the end. 

If your mad go ahead and share that your mad but have self control not to act on that anger. 

If you are hurting then it’s okay to wear a smile to try to be more positive but you don’t have to keep that smile on all day just to play to how you want others to see you. 

Bottom line Be REAL! 

690 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ 

Be honest

There is a a dangerous thing rising up in the world which is often evident on social media. It’s the topic of positivity. I’m all about positivity but we also need to be real, honest and open. If we are not real a crash will await. 

So many companies out there this day in age portray how to have your most perfect life. They share about all the wonderful free trips you can earn and how the products make you feel like a super hero. But this can be a problem as in some cases it creates a mirage. 

Just last week a man from my town / area killed his wife and two children. I am friends of friends with the woman on Facebook. It’s been tragic. The picture that was painted was a perfect family. Often posts were about traveling, free vacations and how wonderful of a husband and dad he was. All the while he was shockingly a raging wolf. 

The Challenge: 

It’s okay to be real. It’s okay to be honest. If you are going through a hard time it’s okay to reach out and share that truth with someone. Talking and being honest with where your spirit is may just be the thing to get you out of a life that is killing you. Fake positivity and denial is a very very dangerous thing. 

689 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ 

-Humbling Roles-

Humble yourselfs, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that in proper time he may exalt you. 1 Peter 5:6 ESV

Humility. I am getting an extra dose of learning about humility and humbling thy self down in this season of life. Sometimes in life the Lord will put us in positions we personally would not choose. This will force us to learn how to be more humble. A position we think we deserve may not be the position God needs us to work. 

I was hostessing the other night at my job for a season. I prefer operating the board and delegating which tables need cleaned but because they have noticed I am quicker at bussing tables, then some, the manager had me bussing. The Lord has really humbled me down and I know this is where he needs me to be for now. This job has taught me so much about humility.  

The Challenge: 

Have you ever felt like your more deserving of a title or role then the one given to you? Maybe God needs you in that certain role in order for you to understand humility. One of the greatest lessons the Bible teaches is about humility. If God’s willing to work on your heart then we should step into those humbling roles with a big ol smile because he cares enough to help us change. 

688 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ 

Persevere 

Do not throw away your confidence. It will be richly rewarded. Hebrews 10:35 

I feel terrible to share this but I have not been reading my bible as much as I should. I know when I read I do understand God more and therefore feel closer to him. When I’m finished with this second devotional here, I plan to do a deep 365 Day Study of the word of God. I have come a long way simply learning how to get into scripture and now I’m ready to dig deeper and understand the chronological order of the scriptures and it’s history. 

Although, I have not been taking time to read I will say I love my Bible App. Everyday is shares a new verse with me which helps me feel connected. Today it shared Hebrews 10:35. I read the full chapter 10 and It reminded me to stay confident in my faith. I have days where my faith tested and weary but I know if we hold on we will be richly rewarded for our perseverance.  

The Challenge: 

What do you do when your faith is at its best? 
What do you do when your faith is tested? 

What do you do when you faith is weak? 

***Answer what you have done in the past and site examples. Then answer what the word of God tells us to do in those moments.