Anxiety is something we ALL struggle with: traffic, raising our children, burning dinner, getting married, being successful, death – all these things can make us anxious.
But, if we are anxious because we are sinning and not trusting – that doesn’t bring glory to God.
Do we believe Him at what He has said?
Let’s believe God!
When I first met my husband, I knew immediately of his love for integrity and his love for the Word. It was clearly evidenced in his life and speech and faithfulness to the ministry that God had called him to. It still is. He pursues integrity and fights the sin that so easily entangles.
Before we got married, on my first tour of the entire house which we would share, I walked in to his master bathroom and saw a printout of Ephesians 6: the Armor of God section. What? Single men don’t have Scripture on their walls that they are memorizing. He said he read it every morning to help engage his mind and prepare his mind and body for the battle against sin that would face him that day. I didn’t know any single men that did this – that took Scripture this seriously – that was just an added confirmation that I was right when I said “yes”!
Our first three years of marriage have been exciting, ever-changing, and hard at times too. One of the verses that have been such a comfort to me has been this one:
I love the truth that I hear and know to be a fact in this verses. That doesn’t mean that no harm will ever come to me or my family, because the Bible indeed says that we will face hardships in this life. But, God has promised He will protect me. I am safe in his hands. And my family is too.
As I head out of town this week, with our boys, I know I need to pray a shield of protect around this house, my husband’s car, his work place, our church where he will be some while I’m away, his mind, and his heart. I don’t only need to pray this while I’m away, but I need to pray for him daily that he would remember this truth and the truth found in Ephesians 6 – that God is his armor.
Gracewear Collection contacted me a few weeks back about their products. Their simple jewelry line whose primary purpose is to remind folks that God has given us an armor. We are shielded by faith! Their jewelry is simple and artistic. I love the shielded charm that I picked out. I love pearls and I loved the fact that I could wear it or hook it on something that I with me at all times. What woman doesn’t love jewelry. And this jewelry doesn’t scream hey – look at me. No. It is simple and pretty – creatively designed to not draw attention (1 Peter 3) but to remind of the truth it proclaims and to look pretty.
Christmas is coming up. And if you’ve already completed your Christmas shopping – then what about birthday, a housewarming gift, a wedding gift, a baby shower gift (because don’t we mommas worry about our babies?). There is always a reason for jewelry. You can use my referral link to shop and I get credit. How great is that?
Ladies – our trust isn’t in jewelry, but in the God who created all things for his glory – and we hope in Him to be our shield.
(This post is sponsored by Gracewear Collection, but all thoughts and comments are my own.)
Steep your life in”
God-reality
God-initiative
God-provisions
Don’t worry about missing out.
You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Matthew 6 – The Message
I’ve learned a lot about having needs and having every single one of them met through God’s gracious giving heart and the people He uses to meet those needs.
Our life is rich. Even when my wallet got stolen.
God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He’s all I’ve got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young
to stick it out through the hard times
Lamentations 3 – The Message
I know several friends, many of whom are new mommies, that struggle with the day to day like I sometimes do. Our kids are small, our husbands work long hours, sometimes other jobs are also on our agenda for today.
My one piece of advice that I was given that I also share the most with these friends is this:
You only need to get through today.
God gives grace enough for today – and tomorrow, you know what, HE is faithful to give more grace and show us his radically new mercies that enable us to fight the enemy:
Exhaustion
Impatience
Fatigue
Worry
Fear
Selfishness
His mercies are better.
I remember one of the worship pastors I had recently just engaged us with this Psalm every chance he got. It was his heart and his soul.
I love how the Message puts it. And I think the change in language makes it even more difficult to do – therefore needing all the more grace to do it!
Do you ever ask a question of God and then get the answer the very next day? Yesterday, I was journaling through a Piper article at a local coffee shop (thanks to the Mister having a day off and graciously keeping the boys), and I wrote down a question that I wanted to talk to the Mister about – as he is very good about seeking the enjoyment of God in my life – as he should (Ephesians 5).
The question was this: how do I do blogging and social media for good – and not have it cause ungodly characteristics to take root in my life and heart? In social media and really in all things – I struggle with envy, contentment, craving to be better and known. These thoughts grip my heart instead of lettering the wonderment of God grip my heart and let that be enough.
I don’t want to give up blogging and photography and social media – and I don’t think the need is there – I just think that care and concern for my soul (and also yours) needs to be always at the forefront of my mind.
So, here’s the answer – or at least more of the equation that I will bring to the Mister as we talk about it on our anniversary trip this coming weekend.
So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God. You’ve had a taste of God. Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.
1 Peter 2:1-5 The Message
I went through especially the first couple verses from my She Reads Truth reading for today:
Here’s the KCV (Kimberly Campbell Version):
Since you have been called to the amazingness of the Living Hope of Christ saving you and the Spirit living in you: don’t have anything to do with causing distress or pain on anyone else, don’t have anything to do with concealing or misrepresenting truth, don’t have anything to do with claiming and not being, don’t have anything to do with discontentment or wanting what other’s have, don’t have anything to do with communication that causes harm to another.
What of the above areas do you struggle with in blogging/social media? For me – its envy. Why do I write and photograph and cook – others do that and they have more followers, likes, giveaways, etc.
Do you struggle with putting down others in your blog? Maybe its the cute sarcasm of something that will be funny but you well know that it is really a slam against someone else?
Do you only put the good on IG and not real-life – that would be the claiming and not being part. Does it only show your home when it is show-worthy or your kids when they are all clean from a bath? Why not put the real life of them screaming their little heads off when you take away their milk cup?
God wants us to crave Him, crave the Word, work as unto the Lord (not so we gain more likes on facebook).
Who is set in the place of honor in your blogging and social media? Is your life on the computer or your iphone a sanctuary or dwelling place for God?
