Hey, sweet woman, how’s it going? There are so many twists and turns in the plot line of life that I wanted to encourage you. God has you covered, dear one. I was praying for you this morning and thought I’d remind you of God’s devoted love for you. Not just any love or a love but THE love that has no rival and no equal and that reigns supreme in every circumstance and emotion.
Nothing takes God by surprise and yet He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I think He sees us also as being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow but not in a sarcastic, demeaning way. He knows what brokenness looks like, how we use our emotions to define us, and how we tend to respond to various things.
He’s never shaken because He knew it then, He knows it now, and, as always, He’s ahead of it all. He has provided solutions, answers, and strategies. But if all that feels too overwhelming to activate, all you really need in order to make a difference is His presence.
Be encouraged with this reminder in the form of a prayer. Read through it, pause and talk to God about it. Share your heart with Him, and give Him praise and thanks for He is worthy. Let’s spend some one-on-one time talking to God (I call Him Daddy).
Daddy, we invite Your presence. Come and sit with us. Share the beauty of Your presence with us. Bring Your calming spirit into this space. We welcome the tenderness of Your love. We open our arms for Your embrace.
What do You want to be for each of us in our individual circumstances? In our anxiety, You are our peace. In our fear, You are our calm. You are never overwhelmed or taken by surprise. You never cast your shadow over the brokenness of the world but are always engaged with the details of our lives. You view trouble as an opportunity to love us, to calm and heal our hearts.
You do not change, and You are never shaken. Everything is on time and moving along Your kingdom calendar with Your purpose and and Your timing.
You have a plan for us. Our lives have purpose and intention, so You are present in every situation. Your presence makes all the difference when moving us from being defined by the world to being defined by Your great love for us.
Thank You for being the God of intimacy.
You know the number of hairs on our heads, and You know the individual rhythm of our heartbeat. You handcrafted the color of our eyes and the shade of our skin and we are Your most magnificently creative expression.
The deep wounds of our hearts are not hidden from You, and You know the story behind every one of our scars.
You know what we sound like when we sing in the shower, as well as our breathing patterns when we sleep. You are the God who is gloriously invested in us. The God who chooses to be entangled with all the parts and pieces of the intricacy of how You created us.
Stir up in us a desire to know You intimately and to explore all the ways You draw us deeper into the love story You have for us. In your great love for us, you will continue to write the story no matter what, but—oh, Daddy! —how exquisitely beautiful that You want to write it with us.
You desire for us to experience You in the midst of every single joy, struggle, victory, conflict, and danger. It’s Your presence that is the eye of every storm. And it is that same peace that also extravagantly and overwhelmingly multiplies joy.
Soften every hard edge on our heart so that we will draw close to You. With Your love, break down every wall that we have erected as our attempt at self-protection.
Thank You that every day is full of Your beauty, full of tiny miracles. Daddy, let not even the smallest miracle go unnoticed by our eyes nor our hearts.
We profess with our mouths what our hearts believe—that You are the One True God. All the world may fall away, but Your presence, love, and promises will endure.
Wrap us in Your comforting, powerful presence. We need You. We invite You. We give You praise for extending to us the beauty of who You are in every circumstance and every situation and emotion.
Let it be true, let it be so, let it please You that we would seek You and serve You all the days of our lives … for You are worthy. Amen
NOW LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
Self-Reflection
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take the truths you discover about yourself and hold them up to the Light to evaluate them against who God says you are.
- In what ways do you spend one-on-one time with God?
- Name two ways you express your gratitude to God.
- List five things you’re thankful for.
- What is one thing you can incorporate into your day to go deeper with God?
- What is one area you’d like to grow in with regard to who God is?
Talk to God about your answers. Give Him praise, ask Him questions and then listen for His gentle response.
Take Action
Use God’s word to take control over the traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises in His word.
Here is a scripture for you to print, cut and carry with you and/or post in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s Word says about His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
Translation: We are called to grow in understanding and in receiving and demonstrating God’s grace and knowledge. Jesus is generous with His grace and knowledge, giving it in abundance to those who seek Him out.
