For some of us, God is offering the very thing we’ve been seeking and he’s waiting for us to take it. But the truth is, now you’re afraid to take it. You’ve been waiting for so long that you’ve grown accustom to life as it is now, and receiving what you’ve been seeking would be very uncomfortable for you. So what do you do?

For others, you have been asking and God in all of his wisdom has continually redirected you. So, do you keep asking or do you give up? Do you push on or do you settle here? Or, do you dig deeper to find the the purpose of God’s seeming denial of your request.

Scripture paints two very different pictures on seeking and receiving. Two different stories on miraculous healing and denied healing. While they seem contradictory, we will see they are both for the same great purposes.

First, the story of man who had been laying paralyzed by the Pool of Bathesda for 38 years, awaiting his healing. It was believed when the water would bubble in the pool, the first one in the water would be miraculously healed. But this man had no way of getting in the pool, so he laid there day after day while absolutely nothing changed. That is, until the day Jesus showed up.

Jesus sees him, walks directly to him and asks in John 5:6 “Would you like to be made well?”

On the surface, that seems like an insulting question. Would you like to be made well? But this is actually a question for each of us because the truth is, sometimes our dysfunction serves us.

When you have a headache, you are excused from certain activities, right? Then, it works for you.

When you have a doctor’s note, you’re not expected to do extreme things. Then, it works for you.

When you have an illness of any sort, you’re limited and therefore not required to go beyond those limits. Then, it works for you.

And while we fantasize about not having limitations, the truth is we would miss our old excuses.

Oh my gosh, you don’t have a single good reason to not work out, then you feel like you kinda have to work out. Yuck.

You don’t have a single reason why you can’t show up for work, so then you’re left having to go to work every day without a free pass. Ewwww.

You no longer have a reason to lay on the couch, eat cheese puffs and watch Netflix for 7 consecutive hours? Oh crap, now what are you going to do? You have to actually get up and be productive? Ughhhhhh.

That’s why “would you like to be made well” is a genuine question from Jesus. Because honey, if he makes you well, you don’t get to lay here by this pool anymore. You might have to go ahead and get a job. You might have to walk. You might have to start showing up for your life different as a healed girl than you did as a paralyzed girl.

And while we would likely never admit it aloud to anyone, the truth is our dysfunction has served us and it’s hard to let it go.

These headaches are painful, but they are my pass.

My illness is inconvenient, but it creates a convenience at the same time.

While I look pitiful the pressure is taken off me and no one has any expectations of me, including myself. Being made well would cost me this pity, and that’s truthfully a high price to pay.

So Jesus asks, are you really ready to let go of all that? I have more living for you to do, but you’re going to have to leave this pool you’re so familiar with. You can’t lay on that mat anymore.

The man replied to Jesus’ question with an excuse. Verse 7, “I can’t, sir, for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

This wasn’t just an excuse, it was the truth. He couldn’t do it. For 38 years he hadn’t been able to do it. And maybe you haven’t been able to either.

Over the weekend, I started reading the story of creation like I had never read it before. I let fresh eyes see the words and receive the awe and wonder of all God did to make all there is.

We’ve all heard about God making the sun and the sky and the land and the animals, but have we missed the revelation for our lives today in these words?

Read it with me in Genesis 1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

Yes in the beginning there was nothing. Formless, empty, darkness. God’s spirit was hovering. And as he hovered, he started talking. And as God talked, things started changing!

If you’re reading along today, I’m using the New Living Translation. Every time you read “Then God said”, underline it. Then look for what happened and underline it too.

“Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (So, we’re underlining “Then God said”, and then we’re underlining “and there was light.”) God said it, and there it was. No further explanation given. Because God said it, it showed up. Like BOOM.

“And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night. And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” And that is what happened.”

That’s another “Then God said” so we’re underlining that. And what comes next? “And that is what happened.” Oh, we’re underlining that for sure. God said let this water that covers the whole universe be separated, and make this space I’m going to call sky. AND YA’LL THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

And oh it just keeps on going through the entire first chapter of the Bible. Keep underlining. Then God said “let there be land”, “and that is what happened.” Then God said, “Let there be trees and plants and fruits”, “and that is what happened.” Then God said “let there be lights in the sky”, “and that is what happened.” And just like that, all because God said it, the sun and the moon and all the stars in the universe were formed.

Do you realized what just happened right then? 200 billion trillion stars were created. How in the world did that happen? Plain and simple, don’t try to over complicate it. God said it, so that’s what happened!

He went on to create the birds of the sky, the fish of the seas, and finally human beings in his image. How? Be speaking it. And when God spoke it, that’s what happened.

With each time I underlined “Then God said” and quickly found “and that is what happened”, I found every answer I’ve been searching for. I don’t have to understand it. I don’t have to see how it all fits together and becomes something good. I don’t have to have a laminated 10 year plan. I don’t have to have my ducks all in a row, because heaven knows I can’t with these ducks. I simply know if God says it, then it will happen.

What we need today is a word from God. A word from God that radically makes things that were not previously there. Afterall, he is the Creator.

We need a word from God that miraculously heals things that have been broken. Afterall, he is the healer.

We need a word from God that takes what is too far gone and appears to be beyond hope for repair and make it new again. Afterall, he is the redeemer.

I don’t have to google symptoms and home remedies, I need a word from God. I don’t have to try and twist and contort my...

Have we been piling up tasks for “later”, assuming later actually belongs to us? Have you tricked yourself into believing one day you’re going to ‘feel like it’ more than you do today, and until that day comes, you’ll just delay.

I’ll say those things later.

I’ll take care of that later.

I’ll get that done later.

I’ll get started on this later.

I’ll make time for that later.

But “later” is not yours to fill. “Later” is not even in the offering at this point. You have today. You have right now. This is what you have been given, and when God gives you something it is with an expectation that you will be using it.

Remember the story Jesus told about the boss who was going away and left 3 of his workers with a measure of money? It’s found in Matthew 25: 14-30 and we call it the ‘Parable of Talents’.

Jesus says, “a man is going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master … I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant!’

Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.”

Jesus isn’t talking to us about money, he’s talking to us about our lives! This is about the time we have been given, the energy we have, all we can do with what he has already invested in us. And for those of us who are putting it away and not using it, fearful we won’t get it right, I assure you of this … IF YOU’RE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT, YOU’RE NOT GETTING IT RIGHT!

If you’re just watching the dishes pile up, you’re not getting it right.

If you’re just watching the laundry take over your entire bedroom, you’re not getting it right.

If you’re just watching your weight go up, and your debt pile up, and your work build up, and your worry work up, you’re not getting it right.

God has given you this day of life, and he expects you to do something with it. The time in this day was given with an expectation that you would invest the time and have something to show for it. When God comes back around at the end of this day to...

Let me set the stage for today’s devotional. I’ll be sharing a story I talk about often, but maybe today you will see yourself in this story. Let’s look for you here in the details.

In the book of Exodus we read about the Israelites being freed from captivity in Egypt, led by Moses. They were on a journey to the Promised Land, but to get from where they were to where they were going, they had to go through the wilderness. Isn’t the same true for us? To get from where you were to where you are going, it is a wilderness, a desolate land with the unknown and it’s not always easy.

Let me throw out a few examples:

Maybe you’re trying to lose weight. You left 260 pounds and you’re heading to 160, but this journey isn’t easy. In the beginning you’re like the Israelites leaving Egypt all excited saying “woohoooo we’re going on a roadtrip, we’re finally on our way. This is exciting! We’re doing it for real this time!” And shortly into the journey you realize this kinda sucks. You know if you keep going you will reach the land of 160 pounds, but nobody told you how tough it would be between 260 and 160. Maybe like the Israelites, you hate the journey so much that you almost wish you could go back to where you were. Back to the days where you could eat what you want. Back when you didn’t even care. Maybe that’s what you have done in the past. You gave up on the journey and you went back to the bondage of being unhealthy and overweight because you hated the wilderness in between so badly.

Or maybe it’s not about health and weight for you. I help people discover their passion and their purpose and often that means leaving the security of a regular paycheck and creating something from the passion God has given them. For most, in the beginning it’s exciting, but on the 2nd month with no paycheck it seems the days of punching the clock at that miserable job were much better than the uncertainty of following your passion. It’s scary out here in the land of the unknown. How many of us will tuck our tail between our legs and hightail it back to where we were and forfeit where we were trying to go?

I talk to a lot of women battling infertility. They’re in the middle of intense hormone treatments and mood swings that would span the greatest divide. They’ve been let down so many times before and now here they are about to take the next big step, and they’re questioning. Questioning if this is worth it. Questioning if maybe they’re just not good enough, maybe they’re being punished, feeling unworthy and broken. At this point the thought of going back to their happy days where they didn’t have to schedule their sexy times and stress about the next treatment would be pretty darn sweet.

Is it worth it? It doesn’t feel like it here in this wilderness.

That was the Israelites. They were miserable on their journey through the wilderness. They had left where they were, they were heading to the promised land, but the land in between of the wilderness is where they had no food. Scripture says they wished they would have never left Egypt. Although they were slaves back there, at least they weren’t starving.

It’s easy to feel that way in the wilderness, the place between where you were and where you are going.

The place between blowing and going and racking up that debt … and living completely debt free. Where are my girls at who have decided to be financially fierce and become debt free? You remember the days of walking in the store and buying it because you wanted it and just charging it. You were in bondage back then, but at least you got what you wanted. Now here you are in the wilderness and you’re growing tired of saying no. You just want to shop and eat out and go to the movies. But no,

God has promised he has good plans for you, but wouldn’t it be nice if you knew the way? I mean really, I need to know how to get to those good plans. I need directions, and I don’t mean a foldable road map. I need step by step, GPS instructions that reroute me when I continually fail to follow instructions and miss my turn.

I’ve learned there are two types of travelers. First there’s the planner. I present to you my husband as Exhibit A. He plugs in a destination on his GPS, then he zooms out to look at the overall route. He understands the direction of his destination and the major roads that will take him there. Then he zooms in to see the specific intersections. Once he has reviewed the full route for a good 5 minutes plus, he then begins driving without the voice promptings.

Then there’s the other type of traveler. We will call this one the follower. I present to you me. Yes, this is me in my happy pippy braids and fake eyelashes. I don’t even qualify as Exhibit B, let’s say I’m Exhibit L. Yes, L for Lost. Perpetually lost. I don’t know where I am or where I’m going, but I’m never really stressed about it, because here’s how I roll. I plug in a destination in the GPS, such as the TJMaxx. I don’t really care which TJMaxx, any one will do. I don’t first consider which side of town it’s on, or how many toll roads it may require to get to one versus the other, I’ll just take the first one that pops up. Then you know what I do next? I press START. Then I start going down the first road I find in the easiest direction while my GPS gets it’s bearings. It may or may not be the correct road, and it’s typically never the right direction, but soon the sweet little lady comes through my speaker and says “make a U-Turn”. Yo-kay, let me whip this baby around and get it to the TJMaxx. I call my husband to let him know I arrived. He says, “which one are you at?” “Oh, well I’m at the one the lady brought me to.”

Which traveler are you? Here’s what I know, whichever one you are, you think it’s right and the other one drives you a little batty.

We all want to know the way. Some of us want to know the big picture way, and others just want the next immediate turn way. Where do we find the way?

Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Honey, if you know Jesus, then you know the way, because HE IS THE WAY. He is the way you’re going to get through this. He is the way you’re going to make it. He is the way to get to where you need to go. He is THE way. He is the path that will lead you there. He is the road by which you travel. He is the ultimate GPS who accounts for all your wrong turns and mistakes. He is the way, so if you know Jesus, you know the way.

I challenge you to never again say that you don’t know how you’re going to get to get through something. How you’re going to do it is you’re going to follow Jesus. He is the way. He is making a way. He is showing you the way. You may not understand the way. You may not see the full picture of the way. But girl, you know the way. It’s Jesus.

How will you get through this divorce? Jesus.

How will you raise these babies? Jesus.

How will you overcome this setback? Jesus.

How will you battle this addiction? Jesus.

How will you ever be happy again? Jesus.

He is the way. He will guide you through this. He will lead you.

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He’s not only the way, but he’s the TRUTH. Who he is, what he says, what he does, and who he declares you to be is the truth.

Do you know the truth? Honey, you need to know what Jesus says because your enemy is the father of lies. Don’t be all shocked, liars lie. He’s just living out his character.

Did you know God has given you something specifically to guide you at this exact point in your life? Did you know what he offers will not only guide you, but it will keep you from going crazy here. It will bring you peace and help you calm your wild, anxious thoughts. It will open your eyes to all he has strategically led you to here to provide for you.

However, without receiving what God has for you here, you will be busy beating your head against closed doors, stuck in dark corners with overwhelm and fear, convinced things will never get better.

So, what exactly does God have for you, and how do you receive it? If this thing God has for you will guide you through this, help you to see all you may have been missing, and perfectly equip you to continue on to the good plans he has for you, uhmmmmmm, don’t you want it?

What God has for you is the anointing of His Holy Spirit.

Don’t let that scare you or confuse you. It doesn’t have to be hookey or weird. God’s Spirit is simply his power living within you. It is his voice inside you. His divine wisdom imparted to you. This is where those “gut” feelings come from. Those tingly spider senses. Those goose bump moments. That keen awareness and prompting. Honey, that isn’t your gut. You’re not a spider. Those are holy goose bumps, and it’s the Spirit of the Almighty guiding and directing you just as he promised.

When Jesus was with his disciples he personally showed them miracles and taught them lessons. When his mission was complete on Earth, he said in John 14: 15-17 “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

If you have asked him, he now lives IN you. This is where your strength comes from. This is where your guidance comes from. This is where your peace comes from. This is what sustains you and gives you hope. But maybe you need a fresh anointing of His Spirit today. You need an extra dose of his power. You need a thick layer of his providence. You need a double helping of his peace.

I’m whipping out the King James Version of the Bible today for this one. Come on God, tell it like it is! Throw it down for us, we’re ready! Psalm 92:10 “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”

I can’t believe what we just read there. Did the bible for real just talk about a unicorn? It darn sure did! I knew they were real! Do rainbows come out of their butts? Do they have light purple eyes and a continual little sassy grin on their face like they’re cute and they know it? Well actually, the Psalmist is using unicorn to refer to a strong, fierce, wild, untamable beast. So he is saying God will make me strong and unstoppable. How will God do this? God will anoint him with fresh oil.

Oil represents the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit. Samuel 16:13 says ““So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.”

An anointing means to be chosen to receive. And girl, just in case you are wondering, YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO RECEIVE!

Today, we ask for a FRESH ANOINTING of GOD’S SPIRIT to guide us, empower us, strengthen us, and fill us with peace. Go ahead and ask him for your fresh anointing today. You don’t have to run on yesterday’s strength when he is offering a fresh supply here now. Yes, he guided you yesterday, now receive new guidance today. Yes there was power flowing through you and power over you before, and now you can ask for a fresh supply just for this day!

This morning, I woke up to a real mess. I mean a 6 digit grand style mess that turns major plans all the way upside down. It’s not what I had planned for my Monday, but there’s not anything I can do about it.

So, what do you do when you find yourself in the middle of a mess and you don’t have a solution for it because it’s not up to you? What do you do when every fiber of your being wants to flip out, but the voice of truth says “peace, be still.” Can you be calm in this?

I’m speaking to me and you both. CAN YOU BE CALM IN THIS?

I assure you, Jesus is calm in this. Yes, this very thing you’re facing that has you all worked up and stressed out. Jesus has seen the end from the beginning and he knows this storm will not sink this boat. Listen to me okay, if you’ve invited Jesus into this boat, it’s not sinking. Say that with me, “it is not sinking.”

Calm down, Sis.

Do you remember the circumstances of Jesus saying “Peace, be still”? Jesus was in a boat with the disciples and a wild storm came upon them. The disciples start freaking out because the waves are crashing and they feel like the boat is going to sink. They run to Jesus for help and find him sleeping. Yeah, like I said, Jesus is calm in this. He’s not stressed. He’s not worried. He has complete control. Let’s read the story together.

Mark 4: 37-40 “But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Peace! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Understand, Jesus was not only telling the storm to be still, he was telling his followers to be still. He was rebuking the waves, and he was rebuking the fear.

The disciples knew to run to Jesus for help. They knew he had control. However Jesus was surprised they were so afraid of this storm when they knew he was in the boat with them.

Is Jesus surprised by your reaction right now? Is he asking you at this moment, “my girl, why are you afraid, don’t you have faith in me here?”

Yes, yes I think he is.

Hear the voice of truth again, “Peace, be still.” You do not have to be overwhelmed in this. Jesus will not let your boat sink. The waves may crash, the boat may fill, but there can be peace here because Jesus is in control.

Will you accept that with me today? Accept that Jesus is in complete control over the circumstances that have you stirred up. Maybe you can’t do anything about it, but HE CAN!

Do you believe that? Jesus can, and will, do something about this. He is at complete peace over this and he invites you to be at peace with him.

Is this out of your hands? Is there absolutely nothing more you can do? Then let it be out of your mind too.

For real, stop stressing over it. Stop doing mental freak out sessions where you build the case for what a disaster this really is. Is that what you’ve been doing? You’ve been having mental freak out sessions, haven’t you? You’ve been building a strong case for how this is never going to be okay and you’re waking up defeated before the day even begins. You’ve rehearsed losing, when God has declared you as more than a conquer.

STOP REHEARSING LOSING. Stop declaring the boat is sinking. Get out of your head and realize who is in your boat.

Peace, be still. Calm down now.

These things that are out of your hands shouldn’t be consuming your mind. Do you understand what your “freak out” says?

Don’t you wish this whole “following Jesus and living fully in God’s will” thing could be easier? Why can’t it be easy? Why does it all have to be so hard, so impossible, and such a struggle? You would think if God is for you, then everything would just magically fall into place and you would have instant success. Instead, we seem to fight and claw our way for every inch of progress on this journey of life, and that leaves us to question, exactly what is God doing here?

Maybe you had a good plan, and it was all ruined. Maybe you were making progress, then you fell in a hole and can’t seem to find your way out. Maybe how you thought things should be at this point in your life is a totally different story than how things really are.

And all of this causes you to question. You question if God hears you. You question if you’re really chosen. You question his good plans for you. You question his power and providence over your life. And guess what happens as you question … the enemy just swoops right in that open door and pokes at you.

Has the enemy been poking on you? Has he been taunting you with reminders of the past and proposed worst case scenarios of the future? Has he been overwhelming you with the little things and rendering you incapable of doing anything?

Stupid Satan, get on up out of here, and don’t let the door hit you on your way out!

How do you close that door? How do you slam the door the enemy creeped in through? What opened it in the first place? It was your doubt. All those questions on if God hears you, if he still has good plans for you, is his power over your life. But really, with the struggle you’ve been in, no one can blame you for doubting. This has been some hard stuff, Sis.

Understand Jesus isn’t guilting you for your doubt. Remember the father who comes to Jesus and begs for healing of his son in Mark 9: 17-26. He says to Jesus, “heal him if you can.” And Jesus says “If you can? All things are possible for those who believe.” The father honestly replies, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.” Did Jesus rebuke this man? Did he reprimand him for his doubt? No, scripture says he healed the man’s son right then and there. He did the impossible for the one who wasn’t sure it would ever be possible.

Don’t allow your doubts and questions to keep you from running straight to Jesus. You don’t have to understand why he does what he does, or how or when he will do it, you just have to come to him! This door of doubt and questioning can be shut now. The enemy’s access to your mind can be sealed shut.

Satan doesn’t get to poke at you any more. Today we slam the door that doubt has opened.

To help us slam the door, God led me to a story that I’ve read many times, but today, it jumped out and grabbed me. It’s really something simple I’ve never noticed before, but today God showed me this is how he works, and this is how we can stand in the middle of disappointment and stalled progress and KNOW HE IS WORKING!

Isn’t that what you need today? You need to know even though things seem to only be getting worse, God is working. You need to know while the enemy has been poking at you telling you this will never work, God is indeed working and you have the power to tell the enemy to leave. You need to know although things just got harder, and it now looks impossible, the God of the impossible will still make it possible.

Yes, that’s what God says to you today, my sister. And here’s the simple story we’ve been overlooking.

1 Kings 18, we read about Elijah. Elijah was a prophet of the Lord. He knew the power of the one and only real God. Now, he would defend and prove God is who he says he is.

Elijah had seen the undeniable miraculous power of God himself.

What if the thing you’ve been worried about could be prayed about and resolved? What if the thing that’s been standing in your way could be prayed over and be moved? What if all that has been holding you back could be prayed about and those chains would be forever broken?

I have a friend who struggled with a food addiction for many years. It consumed her life, robbed her of her confidence and joy, and caused her bright light within to go out. She had tried everything and simply nothing had worked over the strong hold food had in her life. One day, she decided to try again, and this time she would bring it to God and ask for him to change her cravings, change her taste buds, help her overcome her picky habits, and actually like the new way of eating she would try.

The first day, she hated everything she tried. She kept praying, asking God to change her from within. She tried again the second day and not only could she eat it, but she actually loved it. She is now living life free of her food addiction and coming alive again. How did it happen? 1.) Seeking God for her change. 2.) Her willingness to try again.

Would our Almighty God, the creator of the Universe, the one who is in charge of keeping this whole world spinning, really care about you and what you’ve been struggling with? Oh girl, you bet your butt he cares!!!!

Luke 12:7 says “the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” Not just counted, numbered. This means God not only knows how many hairs you have on your head, but he knows precisely where they all go and which one just fell out. So, if God cares about the hairs on your head, don’t you think he cares about the worries in your head? Don’t you think he cares about the battle you’ve been fighting, the change you’ve been trying to make, the uncertainty you feel at the crossroads where you stand, the temptation you’ve been trying to resist, the mountain you’ve been trying to climb, and the disappointment you’ve been wrestling with?

He cares about all of it!

And if God can change one woman’s taste buds, I assure you he can help you change every single thing that needs to be changed in your life. What do you have to do?

1. Seek God for the change.

2. Be willing to try again.

I know of a woman who had smoked cigarettes for over 20 years. She prayed and asked God for help to quit smoking. The next cigarette she picked up, she nearly choked on it. It was repulsive to her. She’s never smoked again.

I know of a man who had nearly ruined everything in his entire life with an alcohol addiction. One night, sitting outside of a liquor store, he felt the touch of God on his shoulder, and he’s been set free since. Today his life is better than he could have ever imagined. His marriage was saved, his children are whole, and his home is at peace.

So, Sis, let’s have a talk. I’m going to just say what God is putting on my heart right now, knowing he will speak directly to the one who is here to today seeking.

Have you asked God to restore your love for your husband? Have you asked him to remove your desire for sin? Have you asked him to replace your temptation with strength? Have you asked him to revive your passion? Have you asked him to help you overcome your laziness? Have you asked him to rewire your worried mind, and rebuild your anxious heart? Have you asked him to bring those dead dreams back to life again? Have you asked him to supernaturally guide your next step? Have you asked him to change your perspective and attitude?

Have you asked? Then have you tried again?

I’ve learned if God cares about every single hair on my head, he cares about every detail of my life and I can bring it to him for help. Here’s an example. People often ask how I can maintain my energy and good mood on minimal sleep. At retreats,

What if the thing you’ve been worried about could be prayed about and resolved? What if the thing that’s been standing in your way could be prayed over and be moved? What if all that has been holding you back could be prayed about and those chains would be forever broken?

I have a friend who struggled with a food addiction for many years. It consumed her life, robbed her of her confidence and joy, and caused her bright light within to go out. She had tried everything and simply nothing had worked over the strong hold food had in her life. One day, she decided to try again, and this time she would bring it to God and ask for him to change her cravings, change her taste buds, help her overcome her picky habits, and actually like the new way of eating she would try.

The first day, she hated everything she tried. She kept praying, asking God to change her from within. She tried again the second day and not only could she eat it, but she actually loved it. She is now living life free of her food addiction and coming alive again. How did it happen? 1.) Seeking God for her change. 2.) Her willingness to try again.

Would our Almighty God, the creator of the Universe, the one who is in charge of keeping this whole world spinning, really care about you and what you’ve been struggling with? Oh girl, you bet your butt he cares!!!!

Luke 12:7 says “the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” Not just counted, numbered. This means God not only knows how many hairs you have on your head, but he knows precisely where they all go and which one just fell out. So, if God cares about the hairs on your head, don’t you think he cares about the worries in your head? Don’t you think he cares about the battle you’ve been fighting, the change you’ve been trying to make, the uncertainty you feel at the crossroads where you stand, the temptation you’ve been trying to resist, the mountain you’ve been trying to climb, and the disappointment you’ve been wrestling with?

He cares about all of it!

And if God can change one woman’s taste buds, I assure you he can help you change every single thing that needs to be changed in your life. What do you have to do?

1. Seek God for the change.

2. Be willing to try again.

I know of a woman who had smoked cigarettes for over 20 years. She prayed and asked God for help to quit smoking. The next cigarette she picked up, she nearly choked on it. It was repulsive to her. She’s never smoked again.

I know of a man who had nearly ruined everything in his entire life with an alcohol addiction. One night, sitting outside of a liquor store, he felt the touch of God on his shoulder, and he’s been set free since. Today his life is better than he could have ever imagined. His marriage was saved, his children are whole, and his home is at peace.

So, Sis, let’s have a talk. I’m going to just say what God is putting on my heart right now, knowing he will speak directly to the one who is here to today seeking.

Have you asked God to restore your love for your husband? Have you asked him to remove your desire for sin? Have you asked him to replace your temptation with strength? Have you asked him to revive your passion? Have you asked him to help you overcome your laziness? Have you asked him to rewire your worried mind, and rebuild your anxious heart? Have you asked him to bring those dead dreams back to life again? Have you asked him to supernaturally guide your next step? Have you asked him to change your perspective and attitude?

Have you asked? Then have you tried again?

I’ve learned if God cares about every single hair on my head, he cares about every detail of my life and I can bring it to him for help. Here’s an example. People often ask how I can maintain my energy and good mood on minimal sleep. At retreats,