“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9
We are about 10 days away from one of the days that we as Christians anxiously await to celebrate every year. Undoubtedly, you have prepped, cooked, cleaned, shopped, decorated, mailed cards and gifts, volunteered, etc. There is always so much to do during this time. But, wait! Have we taken time to have a cup of coffee with a friend, go to church with a smile and joy, thanked the many people who make our life the wonderous adventure it is every day, spent time with God without a timer set, accepted the gift of peace from God? Wait, peace during this time of year?
We all let the stresses of this time of the year wear us down and defeat us and then by Christmas day we are more ready for it to be over than to celebrate what this day symbolizes. The birth of our Lord and Savior who came here for you and me. He came on this day knowing what the future held for Him. Yet He decided you were worth it. I was worth it. He came with peace from God that He was doing the right thing for His family. US! His brothers and sisters.
Peace can happen anywhere even in the middle of chaos. Think about that night so many years ago. They had traveled for days in the dust and wind. All they want is to clean up and rest. But there is no place. They end up in a stable. The water around them used for the animals to drink from. The place to rest is the bedding of the animals in the stable. No fire for warmth because the stable would burn up. Yet in this setting, Christ chose to come and all the pictures we see are of peace. We see a mother happy to see her child. A father looking over his family. A child sleeping in this unlikely place of peace on a cold night in December. Where did the peace come from? God.
We cannot produce peace on our own. No matter how hard we try. Nothing is going to be perfect. We all have feelings, and they are fragile. One wrong word from someone or someone else’s actions can cause us to start worrying and stressing over everything. We cannot produce peace on our own. Our hearts and minds will not allow us to ignore everything. Work, family, obligations, illnesses, desires, our own mistakes, etc. all cause us to worry and fear. We cannot produce peace on our own. The heart is the source of our feelings. The Bible does not teach that the very thing that we fear will not take place; rather, what the Bible does teach is that God will keep your heart and your mind in a state of peace whatever happens. As Psalm 4:8 tells us, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord make me dwell in safety.” We cannot produce peace on our own. Our God is solid. We proclaim Him to be our rock. If we want peace in our lives, we must accept that it is a gift from God. We get peace when we pray to God and seek HIs peace in our lives. Among all the challenges, struggles, striving for perfection we must humble ourselves and acknowledge the only way to have peace in our lives, in our families, in our church, in our community, in our world is to ask God and accept this glorious gift He has for us.
This is a great time of the year to let go of all those feelings we have harbored all year. What someone did or didn’t do, how we were wronged, what awful thing someone said, that someone who sat in our spot at church, the person who didn’t say thank you after we worked so hard, that person that walked by and didn’t say anything after we greeted them, and so many other things that we allow our heart and mind carry around. Let it go and let God’s gift of peace settle in our hearts and minds. Start a new year with a new goal of accepting God’s gift of peace in your life daily and letting go of those things that we were never in control of anyway. Let God’s peace settle over you like the snow on a cold winter’s night. For the coming year I pray that “the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:26
Merry Christmas my family.
What situations in your life do you need to turn over to God? (Pray right now about them)
What are some of the things in your life to be thankful to God for this past year?
What can you do to fix your eyes on God and not your problems?
What scripture speaks to you about God’s gift of peace? Memorize it and keep it in your heart.
Guest post by my almost 16 year old daughter, Makenna.
What does joy mean to you? Is it just an emotion, or a feeling that you don’t notice most of the time? Well joy is a really good thing, very good for us. Joy is and can be produced in us, even in dark circumstances. God is the creator of joy, so don’t depend on your circumstances to make you feel a certain way. Don’t wait for the circumstances to change, realize that joy can be with you in every season of life. If we want to be joyful, then we have to be in the Word of God. Be in the presence of God. Religion doesn’t bring joy into our life, relationship does. Take a look at Psalm 118:1, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” What is more joyful than that? Steadfast love from God. I think a lot of times we don’t realize how good our God is. How often do you seek joy in other places? We need to seek joy through God, not the world. Return steadfast love to God. Find joy in his presence. Now take a look at Hosea 6:6, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Seek His steadfast love! That is where our genuine joy will come from. Another question may be, how do you find joy in pain? Well, believe it or not when you’re going through painful trials and hardship, that’s what makes you stronger to get the most joy out of life. God’s Spirit is the one who empowers us to do what we never could. As we’ve seen in the Christmas story, things that seem impossible suddenly become a reality when God shows up. The Bible describes Jesus as the Son of God anointed with the oil of joy. This should give our hearts hope! We have a Savior acquainted with grief but anointed with joy – the same joy he promises to give to us in our grief. God gives statements like, “I am the one God he will never leave or forsake you.” “I am the one with peace and understanding.” No matter what circumstances we face, we can rely on a joyful Christmas season and days beyond knowing that God loves us, and will never leave us. That is a joy that can’t be robbed!
Thanks, Makenna for allowing me to share your devotion! Hope you all enjoyed!
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever,”
Psalm 73:26
Being on a health journey has it’s ups and downs. It brings challenges and temptations, especially around the holidays! There have been times that I have feared failure, yet again, and other times I fear success…afraid of what losing pounds may cost me, or even worse, the expectations I may put on myself if I reach my goals…will I become extreme? Will I become prideful, or full of vanity? Will my personality change in a negative way? I think that these fears are what can keep us stuck, or going back to old habits.
Food is a good gift from God. It’s really not the enemy here. But, it becomes the enemy when we make it more than good, and turn it into an idol…something that we go to instead of God. I know I’ve been an emotional eater. It became my comfort when I was sad, stressed or mad, and my celebration during my happy times. God wants to be our comfort and our celebration. And, only He truly satisfies. I’m learning that all that food really does when I’m hurting or celebrating is bring further guilt and shame!
Because of His strength in me, I can overcome the temptations! I think we have underestimated His strength in us! We have to stop going into battles within while looking back at what was. We want to find comfort in what we always have, we longingly desire that one thing that we think will satisfy. Our love is our food, something that can never love us back! We are relying on our own strength in these moments! Romans 8:13 says, “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
We think that if we are strong enough, we can do anything or be anything. But, Jesus warns us in Mark 14:38 that our spirits are willing, but our bodies are weak. I’m learning that it’s in my weaknesses God is giving me opportunities for growth. He is showing me so many areas that I can work on and improve. So many people, including my past self, have lost weight, or gotten healthy. Some have even reached their fitness goals….and most have done it in their own strength, not seeing the relation between body, mind, and spirit. But, the happiness is always short lived. Because when we are led by the flesh, we are working towards weight loss goals for all the wrong reasons. We think if a little is good, then a lot is better. We look in the mirror and cannot see the truth. A focus on the flaws increases the lies. This way steals time and energy from the most important people….God, ourselves, and our families. When we focus on willpower to lose weight, we become consumed by what we want our new identity to be. Then, we transfer our bondage to food to vanity. Satan is there waiting on the other side of good health, ready to show us any and all remaining imperfections. He’s sneaky like that!
There’s nothing wrong with improving ourselves. But, if we are going too far the other way….God has every right to step in and say “That’s enough!” He wants to show us freedom, not lead us into another form of bondage.
Others who are working on getting healthy, but doing it in their own willpower lose the fight, and their strength fails. It’s easier to give up and find comfort in what was familiar. (This has been me, over and over again!) I think it’s just uncomfortable and hard, and easy to just remain where we were than to keep fighting (especially when doing something like this in our own strength)! First Corinthians 1:25b says, “…the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” What I’m learning through this Wellness Revelation study is that until I connect to the Spirit, the true source of all power, I will continue to fail. True and lifelong self-discipline and obedience to the Lord does not come from ourselves, but from God in us by the power of the Holy Spirit! When I am physically or mentally weak, I must draw on the power of God within me. For so long, I have pushed that power aside, I think I just didn’t believe His power could work in me, or within me for something like weight loss. I felt like I would never succeed, but we must never believe our feelings. Feeling are meant to be felt, not control what we do or don’t do.
I now know that being connected to the Lord in this journey is the key to my success. No more yo-yo dieting! I want more than weight loss, I want to gain my life back! In the process, I’m finding freedom! And, when we have life, we can give that life to others, which is what I hope I’m doing! I am so passionate now about helping others, especially when it comes to the limiting beliefs that play over and over in our heads when we are in bondage! Now, I know that I must renew my mind on a consistent basis through His Word, and through godly mentors, teachers, preachers and podcasts that fill my mind with truth. The truth of who I am in Him. And, trust me…I thought I had been doing this all along in my Spiritual walk, but I was still in bondage when it came to my mind and how I thought. I believed the lies, and couldn’t see the truth, even when it was right in front of me. Living with the right mind-set helps us to remember that every choice we make is important. When we’re living intentionally, we can be His agents of change here on earth.
I’m learning to slow down, way down, and to stop living on auto-pilot in my daily routines. And, when I do this, I am more aware of the choices I’m making, the words I’m saying, and the actions I’m taking. I’m being more present in the moments, more engaged with people around me, and fully present. (I definitely have not perfected any of this….but, it is something the Lord is working on in me.)
I used to try to “balance” everything. I was trying to be a good housekeeper, a good homeschool mom, a good wife, mom, friend, Sunday School teacher, and working on myself by working out, eating right, and being consistent in my own time with the Lord. Now, I know balance is a lie. There is no such thing as perfectly balancing all the areas of my life. I was failing at ALL of it, when I was trying to balance it all. I was relying more on my management skills, and not being present in much of anything, nor was I enjoying life. Now, instead of trying to balance everything, I’m seeking wholehearted living. I wake up and ask the Lord to direct my day and to help me accomplish exactly what He has for me. I can show up as myself in every circumstance that comes up, and give what I can. I allow the Lord to direct me and live with a much greater passion and purpose. I know we all have a uniqueness about us, and I want to give my own voice, heart, mind, and body to whatever He has for me each day. And, I hope that He will use me to create hope, love, and joy in others. And, this takes belief! We can’t give away what we don’t have. We have to believe and act on truth. The truth is that God loves me and accepts me, and because of Jesus I am right with Him. He makes me righteous because He is righteous. He thinks, feels, speaks, and acts right in all circumstances through me. But, I must believe He is, or else my sinful nature takes over once again. I can trust and believe only if I’m seeking His heart throughout my day, every day. I also have to believe He loves me despite my mess, despite my failures. He met me where I was, and began His good work, transforming my mind, heart and body. We have to trust Him to strengthen us when we don’t feel like we are enough, (because those thoughts will still try to creep their way in), and trust him to remove pride in our hearts when we are again tempted to follow ourselves rather than Him. And, when we live wholeheartedly, drawing on the unconditional love and acceptance of God, that leads to true wellness.
He is sufficient for me. Sufficiency means adequate. When we live in sufficiency, our circumstances will have no power to define our worth. When we realize who we are is who God called us to be, we will be set free. Have you been held back by the chains of self-condemnation, doubt, or ridicule? When we trust the Lord is sufficient for us, these things will no longer have the power to control us. He gives us what we need, but not necessarily everything we want. We can be selfish, we sometimes are not satisfied with not having it all! But, I know I need to listen to my God-given body and be satisfied with everything about it, regardless of what I want, whether that be food or the way I look. I don’t need to have it all. I don’t want to be fixated on a number or a body shape. None of us will be enough or have enough apart from God. Only He will truly satisfy.
Many of the health struggles we have today could be avoided if we would just be proactive in eating whole foods, living wholeheartedly because we know we are wholly loved by a holy God, rather than seeking after things we think will give us the comfort or pleasure we desire. Our nation is sick. We get too much of what we want, but not enough of what we truly need (which is hearts that are healed and made whole by unconditional love, and that are set free to help set others free). We must engage our souls and spirits in shedding the access pounds. The flesh will not be strong enough on it’s own to fight a war greater than itself. We must continue looking in the mirror of our souls and spirits so that we can do the work of change. James 1:23-24 says, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirrorand, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” We are missing out on the freedom God has called us to when we go away and forget to do the work He’s calling us to. We are invited to be a part of the solution, not the problem in the world. We can and will win this battle, not by our own strength, but by His. Now is the time to let the Scriptures search us, know us, and change us. And, we must always remember to work on ourselves before pointing out the flaws in others.
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around-life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.”
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It’s been a blessed time for our family.
I also wanted to let you know I am grateful for you and I hope that sharing my heart through my journey is helpful to you.
I recently have been listening to some amazing podcasts, one that has become a favorite is Limitless with Deanna Herrin. I highly encourage you to go take a listen if becoming a better version of yourself is something you desire. Right now she’s doing a series on Mindset, and it’s just so good! But, since I started listening to her, I decided to go back to the beginning and listen all the way through! And, about this time last year (2021), she had a Gratitude series. It really spoke life into my heart, and I feel like if something is a Godsend, the Lord often confirms it’s from Him when another person says the same types of things within a close proximity of hearing the first message. Well, that’s exactly what happened! I listened to Deanna’s Limitless podcast on Gratitude and speaking life into others by expressing our gratitude for them in our lives, and then my Pastor also preached a sermon on the exact same thing! Their challenges were a tad different, but still the same! Deanna challenged everyone to write a note of gratitude and speak life into people for 30 days….one a day. My pastor challenged us to speak life and gratitude to people either by saying it to them in person or by writing a note, email, text, etc. They both also talked about how it is impossible to think negatively at the same time you are being grateful. Gratefulness negates negativity! And, I know from research that 70%-80% of our thinking (about ourselves or others – including our self-talk which probably takes up the majority of our thoughts) is negative! So, being grateful is such an important practice. Even when difficulties and trials are occurring in our lives we must find even some small things each day to be grateful for. It is so good for overall health! So, my challenge for you, even though Thanksgiving has passed, is to start a gratitude journal and write a minimum of 5 things each day that you are grateful for….it can be as simple as the smell of a fire, or the crunch of fall leaves or as big as the Lord’s goodness, or family connections. And, speaking life and gratitude to others…..it’s just so powerful! Who doesn’t like to hear that they are thought of, loved, or special to someone and why? If you want to get the family involved, make a gratitude jar where everyone places slips of paper with things they are grateful for, then every month or quarter, go through and read them. Make it a new habit that’s not just during the Thanksgiving holiday, but all year through!
Next week I’ll be back to sharing about what I’m learning through the Wellness Revelation. Stay tuned for the Advent season where I’ll be sharing some devotions I’m writing leading up to Christmas where we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
“Everything is permissible for me” —but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” —but I will not be mastered by anything.
I Corinthians 6:12
I think I’m going to change the format of my Wellness Revelation Bible Study posts to just me sharing with you what the Lord laid on my heart during the week. It’s more relatable that way, even if you aren’t doing the study with us.
I believe the Lord gives each of us gifts and a purpose to live out, and ultimately it’s always to lead others into a life of joy and freedom in Christ. I had never really considered that was my purpose…. but the more I think about it, the more I realize it’s really His purpose for us all! We all have different gifts that help us to do this, and because we are all unique, He uses us in different ways to accomplish this same purpose. He created you to speak into the world in a way that only you can, and me in a way that only I can.
I’ve gotten caught up in the day to day grind, but I’m seeing that He has purpose even in those things if we will just slow down and allow Jesus to live through all the moments. As we live day to day, in whatever occupations we have or even as homeschool moms or stay-at-home moms, we can provide evidence that Jesus is who He says He is, and that He helps us, encourages us, redeems and sets us free, and saves us from our sin and ourselves. Even in our failures, struggles, and the day to day “To Do” list, He is our strength. He picks us up out of the grave and releases us from bondage. We get the opportunity to put His strength on display through the choices we make, the actions we take, and the voices we use. What we do shows Christ’s love and power inside us to a world that needs to see.
We have the opportunity to be the change. We are called to live for His higher purposes, a higher accountability, and to display self-discipline. If others see us making poor choices, what are we saying about our God of power and love? If we are walking around with stress rather than thankfulness and joy, our countenance shows it. And, that is not going to display His love or power in our lives.
I don’t know about you, but I can have lots of goals for myself, my family, my home, and my work. And, these goals cause me to want to become a better version of myself. But, I can get caught up in trying harder to work out “my” plan. In becoming a better version of me (because He is convicting me in areas I need to improve) I can sometimes get overwhelmed with the “doing” and not just rest in Him. So, for me, a schedule is really good for discipline in my life, but I cannot let the schedule control me. I must rest in Him and His leading. I have to slow down and be present with others. I mean, why “do” the changing, if it doesn’t affect my peace of mind, my facial expressions, and my connection with others? I can’t find the peace of mind, a positive countenance and connection without His leading me at all times, and my constant connection with Him. Thankfully, His Spirit in us already gives us the self-discipline or self-control we need. He gifted that to us when we received Him as Savior and Lord in the form of the Fruits of the Spirit. I’ve often thought these fruits were things I need to work at or on, rather than realizing they are already given to me as gifts just for being His child. I just have to allow Him to live them out in me. We just live out the truth of His love, as dearly loved, valued, and cherished children of God who happen to live in a fallen, sinful world. We obey because we love. The more we love Him, the more natural the obedience will come. When we are obedient, self-discipline naturally follows.
What do we need in order to do His work? Energy!!! His job is to do the work in and through us, our job is to take care of ourselves and make healthy choices that will benefit us for the long haul. If I choose to live a healthy life, I am allowing myself the opportunity to be on mission, living out His purpose…what He created me for—reaching the unreachable in the darkest places. The types of foods we eat definitely affect how we feel, and how we do our work. There is power in our food. What else can get into the smallest cells in our bodies and change them? Only God’s Spirit, and Jesus, the Word, can go that deep. And the quality of life we enjoy is determined by the quality of food we eat. I’ve also recently realized that the foods that I eat and the way that I take care of myself definitely affect the way I think and the mindset that I have. So, it’s not just good food for our bodies, but we also need to be fueling our minds at the same time! I do this through getting still and opening the Word of God, through worship that penetrates my soul, and through awesome podcasts, and good books. And, recently I took on a 30 Day Gratitude challenge where each day I am writing a personal note of gratitude for different people in my life. All these things are awesome ways to fuel the mind.
If you are anything like me, we can easily become overwhelmed and stressed with all the things that need to get done on a daily basis. We are busy! We are busy doing good things like leading a Bible Study, leading a homeschool co-op class, keeping the house clean, cooking healthy meals, running our kids to their practices or to church functions, or to lessons, and working on ourselves by working out, and growing as a person. It’s A LOT. But, I’m learning that it’s in the being still, even for just a few moments each day and surrendering my day and my tasks to the Lord, that I am able to be more joyful, more upbeat, more ready to take on all the things I have to do. And, when I take that time to be still, He multiplies my time. But, when I don’t take the time, not only do I not get as much done, but I also become grouchy with the kids, worn out so much quicker, and my mind starts going to dark places where my self-talk becomes a punching bag within. I want to live a healthy, whole life (mind, body, spirit, soul) so that I am freed up to love myself in a healthy and righteous way (not selfishly) and to love and pour into others.
I loved Alisa Keeton’s story, in Chapter 3 of The Wellness Revelation, about The Very Hungry Caterpillar children’s book, and how that Caterpillar got distracted with all the different types of foods available to him – most of which were unhealthy – and how we are like that caterpillar because we get distracted so easily with all the things going on around us. But, just like the caterpillar had a chance to turn things around by going into a cocoon, we also have that opportunity. I feel like that’s where I’m at right now. I’m in a cocoon where I’m discovering lots of dark places that need changed. And, I’m doing the hard things, just like the caterpillar….and those hard things take time. But, I get to go into this cocoon with the Lord who is with me all the time. We like to rush, we want to see the change NOW. We want to see the beauty of the butterfly emerging and flying into freedom. But, we can’t rush through the struggle and suffering or the beauty doesn’t emerge. We have to go through the hard, the times it may feel easier to give up, but if we stick to the disciplines the Lord is laying on our hearts and keep pressing forward, eventually the change and the beauty, and the freedom will come! And, though I can’t wait for that day, I’m treasuring these moments of growth the Lord is taking me through, the hard things, the life lessons, these times waiting on the Lord and His timing. I am becoming dependent on the voice of Love to lead me and give me strength through the hard, dark cocoon.
And, I know if you’re at all like me, you know that breaking bad habits and starting new ones is another HARD thing. It takes around 3 weeks or 21 days to break a bad habit. But, it takes about 3 months before new habits become established as a part of our daily lives. It’s a compound effect….the more we do the hard thing/the new habit, the better we get at doing it, and the more good habits we can add over time. I think in the past, I’ve tried to add too many good habits at once, and I couldn’t keep up with all the “good” I wanted to do. It’s better to add one small thing at a time until it becomes easy, then add another. Don’t go and try to change everything about yourself in a day or a week or even a month! It’s too much! Slow and steady wins the race! And, most importantly we have to allow the Lord to guide us. He wants us to be free, even more than we do. He wants us to live abundantly, that’s what He designed us for. But, we have to listen to His leading in where He wants us to change, and to trust Him with the ugly moments, the hard times, the struggle in the becoming who He designed us to be.
Here is another passage that has really spoken to me through the cocoon stage:
21 “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! 22 Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
23 “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.
24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 I will restore[a] to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.
26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Joel 2:21-27
I feel like this passage is telling me that He is the restorer of all things! Whatever the locusts have eaten, He will restore! All the mistakes I’ve made, all the years I have struggled, all the wrong I’ve done, He is making new and is restoring. Praise His Name!! I also love in verse 23 where it says, “…..he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.” The definition of vindication is: the action of clearing someone of blame or suspicion; proof that someone or something is right, reasonable, or justified. He loves me so much that He doesn’t want me to feel shame anymore, to feel guilt from the wrongs I’ve done. He wants to clear me, but not only clear me but bring abundance into my life! I believe we can live an abundant life in the here and now, we don’t have to wait until heaven for that! He gives it now! We just have to pursue Him, love Him, live in Him and He through us!
Love you all!
Dena
P.S. Please let me know by commenting if you can relate to any of this! I’m hopeful that sharing some of my struggles and growth that others can relate and somehow benefit.
This week I want to take a small break from our Wellness Revelation Bible Study just to share some things the Lord has been revealing to me. He has been helping me to dig deep, and I know this digging deeper will bring me complete healing and that He is going to use this to help others with the same struggles. And, that is exciting!
This past weekend I attended a “Speak Life” retreat with 9 other ladies. It was a weekend of pouring into one another. One of the exercises we did that had a HUGE impact on all of us was to write down all the negative thoughts just scrolling through our minds about ourselves. We were only given a coupe of minutes to do this…..yet every single one of us came up with several things that we had written down. Mine were:
I feel misunderstood.
No one will listen to me.
I have to prove myself.
I am only loved if I meet expectations.
Other ladies responded with things like: I am not enough. I am a bad mom. I am not pretty, and many more. And, with a group of 10 ladies, I am sure you can imagine all the deep heart struggles we all came up with and the vulnerability shared. And, it was HARD. It is HARD to share these thoughts out loud. Have you ever tried to? I think the enemy likes us to keep these thoughts (given to us by himself….as the father of lies) to ourselves, never speaking them out loud, because once they are spoken aloud, they can be combatted with the TRUTH, and are no longer valid!!! And, that is exactly what we did!! We listened to these painful beliefs, then we immediately shared with one another what we saw that was TRUE about whoever had just shared. And, every single time, it was the OPPOSITE of what the person felt within their mind.
Here are the TRUTHS that the ladies came up with for me:
I am loved.
I am worthy.
I am a survivor.
I am seen.
I am valuable.
My voice matters.
It brings such healing when we SPEAK LIFE into others, and receive that life from others. Why do we not do this more often? Why don’t we use our voice to be an encouraging word to someone that is probably thinking these same thoughts that we all do!? This is something that I was very convicted to do…to use my voice to bring hope and healing to others. We all have struggles and thoughts that aren’t serving us. We need to dig deep, speak them aloud, and allow the Spirit to fill us with truth through the words of others or through His Word.
After we did this exercise, later that evening, we took the list of negative, non-serving thoughts we had, and tossed them into a bonfire, and then we spoke the TRUTH out loud instead. It was powerful and freeing.
Over the remaining time of the weekend, we had the opportunity to write encouraging notes to one another on cards. We each had a box with our name on it and everyone put their handwritten notes in the each person’s box. This way, at the end of the weekend, we could take our boxes home filled with encouraging notes from all of the other ladies. It was so emotional reading them once we got home, and everyone was so encouraged.
My challenge to you this week is to do this same exercise with someone you can trust. Get vulnerable. Share your heart, and let them help you come up with TRUTHS to combat those lies. If you don’t feel like you have anyone to share with, share with the Lord. Speak them out loud! Then, search His Word for truths that combat those lies! Then, speak those aloud, too! Satan wants to keep us stuck in these thoughts that keep us from moving forward in truth. Don’t allow him to win! God has so much more for each one of us! And, speak some life over someone you know this week….maybe hand write some encouraging words to someone, or speak them out loud. We all can use these kinds of affirmations in our lives!
Love you all!
Dena
P.S. Here is one more powerful video we saw this weekend! It just shows how when we get the lack of belief out of our minds (usually with the help of others) we are set FREE to be who we truly are!! You can watch that here!
There’s always so much that I underline and take away from my readings. Chapter 1 of the Wellness Revelation was no exception!
I did this study in May this past spring into summer. When I went through it the first time, I underlined in green, and answered questions in the book. This time around, I will underline in purple and answer the questions in my notebook. It’s amazing the difference in underlining and answers each time you do a study! God always speaks in different ways!
The main things I took from the reading section of Chapter 1 were:
In God’s wisdom and kindness, He wants to keep our hearts from bondage and destruction.
He has given each of us a purpose, so that He can show us His power, and so that He will be glorified through us. (Exodus 9:16)
We must give up our control, and allow Him to do the work through us. It’s not about us becoming more disciplined, or “doing” all the right things. We’ve tried that before.
What we really want is love, to belong without the fear of rejection. We want meaning and purpose.
We are planted and growing in His purpose, His power, and His strength. We cannot do His work in our own strength.
We must surrender all of ourselves to Him, with a humble and softened heart.
He desires for us to be holy – set apart from common use and dedicated to God – and whole – Christ in mind, Christ in heart, Christ in soul, and Christ in strength. When we are holy, we are whole.
Through Christ, our broken, damaged, and impaired selves can be completely restored.
We are His design, and as we search the Scriptures, we can discover more about what He was thinking as He designed us.
How we care for the creation (ourselves), is a reflection of our Creator. It matters.
In the Respond section I noted Luke 14:26-30. When you start something, finish it!
In Your Action Plan, I think the parts that stuck out the most were that I realized the biggest obstacle that’s kept me from making positive health changes has been not believing I can actually reach my goals. It’s truly been a struggle in my mind. I must get in the right mindset, allow God to change my thoughts and renew my mind. I have to stop relying on myself, because I know I can’t do this without Christ working in me.
In the Renew section, the Lord really did some work!!! #4, referencing Leviticus 11:44, asked what keeps me from living a holy and whole life? I believe my negative thinking keeps me stuck, not believing in myself. And, then…..here’s the BIG ONE: Ultimately not believing God can do the work through me! This is satan keeping me in a stronghold, and believing the lies that I will fail again! Then, #5, referencing Proverbs 14:12, Where am I following a way that “appears to be right”? And, how might it be a stumbling block toward improving holiness and wholeness? This one really had me reflecting….I think I find it difficult to find a balance between good habits and doing these habits with a mindset of box checking, rather than a heart fully devoted to Christ and change. Doing great habits with the wrong mindset or in my own strength is a huge stumbling block because it makes me “appear” to be good, but inside I’m not. Woah….that was some hard truth. Then, #6, referencing Genesis 1:27, What does my image say about Him? Well, obviously, it ought to reflect Him. However, when I eat foods that don’t serve me or my body, I don’t feel like I’m reflecting Him at all. I feel my image says that my God can’t beat this stronghold. That was another tough truth to digest! Then, #7, referencing Ephesians 4:22-24, What hope does this passage give about how my life can be transformed in all areas, including my physical and spiritual health? The hope is knowing that I can put off or get rid of my past ways, my corrupt and messed up mind, and I can be made new in my mind, new in my body, an new in my spirit because Christ’s power lives in me!
In the Relate section, the parts that stuck out the most were #5, referencing Genesis 3:11, Who told you…..? This is where satan’s lies come into our minds. I wrote just a few down… Who told you you aren’t good enough? Who told you you’re a failure? Who told you you’ll never reach your weight loss goals? Satan likes to repeat these kinds of lies over and over in my mind to keep me stuck. Then, #6, we were to write down various lies that we have been living as truth. I wrote down several, just like the ones I wrote in #5. And, this is where some deeper work can be done! I HIGHLY encourage you to write down lies as they enter your mind, and then come up with a counter to those lies through Scriptures of truth. I have started doing this, and plan to keep doing it, even if I get a stack of 3×5 cards over an inch thick! This is the hard and heart work I need! I need to dispel the lies, and renew my mind with God’s truths! So, on one side of the card, you can write the lie, and on the other write a Scripture or two that dispels the lie with the truth of the Word. I’ll share a few I’ve started on. This will be a long process, but I hope to keep digging into this even if it takes me a year or more just working on one or two a week!
Front side of the 3×5 cardsBack of the 3×5 cards
This week we will cover week 2! If you are doing this study with us, please join our Facebook group where we will all share what we are learning! I’m so excited to see what everyone is learning!
This week I want to give a quick overview of what we will cover each week of our Wellness Revelation Study. Then, your homework will be to study through Chapter 1. Next week I will share insights I’ve picked up from the first chapter, and we will start working through Chapter 2. I hope you will also share with us any insights you learn along the way! I believe sharing with one another will make the study even better than it could be on it’s own!
Here is the overview:
Week 1: Embrace God’s Purpose, Desire, and Design
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20
Week 2: Be Free
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
Week 3: Live Out His Purpose For You
“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.
I Corinthians 6:12
Week 4: Rest In His Strength And Sufficiency
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26
Week 5: Renew Your Mind
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Week 6: Attend To Matters Of The Heart
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19
Week 7: Be Transformed
If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Week 8: Press On
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Philippians 3:12
I also want you to note that in the back of the book is a Wellness Revelation Workout Calendar. This is a great way to gently ease into exercise in a way that also renews your mind. I HIGHLY recommend it! If nothing else, just try it out and see what you think. You can access free resources here and the daily videos at this link. Once you see the “calendar” just click on the words for each day to watch the videos. I also have to mention the Revelation Wellness Podcast! It is another way to renew your mind while moving your body! And, there is also guest speakers, as well as Be Still and Be Loved episodes on rest days. One of my favorites for mind renewal is this one!
Have a great week tackling Chapter 1, and I’ll meet you back here next Tuesday to see what Transformations have occurred!
How would your life be different is you could lose what’s weighing you down and be free to live the life you were created for?
Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could embark on a single program that would help you get both physically and spiritually fit, while freeing you to pursue God’s dreams and goals for your life?
Maybe you have always struggled with your weight, riding a constant roller coaster of numbers that go up and down. Or maybe you find yourself increasingly stressed out by the world and all its demands.
In The Wellness Revelation, certified fitness professional Alisa Keeton will challenge you to get fit with God so that He can free you to find your purpose. She teaches you that when you become fit physically and spiritually, you will be better equipped to love and serve others. The Wellness Revelation will change the way you perceive yourself and the way you live.
Included in this eight-week journey are teachings from Alisa, fitness training, Bible study, small group questions, and more. Alisa will encourage you to love God, get healthy, and serve others, and she will provide you with the tools to do so with courage, confidence, kindness, and freedom.
It’s time to make a change from the inside out.
-Alisa keeton -Author of The Wellness revelation and founder of revelation wellness
I am so excited to get started with this study! This week we will just cover the introduction as I’ve had several people still want to jump in, so if that’s you, it’s NOT TOO LATE! You can still order the book here, and jump in with us! Also, don’t forget to join the Facebook group to have a community to support, discuss, and grow together with! You can join that group here!
What I loved about the introduction was that the focus was an “exercise” of faith. This is not a program that you strive to do “better”, but one in which you lean into the Lord, and allow Him to transform you from the inside out. When we learn to do this, we are better able to love and help others. Calories in = receiving the fulfilling love of God so that you can give away His love to someone else = calories out. The world is waiting for us to be “fit” for love!
In the next eight weeks, lets move closer towards our true selves – the people who embody God’s love. We will face many obstacles throughout this journey, but we are on a quest to exchange the old lies we’ve believed for His truth, and to be truly set free! This will be a transforming and renewing journey, where we become more of the people we were always meant to be!
Please share what you are excited about or concerned about as you embark on this journey! We are here to support and encourage one another, so the more we share, the more we will get out of this study!
*Disclaimer: I must inform you that as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Love,
Dena
Still on the Journey, but the difference is already showing!! Join me as I dig back into the Bible Study that helped jump start this journey!
This week I want to give you the Fruitful Declarations based on the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.
I got these declarations from listening to my favorite Podcast: Revelation Wellness. This episode is #264. You can listen to this amazing episode here!
So let’s start with Galatians 5:16-18 and 22-25.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
And, now the Fruitful Declarations:
I’m compelled to follow the Spirit because I am a Spiritual being in a suit of flesh.
I am filled with life and peace.
I have access to the supernatural in the natural realm.
God breathed on me, I now breathe for Him.
I am the object of the Lord’s affection.
How I love makes people wonder how I can love. My love is peculiar.
I obey God because I love Him, I do not obey so He will love me.
Where there’s an absence of joy, I bring the party.
I will not forfeit my joy; I will take hold for my God rejoices over me with singing.
I have a peace in me that’s greater than anything in, or of, the world.
I don’t need the absence of a conflict to have peace. I am peace because of I AM.
I am patient because my Father is extremely patient with me.
When I’m patient in my suffering, I’m becoming more like my Father.
Because Jesus’ kind is kind, I am kind.
I train humankind-ness.
God called me good and I am filled with His goodness.
I’m like a piñata. Hit me with your best shot and goodness will pour out.
I am faithful to the end because I trust God.
I don’t have to understand what God is doing or know what He is doing to trust Him and be faithful.
I am sensitive to the Spirit and His gentle leading.
I do not have to get big to matter.
I am the master of my appetites because I am loved.
All incoming desires must get by my love of God.
Just a reminder…..LAST CALL to purchase the Bible Study Wellness Revelation, and join my Facebook Group to be a part of my upcoming study! We will renew our minds together beginning next week! I can hardly wait! If you have questions, please comment below and ask!
*Disclaimer: I must inform you that as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Strings to Wings 