Summer from the Heart
Many of you guys know that I have been on a massive book-reading rampage.
At the beginning of the year, one of my goals was to read a book per month. I have a happy report that I have been reading more than one per month, especially this summer!
One of the reasons is because I have been part of a wellness coaching community, and they encourage us to take time to do personal development EVERY DAY. It's funny to see the parallels, but scripture encourages us to meditate on the Word of God day and night. In today's buzz word terminology, we might recognize it as something along the lines of "personal development" or "self love." My point is, God knows what's best for us, and there are so many communities (both secular and Christian) that are realizing the importance of what God has already instructed mankind to do! Pretty neat!
As I was reading today, I took a look at the book Boundaries. This book has already been significant and dare I say, life changing for me. I am nearing the end of the book (last chapter, already?!), and I wanted to share a passage:
I have to take a moment to be brutally but healingly important. Last night I was struggling with self control. Stress, worry, and lack of control in my life are things that I struggle with sometimes, and I am learning day by day, by the grace of God, how to give it to Him more and more. But sometimes, I totally try to take care of it all by myself. Can anyone relate?
Last night was one of those nights. Even though I truly believe that God is helping me to continue to see myself more like Him and I am becoming more like Him through the renewing of my mind, I have what feels like some dips in my progress. So, in my frantic "I need to fix this right now" scramble last night I tried to take control into my own hands again. One of the biggest ways that manifests in my life is eating. That was a pattern for me in the past, especially as a younger kiddo. Last night, I divulged (I am also on a cruise, which makes this a very easy decision to make- I mean come on, unlimited food nearly all the time!!). I ate and ate and overate until it hurt and then some more. Why am I sharing this? Because I had a decision and I chose something that was a familiar struggle instead. And here I am this morning, reading about how important it is to care for our bodies. I remember all of the battles that have taken place inside my head.
I wanted to share depth to my struggle because my prayer is that freedom might come to someone, even just one. You are not alone. But you are also not powerless. I want to share what I have learned from my continuing journey towards healing.
1) Keep recognizing those thoughts.
2) Pray, pray, pray sweet girl! I promise, healing is for YOU. Jesus died for YOU, so you can have freedom from so much more than you can know.
3) You've seen the patterns. You have prayed. Receive healing. Surround yourself by people who love and care for you. Maybe even talk to a Christian counselor or pastor, they can help you get to the bottom or cause of what triggers you. They can walk through the healing with you.
4) These kinds of struggles can be habit-like. So, be strong, but know that if you fall, there is just as much strength in you to stand up again as it was to resist it before. Getting up again still strengthens the muscles to resist it in the future! And remember to invite the Holy Spirit in when you feel tempted. It's like super-strength!
Grace, grace, grace. That's the one thing I did not allow myself for so long. For me, it was the missing piece! Receive it. Forgive yourself from the past hurts that others or you caused in your life. Receive healing.
Lastly, I want to ask a question. It's for you and for me.
What if it was your job to maintain and prepare a vessel for God to come into the world in? What would you do to prepare and maintain it? Would you want it to be strong, physically to be able to walk and run and carry so as to be able to do the work set out before it? Would you want it to be a vessel readied and trained and sharpened to the Truth of God's word? Healthy, well, and mature in truth and light?
Big reveal: this is your calling! And mine! We do have God inside of us! The Bible tells us that we have the helper, the Holy Spirit, living in us! That's exciting!!! And a major honor. How can we steward our vessel, our bodies well? How can we develop our mind and body and soul to be readied, trained, and sharpened to do the work of God without missing a beat?
I get it, these might be loaded questions. They are for me! But may I encourage you? As you mature in being well and becoming more like Christ, may taking care of YOU be important too. May a shift occur in both you and me, to see incredible value in taking good, good care of this vessel we have been entrusted with from our Great God. He trusts us with us. He has so much in store. He believes you can, and He wants to help you live abundantly- are you willing to accept that?
Abundant. Fulfilled. Purposeful. Strong. Well. Full of grace received.
This is your lot, your blessing, your birthright.
Always walking toward the cross & asking you to join this walk too,
With Love,
Melly xoxoxo
At the beginning of the year, one of my goals was to read a book per month. I have a happy report that I have been reading more than one per month, especially this summer!
One of the reasons is because I have been part of a wellness coaching community, and they encourage us to take time to do personal development EVERY DAY. It's funny to see the parallels, but scripture encourages us to meditate on the Word of God day and night. In today's buzz word terminology, we might recognize it as something along the lines of "personal development" or "self love." My point is, God knows what's best for us, and there are so many communities (both secular and Christian) that are realizing the importance of what God has already instructed mankind to do! Pretty neat!
As I was reading today, I took a look at the book Boundaries. This book has already been significant and dare I say, life changing for me. I am nearing the end of the book (last chapter, already?!), and I wanted to share a passage:
"When Christians value getting well, recovering, and developing themselves into the image of God (all of which are different ways of saying the same thing), a shift occurs. They begin desiring a return on God's investment (remember the parable of the talents in Matthew 24:14-30). Taking care of themselves becomes important."
I have to take a moment to be brutally but healingly important. Last night I was struggling with self control. Stress, worry, and lack of control in my life are things that I struggle with sometimes, and I am learning day by day, by the grace of God, how to give it to Him more and more. But sometimes, I totally try to take care of it all by myself. Can anyone relate?
Last night was one of those nights. Even though I truly believe that God is helping me to continue to see myself more like Him and I am becoming more like Him through the renewing of my mind, I have what feels like some dips in my progress. So, in my frantic "I need to fix this right now" scramble last night I tried to take control into my own hands again. One of the biggest ways that manifests in my life is eating. That was a pattern for me in the past, especially as a younger kiddo. Last night, I divulged (I am also on a cruise, which makes this a very easy decision to make- I mean come on, unlimited food nearly all the time!!). I ate and ate and overate until it hurt and then some more. Why am I sharing this? Because I had a decision and I chose something that was a familiar struggle instead. And here I am this morning, reading about how important it is to care for our bodies. I remember all of the battles that have taken place inside my head.
I wanted to share depth to my struggle because my prayer is that freedom might come to someone, even just one. You are not alone. But you are also not powerless. I want to share what I have learned from my continuing journey towards healing.
1) Keep recognizing those thoughts.
2) Pray, pray, pray sweet girl! I promise, healing is for YOU. Jesus died for YOU, so you can have freedom from so much more than you can know.
3) You've seen the patterns. You have prayed. Receive healing. Surround yourself by people who love and care for you. Maybe even talk to a Christian counselor or pastor, they can help you get to the bottom or cause of what triggers you. They can walk through the healing with you.
4) These kinds of struggles can be habit-like. So, be strong, but know that if you fall, there is just as much strength in you to stand up again as it was to resist it before. Getting up again still strengthens the muscles to resist it in the future! And remember to invite the Holy Spirit in when you feel tempted. It's like super-strength!
Grace, grace, grace. That's the one thing I did not allow myself for so long. For me, it was the missing piece! Receive it. Forgive yourself from the past hurts that others or you caused in your life. Receive healing.
Lastly, I want to ask a question. It's for you and for me.
What if it was your job to maintain and prepare a vessel for God to come into the world in? What would you do to prepare and maintain it? Would you want it to be strong, physically to be able to walk and run and carry so as to be able to do the work set out before it? Would you want it to be a vessel readied and trained and sharpened to the Truth of God's word? Healthy, well, and mature in truth and light?
Big reveal: this is your calling! And mine! We do have God inside of us! The Bible tells us that we have the helper, the Holy Spirit, living in us! That's exciting!!! And a major honor. How can we steward our vessel, our bodies well? How can we develop our mind and body and soul to be readied, trained, and sharpened to do the work of God without missing a beat?
I get it, these might be loaded questions. They are for me! But may I encourage you? As you mature in being well and becoming more like Christ, may taking care of YOU be important too. May a shift occur in both you and me, to see incredible value in taking good, good care of this vessel we have been entrusted with from our Great God. He trusts us with us. He has so much in store. He believes you can, and He wants to help you live abundantly- are you willing to accept that?
Abundant. Fulfilled. Purposeful. Strong. Well. Full of grace received.
Always walking toward the cross & asking you to join this walk too,
Melly xoxoxo
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