God Is Always With You

alone

aloneI want you to remember that you are never alone. God is always with you.

Sometimes it is hard for us to believe this statement because we cannot physically see God. I will be the first to admit it can be hard to not feel alone when you physically are alone.

Throughout my first year of college, I had never felt more alone. Looking back, God was there the whole time. I was just choosing not to see Him. It wasn’t until the end of my freshman year that I finally realized it and allowed myself to lean on God. I also realized that He is the only person who knows my past, present, and future. Why would I not trust him?

I am a person who needs a plan. I have always tried to plan every moment of my life, but it never turns out as I want it to. I’ve slowly found that I need to allow God to make the plans and I just need to be still.

During this season of my life, I have found that reading scripture has allowed me to not only feel God’s presence but physically see Him in the little moments of life.

One verse that resonates with me is Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

If you are starting a new chapter in your life, gearing up for college, or simply feeling alone, remember God is always there. He will walk with you every step of the way. All you have to do is be still.

Scripture to Combat 3 Lies Women Believe

lies

liesMost of us are guilty of believing lies about ourselves. But why? And how can Scripture help us reveal the truth?

I once sat in room, full of women my age, talking about anything and everything until the topic of feeling unworthy came up. One girl shared how she felt as though she was never enough. Another as if she was defined by her social status. The final woman shared how she struggled with believing she was beautiful.

The rest of us sat, nodding our heads, realizing that we have believed each of these statements to be true.

At some point in our lives, we have all felt unworthy or not enough. We have all felt pressure to keep up with the Jones’s or strive to a higher title or social status. Pressure to look skinnier, prettier, and more put together.

Not only have we felt these lies, but we have also wholeheartedly believed them to be true.

It broke my heart to realize that so many of us have let these lies control our lives. So, I sat down, cracked open my Bible, and looked for truth to combat these lies.

Lie #1: You are not worthy; you are not enough.

I hate to break to it you, sister, but if you believe this lie, you better stop right now and open your Bible to John 1:12.

John 1:12 – But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

You are a daughter of the King and that in itself is enough to make you feel known, loved, and seen. You are precious and you are worthy in the eyes of God. Read that once more.

Lie #2: You are defined by your job title, grades, or social status.

I refused to go to a two-year university because I thought people would look down on me. I feared I wouldn’t be as qualified or make as much money as they did. Still to this day, I run the opposite direction when I hear the words, “ACT score”.

Romans 8: 38-39 – For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Be the kind of woman who knows that her worth is not measured by what she has or what she has done, but in who she is in Christ.

Lie #3: Your beauty is defined by your outward appearance.

Sometimes it is instilled in our brains at such a young age that beauty is what we look like and what brand we wear. We spend multiple hours a day trying to impress others or change the way we look. Because society’s definition of beauty is strictly outward appearances.

1 Peter 3: 3-4 – “Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I love this verse for many reasons. The first being that it reminds us that our clothes, hair, and looks will eventually fade away. The second being that it tells us what true beauty is; someone who loves others and Jesus.

Strengthen your confidence in yourself and in Him and these lies don’t stand a chance. To help you do so, check out our latest podcast. We share how we’ve gone from feeling lost and alone to loving who God made us to be.

And if you still find yourself struggling with these lies, check out our personal development journal. Week two is dedicated to creating a healthy and holy mindset – vital in ensuring these lies have no place in your mind.

Gratitude

Gratitude

GratitudeIf you have read our Foundation devotional, you are more than likely familiar with the word gratitude because we spent an entire day talking about a grateful mindset! In case you haven’t read it, I’ll give you a sneak peek. Google defines gratitude as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

What I love most about this definition are the words, “return kindness”. I will be the first to admit it, when I think of gratitude, returning kindness is the last thing that pops into my head! Selfishly, I think of the people, things, and opportunities God has put in my life! Not the readiness to return kindness.

But imagine what would happen if it were the first thing that came to mind.

Imagine the hearts it would touch.

The fruit it would produce.

Imagine the relationships it would strengthen.

And the love it would give.

Imagine what would happen if we lived every day with a heart eager to return kindness. Imagine what would happen if we lived every day with a heart like Jesus.

The next time you hear the word gratitude, stop, and return kindness. Yes, it is important to have a thankful heart, but don’t forget to spread the love and kindness of Jesus along the way.

Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me.

Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed
Mustard SeedMatthew 17:20 (NIV) – He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

The parable of the mustard seed is a biblical truth that was quite literally planted into my heart at a very young age. As a kid, I didn’t think much of it besides the fact that a small amount of faith could go a long way! But the older I have gotten, the deeper the roots of this parable have grown into my heart. I realized it’s not about how much faith I have; it’s about what I put my faith in.

A small amount of faith can accomplish great things. But only if that small amount of faith is placed in Him – a reliable soil. Just like mustard seeds need to be planted, our faith needs to be planted, as well. Lucky for us, Jesus is the most nurturing and life-giving soil there is.

I believe Jesus chose to use a mustard seed within this parable for many reasons. The first being that mustard seeds only need a little consistent water and sunlight each day to grow. When you think about it, Jesus refers to himself in scripture as our living water (John 7:38) and the light of the world (John 8:12). Coincidence? I think not!

The second being that a mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, yet the largest of garden plants. It shows us that even a small amount of faith can grow into something bigger than ourselves. It shows us what happens when we plant our faith in life-giving soil; we bloom.

So, I challenge you to plant your faith. Put your hope in the name of Jesus, because just like a mustard seed, you are allowed to start small and let God be big.

Mindset Through a Breakup

Breakup

Breakup

Breakups, what a fun thing to go through? I can confidently say some are easier than others. But, what I have learned is that having a healthy and holy mindset through a breakup is an essential part of healing and moving on!

I once had a dear friend say to me, “healing is not linear,” and it has stuck with me ever since. I love this quote for so many reasons, but the main reason being that I believe it speaks so much truth. Throughout a breakup process, there are highs and lows, peaks and valleys. Some days are easier than others, and that is a simple truth.

I didn’t realize my mindset played a huge role in how I viewed each peak and valley. I didn’t recognize my mindset was a choice. Each morning, I had the opportunity of waking up and choosing to be angry and disappointed or at peace and grateful. It was up to me to choose a healthy and holy mindset.

Six Things to Keep in Mind During a Breakup

Here are my six pieces of advice I wish I would have heard throughout my breakup process.

  1. Give Yourself Time: I used to get upset when people would say, ‘just give it time.’ Looking back, I can confidently say that time has been my biggest blessing.
  2. Surround yourself with good people: I am so thankful I was in college throughout my breakup because I had so many friends that I could lean on. God placed some pretty amazing and supportive people within my life when I needed them most.
  3. Focus on the good: Even though there will be hard days, try to find the good in each day. I went through my breakup during Lent. My Lenten promise was to write down five things I was thankful for every single day.
  4. Lean on God: God is the only person that knows me in the past, present, and future. Why would I not lean on him? Trust me, I know it can be difficult, but God has a plan that is so much bigger and better! So, let go and let God; trust his process.
  5. Journal: Almost every day since my breakup, I have created time within my schedule to journal. I look at this time as a “prayer.” I write down all of my triumphs, worries, and everything in between. Go ahead, give it a try!
  6. Feel your emotions: There is a difference between feeling your emotions and holding onto them. It’s okay to be upset and angry. Feeling that way is part of the healing process. But, to truly move you, you cannot hold on to that anger. Let your emotions come in, feel them, and let them go.

I may not have all the answers, but I hope my outlook and past experiences can help someone walking through a difficult season. I would encourage you to look at this time as a gift from God to focus on your relationship with Him. These are the six things I wish would have popped up on my Pinterest when I searched “how to get over a relationship.’

Remember, healing is not linear, and God always has a plan, even if you may not see it.

Week 3: Wednesday To-Do List

The Christian To-Do List

Some weeks, the only things that keep me sane are my calendar and to-do list. Can you relate? I have said it before, and I will say it again. I am a planner, a box checker, and a recovering perfectionist. That is how I roll.

The other day was a first for me. I looked at my jam-packed planner and immediately had a sense of guilt rush through me. Should I have this much control over my life? Am I crazy for having every hour planned out? Is this healthy? Am I too intentional right now?

I quickly stopped my spiral of thoughts, took a step back, and looked at my list. My top priorities for the day were things I felt I had to do in order to get ahead or have a successful day:

  1. Go to the bank
  2. Send emails
  3. Create a spreadsheet
  4. Workout
  5. Run errands
Priorities

The more I thought about my “top” priorities, the more I began to realize how backward my priorities were… then came the second wave of guilt. I realized that I had been preaching and encouraging people to walk in faith and to spend time with Jesus daily, but here I was prioritizing my earthly needs over my spiritual needs.

Yes, bills need to be paid, and errands need to be ran, but we can’t forget that reading our Bible, praying, and spending time with God is a priority as well. So, I am here to tell you (and myself) that it is okay to have a to-do list, but we need to be intentional in creating time to grow in our faith as well.

Don’t be scared to re-prioritize your to-do list or make time in your schedule to dig into the Word. Creating time to grow in your faith is not selfish, it’s healthy and it will bless you in more ways than you can count.

Todays To-Do List

  • PRIORITIZE YOUR DAY: Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
  • SPEND TIME WITH JESUS: Psalm 27:8 – My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
  • READ MY BIBLE: Romans 10: 17 – Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
  • GIVE THANKS: Psalm 136:1 – Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
  • LET CHRIST LEAD ME: Matthew 11:29 – Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
  • PRAY: Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
  • TRUST IN GOD: Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
  • FORGIVE OTHERS: Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
  • SING: Psalm 98:4 – Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.
  • DANCE: Psalm 149:3 – Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

Week 2: Wednesday Childlike Faith

Childlike Faith

I love nothing more on this earth than watching little kids at church and Sunday school.  The way their little bodies fill with joy as they squeal their favorite Christian songs. Heck, I was that little kid. So content with my life and the idea that Jesus made me unique so, therefore, I was pretty darn cool. Unwavering childlike faith is a beautiful thing. 

I knew Jesus loved me, so I loved Him back. I was supposed to forgive others, so I did. I was told to be kind, so I was. It was a simple little mindset and relationship, mine and Jesus’s – genuine and untouched from the world. I never doubted, questioned, or sought explanations; I just believed.

Isn’t it funny how the older we get, the less “childlike” faith we have? We begin to question and doubt every little thing in life, such as our future, career, faith, talents, and capabilities. It’s a trait I wish I never lost, and it makes me wonder why I was so eager to grow up. How did I lose my quick sense of forgiveness? How did I lose confidence in my future? How did I lose my childlike faith?

The Simple Answer

I love this question, and I’m going to give you a simple answer because I believe most things in life don’t take a rocket scientist to figure out. As we grow up, we allow the world to lead us instead of letting God lead us. We begin to shed the skin of having parental control over our lives and start to make our own decisions without our “father’s” guidance. We begin to put our self-worth in other things and other people. When we grow up, we often forget that we still need our Father’s guidance.

Looking back, I would not have survived my childhood if I did not have my dad. Someone to tell me no, guide me in the right direction, and keep me grounded. I always trusted him because I knew he had my best interest in mind, just like God does.

Just because we are adults doesn’t mean we should stop running to our Father and believe in His promises with a childlike heart. So, here is my prayer for you:

I pray that you let our Father lead your heart, mind, and soul.

I pray that you turn to Him during your best and worst times for guidance and comfort.

I pray that you embrace in your excitement for the Lord and continue to live out every day with faith like a child.

Amen.

Foundation Week Two Content