Updated on June 25, 2017
Seek First Project: Little by Little (Day 26)
“No, do not be afraid of those nations, for the Lord your God is among you, and he is a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will drive those nations out ahead of you little by little. You will not clear them away all at once, otherwise the wild animals would multiply too quickly for you. But the Lord your God will hand them over to you. He will throw them into complete confusion until they are destroyed. He will put their kings in your power, and you will erase their names from the face of the earth. No one will be able to stand against you, and you will destroy them all. – Deuteronomy 7:21-24
We want things done and finished and “fixed” now, don’t we? Yesterday, if possible, Lord.
But God, He sees ahead. He knows what would happen if a rapid pace was taken. What new dangers would appear.
If the Lord is working little by little in your life right now, rest assured there is a purpose.
No, do not be afraid…., for the Lord your God is among you, and he is a great and awesome God.
Rest in His protection and provision. Today, your task is to rest in the Lord. Read his word, listen to worship music, get out for a nature walk, take up your arts and crafts and create for Him. Whatever way you choose to, spend at least an hour today just resting in Him.
Lord, thank You for working little by little and not all at once as our impatience demands. Your tender care of us is a perfect resting place. Amen…
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Shelly
Posted on June 25, 2017
Seek First Project: Go At Once (Day 25)
But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said.
“We can certainly conquer it!”
– Numbers 13:30
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Shelly
Posted on June 24, 2017
Seek First Project: Worry By Any Other Name (Day 24)
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your consolations delight my soul. – Psalm 94:19
Somehow it makes me feel better if I call my worry by another name. You?
I like to call worry, “concern”. I refer to stress as “busy”. When anxiety strikes, I name it “excitement”. Fear is downplayed as “stress”.
You know what I’ve realized?
Worry by any other name, is still worry.
It still twists up my insides. It affects my health. It steals my peace of mind.
Worry by any other name, is still my enemy.
Let’s make a list in our journals, of the specific names that worry hides behind in our lives. I don’t want to be fooled into that false sense of security anymore.
Dear Lord, thank You for making plain to me how worry really operates in my life. How it sneaks in under the radar. Help me to be more aware. In Your Name I Pray, Amen…
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Shelly
Posted on June 23, 2017
Seek First Project: Does Your Worry Pass the Focus Test? (Day 23)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. – Philippians 4:8
I had no clue when I started this series on worry and fear, that God would bring me back to this verse, time and time again! But I know he’s doing it for a reason and I’m grateful.
God gave me the idea to use this scripture as a litmus test. Each time I begin to focus on an issue, giving it my full attention and allowing it to take over my heart and mind, I need to be asking these questions:
Is it true? (If yes, continue down list.)
(If no, write one the lie and one truth from scripture in your journal.)
Is it honorable? (If yes, continue down list.)
(If no, find one honorable thing about God and praise Him for it.)
Is it right? (If yes, continue down list.)
(If no, pray for the right to enter your mind to focus on.)
Is it pure? (If yes, continue down list.)
(If no, sing one pure song of love to your Savior.)
Is it lovely? (If yes, continue down list.)
(If no, find or take a photo of something lovely that God has created.)
Is it admirable? (If yes, continue down list.)
(If no, complete one admirable task that shows God’s love to another.)
Is it excellent? (If yes, continue down list.)
(If no, spend five minutes thinking on something God has shown you to be excellent.)
Is it praiseworthy? (If yes, continue down list.)
(If no, choose your favorite creative way to praise, and do it.)
Father God, Help me. I know I need to keep my heart and mind focused on what You said is worthy. I slip so easily from that goal. Thank You for Your patience with me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Posted on June 22, 2017
Seek First Project: Click Yes To Be Inundated (Day 22)
And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. – John 3:19-21
Today I wanted to sign up for some freebies through the mail. That sounded fun and I went right to the page and filled out what was needed. First, the site wanted all of my personal information. Then came the trick… I couldn’t receive any freebies without signing up for all kinds of unwanted junk and programs I had no interest in.
What struck me the most was the way that the question for each item were phrased.
“Do you want to save money?”
“Do you want to be healthy and happy?”
“Do you like free products?”
Seriously. There was a “yes” button and a “no” button. Who in their right mind would say “no” to these questions?? Tricky, right?
Next thing I know, my inbox is inundated with junk and junk and more junk! It becomes overwhelming so quickly, and somehow those freebies that brought me to this in the first place, just never show up.
God started to show me that the same is true with worry.
First, the enemy gets your personal information. You sign up for that because you have no idea what’s coming next. Then, blamo, he’s bombarding you with questions to which you can’t possibly answer “no”!
“Do you want to know you have enough set aside for an emergency?”
“Do you want your loved ones to be safe?”
“Do you like to be independent?”
Tricky, right?
Next thing you know, your heart and mind are inundated with junk and junk and more junk! It becomes overwhelming so quickly, and somehow the promise of little treasures that brought me to this in the first place, just never show up.
There’s only one place the evil won’t go.
Into the light.
Today, let’s find a spot of sunlight in which to bask. While we’re there, feeling that warmth, let’s close our eyes and bask in the Sonlight. Pray, hum a hymn, embrace the quiet. Whatever brings you closer to Him.
Be inundated with His love and grace, instead of the false promises the devil wants to overwhelm you with.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the sunlight. Thank You especially for Your Son’s Light. That light is a fortress around us, keeping out the evil one who wants only for us to worry and fear and despair. Brace us, God, as we lean into You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 20, 2017
Seek First Project: Truly Free (Day 21)
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. – John 8:36
Worry feels like a prison. Anxiety locks us down. Fear puts us in shackles.
But Jesus has made us free. Truly free.
I saw a picture today that perfectly depicted this tug-of-war we wrestle with…
Right?? (The cat is me, by the way.)
We’re staring at the bars, trying to figure out how to escape, when we’re already set free.
Today, I’m pulling out my journal, and I hope you will, too. I’m writing down five things I would do if I were truly free from worry, fear, anxiety, and panic.
Then I’m choosing one to do today.
Dear God, I want to experience true freedom in You. Thank You for this amazing opportunity. Walk with me, Father, today and always. Or rather, let me walk with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on June 20, 2017
Seek First Project: Bent Beneath the Load (Day 20)
I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.
The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.
I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.
– Psalm 145
Nature itself reminded me today of God’s provision. No need to worry, or fear. The God who painted the flowers and wrote the bird’s symphony is not One I have to doubt.
Thanks to a wonderful Christian woman named Rachel Wojo, who created this awesome scavenger hunt, I was able to soak up the Word while enjoying God’s goodness manifested in the nature all around me!
I took my camera along and thoroughly enjoyed myself! I hope you will, too.
Click HERE to be taken to the hunt!!
Caring Father, thank you for turning my worry into praise. You do that so easily. And I’m so thankful. Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 18, 2017
Seek First Project: What To Do With Burdens (Day 19)
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. – Psalm 55:22
I’ll tell you what, some days it feels like all I’m doing is slipping and falling. Worry, stress, anxiety, fear, despair… they all crowd right in, don’t they? But there’s one monster that rules them all, and when he comes around, it’s all I can do just to hold tight and survive the suffocating ride.
Today I’m talking about panic attacks.
These things shake me to the core. They make me feel like I’m drowning. Floundering. Losing… Lost.
Dying.
When I’m in the midst of an anxiety or panic attack, all I can do is whisper the name of Jesus. But when the smoke starts to clear and the dust starts to settle, I like to do this little grounding exercise. I found one that taps into each of the five senses, but what I really wanted was to make it about God and scripture, so I made my own that is based on this verse:
I’ve put my exercise into my journal, so that I can find it easily when I need it. I hope you will, too.
* Whisper six things that are true
* Sing five things that are honorable
* Think to yourself four things that are right
* Speak aloud three things that are pure
* Talk to God about two things that are lovely
* Breathe one thing that is admirable
* Shout praises to the King of Glory
I find that this little exercise helps me to breathe more evenly, and refocuses my mind on what I should be seeking first. It really does help to calm me, both during and after a panic attack. I hope it will do the same for you.
Thank You, Jesus, for lending us Your Name in the scariest of times. Thank You for reminding us what to focus on. We love You. Amen…
Photo by OnlyHuman98 
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Shelly
Updated on June 17, 2017
Seek First Project: Awestruck (Day 18)
The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
– Jonah 1:16
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Shelly
Updated on June 16, 2017
Seek First Project: Preparing the Way (Day 17)
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
Wow, this verse. Just… Wow.
Today we are going to visualize Jesus personally going ahead of us. He’s not delegating, or sending an angel or other representative. He’s going Himself.
The King of Creation is going ahead of us.
And He’s not just scouting. No, He’s at work. Preparing. Smoothing. Overcoming.
Visualize today what types of things He is doing for you. Make it specific to a big fear you have right now. Is He changing things? Interceding in prayer? Influencing hearts and minds?
Write out in your journal, what your worry is that Jesus is working on today. Remember that He’s ahead of you, not next to you on the path. Then write what you visualize Him doing.
He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Guaranteed.
Dear God, thank You for this mind-blowing reassurance we find in Your Word. We are so in awe of You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
