Posted on October 9, 2017
Seek First Project: Restless and Distracted (Day 110)
Give ear to my prayer, O God;
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
Give heed to me and answer me;
I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,
Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the pressure of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me
And in anger they bear a grudge against me. – Psalm 55:1-3
I’ve been having a ramp-up of anxiety lately. I’ve been unable to sleep with my racing mind. I feel like there’s just not enough time in a day. Too much to do! And everything seems to be at the top of the priority list.
I figured out this weekend that these thoughts are coming from the enemy.
See, I made a list in my journal of the things I wasn’t doing because the other junk felt more important. The list I made turned out to be what should have taken first place. That really disturbed me.
Today I want you to make your list. I bet you’ll find the same thing I did… that old enemy is a crafty one!
The voice he uses is insidious. The pressure he puts on us is suffocating! He brings down trouble up us because in anger he bears a grudge against us. And against God. The more he can keep us from putting first things first, the more he likes it!
This week, let’s be intentional in placing our priorities. Let’s purposefully slow down and really love on people. Let’s tune our minds to Christ and what He values, and plan our activities accordingly.
I just know the rest is going to fall into place.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33
Lord in Heaven, please help us become more and more adept at recognizing the schemes of the devil. Please give us peace and strength as we purposely redirect our minds back to You, back to people. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on October 5, 2017
The Darkness Doesn’t Stand a Chance!
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. – 1 Chronicles 29:11
I am over the moon to tell you that The Darkness Doesn’t Stand a Chance, is finally officially a book!
This is a labor of love that I’ve been working on for the past year, and I can’t wait for you to get it in your hands!
Do you ever have days that just seem so dark, it fairly overwhelms you?
Does the evil in the world make it feel like the darkness is winning?
Christians have a powerful weapon against all that dark. It’s praise. It’s worship.
Don’t wait until the morning to shout with joy! Don’t put it off till the bad news weakens, to fill your heart with thanksgiving!
Praise God right now, right here in the darkness. Be that first candle lit with His love. Shine the light to draw others to Him.
In this book, you’ll find 30 devotionals to help you praise and worship through the dark times. Each devotional is complete with scriptures, a prayer, and thought-provoking questions.
Let’s shine together. The darkness doesn’t stand a chance!
Follow this link to purchase!
(Kindle version will be available within a week, and Amazon purchases will be possible at that same time.)
Dear God, thank You for giving me the words for another book! I offer each breath back as praise. We love you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on October 4, 2017
Seek First Project: Stinkin Thinkin (Day 109)
If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. – 2 Timothy 2:21
Lately in our home we have an influx of stink bugs. I’m not sure where they’re coming from, but I have learned what to do with them.
As I repeated the process today, I was thinking about how it parallels our struggle with worry and fear.
Stink bugs sneak in. Sometimes we can’t even find the break in our barriers, but suddenly, there’s a stink bug.
They are noisy when they fly, much buzzier than most other insects. Their body shape is distinctive, too. I can see one up on the ceiling from across the room, and know exactly what it is; they’re easy to spot by sound or sight.
Worry is like that, isn’t it? It’s not that we don’t recognize it for what it is; it’s just that we don’t know quite what to do with it once it’s been spotted.
Squashing a stink bug is a bad idea for the obvious reason. When threatened, they release a very foul odor, much like a skunk does. Have you ever driven by a dead skunk on a roadway? Same principle, just scaled down.
When we try to squash anxiety, what we do instead is ramp it up and spread it around. Squashing stinkin thinkin is not the way to defeat it.
Ignoring a stink bug only leads to more stink bugs. We give them time to make a little home, have little baby stink bugs, get comfy and multiply! No one wants more stink bugs!
Fear is like that. Trying to pretend we’re not afraid, that fear doesn’t exist, is really just giving it a chance to take root and grow.
The only way I’ve found to deal effectively with the stink bug is to get a tissue, quietly gather the bug into it, very gently, then release it into the wild, where it belongs.
When we see a worry, let’s get out the Word, quietly gathering the worry into the Truth, very gently with prayer, then release it into the world, where it belongs. It certainly doesn’t belong in the heart or mind of a Christian!
Today, practice this by sitting and listening for the bright buzzing and distinctive shape that worry has in your mind. Once you’ve identified one, pull out the scripture and calmly pray about it. Then release that worry. Move on to the next and the next and the next until your fears get lighter and your anxiety stills.
If you’re like me, you’ll have to do this each day. But every day, I’m finding less and less of an infestation. Don’t let stinkin thinkin take root!
Heavenly Father, thank You for the scriptures and the hope we have only in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on October 1, 2017
Seek First Project: Yours is the Greatness (Day 108)
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. – 1 Chronicles 29:11
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on September 30, 2017
Seek First Project: While You Were Sleeping (Day 107)
In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety. – Psalm 4:8
I miss peaceful sleep. I think the last time I really got any truly peaceful sleep may have been around the age of four. Seriously.
I know that worry and fear affect my sleep. Anxiety gives me nightmares. Really detailed, seeming to last forever, crazy nightmares. Even if I technically sleep all night, my quality of sleep is poor enough that I feel it all the next day. And we know how that accumulates.
I’ve decided it’s time to give this over to God. I’ve done all I know to do, and nothing so far has worked.
Photo by chefranden 
Lately I’ve been working on listening, and here’s the direction I’m feeling led in regarding nightmares and poor sleep.
I am going to choose two verses a month. When I get in bed, after my prayers and the lights are out, I will recite these verses over and over in my head until I fall asleep.
I really believe this will help the Spirit in His work of safeguarding my mind as I sleep. Will you do this with me this month?
Here are my first two verses to memorize:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments – Deuteronomy 7:9
God Almighty, thank You for granting us peace as we sleep. I’m sorry I’ve put so many roadblocks in the way of the spirit. God with me this month as I retrain my anxious mind, preparing it for sleep. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on September 29, 2017
Seek First Project: Abiding in Your Midst (Day 106)
‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’ – Haggai 2:5
It’s easy to look back at the Israelites at shake our heads, isn’t it? I mean, all the powerful, astounding things that God did to free them from Egypt. How He sustained them miraculously in the wilderness, right down to the sandals, for generations!
How could they possibly doubt, or whine, or fall away? How could they possibly forget?
That Spirit is living in our midst today.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. – John 14:16-17
Sometimes I shake my head at myself. How can I fear, when He’s adopted me? How can I worry when God sent a Savior who has overcome the world.
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins. – Isaiah 53:11
How could I possibly doubt, or whine, or fall away? How could I possibly forget?
Today, I’m writing in my journal, an apology prayer to God. I’m apologizing for being so much like those Israelites long ago. This might be the most sincere prayer I’ve ever written.
King of Heaven, I’m writing this apology to You. Ive never meant anything more. Please change my heart. Grow my faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 27, 2017
Seek First Project: God’s Mighty Weapons – Fellowship (Day 105)
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. – 2 Corinthians 10:4
It’s harder to worry when you talk it over with a friend. Anxiety is greatly diminished when shared with someone who loves you. Fear loses it’s power when the light of others helps you to dispel the darkness.
One of God’s mightiest weapons is fellowship. If you belong to Christ, you have fellowship with other Christians! These people will listen. They will pray with and for you. They will help and encourage and empathize.
We need each other.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
To wield the weapon of fellowship, we have to humble ourselves to ask for help. We have to make ourselves vulnerable to others, share our stories and our tears. This takes courage, but with God, all things are possible.
Today, I want us to pray and ask God to give us the strength we need to seek out fellowship. This might be online. It might be in person. It might be from family, or church, or even complete strangers. I want to wield this weapon well. I want to strike down fear and worry and anxiety by drawing nearer to others who love Christ, and in turn love me.
How about you?
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25
Mighty God, we can’t thank You enough for the resource of fellow Christians. Help us to reach out, both to give and to receive. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 26, 2017
Seek First Project: God’s Mighty Weapons – Our Faith (Day 104)
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. – 2 Corinthians 10:4
Sometimes, in the vice-like grip of anxiety, it’s easy to doubt. It’s simple to forget what can be accomplished by our great God.
He accomplishes mighty things through our faith.
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. – Hebrews 11:32-34
All of this.
Through faith. What a weapon!
Today, get out your journals and write about the impossible situations you find yourself in this year. What lions need their mouths shut? What fires wait to be quenched? What escapes are you needing?
From weakness, He can make you strong. You can be mighty in war, putting armies to flight.
Through faith.
What a weapon.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. – 1 John 5:4
Dear Lord, thank You for the weapon that is our faith. We know You can, Lord. We know You care. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 25, 2017
Seek First Project: God’s Mighty Weapons – Worship (Day 103)
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. – 2 Corinthians 10:4
Worship has been what I’ve planned on writing about today. It’s so powerful. You couldn’t find a better weapon.Nothing confuses the enemy more than to find us praising through tears. Dancing in the dark. relighting our crumpled candles.
Nothing speaks hope to the world quite like those things, either. Worship is, in fact, a double edged sword. It defeats the enemy while it shines for the world.
Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. – Psalm 95:6
Today, I just got so sick of scrolling through my facebook feed, and seeing all the drama and fear-mongering and arguing. So I went on a rant. After I did that, I realized, it’s the perfect post for today’s blog. And so, here we go:
There’s a lot of terrible things happening in the world today. A lot of scary things, some even in our own country. But the Bible says there’s nothing new under the sun. This world has never been our home, not since the fall of Adam and Eve.
Are you looking forward to a home yet to come? Are you telling others about it, or are you just jumping into the latest drama here on fb?
The world needs more shares for GOOD news, not the bad news. That gets plenty of replay already. Be the light. Stand out from the crowd. Be in the world, not of the world.
People are lost. You have the cure.
The world’s gone mad. God’s still God.
Don’t wallow. Don’t whine.
Choose worship.
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. – Psalm 9:1
Today, share something on social media that will calm fears. Share something that will multiply smiles, or even cause laughter! Share scripture. Share praise. Share songs of worship.
Light up the darkness.
Dear God, nudge us when we fall into the drama. We know it breeds stress and worry and fear. Please help us to shine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
Photo by Rodnei Reis Fotografia Sacramento/MG/BR
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 24, 2017
Seek First Project: God’s Mighty Weapons – The Name of Jesus (Day 102)
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. – 2 Corinthians 10:4
I use a name every time I pray. It’s a powerful weapon. If you’re a Christian, you have access to this weapon, too!
The weapon is the precious and mighty name of Jesus.
but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. – John 20:31
You may have life…. LIFE in His name. Doesn’t that just blow your mind?
In fact, we are to do all in His name.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. – Colossians 3:17
This verse really got me, because so much of my time and energy is spent worrying. Can I really worry in the name of Jesus? NO! Worry comes from the enemy!
I realize that I need to submit myself to the command in this scripture. And when I do, something amazing happens. I find that I’m wielding a mighty weapon!
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. – James 4:7
The name of Jesus is not to be underestimated!
Today, choose or find your favorite three names of Jesus, and journal about them.
My favorite three are:
Rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1)
Advocate (1 John 2:1)
The Life (John 14:6)
No matter what you call Him, remember the weapon of His name.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:9-11
Sweet Jesus, thank You for giving us Your powerful name as a weapon when we choose to follow You! Help us to submit to the scripture to do all in Your name, so that we can be walk in accordance with Your will. In Your Name We Pray, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
