Crazy Emotions

More Jesus in My Day is a new feature you'll find here at my blog every Thursday. Designed to lead you straight to the Savior, each short post offers simple, practical ways to know Him more.

We all have emotional days. Whether it’s an intensely stressful situation, a hormone fluctuation, or just one of those days, we don’t have to feel guilty about our God-given emotions. But we don’t have to allow them full reign, either. There is a Way to bring peace and balance to the emotional storms in our lives.

What if, instead of being overwhelmed by our emotions, we took a moment to invite the Prince of Peace into our emotional meltdown? What if, instead of thinking we need to get it together before we cry out to Jesus, we open the front door of our hearts, puffy eyes and all?

The next time you’re having one of those days, go ahead and invite Jesus into the mess. Say it out loud: Jesus, come into my mess. Your crazy emotions don’t scare Him. And bonus: His very presence will comfort and delight your soul.

In the multitude of my anxious thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19)

{Ask}

Welcome to my new ongoing Monday series, Prayer from A to Z, where you’ll receive coaching and encouragement to make your prayer life soar.

Listen. I mean, really pause and listen, and you will hear your heavenly Father whisper to your heart. Ask me.

Sometimes we hold the misguided notion that in prayer we shouldn’t ask too often. But if God is our provider and every good and perfect gift comes from Him, then why wouldn’t we ask of Him? What other source do we have?

God’s word tells us we have not because we ask not (see James 4:2). Of course, prayer is much more than merely asking for things—it’s a holy, ongoing conversation with our Creator; the same One who loves you and longs to give you the desires of your heart. (See Psalm 37:4)

We can even dare to ask our big God for big things, because for Him nothing is impossible. (See Luke 1:37) I ask for a lot, because I don’t want to get to heaven and find out that God had much more for me than I ever dreamed of asking for. And I think those daring prayers please Him.

So this week when you’re praying, go ahead and ask God for the secret longings and big desires of your heart. He’s listening.

Keep on asking, and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking reverently, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven, perfect as He is, give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! (Matthew 7:11)

More Jesus in My Day

More Jesus in My Day is a new feature you'll find here at my blog every Thursday. Designed to lead you straight to the Savior, each short post offers simple, practical ways to know Him more.

When you come across a scripture that creates a longing in your heart, turn it into a prayer right then—don’t wait. By simply personalizing the scripture you make it yours, and it becomes a powerful prayer, like this: “I will set my mind and keep it set on things above—the higher things— not on the things that are on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

Because God’s word is living and active, (Hebrews 4:12) and because God watches over His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12), we are not only praying a powerful prayer, we are coming into agreement with God’s word. And since Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), we are creating room for and inviting Him into our lives on a deeper level.

In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (John 1:1)

Because We All Need a Champion

A little brown haired girl sat in her long gravel driveway, creating a circle out of pebbles. Inside the circle she placed spotted pebbles, pretending they were pintos and palominos in a corral—beautiful horses that bucked and whinnied and ran in the wind.

As the gravel left gritty indentations in her knees, so the sad neglect and often violent anger in her home left painful indentations in her heart. She pushed the pebbles around, imagining them to be pretty horses running with flowing manes, coaxing them and cooing to them. She secretly wished someone would coax and coo to her, and that she could run in the wind and feel safe and cared for.

40 years later, that little girl (me) has a divine champion--One more gracious, loving, and powerful than all she ever dared to hope or dream.

I think we all want a champion, someone who will fight for us, heal us, care about us, and coo to us. A divine Someone who encircles us with protection and coaxes us to run in the wind.

God can be that for you. He wants to be your Champion. I know this because:

• He loves you with an everlasting love. {Jeremiah 31:3}
• He rejoices over you with joy. {Zephaniah 3:17}
• He knows and is fully acquainted with all your ways. {Psalm 1:6}
• He turns your mourning into dancing. {Psalm 30: 5}
• He instructs and teaches you the way you should go. {Psalm 32:8}
• He rewards you and brings to pass His purposes for you. {Psalm 57:2}
• He is your strength and impenetrable shield. {Psalm 28: 7}
• He gives you peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition. {Isaiah 54:17}
• He contends with those who contend with you. {Isaiah 49:25}
• He keeps you in perfect and constant peace. {Isaiah 26:3}
• He heals your broken heart and cures your pain and sorrows. {Psalm 147:3}
• He understands you. {Psalm 139:1-2}
• He gives you power to hold yourself calm in days of adversity. {Psalm 94:13}
• He always hears and is always listening for you. {John 11:41-42}
• He leads you safely to the place He has prepared for you. {Exodus 23:20}

This girl grew up and found the One upon whom I can always rely. I hope that if you're not already acquainted with Him, you will be soon.

Because we all need a champion.

The WINNER of the $10 Starbucks gift card is Tammy at Tickled Pink. Congratulations, Tammy! Please send me your snail-mail address so I can send your gift.

More Jesus in My Day

More Jesus in My Day is a new feature you'll find here at my blog every Thursday. Designed to lead you straight to the Savior, each short post offers simple, practical ways to know Him more.

On days you feel worn out and weary, allow yourself a few extra moments to rest and read your Bible—even if it’s only one scripture verse. When my awake-and-eager-to-nurse-every-hour-and-a-half baby girl left me in a state of perpetual exhaustion, I managed to read one verse every night before collapsing into bed. That single verse literally sustained me, until that difficult season was over and I could absorb more.

God’s word is powerful and equips us for life’s often exhausting journeys. When you’re in a crazy-busy season of life and desperately need to be revived and refreshed, a sweet little sip is far better than an achingly dry throat. Ask God to help you find one verse to revive you today.

This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life. (Psalm 119:50)

Seize the Opportunity for Joy

I'm not even slightly surprised that after I wrote this post on joy I was immediately tested in that very area.

My husband whispered to me in the middle of the night last weekend, and it wasn't because he was feeling romantic. "Don't flush the toilet," he said when he heard me climbing out of bed to do that very thing.

He explained that our well pump was broken, meaning our house had no water. These sort of things happen when you live out on the very edge of civilization. Let's just say it made the next two days interesting, in a caveman sort of way.

Then, bright and early that morning I opened the back door to let our Australian Shepherd out and was stunned to see two pine trees snapped in half, leaving a wreckage of limbs and pine cones scattered across our back yard. Apparently the windy day turned into an insanely windy night.

I won't even mention job issues that have catapulted my husband's stress level into the stratosphere, or several other situations that threatened to turn our home into Mount Vesuvius on steroids.

But I held strong, sweet friends, and with the exception of one small incident which may or may not have included a telephone sailing through the air in exasperation, I truly held on to my joy.

No, I wasn't happy when our well pump switch had to be repaired not once but twice. But I can tell you I'm thrilled that the sparks hot enough to completely melt the switch box didn't catch our house on fire. And I have a profound new appreciation for water and all things related to indoor plumbing.

And I'm not happy that we lost two trees, but I'm unspeakably grateful that they fell away from our house, and nothing was damaged.

And though my husband's job-related stress levels have multiplied, we're truly, truly grateful he is gainfully employed.

I guess the moral to the story is the enemy will always try to steal our joy. And truthfully circumstances can sometimes make life flat-out hard. But joy is still an option. In fact, it's a necessity. Because if the joy of the Lord is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10), why would we even try to do life without it?

Are you enduring some rough times right now? Is your joy level plummeting as the high winds of life leave a broken mess of things?

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1: 2-4)

Clearly God has given me a lot of opportunity for great joy this past week. Maybe you're experiencing lots of opportunities for joy, too. Let's make a deal. Let's continue to choose joy--in spite of our circumstances--this week. And next week. And the week after that.

In fact, let's just make the decision that we will learn to recognize opportunities for joy--and seize them. Sort of like Carpe Diem (Seize the Day). Only it'll be Capere Occasionem Gaudium: Seize the Opportunity for Joy.

Are you with me? Leave me a comment that about why you want to seize the opportunity for joy, and you'll be entered for a chance to WIN a $10 Starbucks gift card. {Because really, I just want to spread a little joy!}

More Jesus in My Day

More Jesus in My Day is a new feature you'll find here at my blog every Thursday. Designed to lead you straight to the Savior, each short post offers simple, practical ways to know Him more.

The moment you open your eyes in the morning, while your head still rests in that warm spot on your pillow, acknowledge Jesus. He is right there, waiting to greet you. Give Him your first waking moments, and allow yourself to linger in His presence.

Let your heart listen for His voice, and tell Him that your heart and ears are open to hear Him today. Invite Him into your day before you swing your legs across the mattress, before your beautiful feet touch the floor. Watch and wait for Him to speak first thing in the morning...and all day long.

In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare a prayer, a sacrifice for You and watch and wait for You to speak to my heart. (Psalm 5:3)

How is Your Joy Level?

Like a tired old car wheezing up a country hill on fumes, my joy sometimes evaporates, leaving me stranded in a plume of dust.

An unwelcome turn of events, a sour phone call, or a crushing misunderstanding and *poof* my joy conks out, leaving my joy gauge (and my energy) sputtering near zero.

Can you relate?

...and be not grieved or depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold. (Nehemiah 8:10b)

I'm learning that authentic joy doesn't have to evaporate the moment a problem arrives. The truth is, if our joy gauge constantly fluctuates based on our circumstances, then variable issues (over which we have no control) are in charge of our joy--not us.

My joy tends to evaporate fastest from relational conflicts, hurts or disappointments. Maybe yours does, too. Or maybe you lose your joy when a physical ailment flares up. Perhaps financial pressure sucks the joy right out of you. Whatever it is, we have a choice--our joy gauges don't have to bottom out.

The truth is, we can possess a deep,biding joy. Because authentic joy is available to me (and to you) not because of our circumstances, but in spite of them, and because of our relationship with Jesus, in whom all authentic joy is found.

So from now on, I hope you'll join me in declaring--in the midst of all your troubles, issues, disappointments and hurts--the following:

Lord, You are the source of my joy.

When hurt feelings flare, when your body aches, when troubles of any kind taunt you, take a deep breath and declare it aloud:

Lord, You are the source of my joy.

Every time we say this, we are fill ourselves with joy by reminding ourselves that (1) we have a choice, and (2) our joy is based on Jesus, His Holy word, and the finished work of the cross.

Ultimately, our joy does not depend on someone treating us right or the disappearance or resolution of all our troubles. And that means we can be filled with deep, abiding joy in spite of our less than perfect lives.

The next time your joy gauge begins to sink, remember our joy is a priceless, holy gift that no one can siphon without our permission.

I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. (John 15:11)

More Jesus in My Day

More Jesus in My Day is a new feature you'll find here at my blog every Thursday. Designed to lead you straight to the Savior, each short post offers simple, practical ways to know Him more.

If you’ve ever felt a longing for something you couldn’t quite put your finger on, and then wandered into the kitchen and stared blankly into your fridge or pantry when you’re clearly not physically hungry, it’s simply a spiritual longing gone askew.

God created us with specific longings that only He can satisfy. The next time you experience one of these ambiguous longings, picture your heart as an empty (but lovely) cup. Ask the Lord to fill the places in your heart and soul that only He can fill. Then trust and believe that He will. In fact, expect it. God longs to meet you at your place of need and fill you to contented satisfaction.

For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good. (Psalm 107:9)