6 Scriptures to Boost Your Weary Soul

God, I’m flat-out exhausted. This is entirely too hard and I’m over it. Please either change the situation or change me. Move as only You can! Amen

Have you ever prayed a similar prayer? {Glad I’m not the only one!} Below are some mini-prayers I have prayed and God’s powerful response. I hope they help you like they have helped me. J

1. This is entirely too hard “I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10b)

2. I feel so weary “For I will fully satisfy the weary soul, and I will replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.” (Jeremiah 31:25)

3. I feel stressed and overwhelmed “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and over burdened and I will cause you to rest—I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

4. I don’t feel strong enough “…be strong in the Lord—be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him—that strength which His boundless might provides.” (Ephesians 6:10)

5. This battle has been going on for so long “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and be at rest.” (Exodus 14:14)

6. I don’t know how much longer I can go on “He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength—causing it to multiply and making it abound.” (Isaiah 39:29)

My prayer for you this week is that as you read His word, you will be replenished, refreshed and revived, heart and soul!

5 Simple Ways to Fit More Prayer into Your Life

I think prayer often takes a back seat in our multitasking, always connected, over-scheduled culture. But if we are to pray at all times, (Ephesians 6:18) and pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), then prayer needs to flow much more organically in our lives.

This happens when we remove the mental constraints we have about prayer—such as thinking we can only pray when we’re alone, or thinking we can pray for a set time first thing in the morning and then we’re done for the day.  I like to think of prayer as an ongoing conversation, so it’s never really over.  It just sort of flows throughout the day—throughout our lives.

And that’s not as hard as you might think.

Below are some of my tried-and-true methods for praying more often:

1. Pray while you shower
2. Pray when you drive
3. Pray on your daily walks/as you exercise
4. Pray during mindless chores (washing dishes, vacuuming, folding laundry, chopping veggies)
5. Stay in bed an extra 5 (or more) minutes and pray before your feet hit the floor

I’m not suggesting that we only squeeze in prayer while we’re doing other things—I’m a firm believer in making a set prayer time a holy priority. We desperately need that prayer time alone with the Lord, time to vent, time to hear from Him. But if, like Enoch, we can walk and talk with God more throughout our day, well, that increased prayer will strengthen us, our families, our marriages, and ultimately, our relationship with Him.

How about you? Do you have a specific prayer time? Is your prayer life flowing like you want it to?

Burning Bush Moments {Give-Away Winners Announced}

I don't know about you, but I long to be a woman of purpose. I believe that we must not allow distractions to prevent us from hearing God's voice.

Recently as I read in the book of Exodus, I realized that the Lord calls each one of us to turn aside and focus on Him in the midst of distractions. Moses did this very thing when he turned to observe a burning bush in the desert. As he led a noisy herd of sheep through the wilderness, he chose to turn toward the Lord.

It can't be easy to herd sheep. The shepherd must watch this one, keep an eye on that one, and keep the entire herd moving in the right direction. But Moses made a decision and turned aside from it all. And that is when God spoke to him. That is when Moses discovered his God-given destiny.

"And Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.' And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said..." Exodus 3: 3-4 (Amplified Bible)

When we choose to turn aside from the clamour and craziness of life to the One who burns for us with unrivaled love, God takes notice. This is when He speaks to us, revealing His plans and purpose for that particular time. This is a burning bush moment.

They key to experiencing burning bush moments is to possess an interruptible heart—one that longs to hear God—even in the midst of our crazy lives.

Are you willing to be interrupted?

When we determine to have interruptible hearts we willingly turn aside from all that distracts, and we place the Lord in a position of preeminence. We are showing Him that He takes priority over everything else, that He is first. Really first.  

When we cultivate a listening heart and possess an interruptible heart, then we will hear God. And when we hear from the Lord for ourselves, it revives us, equips us, strengthens us. And ultimately, it transforms us. And isn’t that what this journey is all about? Being transformed into His image.

How about you? Do you have an interruptible heart? This week determine to listen for God to speak amidst the distractions. You just might experience a burning bush moment.

The WINNERS of my most recent give-away (and I LOVED reading all about your summer plans!) of a signed copy of Prayers for a Woman’s Soul and a $10 Starbucks gift card are: Vicki Oski and Jackie Smith.  Congratulations! Please send me your mailing address so I can get your gifts to you right away. (Prizes must be claimed by July 11^th.)