Learning to Practice What I Preach
*****
So... I didn't plan for this email today.
And I'm going to be real with you when I say I spent far too much time beating myself up over that.
I kept thinking about what I should have done.
So, I found myself staring at a blinking cursor, feeling strangely numb and wondering if I was using the time God has blessed me with the way He intended.
And here's the thing: Writing these weekly emails often reminds me that I need these words too. Sometimes they're meant for you. Sometimes they're for me first.
So, this week, I realized I needed to practice what I've been encouraging all of you to do for months.
To stop carrying guilt.
To stop believing that my worth is somehow tied to my productivity.
To stop measuring myself by what I accomplished instead of remembering whose I am.
Because, life isn't easy. We're all carrying things that no one else can see.
Unexpected news. Heavy conversations. Responsibilities that feel overwhelming. Moments when we wonder if we're doing enough or if we're somehow falling behind.
Yet somehow, even knowing God is in control, we still slip into believing that everything depends on us.
Why do we keep trying to control what only God can hold?
Why do we run toward temporary distractions instead of the One who offers lasting peace?
Why do we condemn ourselves for falling short when Jesus already paid the price for every shortcoming we could ever have?
One quote from Lysa TerKeurst has stayed with me all week:
"We steer where we stare."
Her words stayed with me all week because they forced me to ask one simple question: "Where am I staring?"
Am I staring at all the things I think I need to accomplish right now? The unexpected outcomes? Or are my eyes truly fixed on Jesus?
Because the longer I looked at my circumstances, the heavier they became.
Yet, the moment I looked back to Jesus, I remembered something I know... yet often forget.
He's not waiting for us to have the perfect lives, the perfect plan, or the perfect week before He welcomes us into His presence.
He simply wants you and me, just as we are. He wants to hear what's on our hearts and meet us in the places where we feel weak. Instead of trying to fix everything ourselves, He invites us to bring Him the confusion, the guilt...all of it.
Maybe that's why this email isn't the one I planned to write.
Maybe it's the one I needed to write.
And perhaps it's the one someone else needed to read today too.
Scripture of the Week
"Keep your eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith..."
— Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)
The chaos of life has a way of competing for our attention. Before we know it, we're staring at unfinished to-do lists, unanswered questions, and our own shortcomings instead of the Savior who has never left our side. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that peace isn't found by getting everything under control—it's found by fixing our eyes on Jesus.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving us, even on the days when we feel like we've fallen short. Thank You for reminding us that Your love has never been based on our performance, our productivity, or our ability to hold everything together.
Lord, forgive us for the times we've allowed guilt, self-condemnation, and the pressures of this world to pull our eyes away from You. Help us recognize when we're staring at our circumstances more than we're staring at our Savior.
When we begin to carry burdens You never asked us to carry, gently remind us to lay them at Your feet. Replace our striving with Your peace, our guilt with Your grace, and our fear with the confidence that comes from knowing we are deeply loved by You.
Teach us to fix our eyes on Jesus—not just on the easy days, but especially on the hard ones. Help us trust that You are working, even when we can't see it, and that Your plans are always better than our own.
Thank You for meeting us in our imperfect moments and for never asking us to earn what You've already so freely given.
We love You, Lord, and we place this week into Your faithful hands.
In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
In Love and Christ,
Dorene Elizabeth
Was This Post Forwarded to You?
Subscribe now and never miss a productivity, mom hack, or Christ-centered encouragement update!
|
|
Freebie All Access
Did you know that as a subscriber, you get ALL ACCESS to all of the valuable free downloads? I've created a single place so you never miss out!
Grab your password now!
|
600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
Unsubscribe · Preferences
