Back in college, I learned something about myself. I used to carry this tension, but I didn’t always recognize it. Looking back I recognize it was this low-key anxiety, a persistent mild worry that I was gonna forget something or something would go wrong. I don’t think I felt it all the time, but it was far more often than I realized. It wasn’t until my senior year of college (when I was busier than ever) that I actually started to get a handle on it, but not in the way you might expect. In my senior year I began to really pursue my relationship with God to a whole new level! It wasn’t just a list of things I did. It was more about the way I shifted my mindset and my lifestyle to match. Here are a few examples of the changes I made: 1. I started taking walks to talk with God 2. I got rid of some movies, music, and habits in my life that he asked me to remove 3. I started regularly taking time to worship him, pray, and journal 4. For a period of time, I fasted lunch and went to pray instead 5. I read my Bible every day, not as a routine, but whenever I could make time 6. I actively practiced being still and quiet, and listening to hear what he would say 7. When he did speak, I would obey as quickly as possible This is not an exhaustive list, but that’s not the point. The point is first love. Is Jesus first in your life? Do you love him with all your heart? When I made him first, everything else seemed to fall in line. I had this perfect peace in my heart almost all of the time. There were moments I felt nervous about something I needed to get done, but it was temporary. My normal state was rest. I don’t do this perfectly now, but I’m starting to return to practices like these because I want him to be first in my life again. How about you? What are some ways you can start making him first in your life? 👇Comment below👇 and let’s talk about it!

"Mental health struggles are NOT your identity. They are normal and need to be addressed, not suppressed, or things will get WORSE!” —Dr. Caroline Leaf "Your Mental Mess" Emphasized by me 😊 Symptoms like anxiety and depression are just that… symptoms… they are warning indicators of a problem that is not being addressed. Often the trigger is a circumstance, a relationship, etc., but your emotional reaction is based on your thoughts about it. The first question is, what are the thoughts, situations, locations, people, or other circumstances that seem to trigger those feelings?

[Disclaimer, this is a longer one! 😜] I have had some conversations with people around the topic of profanity, whether this is something that God “cares” about or not. I’m not talking about comparing sins with anyone and I’m not saying that "cursing" in the sense of using certain words is going to determine whether you live or die for eternity. That not the point. Belonging to Jesus is the most important thing. The point is that the purity of your words will impact the purity of your message, your testimony. As the Apostle Peter said, referring to Leviticus 19:2 and 20:7, "For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'” Some people say they are more "spiritual... not biblical." I'm not sure exactly what they mean by that, but let me assure you that living your life "biblically" is the most spiritual way to be. Jesus said, "...The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63). I don't mean empty rule following, a form of "godliness" that denies His power. I mean to obey God's Word, to obey Jesus' words. Jesus said, "if you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). He also said, "why do you say to me 'lord, lord' but do not do what I say?" (Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46). If you call Him "Lord," then do what He says. In Ephesians 4:29, the apostle Paul says, "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” This is not to condemn anybody. Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. However, Galatians 5:13 says, "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." A few more verses… “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” (James 3:10-12, ESV)

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King David wrote Psalm 3 when his son staged a coupe, took his throne, and tried to kill him! As if that wasn’t bad enough, it seemed like most of the kingdom sided with his son.😬 According to David, when our enemies rise up against us or our situation threatens to overwhelm us, we can: 1. Cry out to God 😫🙏 2. Rest [our heart] in Him 😌❤️ 3. Choose courage with faith 🦁❤️‍🔥 He does the heavy lifting from there. 💪🏻 When we call out to God, He: - Protects us 🛡️ - Honors us 🫡 - Gives us victory 🏆 When we choose faith over fear, God destroys our enemies, saves us, and blesses us, because we are His people. Have you ever felt like everyone or everything was against you? What did you do? 💬 Comment below👇 and let’s talk about it!