Today’s a new day! The grace of God gives each of us faith, not because we deserve it, but as a result of the everlasting goodness of His works. It is important to know that this gift we have been given is not in exchange for us accomplishing good works. This gift should fill our hearts with humility knowing we’ve been given something we could never achieve on our own. ~OC
Intimacy with God
Today’s a new day! As I have struggled with chronic health issues for 21 years, I have experienced a beautiful and ever deepening relationship with God. He’s constantly pouring out His love over me, and God is continuously speaking to me. Even though my health journey has not been an easy one, God has never felt distant. Even in the toughest moments, He has felt close like a warm blanket on a cold night.
I know for some people that has not always been their experience. They have had moments of feeling distant from God. While we should not let our emotions dictate our faith, if He consistently feels distant, we should question why.
I would like to share one of the greatest gift a person facing chronic health issues can experience during the trying times- intimacy with God. If you’re currently walking through a season of chronic illness, you can experience an ever-growing closeness with God during the toughest and most painful days. Here are some questions I have pondered over the years.
- Are you currently experiencing true intimacy with God?
- During your health battle when have you felt closet to God?
- How often in your journey have you compared your interaction with God to how He interacts with, responds to, or guides someone else?
- What are some ways you can intentionally draw close to God?
- Do you struggle with feeling as if you should do or be more as a Christian?
- Have you unknowingly slipped into a works-based relationship with God?
- In what ways is God using your current struggles to draw you closer to Him?
Promises
Today’s a new day! Even during the toughest moments in life, scripture tells us God will never leave or forsake us. That is a wonderful promise to hold on to. During the hardest moments, God gives us peace and comfort. He is the God of new beginnings. Nothing is impossible with the King of Kings. Whether your at the beginning of this journey called life or your somewhere in the middle, you can trust in Him because with God it’s always just the beginning.
Today, you might find yourself in the middle of a storm that forces you to start all over again. Perhaps the loss of a relationship, a financial setback, a health battle or whatever might force you to begin all over again. Maybe just maybe that storm is the beginning of something new. Putting our trust in God during difficult times forces us to seek His guidance, and put our cares at His feet.
Trusting God through uncharted waters takes faith and courage, but believe me it’s worth the effort. The path God has chosen for us leads to true happiness, true peace and true joy. What a beautiful promise to cling to. ~OC
Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31
Resiliency
Today’s a new day! Nothing is wasted by God and that through all things, God is working for the good of those who love Jesus and for His ultimate glory. If we truly lean into the truth of God’s word, there is not a single circumstance that happens outside of the sovereignty of God’s authority and if it is not outside of His authority, it is being used by Him for our good and for His Glory. Resiliency.
Cancer, Parkinson’s, Myasthenia Gravis, Gastroparesis, Covid Long Hauler’s all under God’s authority. All the storms of life under His authority. As I have walked through the above health issues, I have chosen to totally put my trust in God. Leaning into the amazing truth, that God has used every health issue I have faced and am currently facing for His glory. I want to be in the middle of everything God is doing in my life. Because if it’s for His Glory, it is inherently for my good. If it is for my good, I can keep persevering through the tough moments. That is resilience. Course correcting through the storms of life, through hardships, through trial after trail … being brought back to the foot of the Cross with the truth that it is all for His Glory and my good. Resiliency. ~OC
Thanksgiving Prayer
Good morning on this Thanksgiving Week. God put this prayer on my heart. I pray it blesses and challenges all of us. I also pray everyone has a beautiful, safe and blessed Thanksgiving. ~OC
Dear God, teach us to offer you a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all our daily experiences through this journey called life. Teach us to be joyful always, to pray continually and to give thanks in all our circumstances. We accept them as Your will for our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We long to bring pleasure to Your heart daily. Break the power of the enemy in our life. Defeat him through our sacrifice of praise. Change our outlook and attitude into one of joyful contentment with our present circumstances. We thank You for walking with us through our toughest storms. Jesus, we want to be like You who obeyed the Father without complaint. You embraced the chains of humanity when You walked this earth. Convict us whenever we complain or compare ourselves with others. Give us Your attitude of humility and thankful acceptance. We want to be like the Apostle Paul who learned contentment in every circumstance. We choose to continually offer You a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that give praise to Your name (Hebrews 13:15). We long to bring a smile to Your face. Teach us the power of a thankful heart. We know that Your truth dwells in a thankful heart. Amen.
I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. ~Psalm 7:17
The Cross
Today’s a new day! What Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection is central to everything in our faith journey. The death and resurrection of Jesus is not only central to scripture and the Gospel, but is also central to learning (maybe for the first time) what God is like, and how we are supposed to live our lives as followers of Jesus. Keep leaning into the promises of Jesus. ~OC
Promises
Today’s a new day! What Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection is central to everything in our faith journey. The death and resurrection of Jesus is not only central to scripture and the Gospel, but is also central to learning (maybe for the first time) what God is like, and how we are supposed to live our lives as followers of Jesus. Keep leaning into the promises of Jesus. ~OC
Total Freedom
Today’s a new day! There is complete and total freedom in Jesus. We will never experience true freedom in our finances or social status. No, true freedom and joy comes from surrendering our entire lives to Jesus.
We will still have aching questions and burning disappointments that we will bring to God. We still do not understand all the mysteries of life. Our future is still full of questions and imperfections.
But that doesn’t have to hold us back from continuing to lean into the promises of Jesus. When we have faith that He is working, even now, we are filled with peace. It’s out of our hands and it’s in the hands that were pierced for each of us. In the midst of the storms of life, our Jesus continues to work. He is focused on our now and walking with us through the storms. Do not miss the lessons He has for you in the valley moments. Jesus is focused on the big picture. The results are going to be glorious. Keep leaning in. ~OC
Walk In Freedom
Today’s a new day! It’s time to start living out our faith. Not on our own power but in God’s strength and His grace. To walk in true freedom. When we are walking in freedom, we are able to experience all that God has for our lives. Then we are not slaves to sin or other people’s opinions. We can truly live and love like Jesus because it really is Jesus living and loving through us.
Why do God’s people choose not to walk in His freedom? We toss it aside like an old piece of clothing most of the time. Somehow, we think this precious freedom would make us boring and unattractive to the world. When in reality, living in God’s freedom makes us full of hope, love and grace. When we are filled with the freedom of Jesus, we are truly receptive to God’s calling and blessings. Walking in true freedom changes everything. Think about that for a moment. Walking in the true freedom of Jesus, frees us from struggling to be enough or do enough. We no longer need to “fit in.”All that is possible when walking in the freedom of Jesus. How exciting!! I pray you will choose to walk in true freedom. Nothing less will do. ~OC
Dear God,Thank you for sending Jesus to break us free from all of the strongholds of this world. To free us from death and destruction.Forgive us for not walking in true freedom,especially because you’ve even provided strength and power to do so in Jesus.Stir up in us a real desire to walk in true freedom.Show us what that really means,let us experience everything free in you.Live with us, walk with us, talk with us, stay with us and guide us. Thank you, Lord. We love you. In Jesus name. Amen
Broken
Today’s a new day! The truth is we’re all broken, we’re all cracked and what so many people see as a fault or a malfunction really is something to be considered useful. Turn that brokenness into a blessing. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 