Beautifully Restored

You know, here recently I am realizing how easy it is to fall on your knees and feel like you can’t go anymore. You feel lost in direction and you can start to question your purpose in this big world.

Well sometimes, it takes a step back from your plans for your life and go back to God and align yourself with who He say’s you are and continue to pray that His will to be done in your life.

You lay down your worries, concerns, and even insecurities. Thank Him for all you do have and restart. Restart and remember why you started the work that God has given you.

Sometimes we struggle with finding our purpose, but yet we have to remember that we woke up another day which means we DO have a purpose in this life and we have the choice to live it out with the help of our Lord.

It’s easy to want to just sit back and live in your comfort zone because that’s what I did up until now.

I realize that I am here for more of a purpose than to live “comfortably” in my little shell doing what I desire.

I am here to live for what God desires. I am learning though, that takes continuous guidance and prayer. We as humans can not do it without the help of Jesus. It’s impossible, but with God IT IS POSSIBLE!

Sometimes this may look overwhelming to us. Especially when we feel overwhelmed with insecurities and doubt. Some of the worst feelings in this life in my opinion. It stops us from running the race that God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Sweet friends, this life will never come easy. Ever. But we have a living hope that dwells within our souls, and that is the hope of Jesus Christ. He will hold our hands down every path we may wonder down. He will never give up on us even during our pain, doubt, and insecurities.

If anyone understands pain, its Jesus. He walked down the path of pain. But look where He got. He saved the world from their sins. What an amazing race He ran.

Let Him help you run the race that God has set before you!!!

Friends! I really want to write about something that I truly feel can help everyone in their day to day life schedule. With everything! Relationships, Work, and even hobbies!

Sometimes it’s totally unavoidable to get out from under the uncomfortable situations that happen in life, and not just the situations that happen in life but people who are negatively impacting you and your soul.

What do we do when we feel under pressure in situations and when we feel attacked by people in general?

Do we automatically get discouraged and want to curl up in a ball? Do we start to think poorly of ourselves?

I feel like everyone may have a different coping mechanism when it comes to uncomfortable situations in life. Whatever it may be I feel like I can help the uncomfortable into something that we can take and grow from.

Step one: DO NOT LET SITUATIONS OR OTHERS SHAKE THE SOLID GROUND YOU STAND ON.

You my friend are a child of the highest God! You are worth everything to Him and He will leave the 99 to come chasing after YOU!

Do you know that? Do you truly rejoice in that knowing?

If not, its time you start realizing your worth NEVER comes from this Earth. Nothing here and no one person here will ever determine who you are or who you are meant to become. That is ALL God!

Our spirit becomes flimsy when we let others define our happiness and contentment. We MUST stand on the solid rock of God.

No human can give us the same kind of joy and happiness that our God can.

The next time you face a uncomfortable situation remember the firm foundation that you stand on. Remember that Jesus walks side by side with you. Keep your eyes on the God who made the Heavens and Earth.

He’s got your back and will fight every battle that comes your way!!!!

Believe it. Rejoice in it. Have faith in it.

How many times have you thought about doing something that feels totally right for you, but don’t do it because other people say it’s too risky or probably not the best idea?

(Matthew 19:26) ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Well, for me I do this all the time! I always care so much about what other people think when sometimes I need to listen to what my Holy Spirit is trying to tell me.

Stepping out and doing something you have never done before can be very nerve wracking for sure! That is because it is out of your comfort zone and you’re stepping into the unknown. But sometimes that unknown is trusting what God can do through you.

We all know someone who has taken that leap of faith and has gotten a ton of success by doing so, but yet we tell ourselves we couldn’t get to that level of success.

SPOILER ALERT: YES YOU CAN

Now stop and think, what have you always wanted to do but didn’t because you were fearful of the result? OR you weren’t totally financially stable to do it?

Well, have you tried to take steps to get closer to what you have in mind? Have you prayed for approval and confirmation?

I encourage all who is reading this to believe in yourself because your God does. IF the thing you have wanted to do is led by God then I would say go for it!

I am in a place right now where I know I need to walk out in deep waters and trust that the Lord will provide and help me with what I have been wanting to do.

I truly feel that if your intentions are good and your heart is lined up with God that all things are possible and you will be led to places you never thought you could go.

I believe that we can be rewarded for trusting in the plans God has for us and taking the leap that you have always wanted to take.

(Hebrews 11:6) ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Seek Him and His plans for your life. You have so much potential and purpose, sweet friend.

I understand that the leap is the hardest thing to do, but when you take it and you are all in, pray every step of the way. Make sure God is always who you are seeking as you continue your journey with whatever you are doing. Make God be your copilot to lead and direct every step you take.

(Job 42:2) “I know that you can do all things,
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Do you ever wish you were free to be completely yourself? Do you wish people would accept you exactly as you are with no judgment, No matter what mistake you have made or what obstacle you have gotten yourself into?

Well, God does. God cares about your body, your soul and mind, He cares about you in life and after death. He will never leave no matter what you have done.

I know I fail God daily but yet He still loves me the same. His unfailing love and grace saves me every single day.

I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior a long long time ago and it still never fails to amaze me that the God who created the universe loves me just the way I am flaws and all. It is truly humbling.

God’s acceptance of you will never change. He does not forget about you.

When our lives are owned by Jesus, we can find freedom in that through our minds and hearts. Our worry and anxiety can vanish when we put our trust in our God.

Do you question whether it’s possible for you to be truly free in Jesus Christ?

I know for my life it has always been a work in progress to let God take over all my worries and concerns.

Many people think that all the responsibility is on you when you get yourself into a mess. Whether that be financial, physical, or even mental.

Well, I refuse to believe that.

I believe that God gives us enough grace to help us out of our moments of weakness, sadness, desperation, and stupidity.

I believe that God will always come to help even when we put ourselves into a mess.

I believe that Jesus meets us just where we are with loving and helping hands.

God knows our hearts and loves us no matter what. There is never a place you could go that is too far from God.

He will find you in the midst of the mess.

I know for me I struggle with the thoughts and feelings of “God won’t help me now, I have gone too far this time.”

But here’s the thing, If God’s grace was an ocean, we would all be sinking.

Our challenges are opportunities for us to let God come into our lives and give Him the power to turn a situation that feels impossible to us, into a living work of God’s greatness.

God will produce miracles if we only let Him do His work in our lives. Surrender who we are and what we have done and let Him take it over.

We just have to put all our trust into Him because when we do that, we are giving God credit that He is way bigger than the problems that we will ever face.

No matter what lies ahead, GOD IS FAITHFUL. He will never leave nor forsake you.

(1 Corinthians 10:13) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

(Psalm 116:5) 5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

So as a kid I struggled so much with trying to fit into the “popular” crowd but yet I could not find anything that I had in common with them. It was always so frustrating when I was younger. I never had a ton of girlfriends. Just a very few that I could really trust.

I saw all these others girls at high school football games with like 10 of their friends! This was almost embarrassing to me. I felt alone in a lot of ways.

I thought “hey maybe if I started acting more like them I will “fit in.”

I started acting like someone I wasn’t and realized that this is not what I am supposed to be doing. This does not seem right. I was trying way too hard to be someone I really was not.

To be honest, I struggled for a long time with this. Not until about 2 years ago did I fully realize and embrace that I have been chosen and “set apart” for the good of God. To do His work.

I have accepted what God has called me to do. Finally, after 24 years!

I had so much growing to do before I was able to come to this realization.

Until I was able to grasp what God has done for me, I wasn’t able to start the work God had for me.

I have learned so much about God’s love and grace. He has done so much for me and has never left my side in my darkest thoughts and in my darkest times of life.

Being set apart from the world doesn’t mean we can’t have fun, but we are not to indulge in the sinful activities of this world.

Let your light shine before others. God has chosen you out of the world to show His glory in you. You’re in the world, but don’t be part of the world. Don’t follow the world’s desires and live like unbelievers, but walk like Jesus our Lord and Savior. Our holiness comes from Christ.

“He that chooses God, devotes himself to God as the vessels of the sanctuary were consecrated and set apart from common to holy uses, so he that has chosen God to be his God, has dedicated himself to God, and will no more be devoted to profane uses.”  Thomas Watson

Deuteronomy 14:2 You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.

1 John 4:4-5 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.

And one of my favorite scriptures:

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

These scriptures gave me a lot of joy and happiness when I read them because I didn’t feel left out. I felt SET APART! It suddenly made so much sense.

So I will live my life for the Lord and only for the Lord.

I encourage you to do the same thing!

If you will accept this statement that  prayer is the answer, that prayer is power, and that prayer can change all things that need changing in your life, yourself, or in any condition of any kind, you have placed yourself in the stream of blessing that is available to all who ask in faith, believing.

If you are unhappy, prayer can lift you into a new lightness of heart, joy, and happiness.

There is a sense of calmness after I pray and I know that I have laid it all out there to God and can rest in that knowing. I trust that God can handle my problems. Even when sometimes it just feels like too much. God can handle it.

Praying isn’t only praying for what you want or think you even need. It’s about being one with God. Laying down your life to Him, the One who holds it all.

If you are plagued with resentment and bitterness regarding a person or situation, prayer can bring a new understanding to you that will fill you with new peace and great love.

Maybe you are going through a time of life where you are fearful. Prayer can transform you into a person of great courage.

I am sure there are things that you have held onto and have not spoken to another soul about. Maybe you haven’t even prayed because you’re too scared to bring it to God even.

I have good news. God’s grace has you. He loves you where you are right now. He loves your heart, soul and mind. Speak to your Father. He will listen and care in such a deep way and can help take away whatever it is that you have been carrying.

Moses prayed in his own way, and he received sufficient guidance to lead the enslaved Israelites into the Promised Land. Joseph prayed in his way, and he received wisdom and patience and understanding that brought great success and happiness to him and to all those about him. Paul prayed in his way, and he received great illumination that changed his life and moved the world. Jesus prayed in His way and miracles of healing and blessing became a daily occurrence.

Pray in your way. You will see that your life will be transformed and blessed.

Do not be ashamed to pray. Do not feel guilty because you have prayed infrequently before. Begin to pray now in your own way, in your own time, in your own place of life, and see what prayer can do for you. Don’t forget that your relationship with Jesus looks different and is set apart from other peoples relationship. Consider that special! You have your own place in the hands of the Almighty God.

1 John 5:14 says: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

I think sometimes as humans when we have not so great things happen to us, it becomes our excuse to just shut down completely. We start to question God and we start to feel sorry for ourselves. We feel like we are being targeted. But that is not the case at all.

As I have said before this world will never be perfect so neither will every situation we go through.

We can’t let that take us away from God. We must try and understand through these times and pray that much harder for His wisdom.

So I am going to be honest with you guys right now. This is almost embarrassing to me in a weird. way. But one thing I am learning is it’s okay. It’s okay to be honest in all aspects of life, because its real and raw emotions.

So, I am getting ready to get married in 4 months now and I am realizing who my true friends are through this process. I had not 1, not 2, but 3 girls drop out of my wedding party. I was so distraught and hurt. I didn’t understand why this was happening 4 months from my wedding.

I had such a negative outlook at first, but as I prayed and tried to understand I was realizing that God maybe was showing me something.

Something that may have been an even messier situation down the line, He was saving me from. Even though it didn’t make sense I had to just trust God could turn it around.

For that I am thankful and can tell you that I have learned so much. I am trying to bloom in every season, even the not so great ones.

BUT, once this happened I had no idea what I was going to do. I just trusted that things would work out.

Within the next week I got a message from an old high school friend that I haven’t seen or talked to in YEARS! We started talking about the position I was in and she was able to give me a brand new perspective AND a new idea to fix the issue I was in previously.

It was crazy how fast things ended up working out in the end.

When you keep yourself lined up with God, He will fight for you.

Sometimes God just has a strange way of showing us the more difficult things in life.

Through God’s words we gain an understanding that God is the one who gives the gift of knowledge- that is an understanding or awareness of something. The Lord however, grants knowledge to those who have an honest relationship with him.

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.

I love this verse so much. It’s basically saying that we must still seek Him and His wisdom through everything.

Having faith in God during difficult times can be incredibly hard. Excruciating. Even physically painful.

The good news is we can still take situations and turn them into learning experiences. (bloom where you are planted.)

Which means there is always a time to learn more about God even in our most excruciating times. For that I am always thankful. My life is far from perfect and I am trying to make sure that you guys know this as I write. I promise to be as raw and pure as I can be, because this is how life works. There’s good and bad days for everyone!