SAFE

I'm taking a break today from my Prayer Focus Week (which is now going into week Two).

I am excited to share more Prayer resources, dowloads, and stories with you, (if you haven't printed off some of the prayer downloads from the past two postings, please be sure and check them out!) and even have a FABULOUS Giveaway planned for later in the week (my first Giveaway - yippee!!)....but for today... I am weary and not feeling great. I spent last night and most of this morning in the Word, begging Jesus to restore my weary soul!

So today I'll share with you a repeated post, but with Scripture and a message that helps me everytime I am feeling exhausted, stressed, alone (or a combination of all 3!).

May the Lord use His Word to encourage you today as well!

I'm mindful today of something the Lord taught me years ago when I wanted to run to "lesser" things. When I'm stressed out and overwhelmed and everything in me wants to make a pot of coffee or eat something chocolatey or drown my sorrows in chips and salsa. When everything in me wants to run to something, anything...this is what I've learned to do. It is based on Proverbs 18:10, which reads – The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.

S - STOP

Just stop. Maybe the kids are fighting, the dog is barking, my husband is coming, the house is a mess, I’m still in my workout clothes, I smell, I don’t have dinner planned, the phone is ringing,…. Just stop. I need to take a deep breath. Stop.

A – ACKNOWLEDGE MY NEED FOR THE LORD.

I am learning to pour out my heart to God. It really helps to get my stresses off of my chest. Whether it’s through journaling, prayer, crying, whatever. Sometimes it may be throwing myself on my bathroom floor and telling the Lord I just can't handle my girls fighting anymore. Or sometimes I might pray a Scripture (Psalm 86 works great). Letting the Lord know how I am really doing ~ and Acknowleging my need for Him.

F – FILL MY HEART AND MIND WITH GOD'S TRUTH.

Sometimes I open the Word and start praying scripture out loud. Or Sometimes I start at A and work through the alphabet…Lord You are awesome, You are beautiful, You are our Creator, You are a Deliverer, You are Eternal, You are Forgiving… Usually by the time I get to F or G as I’m focusing on the Names and the character of God, I start to feel His peace…but not always…I’ve been known to make it to Q or even Z on those hard days :)

Sometimes, I picture myself with an IV and I pray for an infusion. I love Phil 4:13 in the Amplified Bible which reads…

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me – I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me…

So I pray…Infuse me with your power, and I think about how powerful He is

Infuse me with your peace, and I think about He is the God of peace

Infuse me with your patience, and I think about His patience

Infuse me with your strength, and I think about how strong and mighty He is

However I can Fill my mind and heart with God’s Truth!

E – EXPECT GOD TO SHOW UP!

What a blessing to know that God always hears my prayers. That even if I walk away “feeling” the same, the Truth is that God has heard me, that He cares, and that He will answer – He will show up!

But let’s be honest, after I pick myself up off the bathroom floor, my kids may still be fighting, I’m still wearing my smelly workout clothes, my husband is now closer to home, and I still don’t have a dinner plan –

But by running to the Strong Tower, I now have a peace, a strength, a sense of security that I wouldn’t have by running to Starbucks or a plate of chips and salsa!

Stop

Acknowledge your need for the Lord

Fill your mind with God’s Truth

Expect God to show up!

S~A~F~E

My hope is that for each one of us, the next time we are faced with a challenge or stressful situation (which may even be yet today!), the Lord will equip us and empower us to walk through the challenge victoriously (rather than running elsewhere).

Perhaps the SAFE example will come to mind (it has helped me tremendously!). Whatever the Lord uses, may we be committed to turning/running to Him alone, and may He remove ANYTHING in our lives that is getting in the way of FULLNESS with Him!!

Proverbs 18:10 ~ The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower, the righteous run to it and are SAFE.

Verse picture by Ivy Faith Creation. Isn't her work beautiful? To learn more, go here.