iShineInMinistry

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. - Psalm 42:8

Is anyone else an insomniac or is it just me? I really have a hard time unwinding at the end of the day and getting rid of all of my energy in time to go to sleep. I usually try to do an intense work out 6 days a week and walk at least 10,000 steps for this very purpose. Most of the time, I honestly feel like a toddler that needs to run around all day, then crash…but not until midnight. I have noticed, however, that as I complete my bedtime routine, it helps to do my “nighty night” devotions, journal and have some instrumental worship music or hymns playing to calm myself down. This helps me remember what the words of this psalm tells me.

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime as He protects me and gets me through each day. Then at night as I relax and get ready for bed, His song is literally with me, telling me to calm down and go to bed! I need that reminder. I need it in the daytime, when I feel like there are too many moving parts and not enough hours in the day. I need it after lunch when my tea wares off and I am starting to get a little drained. I need His song in the night to calm my mind and help my thoughts subside so that I can rest in Him and be ready for another day. I need this to be written on the tablet of my heart so that when I am at a loss, it will bubble up in my thoughts and remind me Who is in control in every moment of every day.

How will you remember this psalm throughout your day so that you can live in peace and in the fullness of trusting the Lord?

 

Are you feeling completely drained, barren perhaps? I was just reading a devotional this morning about barrenness and it occurred to me that I may be in this current state of being. I am always tired, feel like there is always something to do and I really just want a little bit of REST, for like, I don't know...28 minutes?

My body is always giving me warnings to knock it off and get my life together and yet I can't seem to get the hint because...I mean, serving opportunities and other fun things are always around me, just waiting to be completed. And one of my spiritual gifts is serving (being the party is not a spiritual gift, but I seem to want to be that too, lol) so I am always excited, yet prayerful about getting involved. However, I always manage to go overboard (do all unto the glory of the Lord, with joy and glitter) and get carried away with how I execute things, which later makes me exhausted. So, I am prescribing myself (and you if you need it) with three ways to un-barren ourselves when we feel tired, drained and spiritually dry.

1) Nighty night devotions - Obviously, starting your day with morning devos is a genius idea to help you get through the day. However, it is also a smashing idea to add evening devotions to the end of the day and reflect on God's goodness as He relaxes you and prepares your heart and body to bedtime. Play some instrumental worship music in the background to really reset your body to chill mode.

2) Two hours a week of just plain nothing - I have been trying to incorporate this into my week more often these days. I have what I like to refer to as "floor time" where I set a blanket out and just chill on it for a couple of hours. I may journal, light some candles or just lay there looking at my ceiling fan as it turns, but I find that this time to do nothing (for the most part) but breathe is quite beneficial. It may also be a good idea to try to take that time to memorize a verse of scripture. I have been on Psalm 107:8-9 as of late. Or, another fantastic option is to listen to a teaching from a nonlocal pastor that you don't get to hear at church every Sunday in-person.

3) Sip some tea - I LOVE LOVE LOVE tea and had to actually down my intake because it was getting slightly out of hand. However, I do like to have some caramel bedtime tea with cream at the end of a long day to unwind and literally just enjoy the flavor of a sweet treat that does not have nearly as many calories as a slice of cake (which will then send me straight to the gym to run for 60 minutes and further amp me up). The warmth makes my body go into a tranquil state of bliss and I really just love this feeling.

What are some of the ways you take time to re-group and refocus on rest and the Lord when you are feeling drained or barren? How do you refuel and refresh so that your eyes come back to being fixed on the Lord?

When we are in the middle of a horrible life moment, a loss, a failure, a death, health issues, financial dilemmas, or simply just taking a look at the news to see all of the terrible injustices, unloving acts and heartless endeavors that are taking place on a normal basis, it can be hard to really think, “just have faith”. When we see our friend’s cancer diagnosis, get laid off, see that eviction notice or watch footage of yet another person being harmed by what should be a safe authority, it is all we can do to not try to hostily try and take matters into our own hands, or just look up at God in anger and deadpan, “Really?”

Life is absolute misery sometimes and while we can stay joyful in the circumstances, devastation sometimes just cannot be ignored. What do we do in these times? Well, first, I can tell you what we don’t do. We do not just forsake God and say it’s over, He’s not really there anyway and just go off into the world where all the evil is reigning day in and day out.

What we do is pray, seek the Lord and allow Him to show us the ways we can be the hands and feet in those moments. Pray for those, including yourself, that are going through hard times, terrible moments, anguish, hurt and defeat. Then, see what types of organizations and ministries are tangibly finding ways to help these just causes. Donate to a nonprofit that provides cancer research. Volunteer at an organization that helps people understand their rights if they are the victims of injustice and find ways to get that information into the hands of those that need it most. Set up a savings account for yourself or even a piggy bank to help yourself save more funds and get out of financial disarray. Find a career-savvy friend that can help you update your resume. Go keep that shut-in person company when their health gets too frail to leave the house, or run their errands for them (or both).

We can either sit by and watch the enemy take over this world from every angle or we can be the little things, the little moments, the small glimmers of hope that remind people that there is still good in the world and that God still reigns...He will win in the end. Let’s remind others and ourselves of that when it’s hard to believe.

Job 3:9 (ESV)

Let the stars of its dawn be dark;

let it hope for light, but have none,

 

It's been quite a while since I've written and sent a devotional out. After praying and really thinking about the last few months, I am beginning to think that my sparkle is going just a little bit dull. Usually everything around me gives me inspiration and points me to the Lord. However, lately, I have been at a bit of a loss...having a case of writer's block. I feel joyful (a little sleepy too) but the words just do not seem to be coming out. Clearly something is dulling my sparkle...or maybe it's just me?

 

We all go through seasons of ho-hum life where nothing is wrong, but something still feels like it's missing. Right now, my health and sleeping patterns, along with this winter remix weather that is New York seem to be taking the bounce out of my step. Perhaps, I am just drained due to the fact that while my bounce is not as bouncy, I still have not managed to hit slow motion on my life. Or, maybe I am straining to hear from God and He is just telling me to wait on Him and be still (for those who don't know me personally, "be still" is my least favorite set of words).

 

Might you be going through a similar slump? If so, I encourage you to keep the faith and keep grasping for God even when it feels like literally nothing is happening. There is no need to give up now' we have been walking this journey of faith now for some time...we just have to keep going. While it may seem dark and like your sparkle is losing it's glitter, remember that joy comes in the morning. This may be a longer night than usual, but let's believe the end result will be worth the wait!

 

Isaiah 60:1 (NKJV)

Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

 

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

... Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

 

I will be exalted among the nations,

 

I will be exalted in the earth.”

 

Is anyone else drowning in busyness lately? Every moment of every single day seems like it's jam-packed with tasks, follow up, this, that and everything in between. I keep taking things away from my schedule, only to have my precious minutes high-jacked by something else before I know what's happening. I literally cannot even deal with how exhausted I have been lately. I think we all need to take some sabbath moments in our day to re-set, recharge and restore our focus on the Lord so that we can do the things we have been called to do in our everyday life.

 

 

 

I believe I need my little break during the mid-afternoon. I need a little prayer and little devotional time, a little downtime and some quiet to regroup and recollect my thoughts. I know that I need to get my mind back on track before I begin to try and do things in my own strength just to make sure tasks get done. This break allows me to take a step back so that my heart and mind are on the right trail.

 

 

 

While 10 minutes may not seem like enough time to "get your life" it is clearly better than no minutes at all. We all need to get our hearts and minds back on the Lord when stress ensues. Take a breather with God and let Him help you de-stress.

 

 

 

Blessings, Hearts and Hugs!

 

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

 

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.