What’s Required to Experience God’s Grace

Lately, slowly, I have been going through a study called, “Seeking Him,” by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth & Tim Grissom.

I originally started this study back in 2014, when I was facing a dry period in my faith in God. In other words, during times of loneliness & isolation, it being my first move across the globe (Guam), I had a hard time feeling God’s presence.

It hurt because I was looking to the end of my struggle as my hope, rather than dumping my cares & burdens at God’s feet & asking Him to be my Enough IN the storm I was facing.

And so, starting this study was my desperate push to feel God’s presence in my dessert. But, when I began this study all those years ago, knowing it called for personal revival, I was not willing to face how poorly I was handling my pain… I just wanted a quick fix.

I didn’t realize then that revival of your heart means being willing to come clean, repent of your wrongs, & fall back under God’s wonderful, beautiful, all-fulfilling grace.

I Shut the Book & Never Looked Back… Until Now

This study doesn’t play around. Right from the start, this study has you get real with yourself & let me tell you that it wasn’t too pretty. My stubborn self reared back from it & wanted to plug my ears & hum out any hint of the self-condemnation I was feeling.

That’s about when I shut the book & never looked back… until now.

Fast forward to a couple months ago, when I began this study again, & having those same questions presented for my response… only to see myself still agreeing with my sin struggles from 7 years ago!

Shame & guilt & self-condemnation began to flood me again, pride began to rear up in defense, & I honestly wanted to close the book again & donate it immediately, once & for all, to the thrift store for someone else to deal with.

Avoiding the Truth

I didn’t want to be told I needed to change. I wrestled with legalism & felt like I would never be good enough. Satan whispered hate into my heart, telling me to stop fooling myself & to stop mocking God by continuing to return to God each time I failed… telling me I didn’t deserve grace, OBVIOUSLY.

And I was stubborn. Hard-hearted. I didn’t want to listen. I didn’t want to be honest with myself. I wanted to sugar-coat my sin & stay contentedly oblivious in doing life MY way.

Yeah, sure, I have grown a lot & God has been a long-suffering, patient, & always faithful Friend. But I just felt defeated, you know? Like even with all of the growth & all of the change & all of the renewal over the years, I had to face the facts: I was still a failure in so many ways & still so, so weak... & recognizing that fact didn’t feel so great at all.

We CAN’T. That’s the Whole Point!

And that’s when God reminded me that that is pretty much the whole point.

We CAN’T do it on our own. We CAN’T ever be good enough.

We NEED Him. Every day, for the rest of our lives & into our eternity.

This study has been SO HARD. And every other lesson has me taking a deep inhale, stiffening up in defiance, & wanted to shut it & walk away.

But it has been good for me. It has forced me to say, “Not me. Him. I’m not enough. He is. I need Him. I’m not worthy… & yet… JESUS.”

What IS Grace?

This is how this study describes grace:

“If a young man is killed through some random act of violence, & his father tracks down the guilty person & kills him, we would call that vengeance. If, however, the father calls the police & the murderer is arrested, tried, convicted, & executed, we’d call that justice. If, at the trial, the father pleads for the guilty man’s life to be spared & the judge & jury consent, we’d call that mercy.

Now imagine this: in addition to pleading for the guilty one to be spared, the father actually appeals to the judge to release the offender into his custody & care. Miraculously gaining approval, the father takes the young man into his heart & home, adopts him, & raises him & loves him as his own son… that would be grace!” (ps. 86)

What a beautiful picture of how God treats us.

We’re the Offender & Yet God Offers Us GRACE

WE’RE the villain/murderer in this story. We DESERVE wrath. Justice would be us getting what we deserve… to pay the price of wronging God (sin) ourselves.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

But unlike this story, Jesus pled our case by PAYING OUR DEBT to death, WILLINGLY, & raising again, victorious over our sin AND over death.

And THEN, as if that wasn’t enough already, God ALSO adopts us & cares for us as His own children, offering His wisdom, guidance, gentle discipline, love, strength, & resources to help us throughout our lives.

What a wonderful Savior!

The Subtlety of Pride

Even if you like to justify or prettify your sin, like I do, thinking to yourself, “Well, it’s not murder or other worse sins… so….” (I feel ya! I do it ALL the time), God knows our hearts even better than we do. We can’t fool God.

And pride is the most subtle of them all!

For example, the study mentions a scenario led by pride: insecurity in trying to make friends.

That seemed like such a stretch to me. I mean… how can me feeling insecure around people & in trying to make friends… be an example of PRIDE?

But it goes on to explain that we should not hesitate to show kindness & care for people based on whether or not we think they LIKE us first.

Ouch.

The subtlety of pride!

Lord, Please Continue to Work on My Heart!

And so, I will continue in this study, even if the 12-week set-up takes me 12 months, because I need to face myself & I need to better understand the power of God’s grace in my daily life.

Shine hope by determining to face your sinful attitude & by placing it under the grace of God, asking for His help in determining to weed it out of your life.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out the newly updated Resources & Recommendations page!***)

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Andean Ring (& Andean Drop Earrings) (PERU)

Handcrafted by our newest Artisan partners in Peru, this 24k gold-plated, natural chrysocolla stone ring can be worn alone as a stunning statement piece or paired with our Andean Drop Earrings. Hammered metal & natural variations of swirling green chrysocolla add “Old World” charm to this ethically made ring. Every ring has variations as a part of the Artisan-made charm!

Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty in Peru.

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Call Sin, Sin

Okay, this lesson hurt me a little bit if I am quite honest with you.

As you might have been following, God has been encouraging me to call sin out as sin in my life… NOT sugar-coating it or laughing it off as a weakness of mine… NOT saying “oh, I was DEFEATED by that sin today,” but rather, “I disobeyed God today because I wanted to sin more than I wanted to ask for His help.”

It’s been rough, challenging, but oh so good for me.

Slothfulness

One of those sins is SLOTHFULNESS. Or, as it is more commonly labeled: Laziness.

This is a tough one for me for many different reasons.

The first & most commonly seen error, is that it is often misconstrued as a character flaw or a human weakness, rather than disobedience. “I’m such a lazy person.”

The second is that you might very well have legitimate circumstances that make it seem like you HAVE to be lazy because you just CAN’T.

Now, don’t get this confused with very much needed REST. We NEED rest.

But, when rest becomes more frequent than productivity, becoming an idol in your life that negatively affects the rest of your life & your responsibilities… there might be a problem.

My Limitations & Trying to Justify Lazy Choices

For me, I get a foggy brain. Some days I feel like there is so much fog in my head that everything feels like I am trudging uphill through quicksand to get anything done that day.

I also struggle with anxiety. When I have too many stressors affecting my life, I shut down, overcome by overwhelm.

And for those two legitimate reasons, it can become very difficult to distinguish between my decision to disobey God by dishonoring Him with the consistent neglecting of my personal responsibilities that God has asked of me… & just needing some rest.

And so, the pendulum often swings between one & the other for myself & many others whom I observe. We either exhaust ourselves when we really need to REST, or we indulge in & dishonor God with lazy decisions often in the name of “rest.”

Seeking Comforts (Vs. God) Became My Coping Mechanism

But, as I mentioned, I have two very legitimate areas of concern, where I became a little too comfortable choosing comfort over obedience, all in the name of “rest.”

I chose the “easy” way of videos, games, tv, etc. & anything else to avoid having to face my brain fog &/or anxiety in being productive & God-honoring with my time, redeeming the time as God instructs of us. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

How to Discern the Difference

So how do we tell the difference between needing rest & indulging in laziness?

The obvious & most effective, life-changing answer is to PRAY.

And no, I do NOT mean saying empty, supposedly magical words to God that will fix all of your problems & that you should just go on doing it how you always have UNTIL He indeed fixes it.

I mean LEAN INTO HIM. Pray, not just to cover your bases, but with an understanding that if ANYONE knows a solution, a balance, discernment to tell the difference… it’s HIM. And that you are turning to Him AS your solution.

Because no one knows the lies you tell yourself better than God does. So, ask Him. And OBEY where He guides you.

Learn to Get Honest with Yourself

The second suggestion in growing a discerning heart in this area is just plainly being honest with yourself, & maybe asking yourself questions when confronted with an opportunity to avoid responsibility:

1. Is this genuinely too difficult for you to handle right now? Take a break or ask for help.
2. Are you just wanting to QUIT? Lean into God’s help & DON’T let Satan win!

I also made a list of things to accomplish each separate day of the week, to help me stay on task.

Fail Forward… Progress Over Perfection

Do I always choose rightly? Nope.

This sinful, selfish craving for & sometimes over-indulgence in comfort has been a long-time habit woven into my response mechanisms whenever I face struggles that overwhelm me or when my brain fog closes in around me. Re-writing my habits will take time & God’s help.

This requires the renewing of my mind with GOD’S TRUTH to help me weed out & recognize the lies I so easily fall for & of which I often WANT to fall for (& repentance for the times I WANT to fall for it & when I disobey.)

This requires PRAYER for the Holy Spirit to help me recognize when I am compromising & going from REST to DISOBEDIENCE.

Slothfulness: There Is No Such Thing As a Lazy Person

The pull to be lazy & just quit for something easier & more comfortable is something I DAILY struggle with, but is something I know now to be laziness disguised as rest.

It’s a lie I tell myself so I can have an easier, more me-focused life, vs. an obedient, FULL life, with God’s help & guidance.

It’s trading God’s will & way, for MINE.

It’s a sin.

And so, I encourage you to also recognize, as I overheard a psychologist mention: “There is actually no such thing as a lazy person. It just simply doesn’t exist. What DOES exist are people who make lazy decisions.”

God Is All-Wise. He Is Our OVERCOMER.

If you struggle with this sin, fess up to it. Confess it to God. Repent & ask God to help you have a discerning heart to know when you ought to slow down & rest… & when you are using that as an excuse to avoid responsibility &/or what honors God in the moment—even if you have a very legitimate-seeming excuse to do so!

God can help you overcome ANY obstacle, so don’t let Satan convince you to STOP at your own limitations!

Call your sin SIN. Repent. Allow your mind to BE RENEWED through reading & thinking on God’s TRUTH. PRAY for HELP along every step & for awareness to recognize between a need for a rest & a need to rely on God over your limitations.

Shine HOPE by not allowing slothfulness or an addiction to comfort steal your time & joy.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com..

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out the newly updated Resources & Recommendations page!***)

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Northern Lights Studs

These studs hold labradorite stone, displaying multiple captivating colors that vary in different exposures to light, just like the Northern Lights themselves. (Flash-plated posts.)

The women we partner with in India do so much more than just create beautiful products. With every purchase, another woman is empowered out of poverty to be self-reliant! Women have the opportunity to earn an income, attend financial management classes, and receive education & healthcare. These women are now able to give their family a promising future because of your purchase!

Purchase these studs & empower a woman in India!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

What Is Included in “All”?

Our pastor at church here in Japan spoke about this topic & it encouraged my thoughts for today.

We have been talking a lot about holiness in my blog & the sermon’s subject was about committing our all to God—basically: Holiness.

So, because it was an encouraging summary for me, I thought it might be useful for you as well.

Our pastor talked about several verses that mention what we ought to commit to God, to include our way, our works, our burdens, & our sins (I also added our thoughts, because so much of what we do stems from our thought patterns & what we entertain there).

Commit Your Ways

The first verse was Psalm 37:5—”Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, & He shall bring it to pass.”

Other translations say to “commit everything you DO to the Lord.”

You can also see a similar command in 1 Corinthians 10:31, where He tells us: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

These 2 verses stand out to me because while they may seem a little “DUH,” how many of us can really, honestly say that we commit ALL we do to God?

How often do I make little decisions for ME? How often do I plan or judge according to what I think is best or what I think I want or need?

Can I honestly say that even in everything I EAT or DRINK & ALL that I do is done to glorify God? Even something as simple as what I choose to consume?

In All Your Ways… Acknowledge HIM… As LORD of Your Life

Then, in Proverbs 3:6, God reminds us that “In all your ways acknowledge Him, & He shall direct your paths,” which is not a “choose your own adventure & then ask God to bless it, but rather taking time to acknowledge that His ways are best, His wisdom is higher than ours, & that we should live according to HIS guidance, not ours.

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord.
^‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are My ways higher than your ways
    & My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

And again, several times, God warns us in His Word about the idea of living as we see fit… living according to whatever seems right in our own eyes (Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 5:21; Proverbs 21:2; Proverbs 12:15; Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25).

Everything… Not Just the “Important” Stuff

EVERYTHING we DO ought to be committed to God, even in the planning or scheduling, solutions or fixes, our day-to-day activities & plans… EVERYTHING ought to be committed to HIM & offered to Him in exchange for His will.

Why? Because He ALONE knows us beyond any level we could even know ourselves. HE sees way down the path to eternity & how every piece fits together, every ripple effect. He ALONE knows all of that AND what will ultimately be to our good & the good of those He puts in our lives.

So often I get caught up in the day-to-day, not thinking about how God MADE that day (Psalm 118:24) AND has prepared good works in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

SO, commit your ways… everything you do… to God.

Commit Your Works

The second commitment flows from the first one we just talked about… to commit our WORKS to the Lord. (Proverbs 16:3; Colossians 3:23)

While these 2 concepts are very similar & with definite overlap, I think it’s important to take some time to consider our motivations as we do works for God.

Are we doing it to appear “good”? Are we doing it to “balance the scales”? Are we doing it because “it’s the right thing to do”? Are we doing it because “it’s what church people/”good” Christians do”?

Or, as I have mentioned a few times from Jerry Bridges’ book “The Pursuit of Holiness,” how his repeated reminder about holiness is to do only what pleases God for ONLY THE REASON OF pleasing God?

Are we committing our service of God TO God or do we have other motivations that lead us onward?

Why Do You Serve God?

Do you read your Bible or pray to “be a good Christian”? Or because you know it honors God to obey Him & you trust His command to do so is for your good?

Do you serve at church because someone asked you to? Or because you feel you’re supposed to? Or because you want to honor God & serve His people whom He loves?

The works you’re doing… are you truly doing them for HIM?

Commit Your Burdens/Cares

We also are called to commit our BURDENS to God.

God tells us in Psalm 55:22 to cast our cares (burdens, worries, anxieties, stress) on Him because He cares for us.

How often do I try to shield myself my way? Or soothe/placate myself? Or sustain myself? Or solve on my own, the best I know how, without stopping to ask God for His Almighty Wisdom & Way?

How often do I diligently take even my little worries, stresses, concerns, fears, anger, hurt, etc. to God, diligently seeking HIM as my hope & answer in times of trouble?

I could do a whole post on this subject alone, because I struggle with anxiety & overwhelm, checking out when it happens… I have wrestled the snares of depression on multiple occasions, blessed that God kept me from ending my life.

Even the “Little” Troubles in Life

Even “little” concerns & burdens, when shoved aside either because we’re overwhelmed or because we see no possible solution or means of healing/fixing it, build & grow the longer it takes us to commit them over to God for help.

We need to be careful to take our cares to Him, knowing He cares for us, asking for His solution, His healing, His guidance & wisdom. He is our refuge & strength, our very present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46)

We’re not meant to be stronger, we’re made to NEED GOD. HE is our strength & OUR strength is made perfect in our weakness because it’s in our weakness that we have no choice but to hand the reins completely over to the One Who is ABLE. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Commit Your Sins to Jesus (Forgiveness)

The final commitment that our pastor addressed is our SIN… the burdens we bring upon ourselves either by inaction or by wrong action… anything that is not of God’s will or is in avoidance of God’s will.

I am not just talking about salvation & getting into Heaven, being redeemed & restored & forgiven by God, through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, rising again as Conqueror over both OUR sin AND death.

I am talking about keeping your heart RIGHT with God, not allowing your mistakes to drive you away from God, but to continually bring them to God for restoration & help moving forward rightly.

Calling Sin SIN & Daily Asking Forgiveness As You Fail & Grow in Obedience (with God’s Help)

What do you tend to hold back from Him? What areas do you feel His nudge but you try to ignore because it seems intimidating or out of your control? (Ask for HIS help in doing it!) What sins do you justify or sugar-coat?

God is encouraging me to call sin SIN.

When I have a “harmless” (because it’s “just” in my mind) fantasy—that’s LUST.

When I eat “just a little more” after I KNOW I am full because “it just tastes so good,” knowing it is abusive to my body which God made—that’s GLUTTONY.

When I am feeling hazy & foggy & it just feels like walking through sinking sand trying to get anything done & instead of leaning into God for HIS strength, guidance, & help, I check out for tv, videos, games, etc.—that’s SLOTHFULNESS.

When He nudges my heart to speak Truth into a conversation, but I am too concerned with being disliked than I am about their well-being, healing, & growth… or when I don’t serve or love someone actively because I don’t know if they like me—that’s PRIDE.

And those are things I personally need to come clean to Him about regularly, asking Him to renew my heart & mind, through His Word & the work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:22-24; Romans 12:2), teaching me RIGHT patterns to replace my wrong ones because the wrong ones have been a part of my life for so long that they are oftentimes done without a second thought. This ought NOT be so!

I need to commit my sins to Him, repenting daily of all of my SELF-decisions & asking Him to forgive me & guide me in the ways of His Truth… failing forward.

Not Victory over Sin… But Obedience When Faced with Sin

When we turn our life over to God, God promises to help sanctify us through the Holy Spirit, but that takes obedience on our part, with God’s help. God gives us power OVER sin & promises to provide a way out when faced with temptations. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

I love how Jerry Bridges said that we should not describe our wrestle with sin, as Christians, as DEFEAT or VICTORY, but rather as DISOBEDIENCE or OBEDIENCE.

When we sin, as Christians, it is not defeat. It is disobedience… because God PROMISES to provide a way out if we trust Him in the midst of it… but so often we want it so much that we push His loving nudge aside & fixate on that thing we ought not think or do.

Commit your sins to God for forgiveness, even as you make mistakes today. Always maintain a lowly, humble heart, willing to see your wrongs & ask for His help.

Commit Your Thoughts

I wanted to not neglect one final area of commitment for discussion today: our thought patterns, as God tells us to take every thought captive & make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), because our thoughts, where we dwell in our minds, often leads to our actions later down the road (Proverbs 4:23).

He instructs us to meditate on His Word day & night. (Joshua 1:8)

Renew your minds, through prayer (reliance on God) & reading/knowing the Bible (God’s Word).

“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 & approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing & perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

Commit Your All to God-What Are You Holding Back?

Shine HOPE by determining to diligently commit your ways, your works, your burdens, your sin, & your thoughts to GOD to live in a way that pleases Him—a holy life.

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, & rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16; Leviticus 19:2)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com..

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

(***Hey! Check out the newly updated Resources & Recommendations page!***)

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Sea Glass Necklace

Artisans recreate the look & feel of sea glass by upcycling glass bottles from local hotels & restaurants that would otherwise be discarded, & tumble it with water & sand from the Red Sea until it is smooth & resembles the beautiful pieces found in nature. (Sizes & colors may vary.)

Many of these Artisans in Jordan have lived the majority of their lives completely dependent & controlled by their closest male relative. Ancient traditions & cultural customs have made it difficult for these women to rise above the oppression they’ve personally experienced. Some of them are divorced, widowed, or married to a man who already has many wives. But amidst their struggles, these women enjoy a family-like workplace as Artisans. They can be heard singing, laughing, & seen drinking tea while creating our unique jewelry. Your purchase helps empower a woman in Jordan with courage & independence while providing her with sustainable wages.

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Jordan!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

Your Weight Does Not Determine Your Worth

So, last week, I talked about “Your Weight Does Not Determine Your Worth” & this week, I want to touch on the topic of Gluttony.

While body image should not be the focus of our eating choices, we also should not ignore harmful eating habits, whether you eat to comfort yourself or to “solve” a problem or whether you consistently allow cravings to rule your decision-making with regards to food intake, despite possible harmful consequences, gluttony can affect us all–even the “skinny.”

Your weight does NOT determine your worth, but there IS value in taking care of the body God made–to honor Him & promote good body health.

Gluttony–A Sin Often Overlooked

Gluttony is an overindulgence in food… whether it be over-eating or eating to serve a craving or even eating to “solve” a problem. We need to be sure not to allow our eating habits to rule us & cause us harm.

As Jerry Bridges puts it in his book: “The Pursuit of Holiness,” what once used to draw out a heart of repentance has become something joked about in our social circles.

“Oh man, I ate waaaay too much! Haha, I’m STUFFED!” “I can’t wait to stuff myself on Thanksgiving! Better wear my “fat pants!” “I am craving this triple scoop sundae so badly that I’m going to go get one because I’m a fatty & I don’t care!” “Man, I know this may be bad for me, but we all die sometime, right?!” “I’m so upset! I am going to eat ice cream & chocolate because he broke my heart!”

God doesn’t shame you for being overweight. God doesn’t determine your worth to decline as the number on the scale increases, & we shouldn’t either.

But, God made our bodies, so we ought to care for them as gifts made by God. We ought to steward them well.

Is Gluttony Only for the Obese? NO.

So, when God mentions the sin of gluttony in the Bible (Philippians 3:19; Proverbs 23:20-21; Proverbs 25:16) , He is not trying to shame “fat people.” He warns us because He knows that gluttony can destroy us because not only is it damaging to our health & physical well-being, gluttony is taking our eyes off of Him as our help & turning them to food.

Because this is the case, you don’t have to be overweight to struggle with gluttony.

If you are eating simply to satiate yourself against angst, boredom, sorrow, fears of the unknown, etc., then you are turning to food instead of the One who can actually guide you, comfort you, heal you, strengthen you, & enable you.

When we eat simply to indulge ourselves, we are being careless with our body. We are being unkind to our bodies & dishonoring to God when we overeat or consistently eat things that cause it harm.

This doesn’t mean that we better know everything there is about our bodies, how they function, & know everything about what foods benefit it. We will never know it all.

But don’t let Satan trick you with an ALL OR NOTHING attitude toward your health. Do what you know is right & pray for God’s help with the rest.

Pray & Obey. Pray & Obey.

If you feel intimidated about asking God for help with this, thinking He will respond with something like, “FINALLY. Get out a notebook & remember & do ALL the things,” then you are so wrong. God is a gentle leader.

Pray about it. Ask God where your biggest abuse of your body is. Ask Him for a step you can take toward change. He is a gentle leader.

It’s also always important to pray because your man-made solution might be one that ends up causing your body even more harm. So, always surrender those concerns & questions to God for His guidance & wisdom.

My Lifelong Personal Battle

This has been a lifelong journey of struggle for me in this area of body image, eating for comfort, feeling my weight makes me ugly & devalued, etc.

This is not something I will likely unlearn overnight.

But, as I said, God is a gentle leader. He is helping me weed out the lies I grew up believing about my value being supposedly tied to my weight, as well facing up to my sin of gluttony that I often indulged in to soothe the hurts those lies brought me.

I am a work in progress. I am still obese. I fail some days & excel on others. I make mistakes & then try again.

In pursuing change of lifetime bad habits & false beliefs, those habits & beliefs will be my default & it will be easy to fail many times.

But my many failures do not erase my many successes. And my body appreciates every GOOD decision I make.

So, I will keep making mistakes in this journey, to “fail forward,” as I seek to treat my body with the care befit honoring its Maker.

And I will keep seeking my body’s Maker & Designer for help in healing the lies, in leading me in the right directions, & in enabling me to carry it through.

God Can & Will Make a Way As You Surrender to His Help–OBEDIENCE vs Victory

Habits I once thought impossible for my “fat” self have now become second nature. And as they become habits, I ask God to help me in the next step of changing my behavior to be more pleasing to our Holy, loving Almighty God. Baby steps in the direction of PROGRESS in making better habits that honor God’s gift to me–my body.

Where are you making compromise? Do you justify it because you’re skinny? Do you justify it because, “if only ________, then I would _______”? Do you justify it because everyone else seems okay with it?

Take your trauma & hurts to our loving, all-capable Almighty God. Ask for His healing. And ask for His help in living in such a way as to steward your God-made body well.

Shine HOPE by repenting of any gluttony habits you might be indulging in & determining to seek God’s help for change as you surrender in obedience to His baby step guidance toward better health & better body stewardship.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

(***Hey! Check out the newly updated Resources & Recommendations page!***)

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Rani Bracelet (India)

(*The bracelet with blue & orange beads & hammered golden disc charms.)

Inspired & created by Artisans in India, translucent aqua chalcedony beads with Carnelian accent beads & golden hammered discs make this adjustable Rani Bracelet totally unique.

This bracelet makes me feel like I am staying at a tropical island resort!

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

The Number on the Scale Does Not Determine Your Value

It’s no secret that I am overweight. It’s not something I am in denial about.

BUT, I want to start right off by saying that my weight (& your weight, healthy or not) does NOT determine our value.

The number on the scale does not determine your worth.

It is important to remember, however, that humanity has the tendency to swing the pendulum from one end of the spectrum to the other, bypassing the healthy middle. And it is so important that we seek that healthy middle of the swing.

Insecurity-The Bully of Pride

Insecurity has been a lifelong nemesis of mine, following me around like a dark cloud, threatening to convince me continually to not bother trying to make friends because I am just not pretty “enough” to fit in with other people.

I have long believed, erroneously, that because I am not a healthy weight, I am not “good enough.” I have believed that anyone who expresses love might be secretly mocking me behind my back because of my obvious rolls on my tummy & my chin.

And this bully, I have come to realize, is one of pride. God has been revealing to me that I don’t have to be liked to be nice to & serve others.

Insecurity Made Me Do It

I have resorted to baggy clothes in the past, relying on sweatshirts & cardigans to mask some of those rolls.

I have gone through a time in my youth where I would only shower in my clothes because I was too ashamed to look at myself because I was often told that my weight was the source of my social problems.

I have self-sabotaged relationships (before my now husband) because I felt it was easier to love & lose than to love & find out that the love was a lie because I felt too ugly to ever be genuinely loved by someone else.

And I have spent more hours than I can count begging God to make me skinny so that I could “finally be worthy & have value & be included & loved.”

I thought my weight was my problem. And because no diet lasted & no workout routine persisted, I believed I was forever doomed to be the ugly, fat friend that at least made people want me around to make them feel better about themselves.

Rebelling Against “the Problem”

And at the same time, I hated it all. I HATED that I supposedly couldn’t be loved the way I wanted because I wasn’t PRETTY “enough” or SKINNY “enough.” That disgusting standard made me want to SPIT at it.

And so, I spat at it by eating whatever I wanted, not thinking much at all about whether or not it was good for me.

I hated that supposed standard that would determine whether or not I could receive love. I hated it so much. It felt shallow & terrible that a loss of weight was the determining factor on whether or not I could be loved or wanted by friends or boys.

God Revealed It Was a Lie

God blessed me with roommates in college who seemed to be the ideal women—pretty hair, pretty face, good style, good with makeup, thin, popular, confident, smart, fun, etc.

They were gorgeous model-types. And boy was I intimidated (& jealous) so many times. I was CONVINCED in the beginning that they saw me as “beneath” them… as the ugly, fat roommate.

There were some girls my weight & up who lived on our hall, & I just “KNEW” that my roommates probably scoffed & turned their noses up at us behind our backs because they seemed so hot & me… well, so NOT.

But then I would over-hear them whispering or talking quietly—when they didn’t know I was around—talking about me or girls who were bigger than me…. With kindness, respect, & awe…. Talking about qualities they admired about them! NOT gossiping or mocking EVER behind their backs. I honestly did not believe it for the longest time… until I saw it as a consistent pattern.

They MEANT it.

They weren’t just nice as a façade… they spoke kindly about other women who were not the model-look they were, even when those women weren’t around… almost like weight wasn’t a factor at all in whether or not they liked or respected someone.

A Crack in the Lie Was Forming

And then I met my husband. He saw ME. He loved ME. And he showed me God’s love for me in how he himself loved me. He cuddled my rolls versus avoiding them or mocking them. He saw (sees) me as beautiful.

He encouraged me to toss away the baggy clothes & fat-covering cardigans for pretty, floral dresses & cute clothes I felt pretty wearing—the kind of dresses I always felt so pretty in but never wore because I was told they weren’t flattering “enough.”

My husband helped me see that it was ME he loved, not my appearance.

This was new to me! It took me a long time to actually even believe it.

He even said to me multiple times, after years of loving me as is, “I want US to be healthy because I CARE about you. If you were healthier & somehow GAINED weight from it, I would still want you to be healthier because I care about your well-being more than I care about your appearance or weight.” Wow.

Don’t Let the Pendulum Swing the Other Way

But on this journey of recognizing that my value is in NO way tied to my weight, I was tempted to reject caring about my weight at all—to reject altogether the harmful lies I was told all throughout my youth–“throwing the baby out with the bathwater” as the saying goes… rejecting the good WITH the bad.

And then God whispered Truth into my heart. He is helping me divide the two as two completely SEPARATE issues altogether.

1. To have confidence & extend love to others, not questioning whether I deserve it in return because of my appearance. To dress pretty & enjoy it, even if it’s not always flattering “enough.” To feel pretty & appreciate my appearance as is, rolls & all.
2. But ALSO, to steward well the body God has made for me. To care for my body to minimize health concerns & risks. To respect that my husband does not want to see me sickly from poor care of my body & not wanting to add that stress to his life because I love him.

And that’s where the pendulum swing tends to get us… & where it has trapped me for years. I didn’t like the concept of beauty/weight = worth, so I swung the other way in not caring about body stewardship one bit.

But I started out the other way, caring too much about my health because I was too afraid to be fat & unloved.

The Truth Will Always Set Us Free

I can appreciate & love myself & feel pretty AS IS, while still honoring the gift God has given me with this body that He has “knit together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13-16)

This realization has given me SO MUCH FREEDOM & has sparked a new joy in life & a new joy in caring for my body, not to gain likes from others, but because it honors God’s workmanship.

In a life that pursues holiness, as God commands us in 1 Peter 1:16, “Be holy, for I am holy,” it is important that we begin to recognize what motivates our decisions. If we sense God nudging our heart to abstain & then we indulge, skinny or not, that is a choice led by gluttony. We are putting our trust in food (or, more accurately, ourselves), versus God.

God wants us to make healthy decisions. This also means to refrain from starving yourself to feel more worthy of love & affection.

When God nudges us with those warnings, it is not to control or restrict us for an arbitrary power trip, but because He sees clearly the consequences of that decision that may be hidden to us in that moment.

Heed His voice!

Your Weight Does Not Determine Your Worth

Don’t let cravings trump your trust in our Loving God Almighty.

Don’t let cravings make your decisions for you.

Don’t let cravings (or craving for a lower number on the scale) tempt you to choose YOU over God.

Don’t let your cravings “solve” your problems rather than opening up to & leaning into God.

Your weight does NOT determine your worth.

BUT, take care of your body, knowing God made it for YOU.

Not perfection, but progress. And please know that these are just as much reminders for me.

Shine HOPE by letting GOD determine Truth—NOT the standards of others.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Hey! Check out the newly updated Resources & Recommendations page!***)

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Customizable Hoops (India)

Designed to wear alone or customize by adding mix & match charms like our Darling Charm Set, these classic gold-tone hoops from India are a versatile & stylish must-have accessory! Each hoop features an “easy-on & easy-off” open hoop design to make switching up your style simple & quick! Every purchase supports families in areas of extreme poverty in India.

Darling Charm Set sold separately.

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

Purchase these earrings & empower an Artisan in India!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

The Wiles of the Devil

I have to admit: Satan is smart. He knows where to hit & how to subtly convince us of things that are just not true.

And something he has successfully deceived me about in the past were all of the many “reasons” why a pursuit of holiness was something I did NOT want to pursue.

Is this something you can at all relate to? Do you feel a stubbornness ignite within you whenever the thought of pursuing holiness comes up? Do you feel overwhelmed by it? Does it make you cringe?

In all honesty, I have felt all of those things & more.

When I thought of holiness in the past, so many emotions were quick to surface (encouraged by the lies I believed about it), drowning out even considering this idea any further.

So, today, I want to spend some time debunking the lies that breed these fears & concerns that Satan so craftily can convince us of if we are not on the lookout for his schemes.

Is Holiness Unattainable Though?

The first & most common offender (for me, at least), is overwhelm… that holiness “must be unattainable.”

When I hear this small, yet lofty, command to “be holy, for I am holy, in 1 Peter 1:16, I immediately flood with the recognition of my many faults, failures, pride, & stubborn nature, etc.. This FEAR rears up in me that I must be PERFECT to please God. And this idea is so daunting to me that it makes my head spin.

And when I feel overwhelmed, what is my first response to it? AVOIDANCE! (I adopt the children’s concept of, If I can’t see you, then you can’t see me!” & pretend that little verse must mean something else, so I’ll just breeze past it to where I feel more confident & comfortable.)

But, the verse remains right there in 1 Peter 1:16, doesn’t it?

If God Commands It… It’s Possible… With God’s Help

So, how do I combat this fear? How do I dislodge this doubt that Satan has so carefully embedded in my heart? This doubt that my sinful nature rears up at, wanting to choose ME over God?

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

First, we must understand something VERY pivotal to this whole command for holiness: If God commands it, then it IS possible.

With God, All Things Are Possible

BUT, it is NOT possible in your own efforts! And it is NOT something you are entirely responsible for… It IS a cooperation with & reliance on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, wisdom, strength, power, etc.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church & in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever & ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

And every single time that the Bible tells us to do something (aka how to be holy), “IN FAITH” or “BY FAITH,” God’s Word is not referring to a flimsy faith in yourself, but a faith in the ALMIGHTY God to help you carry it out… a faith that HE has what you need to carry it out & that HE will help you do it!

It’s a partnership born from humility & obedience to God.

It is a desire in your heart, manifested by the wisdom, direction, power, & strength that He provides. A partnership & a process that God will continue working in you as you seek to live for Him throughout your lifetime.

“… being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

Will This Isolate Me? Making Me Unrelatable?

So, with that relief, Satan was quick with more ammo… If I desire this life of pursuing holiness… won’t that make me unrelatable? Isolated?

Won’t people look at me, scoff, & say things like, “Who does this girl think she is?”

Won’t people think I am judging them constantly because I choose God over myself?

Won’t people shun me when confronted with their own unwillingness to surrender when they see me in pursuit of pleasing God?

Won’t I come off as arrogant & self-righteous?

Won’t all of this isolate me from others, rendering me completely unrelatable?

The answer isn’t simple. It’s yes AND no.

Yes AND No

Yes, some people may not understand & may think you believe yourself to be better than them, but others will see the humility it takes to surrender to God’s working out holiness in your life.

Yes, some people may feel “called out” for their own sinful choices, but others will be encouraged to repent & turn back to God for restoration & healing.

Yes, some people may feel threatened by your pursuit of holiness, but also others will be inspired by it.

Yes, you may lose some friends who want to live the bare minimum for God, but you will most likely gain more friends who are serious about wanting to please God with everything they can, with God’s help.

Know the Truth

And how does God sum up His commandments? Like this:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” … Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind.’ This is the first & greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law & the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Don’t let Satan trap you in his scheming tricks & lies. He is constantly roaming around, seeking who he may devour, & has come only to steal, kill, & destroy. (John 10:10)

“Be alert & of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

But Jesus came that He may give LIFE & to give it more ABUNDANTLY. (John 10:10)

God Is Good. God IS Love.

Seeking holiness may require some giving up of things, but not without replacing it with that which will breathe LIFE into your life. It’s a giving up of the LESSER for the FAR GREATER.

For God’s will is always for our good because HE is Good.

He loves us so much that KNOWING we would reject Him & choose ourselves over Him in so many ways big & small, He STILL created us AND MADE A WAY for us to be restored & redeemed, through the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

A God who loves you THAT much does not ask you to give up good things for worse things, but quite the OPPOSITE.

He asks us to give up things that don’t breathe LIFE into us, so that we can exchange those things for LIFE-giving alternatives.

Squashing Holiness Fears: Unattainable? Unrelatable? Isolating? NO!

Our obedience to Him is a blessing to us… not arbitrary control-trips by an arrogant god, but PURE WISDOM-formed commands by a loving, Almighty God who seeks our good.

Pursue holiness.

With God’s help.

With no ulterior motives.

Not for salvation.

Pursue holiness.

And SHINE HOPE that only comes in living for holiness… living a life that seeks to please God for only the reason of pleasing God–Because that is THE most loving thing you can do in this life.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Zoya Earrings (India)

Zoya means “shining, life” in Hindi. These stylishly stunning gold-toned earrings are handcrafted in India, featuring genuine freshwater pearls on a delicate linked-chain design. Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.

(*Also Shown: 1/2 strands of the Ellora Necklace, hand-crafted in India.*)

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable Artisans in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

Purchase these earrings & empower an Artisan in India!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

Self-Effort

Self-effort is something I am far too prone to lean into.

I know this may sound silly, because pretty much everything requires self-effort, but what I mean is the tendency to RELY on self-effort, while NEGLECTING to lean into God’s lead & God’s help–& let me emphasize LEAD, here, because too often I come up with my own plans & then want God to bless them, rather than asking what HIS plan is & help in doing THAT.

In reading “Sit, Walk, Stand,” by Watchman Nee, I was reminded that Jesus is the Vine & we are the branches, as told to us in John 15:5… That we can do nothing apart from Him.

Take a Closer Look

Now, at first glance, this Truth that “apart from Him, we can do nothing” seems outlandishly false. I don’t ask for God’s help doing most everything I do, & yet, I still do it!

But, when we take a closer look at this, it becomes more & more clear that we actually don’t do ANYTHING without His help.

He made everything! (Psalm 104)

He created us, first of all, knitting us together in our mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)

He provided means to make our oxygen to breathe & lungs to breathe it. (Job 33:4; Acts 17:25; Psalm 104)

He knew all of our days before we had our first. (Psalm 139:16)

He prepared good works in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

He offered salvation that we could never earn ourselves. (Romans 5:8-9)

He gives us a brain to calculate & decide. He gives us our creativity to design. We were made in His likeness (Genesis 1:27)

He gives us our abilities & strengths & gifts & even opportunities! (Hebrews 13:20-21; 2 Peter 1:3)

Every good & perfect gift we have in our lives is from Him. (James 1:17)

He is our EVERYTHING.

And the fact that we believe any differently, that our life is about us, by us, or for us… is really a red flag for the pride in our hearts.

Because, in reality, He IS the Vine & we ARE the branches… & apart from Him, we can do NOTHING. (John 15:5)

We were made by Him to live for Him, through relying on Him. (Isaiah 43:7; Romans 11:36)

Leaning into Him, in Living FOR His Plans

We often lean into things we feel we are good at, where we feel most comfortable or capable, sometimes ignoring God’s nudge toward things that intimidate us.

Take this website & blog for example… It is a dream I have had since the late 2000’s & yet, to me, it seemed impossible then because I had ZERO idea how to do it!

But God was preparing my heart to trust Him with the details as He led me here. He put the steps in place & as He pointed the way, I walked.

He doesn’t put something on our hearts & then leave us to it, hoping we somehow figure it out or muster up enough bravery to face it. HE PREPARES us. HE LEADS us. HE ENABLES us.

Are You Ever Afraid to Ask God for His Will?

I don’t know about you, but there have been seasons in my life where I was actually AFRAID to ask God for guidance because I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I wouldn’t be able to do it.

How silly! How very much that displays my lack of trust in our Good God!

He does not live to embarrass us & make us squirm, giving us tasks He very well knows we canNOT handle, only to chuckle as we try or worse, blame us if we fail.

HE does the work. HE provides the wisdom. HE does the leading. HE provides the strength.

WE obey. WE trust. That’s OUR job in it!

We Can Ask Him with Full Confidence… in HIM!

And that is why we can have COMPLETE confidence when we go to God for guidance & help!

Because we know that:

1. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
2. He sees all the pieces at play in any given moment, even the parts of life coming where we are completely unawares.
3. He has perfect knowledge, perfect understanding, & perfect wisdom.
4. He CARES deeply for you. He IS love. He is Good.
5. He prepares the way for us & enables us where something may seem impossible.

In other words, where God leads, God provides.

The Example of Moses

Think of Moses. He wanted to help his people so badly after growing up with royalty while he watched his people be harshly treated. But when he handled things poorly, by reacting out of anger, bitterness, & hatred, he ran away. But God pursued his heart & called him to return & to lead his people to freedom, with God’s help.

Moses was of course nervous! He had killed a royal soldier. He had run away from home. His nationality was of the slaves, even though he grew up amongst the royals. Moses felt completely unworthy of such a huge task.

But, God knew that Moses but need to rely on GOD’s wisdom, guidance, strength, & power, NOT his own.

And not only did God give Moses the words to say to the Pharoah, He also provided the miracles Himself.

Moses’ job? Obey & trust GOD.

(Read the full story of Moses growing up with royalty & obeying God in following God’s lead to free the Israelites, with God’s help, in Exodus 1-14.)

Our Role Is Trust in & Obedience to God

That is our job in life: Obey & trust GOD.

But too often, we rely on SELF.

We either run life on auto-pilot, not taking much time to consider God’s will in any given moment….

Or, we see what He wants us to do & try to do it without His help or avoid it because we don’t see how to do it ourselves.

I run on auto-pilot A LOT… ESPECIALLY when God teaches me something, so I think, you know, “Thanks, God! I’ve got it from here!” oof

Or, I simply go through life living for comfort or fun, not really stopping to consider what God might want me to do differently, because I am too focused on protecting said comfort/fun in my life, not wanting those idols to be threatened.

Or, when I DO see that He wants me to do something differently, I don’t trust that it’s better than what I cling to, so I often choose to trust me over Him & His plan.

I wrestle against pride EVERY day in these ways.

God, forgive me!

And maybe I write about it too much, maybe I sound like a broken record, but it’s something of which I need to CONSTANTLY be reminding myself.

I NEED Him

I NEED to learn to bow to Him every morning for His day’s plan. I NEED to learn to bow down in every situation where I want to respond by gut reaction versus leaning into Him to love & work through me. I NEED to be willing to see that He is FAR better than my idols I cling to… that the chase for comfort & fun is always fleeting, but the peace & contentment that He nourishes within us are LASTING.

I NEED to OBEY & TRUST Him.

I NEED Him.

Who Is Master of Your Life?

What are you holding back from Him? Where do you determine you know better? Where do your self-efforts seem to shine their worst?

Repent. Confess them to God & ask for His forgiveness. Ask Him to give you an awareness of when you are making these self-effort-decisions & ask Him to help you remember to humbly lean into Him instead of yourself.

His mercies are new every morning—Praise God for that! (Lamentations 3:22-24)

But let us not keep holding Him at arm’s length, as a our life preserver on board “in case of emergency.”

He alone is GOD.

He is our Vine, we are the branches. (John 15:5)

We can do NOTHING apart from Him.

So, shine HOPE by determining to live with Him as your Source, your Guide, & your Strength… to obey & trust HIM.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Luminous Studs (North Asia)

These 14k gold-plated mask-friendly studs are mesmerizing, as they sparkle in the light, creating iridescent shades that change with your every move. Every purchase helps support a sex trafficking survivor in North Asia with safe housing, health care, trauma counseling, job skills training, & dignified income.

In North Asia, poverty encourages sexual exploitation of women in brothels. These women want to provide for their families but have few options. Your purchase helps provide sex trafficking survivors with holistic care, dignified income, & hope.

Purchase these earrings & empower a woman in North Asia!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

What Is Forgiveness?

Maybe you have heard me mention this before, but I have always struggled with this whole topic of forgiveness.

It’s not that I was trying to hold everything against everyone, it’s just that I didn’t understand it.

So, like most things I don’t understand, I have also been praying about it & asking God to help me understand this better.

Is Saying, “I Forgive You” Enough?

When I say that I didn’t really understand forgiveness, one of the reasons for this was because I couldn’t figure out if I was ACTUALLY forgiving someone when I was meaning to.

For example, I understood that saying “I forgive them,” is not the same as actually forgiving them, try as I might to be a “good Christian girl” & “forgive” out loud, it doesn’t count if I am inwardly seething, secretly rooting bitterness in my own heart.

And, since it doesn’t seem to make all the hurt stop when I forgive someone, I wondered if I was ACTUALLY forgiving them or just WANTING to “do the right thing.”

Forgiving Is Hard Sometimes

Another problem I suffered from was not wanting to forgive someone who seemed to not think they needed it one single bit. Say, for example, someone who I believed to love me but who harshly criticized me, thinking it was justified. (See: “Speak the truth, IN LOVE”—NOT one without the other.) (Ephesians 4:14-15)

“Though I speak with the tongues of men & of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)

When someone hurts me intentionally or unintentionally hurts me when in a bad mood (collateral damage) & then thinks because they were upset or because whatever reason, it was okay to hurt me… I really struggle to forgive there, if I am honest.

So, on one hand, I actually struggled WANTING to forgive in those situations, while also not being sure whether I forgave truthfully… because I could still feel the pang of deep hurt in my heart when the topic came up.

“The Unforgiving Servant”

I believe I have already covered not WANTING to forgive others, in my previous blog post: “Dealing with Unforgiveness,” based on the parable Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 18:21-35, in talking about how even if the person who hurt me sees complete justification in hurting me because of a “bad day” or whatever, & even if, in seeing their actions as wrong I want to hold on to it & treat their actions with the contempt it deserves… that God ALSO sees it was wrong, DOESN’T need me to hold on to it for Him, AND can handle the situation & their heart-change MUCH better than I can.

THAT is how we can forgive, even when they aren’t remorseful one single bit. Because we can trust a HOLY & JUST God to handle it far better than we ever could…. AND because He forgave US an even bigger debt that was against HIM.

But, that still doesn’t address the other side to my struggle to understand forgiveness: Is it really considered forgiveness, if afterwards I still feel hurt inside my heart? Can I honestly say I have let it go if I am still hurting?

And God has helped me SO much with understanding this very thing.

God Hears Our Prayers & Leads Us

This last Sunday, we weren’t able to attend church because our pastor was sick & these days, you have to be a little extra careful, so, my husband & I tuned in to my parents’ church online.

Back in June/July, we attended Grace Baptist Church, in Virginia, & had the privilege of listening to the pastor’s series then on the Lord’s Prayer, from Matthew 6:5-15. Well, we weren’t around for the entire series (All SO good–convicting AND encouraging), so this past Sunday, I tried to find where we had left off in that series.

But, in God’s perfect providence, I got the date wrong & selected one we had already heard. And guess what the topic was… Yep: FORGIVENESS.

God knows our hearts & what we need! And HE guides us as we seek Him as our help!

Anyway, ten minutes in or so, we figured it out, but we were encouraged by the message & felt it was good & worthy of the reminders, so we continued on anyway… & boy am I so glad we did!

God is so great. I had ALREADY heard this sermon, & yet it somehow took on new life in my heart this time around. (Much like God’s Word! We may not understand something, but the more times we read it through, as we seek His guidance & growth, the more it is illuminated in our hearts. His LIVING Word! (Hebrews 4:12))

I am so thankful for this, because as I listened, God answered my question of how I could say I have forgiven if I still hurt.

(You can find the first sermon in this series by going to Gracehome.org, clicking menu, clicking sermons, & in Categories, beginning on June 6, 2021– or, click HERE to download this particular sermon that I am referencing today.)

How to Know If Your Forgiveness Is Genuine

The pastor reminded us of what forgiveness IS: forgiveness is canceling a debt, saying they don’t owe you for their wrong against you anymore. Forgiveness is taking a loss. Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself & to the other person, by not holding it over their head.

But, in forgiving the other person, not holding their wrong against them as a debt owed you, it doesn’t mean there won’t still be a wound left behind that needs healing.

And how do we heal? We take that wound to God & ask Him to help heal you… ask Him for guidance on how to heal that wound.

So, how do you know if you have honestly forgiven someone, versus just SAYING you forgive them because God TELLS us to forgive others? (Matthew 18:21-22; Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 6:14-15)

Ask yourself: “Am I still holding this against them? Do I still feel like they owe me something for this wrong?”

If you answered, “yes,” then you haven’t sincerely forgiven them.

If you answered, “no,” but you still feel a sharp ache left behind in your heart, then ask God to help you address it & heal from the hurt caused you.

God Heals the Brokenhearted

I get it. There are some hurts that run pretty deep in my heart. And although I can honestly say I am not holding it against them anymore, it doesn’t change the fact that their words left scars on my heart that still ache at times.

But God is our Healer. He is wise & able. I can trust Him to heal me & grow me, to work “all things together for the good of those who love Him & are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I can trust Him.

“He heals the brokenhearted & binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)

“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;….” (Philippians 1:6)

What Does It Mean to Forgive?

If that hurt cuts so deeply that you really wrestle against wanting to forgive that person, I get that… I really do.

But in that unwillingness to forgive, we need to repent. We need to confess that bitterness to God & ask for forgiveness from Him.

We need to be careful not to become the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18, wanting forgiveness, but unwilling to give it. God forgave us SO MUCH. We DESERVE Hell & yet He offers grace through the SACRIFICE of Jesus on our behalf, who DIED for it (& rose again).

God commands us to forgive because He knows we are forgiven despite being undeserving. And because He knows a lack of forgiveness only causes even more pain.

We can trust His judgements. We can trust His will. We can trust His commands.

But even if we don’t FEEL like we can trust Him, we should still obey because feel it or not, HE IS RIGHT… 100% always.

Shine HOPE by offering forgiveness, even if it isn’t deserved, because God in Christ forgave you.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Customizable Hoops (Golden) (India)

Designed to wear alone or to customize by adding mix & match charms like our Darling Charm Set (golden discs from set shown), these classic gold-tone hoops from India are a versatile & stylish must-have accessory! Each hoop features an “easy-on & easy-off” open hoop design to make switching up your style simple & quick! Every purchase supports families in areas of extreme poverty in India.

(Darling Charm Set sold separately.)

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

Purchase these earrings & empower an Artisan in India!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

What Comes After the Gospel?

Okay, last week we talked about THE MOST IMPORTANT THING that could ever be talked about: the Gospel, in “Why the Gospel Is Such a Big Deal.”

So, it only seems logical that we talk about what’s next… what comes AFTER we surrender to the hope of the Gospel: repenting of our sin, believing that Jesus died on our behalf & rose victorious over both sin AND death, surrendering to HOPE… what comes next?

God Is Perfectly Holy

This topic of holiness is something that I quite frankly have misunderstood my entire life.

I sort of understood the idea that GOD is holy… although the impact of that fact still somewhat eludes me & although I strive to learn, will probably never FULLY get it.

God is holy. He is perfect. He is without fault or sin (Psalm 92:15). He CANNOT do evil. There is NO darkness in Him, only Light (1 John 1:5). He never has sinned & never will (2 Corinthians 5:21). He CAN’T sin. He is the definition of complete perfection in every single way. ALL of His ways are Good & done in perfect wisdom & Truth.

BUT, then this little verse comes along, in 1 Peter 1:16, where God tells us, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Ooof.

Does the Idea of Holiness Make You Anxious?

Considering all that makes up the pure holiness of God, right away I need only review even just a brief snippet of my life (of today even), to feel completely overwhelmed by this command to BE HOLY.

How in the world am I supposed to live up to THAT?!

Well, first, let’s take it back to the Truth that gives us hope on this venture, the phrase I will keep repeating: “Our only hope is JESUS.” HE is our holiness before a perfect, holy GOD ALMIGHTY.

“For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus].” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

When we turn to, surrender to, & accept JESUS as our Hope (the Gospel), God credits JESUS’ holiness as OURS.

So, this is not a call to be holy OR ELSE. It’s not a threat, because Jesus already paid our debts in full.

But, we ought not stop there, beautiful lady.

Why Is Holiness Such a Big Deal?

If holiness doesn’t save us… what is the whole point of holiness? Why is holiness such a big deal?

Because we know. We know what we were saved from. We know what we deserved & the mercy that covered us. We know Hell was our path, but that Jesus gave His own life for our debt.

Because it’s commanded by God, “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)

Because we know it pleases Him.

What Is Holiness

Holiness is a longing… a striving… a journey… & not one done in our solitary efforts.

Holiness is worked out in us through the work of the Holy Spirit, Who gently leads, gently prunes, gently replaces the old you with a new you. (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

Holiness is a partnership with God… a striving to live a life that pleases Him & to do only what pleases Him.

Holiness is striving to do ONLY what pleases God for ONLY the purpose of pleasing God… not for salvation, not to manipulate Him to answer our prayers, not to be “good enough”, not to be a “good” person… but only for the purpose of pleasing God.

We won’t always get it right. We’re not perfect. But it’s a pursuit well worth our efforts.

What Pleases God?

How do we know what pleases God, though?

The age-old answer: Read/study/meditate on the BIBLE (aka absolute Truth/the Word of God) & talk to Him/spend time with Him, by being still with Him.

And also, make sure to ask God to help you find a church that determines to teach from the Bible, not changing the Bible to fit culture, but seeking to change culture to fit the Bible. We’re easier to trick when we stand alone. God continually emphasizes the need for church fellowship throughout the Bible. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

The Holy Spirit guides & affirms us in our efforts to live a holy life. The Bible tells us to acknowledge God in all our ways & He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6). That means, acknowledge that He alone is God & therefore He alone knows what ought to be done or how something ought to be handled. He will help teach you what pleases Him as you continue to seek Him in this pursuit.

Crave Revival–A Renewed Surrender & Closeness with God Our Father

When I first began this journey of holiness, in working through the “Seeking Him” study by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth & Tim Grissom, I was SUPER convicted when they addressed pride with God. I knew I struggled, but WOW.

This led me to realize that I was SERIOUSLY down-playing God’s PERFECT HOLINESS & not taking my personal journey for holiness serious enough!

It’s easy to feel good compared to people who express a lack of desire to grow at all in this area… but when compared to God? I FAIL… COMPLETELY… like NOT EVEN CLOSE to being good. And OOF, that hurt.

In praying to understand God’s holiness better, He led me to begin reading, “The Pursuit of Holiness,” by Jerry Bridges. (DEFINITELY & HIGHLY RECOMMEND.)

CRAVE REVIVAL!

God Beckons

As we seek to live a holy life (one that pleases God in everything) & as we seek to understand God’s PERFECT holiness, our own impurity & imperfections will become magnified, creating in us a grief as seen in Isaiah, when he encountered God’s splendor & holiness. (Isaiah 6)

And Satan will try to tell you to turn away from God, to accept your shame & never return… but God gently beckons us home to Him, saying, “Yes, My child, Jesus died for that, too. Repent & return to Me.”

“His mercies are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) THANK GOD for THAT!

And God comforts us, in Matthew 5:4, when He says, “Blessed are those who mourn [over their sin], because they will be comforted.” God doesn’t leave us in our own muck. He offers us comfort, healing, restoration, & growth through our human imperfections, through the Holy Spirit’s work in us.

(*Read my former post on “Matthew 5-The Ladder of Growth,” here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.)

Heed the Call: Humble Yourself & Pray for a Revival of Your Heart for God

So, my call to you (& ME) is this: Strive to “be holy, for God is holy” (1 Peter 1:16) & ask for God’s help AS you do it.

He is gentle & kind & ALMIGHTY & completely worthy of our pursuit.

What are you holding back from God?

Jerry Bridges mentioned in his book:

“If there is not, then, at least a yearning in our hearts to live a holy life pleasing to God, we need to seriously question whether our faith in Christ is genuine.”

(The Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges, p. 33)

For, while the Bible tells us that salvation is of God, not of works, so that no man may boast… He also tells us in, “Faith without works is dead.”

If you say you believe but don’t live what you claim to believe… can you really genuinely claim to believe?

“Jesus says:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, & done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

(The Holy Bible, NKJV, Matthew 7:21-23)

Shine Hope, by Striving to Live a Holy Life

Do you long for holiness? To grow in holiness?

What is holding you back?

Humble yourself before God & repent of any pride that is holding you back from this pursuit.

God is worthy of our pursuit of holiness.

Shine HOPE by striving to live a life that pleases God for only the purpose of pleasing God.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Zoya Earrings (India)

Zoya means “shining, life” in Hindi. These stylishly stunning gold-toned earrings are handcrafted in India, featuring genuine freshwater pearls on a delicate linked-chain design. Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable Artisans in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

Purchase these earrings & empower an Artisan in India!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

Let’s Start from the Top

Just so we’re on the same page here, the Gospel… aka the Good (so good it almost seems impossible) News… is a gift that God offers each of us, but it has to be accepted for it to make any difference in your life. (Romans 10:9)

Maybe you heard that long ago, there was a Garden of Eden, with the first human beings created by God: Adam & Eve. (Genesis 2-3)

And Eve bought the lies that Satan (through the serpent) fed her as he worked to create doubt for God in her mind… And she ate up his lies, let her doubts lead the way, & ate the fruit from the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil.” And Adam ate also.

Because of this, mankind now has a recognition of Good & Evil in the world. And what once was meant to be complete surrender to Him handling everything, became a desire for us to take the reins from God & fix it our own way… To run our life “better,” as if we suddenly knew better than the One who made us, the world, & everything in it.

And there was a consequence to this… Sin brings death (even death IN LIFE). Sin’s consequence is Hell, for eternity. Because sin is “missing the mark,” or, not quite doing it God’s way, but doing it ours instead. Taking the lead. Trying to usurp the throne for ourselves, from GOD. (Romans 6:23)

(*To read why this was a display of God’s goodness & love, read my previous post on this topic: “Garden of Eden: What Was So Wrong with Eating That Fruit?”)

Sin Is… But God

Sin is foolish. Sin is arrogant. Sin expresses the false belief that we somehow “know better” than Eternal, Almighty God.

Sin deserves Hell.

But.

But, God.

God knew. He KNEW this would be the choice made. He KNEW we would continue to choose us over complete surrender to Him as KING Almighty.

And although He knew we would decide this… And although He knew we could never pay this debt we owe… He knew HE would need to pay our debt… to make a WAY.

And, because He LOVES US SO MUCH, He made us anyway… & a plan for our redemption… to restore us to Him. (Romans 6:23)

God’s Plan from Before Time: Jesus

His plan was Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son… equally God AND man. (1 Timothy 3:16) Emmanuel-God with Us. (Isaiah 7:14) Part of the eternal Trinity of God the Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 8:5-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

And when the time was right, in God’s perfect judgement, after decades of demonstrating that no matter how we as mankind may try, we always fail to earn our own redemption… Jesus was born (the reason we celebrate Christmas) to virgin Mary (a miracle done by God) (Isaiah 7:14) & lived a humble, serving, giving life speaking HIS (aka THE) TRUTH, God’s Word, to everyone who would listen, while healing & gently loving everyone He met… demonstrating to us, in bodily form, His great, GREAT love for us… But there’s more.

At the end of His ministry on earth, He gave up His life. He died an excruciating, gut-wrenching death for us on a cross. He took our sin upon His own shoulders, agreeing to take the weight of our debt upon Himself, paying OUR price.

He was beaten, spit on, whipped with shards, mocked, betrayed, abandoned, bruised for our transgressions. Pierced for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace, was on Him. He gave His all for us. (Isaiah 53)

Jesus Is Our Continual & Eternal Hope

But, it doesn’t end there, because JESUS CHRIST is LORD. And, as He promised, He ROSE AGAIN (the reason we celebrate Easter), victorious over sin AND death! Our Victor! Our Healer! Our KING! (Mark 9:31; Luke 24)

You see, He came… not to CONDEMN the world, but to SAVE it. (John 3:17)

He demonstrated His great love for us in that WHILE we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

HE is THE Way, THE Truth, & THE Life… & NO ONE comes to the Father, EXCEPT through HIM. (John 14:6)

He is seated in the heavenly places VERY MUCH ALIVE. Reigning over ALL. (Ephesians 2:6-7)

We can trust Him.

We can rely on Him.

We can count on Him.

We can lean into Him.

HE is why we can rejoice. HE is how we can find FREEDOM. (Galatians 5:1) HE is why we can have HOPE.

He brings us LIFE, in the now & in eternity. (Matthew 16:25)

How to ACCEPT This Gift of God

But… as I mentioned at the start of this post… you have to first ACCEPT His free gift… because you can’t earn it.

How?

You agree with God about your SIN… that you have indeed “missed the mark” & usurped His rightful throne in your heart.

You repent to God of your sin… ask forgiveness, in humility, & TURN from that sin! (This doesn’t mean you will suddenly become perfect & will never mess up again, but it DOES mean that you agree with God about it being sin & agree to submit under His lead, agreeing with His Word, the Bible, as Truth, & to let Him help you along the way, growing in obedience to Him. Satan will try to convince you to avoid God when you mess up, but God always whispers, “Come home, my child. Jesus paid for that, too. Repent & Return to Me.”) (1 John 1:9; Romans 10:9-13; Luke 15:11-32)

And finally, you ask God to take over as LORD of your life, believing that Jesus died for you & rose again! He is faithful, ALWAYS & without any fail (1 Corinthians 1:9; Deuteronomy 7:9; Matthew 28:20) . HE is faithful to continue a good work in you (Philippians 1:3-7), the old you passing away & a new you taking its place as He, through the Holy Spirit’s work, guides & shapes you in life (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Don’t Wait for an Unpromised Tomorrow

Don’t let Satan convince you you’re too far gone. No one is.

Don’t let Satan convince you that your sin is too great. God is greater.

Don’t let Satan convince you that you can find what you’re longing for elsewhere… anything else will always come up short & leave you empty & longing (& hurting).

Don’t let Satan convince you that “living it up” will somehow fulfill you. It won’t. It Can’t. (Matthew 16:25) (Trust me, I’ve tried!)

Don’t let Satan convince you that being a “good” person &/or that works are enough. God says it is by faith, & not works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9)… & that no one is Good except One—GOD. (Matthew 10:18; Luke 18:19–Note: Jesus is God, but He knew the man with whom He was speaking saw Him as JUST a teacher, so Jesus was calling out this false belief.)

Don’t let Satan convince you that you need to wait another day. You’re not promised to even live through the end of this post. Life is but a vapor, here today & gone tomorrow. (James 4:13-14)

–Agree with God. Repent. Surrender. LIVE.– (John 10:10)

Why the Gospel Is Such a Big Deal

Since I surrendered to Jesus Christ, I have made MANY mistakes. But I no longer live to make them. I no longer feel like I am pushing down guilt & shame. I feel free. I feel loved & accepted. I feel forgiven. I feel HOPE. Learning & growing in my obedience to Him gives me LIFE. It’s not a life-stealer, serving Him is a life-giver. (Matthew 16:25)

Hope against ALL the odds.

Because when Jesus came to die for you & for me… that is exactly what He came to offer us: HOPE.

And THAT is why the Gospel is SUCH a big deal.

Shine Hope by sharing the Gospel, aka Good News… & by living it every single day.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Radiant Necklace Set (Middle Layer of 3 Shown) (India)

On-trend set of 3 layered necklaces that can be worn together or separately, featuring a labradorite stone, hammered discs, & a blue topaz crystal drop.

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

Purchase this set & empower an Artisan in India!

How You Can Help:

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!