Are You Ever So Angry You Don’t Want to NOT be Angry?

Silly question, here, but… have you ever been angry with someone? How about SO angry that you don’t want to NOT be angry with them? Because, well, “they deserve it!”

Yeah, me too.

When I am low on sleep, (especially but not exclusively), I tend to be short-tempered. Not short-tempered in the sense of screaming & throwing a fit & road rage, etc. but more like smile while seething type of short-tempered.

Have you ever done that? Get so mad at someone, but you don’t want to show that you’re completely losing your patience, so you just grit your teeth until you can scream into a pillow later?

I have.

And when I am in that anger, there is no where else I would rather be. I sometimes don’t want to NOT be angry.

I Justify My Anger… But God Beckons Me to Entrust It to Him

No really, I know I cry & whine in my head about how much they are aggravating me or testing my patience & oh how I wish they wouldn’t put me through this turmoil… but really, deep down, I feel a gentle nudge from God that I want to justify away & into the oblivion.

God beckons me to trust Him in my anger. To ENTRUST it to Him. To ask for His strength & peace & for Him to hold me steady & sure with His faithful love. And to ask for His help in forgiveness & long-suffering, bear-with-one-another LOVE toward the other person (see also, “love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you.”) (Luke 6:27-28)

Well, that is usually the EXACT OPPOSITE how I think those situations ought to be handled. NO. Someone has to pay for their wrongs! They have to apologize & never do it again! They have to recognize THEY HURT ME & feel for me! I DESERVE TO BE ANGRY WITH THEM!!!!

Yeah, ^^^ a little glimpse there into that “nonexistent” short-temperedness I was talking about.

But God asks me to entrust it to Him. To let HIM handle it. To forgive.

God Wants to Help Me Through It… If I am Willing to Entrust My Anger & Hurts to Him

I’m not so great with the whole “be gracious & quick to forgive & love your enemies & pray for them” stuff. I often (okay, USUALLY) fail at bowing those hurts & that short-tempered anger to God for His help.

I know He wants me to find peace & rest by coming to Him with it. I know He wants to strengthen me & be my calm in the storm. I know He wants me to ask Him for help in forgiveness & patience & all that.

But I usually don’t quite feel like giving Him that.

I honestly thought for a good long while that I was justified in that. I mean, I can’t HELP that I feel that hurt & anger. I don’t TRY to be hurt or angry. It just HAPPENS.

But in the middle of that anger (or inner boiling rage depending on the time of month), God beckons me to trust Him with all of those bad feelings & to entrust it to Him for His help in it & through it.

Be Willing to Wave the Flag of Surrender (to God) When You Want to Raise a Battle Cry Instead

But I have to be willing to lay down that cry for battle, unclench my fists, take a deep breath & humble myself for God’s will & way over what I am feeling is deserved in any given moment.

If God lived by emotions, I would go straight to Hell. So would you & everyone else.

But thank God for JESUS—am I right? Thank You, GOD!

If anyone has a right to be mad at anyone, it’s God with us…. And yet… JESUS.

And as much as I sometimes HATE to admit it… Jesus died for other people’s mistakes, too… even the ones I really, really hate.

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

Let God Handle It

God tells us in Romans to leave room for HIS wrath (Romans 12:19), because He alone is the righteous Judge over heaven & earth… to let HIM handle it when others wrong us versus going vigilante on them in reality or your imagination.

I’m not good at it. I want them to see the pain they caused me when it happens. I want them to feel it & feel sorry & apologize, but that is selfish & oftentimes, wish as I may, that will never happen anyway because sometimes people are just clueless or just plain don’t care. And then that anger & hurt breeds into bitterness that begins a slow (or very rapid) rot in our hearts.

And God knows this.

He also knows that when WE hold on OURSELVES, that inevitably, we begin to build walls of self-protection, that prevent us from being vulnerable & gentle & open to others, distrust having built a moat around our willingness to serve & love others.

So, I need to learn to let God handle it.

A Prayer of Surrender

So my prayer is that God help me lay down my banner for war. That He help me unclench my fists & jaw. That He help me be willing to lay it all down at His feet & say:

“God, I know You know this already, but that really hurt me! I just want to scream & angry & hold in anger for them. I want them to see what they did in their reckless words or slander or whatever else. I want them to understand how wrong it was & apologize. I just feel so hurt & angry right now. But you tell me to be angry, without sin (Ephesians 4:26). You tell me to love my enemy & to pray for those who persecute me. I just feel I can’t, so please help me trust You in this hurt. Forgive them & forgive me for wanting to hold onto the rage myself versus trusting You with it. Help me to submit those hurts at Your feet & to be willing to receive help from You. You know best. You care for my hurt heart. Help me to know Your love can fill the hole they made, if I but let You. Help me trust You better. Amen.”

Am I Willing to Let Go of My Anger & Entrust It to God?

Are you quick to forgive or do you stuff it or rage or let bitterness simmer under the surface?

Are you willing to let God into the situation? Into the feelings of hurt & anger & ask for His peace, wisdom, strength, care, & help loving whoever feels like (or is) your enemy in the moment?

Ask yourself: Am I Willing to Let Go of My Anger & Entrust It to God?

Let God in. Ask for Him to step in. Ask for help in loving that other person. Let God’s love, through Jesus, WIN.

Shine hope by not justifying seething in hurt or angry feelings, but rather entrusting those feelings to God for His help in & through it.

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 & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my newly added FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts!***)

This blog/website has been running for almost FOUR 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!!

Ellora Necklace Set (India)

This set of two adjustable gold-toned necklaces can be worn separately or together. Mixing classic styles together by layering freshwater pearl & a golden coin pendant make these delicate necklaces on-trend.

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 necklace & 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!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Feeling Like a Grump

Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks) where you just feel cranky?

That’s me this week. I am more short-tempered & don’t feel like I have patience for “long-suffering patience” with others.

I feel teleported back to my teenage days where the popular saying was “talk to the hand.” I just don’t feel I have patience for anything or anyone.

How do I honor God in my interactions with others when I feel so grumpy & DONE?

How do I treat others kindly, serving one another in love? … When all I want to do is tune everyone out & hide under a blanket in bed?

I Want to Have a Temper Tantrum & Just Take a Nap

I guess I am not too much different than a little kid sometimes. Yeah, maybe I have grown in covering up my grumpiness most times & I can usually manage it more maturely, but sometimes I just really don’t want to bother.

Can you relate?

Whether it’s a series of unfortunate events, where stress is the culprit, throwing me off balance & building tension where there is otherwise ease… whether someone unexpectedly gets short with me… or whether it’s a lack of sleep or even PMS… some days just feel harder than others to get through with the sort of patient loving-kindness that God asks of me.

And being responsible in preparing healthier meals, doing my morning walks, spending time in prayer, doing a workout, or anything else even remotely beneficial to me feels like the absolute LAST thing I want to be doing when a bowl of ice cream & a tv screen seem so much more appealing.

I just want to take a nap.

Low Threshold for Annoyances &/or Inconveniences

Well, that’s been me these last several days. Of course, I have had some laughs & some good moments, but my threshold for things that aggravate or throw me off seems to be a lot lower lately & I don’t even know why—probably the inconsistent sleep I’ve gotten this week.

And yet, that doesn’t change the fact that I have to make a choice: Will I choose to honor God with this poor attitude, slumping into Him in defeat & asking for His help to do better when I don’t want to?

Or will I choose to say, “Forget it. I am going to eat bad as my high, avoid all responsibility, & not bother hiding my general annoyance with the world”?

What will I choose?

I Don’t Always Make the Right Choice

Well, I will tell you this much… I certainly don’t always surrender my bad attitude to God’s help.

I too often choose the second option.

I self-shield, blocking out anything that bothers me or doesn’t add to my comfort.

I self-soothe, rehearsing the annoyances in my mind, justifying my bad behavior & sour attitude.

I self-solve, turning to other things for a temporary “high” to make me feel better in the moment—like television, video games, food, mindless video-watching online (one after the other after the other until I finally look up from my phone & realize 3 hours have gone by).

What I often fail to do is self-surrender.

I Ought to Pray

I often fail to take all of that ick, all of that grumpy, impatient tension & surrender it at God’s feet in prayer, saying something like:

“God, hi, it’s me. I feel so ick lately. Everyone & everything is annoying me. I feel tense & frustrated & annoyed & I just want it all to leave me alone. I just feel tired. I don’t want to be nice when I feel like this. I want to let everyone know to leave me alone, closing myself off. But I know Satan uses that want against me. He knows I struggle with depression & all he wants is to isolate me until I am sinking in muck I can’t seem to escape. It feels justified though. It feels safe. But I know it’s a lie. I also don’t want Your help. I want to just ooze comforts over all the tension & block it out & ignore & avoid it. I don’t want to face it. I don’t want to deal with it. I want a “high” to boost my spirits—maybe ice cream or fast food… or mindless tv staring. But I know that won’t fix anything. It will hover over me… it will begin to become the thing I have to actively stuff into the bottom of my heart until it numbs me. God help me. Help me honor You in this ick. Help me not compromise. Help me not to turn to other things as my help or try to “fix” it my way. Help me trust You with it. Help be my strength & peace. Help me cling to You as my help. Help me treat others with patience & kindness, not taking out my bad attitude on anyone I come across. Help me express Your love to others even when I feel unloving. Fill in where I lack. Forgive me. Be my help. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Some Days Are Just Plain Hard to Be a Nice Person… In My Own Strength

Some days are hard.

Some days I just feel like smacking everyone who even looks at me funny.

Some days I want to spend it hidden under a blanket in bed.

Some days I want to seek out that “high” that might make it feel all okay, at least for a little while.

Some days are just hard.

But God IS enough.

I Have to be WILLING to Accept God’s Help to Handle the Ick HIS Way

But frankly, I HAVE to be WILLING to ACCEPT His help, His way, His solution… & not just ASK for it!

Trust me, some days I just want to pray & have Him just fix it… in fact, most days that’s what I want to happen.

But sometimes, God wants to show me that He can be my peace & strength EVEN WHEN those storms still threaten to wreck me.

Just One of Those Days

So, when it’s just one of those days–cling to Him.

Determine to go to Him AND ONLY HIM as your help.

Let Him help you versus clinging to the, “but I don’t feel like it.”

Surrender to His help. LET Him help you.

He won’t force you, but He will certainly help you… if you are willing to ask for & accept it.

Shine HOPE—even on the dark days—by determining to LET HIM BE your HOPE, strength & peace… & to love others through you… even when you don’t feel like it.

Amen & amen.

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 & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my newly added FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts!***)

This blog/website has been running for almost FOUR 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!!

Ellora Necklace (1 of 2 Shown–Hand-Crafted in India)

This set of two adjustable gold-toned necklaces can be worn separately or together. Mixing classic styles together by layering a freshwater pearl & a golden coin pendant (not shown) make these delicate necklaces on-trend.

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 necklace & 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!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

What Does Jesus Have to Say?

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall 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: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law & the Prophets.”

(Matthew 22:36-40) (emphasis mine)

What a Striving for Holiness Looks Like

Have you ever stopped & taken a moment to consider what the implications are behind that passage?

What does this passage teach us about what God cares about?

Jesus shows us here both what God cares about & simultaneously what a pursuit of holiness looks like—to seek to have everything you feel, do, & think be that which seeks to honor & please God…. & to actively seek how we may love those around us just as much as we look out for ourselves & our own needs.

This quick passage is so powerful… it is so succinct in its summarizing of God’s commands, because as we seek to love God with our everything, we will, in turn, seek to not do what dishonors or displeases Him…. While highlighting just how important those around us are to Him, & the importance of seeking to love them as we love ourselves.

Not My Default… For Sure!

I don’t know about you, but those are definitely not my default settings. My sin nature glares at me some (most) days to just seek my own will & way, based on what I decide I think or want in any given moment.

My default is self-absorbed laziness on the couch with snacks & a nonstop binging of a good show—NOT seeking to actively love others. I feel I have enough to be concerned about my own life that I just don’t have the time, energy, patience, or care to also look out for others.

A Whole Lot of Everythings

But God is clear in this Matthew 22 passage that I shared above… What HE cares about is that we make Him number ONE in EVERYTHING… Everything we FEEL… Everything we DO… & Everything we THINK…. That’s a whole lot of everythings.

And that the second greatest thing He cares about is that we seek to love others as we love ourselves.

Oof.

That doesn’t blend well with my default settings/desires to look out for numero uno & stay cozy in my insecure-driven comfort zones.

God Knows Best–ALWAYS–100%

But what a blessed life it is when we commit to live out these commands from Matthew 22.

It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s not a one-time decision, but rather a daily one.

It’s not even something we can force to happen… without God’s help.

It takes consistent surrender… Consistent repentance… Consistent reminders that He ALWAYS knows best, 100%, even when we think we know better.

And yet I fight it. Every day. Sometimes it’s in little ways & other times it’s the big things… but it’s every day.

Surrender. Repent. Obey-with God’s Help.

I have to constantly, consistently remember to surrender (& surrender to His help, it is, because oftentimes I would rather stay as I am & not have Him help me do otherwise)… to say something like:

“God, I am sorry. I feel Your gentle nudge on my heart that I need to show love here, but I’m intimidated. What if I’m hearing You wrong? What if they don’t want my help? What if I make them cringe at me, like, ‘do I LOOK like I need your help?’ Oh, LORD, please help me trust that You care more about that person than me being trapped by my fears & insecurities. Help me trust You to help me. Give me the words to say. Give me courage. I’m sorry for letting my fear dictate my actions more than my faith in You. Help me. In Jesus’ name, I pray… AMEN.”

Sometimes, it sounds more like this:

“God, I know this is a responsibility You have put before me. I’m sorry my fleshly nature is resisting it. I’m sorry that I want to listen to it over You. Help change my perspective. Put the desire in me to do Your will over mine. You know better EVERY time. Help me remember that & help me obey even when it just feels easier to live for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray… AMEN.”

Surrender. Repentance. Obedience (with an asking for God’s help).

He Proves Himself Deserving Time & Time & Time Again

These commands of His, to us, on which all other commands hang, sound like such a tall order… impossible even… & they are… Without God’s help… without asking God to BE your help.

He renews. He transforms. He grows our faith in Him… as we walk in obedience to His will & His way.

And as we walk in that obedience—seeking to love Him with all that we are & to love others as we love ourselves—He proves His deserving of it time & time & time again.

The Bible (God’s Word) Says….

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children & walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us & gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering & sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) (emphasis mine)

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 1:6) (emphasis mine)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy & dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness & patience.  Bear with each other & forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14) (emphasis mine)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

A Lifelong Pursuit That God Works Out within Us As We Submit to His Help

Loving God with everything is not easy. It will be a lifelong pursuit of allowing God to weed things out of your heart & mind & routines to replace with that which pleases & honors Him.

Loving others like ourselves is not easy. It will be a ride of selfishness to surrender, pride to humility, insecurity to faith that God will grow in you as you are willing to take your resistance &/or fears to Him for His help.

But while those 2 commands may be so impossibly hard some days, a surrender to be willing to let God love through you makes it possible.

Surrender. Repentance. Obedience (with God’s help).

Shine Hope by being willing to surrender to God’s help in putting your love for Him first & in always determining to love others just as you love yourself.

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 & family… & 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 almost FOUR 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!!

Silver Medallion Necklace (India)

This textured silver-tone chain from India can be worn separately or layered with other necklaces from our One World Collection. The uniquely textured pendant adds the perfect artistic touch. Three length options allow you to choose your comfort & style. Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty 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!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

I’m Not the Person for the Job

Lately, I have been doing a lot more reflection on the fact of my undeserving to represent God to you.

I am just an average person. You may look at me in awe, wondering how I can display the discipline & ambition to start & run a website, with a social media community to boot, but I am just an average person.

I get complimented regularly for these accomplishments, for which I am so grateful because the encouragement is often just the motivation I need that day, but you need to know the truth about me.

My go-to is not to edify, build up, or encourage. My default ambition is not to reach out & inspire & pray for.

Quite the contrary.

I Choose Me So Often, It’s Embarrassing

When I am given the choice, my ambition only serves ME. I look out for ME, MY comfort, & MY selfish heart.

I would rather stay in pajamas on the couch, all day, with the worst-for-me, delicious snacks, watching tv & playing video games.

I would rather not go out of my comfort zone… like at all.

I would rather eat out for most every meal & avoid any & all responsibilities.

I would rather forget the needs of every other person & only serve myself.

Like I said, I am not special… I am just an average person… maybe worse than.

Sincere, But So Weak to My Selfishness for Comforts

But at the same time, I am not insincere in my efforts of these pursuits to encourage & edify you as you seek to know & love God more. It’s important to me & of great value in my heart.

But it for sure takes surrender some days. And then some of those days, it takes REAL BIG surrender… “kicking & screaming temper tantrum because “I DON’T WANNA!” surrender.

My selfishness will rear up, my greed to waste my time away at my own choosing. I don’t like being uncomfortable or stretching myself or being vulnerable or reaching out to others who haven’t asked for it. I like staying safe in the known, versus risking the unknown.

God Pursues My Heart & Beckons Me to Take His Hand in Surrender

But deep down, there’s a gentle whisper behind the waves of my tantrum… “Michelle, you know this is your sin talking, trying to take over your life to live just for you. But what kind of life would that be, Michelle? Empty. Meaningless. Purposeless. You know that’s not truly what you want. You need to surrender these strong feelings of temptation & fear to Me. You need to trust Me to help you overcome them. Let Me help you. Don’t waste away your life with selfish ambition. Submit to Me & find life.”

It’s not exact words. It’s not a voice that I hear. But it’s like this feeling, like truth whispering behind the storm… beckoning me to trust God to help me through the temptation to quit everything & live selfishly, aimlessly, fruitlessly for myself.

To trust God instead.

I Wanted So Badly to Just Believe & Obey… But That Was Not My Story

I am no model Christian.

A majority of my growing up years, I was plagued, no… TORMENTED… by doubts that raged & threatened & harassed me every single day… me wanting so badly to find that I could toss it all out upon finding out it’s all a hoax so I could just live my way, live like everyone else I envied.

I hated that I needed evidence for EVERYTHING.

I hated that I couldn’t just have “childlike faith.”

I hated that I couldn’t just accept it like everyone else at church seemed to so easily be able to do.

But when God finally answered me once & for all, slicing through every doubt to prove Himself worthy of my surrender, worthy of my awe & respect, worthy of my unquestioned obedience, through His beautiful plan… I still find ways to shut Him out.

I Trust the Blessings from God Sometimes More Than I Trust God

I get comfortable with the blessings He gives me, then I begin to covet the comfort those blessings supply… worship & idolize that comfort… pulling away & hardening myself against God to cling to that comfort.

And yet God loves me. He is patient & kind. He doesn’t keep a list of my wrongs. He is quick to forgive. He is gracious & long-suffering. (1 John 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

And no matter how many times He proves Himself in my life, I still hold back… my default is still so often to choose ME.

God Called & God Provides… When I Am Willing to Surrender My Will/Fear for His Help

I don’t deserve this role. I don’t deserve to come & encourage you. I don’t deserve this.

But He called me anyway. And He provides & walks with me through it.

And when the storm of angry, selfish rebellion threatens to dismantle the whole thing, I have learned that when I allow that quiet whisper to bring me to my knees in surrender to God’s help, He never withholds it from me.

Surrender, It Truly Is

And surrender it truly is. Surrender in a war between what is right & good against my own personal selfishness & fear & limitations.

God loves me too much to let me have my way. He knows the dark path that leads me to. He knows that quitting triggers patterns of self-indulgence, isolation, & eventually depression.

He KNOWS.

I know. And I still fight Him.

I am not worthy.

If I didn’t surrender to let God help me, I would choose me a shameful amount of the time.

I am not the better Christian, the shining example. I am a sinner saved by grace, still a work in progress, learning more & more my need for daily surrender.

A Prayer of Surrender

And oftentimes, my prayers sound something like this:

“I hear You, God. I hear that whisper, that gentle whisper, a breeze across my heart of the truth. But I feel desperate to forget anyone & everything that doesn’t serve me right now in this moment. I want more snacks. I want soda, not water. I want to eat out. I want to stay in pajamas & binge tv versus my blog or encouraging a friend or anything else truly worthy of my time & efforts. I want to completely avoid any & all responsibility. I don’t want to care about anything but me…. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry I want so badly to reject You again & live for me, even if it destroys me. I’m sorry I want that. Please forgive me. Don’t let go of me. Hold on when I don’t feel I can… when I don’t feel I want to. Be my strength. Help me see You do this for my good. I know it & You know it, but help me choose Your will for my good over this temporary instant gratification that we both know will lead me down a dark path I don’t want to go down. Help me choose to trust You. I want to! Please help me let go & take Your path. Walk with me. Show me the way. Be my strength. Thank You for never, ever giving up on me. You are so wonderful. Your grace is beyond my deserving. Thank You. In Jesus’ powerful, wonderful name… AMEN.”

What About You?

So, if this isn’t you, you’ve got more potential than me. Don’t waste it. Let God use your willingness to trust & follow His lead.

But if you are like me, there IS hope. God can take you each step. God won’t give up on you. His loving, faithful, forgiving, grace-filled pursuit of us is relentless & life-giving.

I am just an average person loved & helped by an Almighty God.

Shine HOPE by letting Almighty God use your life for good, even if you’re just an average person like me.

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 & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

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

This blog/website has been running for over 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!!

Ellora Necklace Set

This set of two adjustable gold-toned necklaces can be worn separately or together. Mixing classic styles together by layering freshwater pearl & a golden coin pendant make these delicate necklaces on-trend.

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 necklace & 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!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Self-Surrender Vs. Self-Empowerment

Last week, I talked about our need to urge self-surrender over self-empowerment.

In other words, the reminder that we don’t need to convince ourselves “we are enough” but that despite NOT being enough, God IS & He loves us AS IS.

This idea that to accomplish more of what matters in this life—God’s will & purposes—we need to surrender more of ourselves to HIS “enoughness,” rather than convincing ourselves &/or each other that WE are capable & enough.

The Dangers of Trusting God’s SOLUTIONS More Than We Trust GOD

I like to feel in control… In control of my own happiness, comfort, & life. I want to know I can rely on things working out my way & be able to grasp some means of making that happen predictably.

But God calls me to rely on Him & not on myself… to build my house on Him—our Rock—by walking in obedience & reliance on Him, rather than the sands of unreliable crutches/strongholds that I tend to cling to. (Matthew 7:24-27)

This flows into another topic worth discussing: The dangers of trusting God’s SOLUTIONS more than we trust GOD.

Do I Continue to Turn to Him As My Help?

Have you ever had God answer a prayer so clearly that you could not question it was from Him? And what happens when we get that answer from God? Do we continue to go to Him as our source in every circumstance? Or do we begin to place our hope in that answer?

For example, as I have mentioned recently, when God told Naaman, through the prophet Elisha, to go wash in the Jordan, in 2 Kings 5:10, was the power in that specific body of water? Or was the power in Naaman’s obedience to God?

Or, when Jesus instructed the disciples to catch a fish, find a coin in its mouth, & use that coin to pay their taxes, in Matthew 17:24-27, was the power in that specific type of fish? Or was it in their obedience to Jesus?

Those may sound like silly examples & maybe you’re thinking, “Duh, it’s God. The power is from God,” but how quickly I disprove this supposed trust when I am faced with similar situations.

How Deep Does My Trust in God Really Go?

Lately, I have been working on body stewardship—of not abusing, but rather learning to care for, the body God has made for me.

Well, when we lived in Guam, I used to create my own fitness challenges, with prizes, to help me stay on track & motivate myself forward in better caring for my health–& it worked!

Fast forward over 6 years later, in trying to get back those good habits that I abandoned during a great time of stress for me, & what did I go to as my solution? Those fitness challenges.

It’s not that anything is wrong with those fitness challenges, but that they were what I turned to in my struggle to re-form good habits in my life… versus going to God for His wisdom, guidance, & help.

Did God provide the idea for those fitness challenges back on Guam, to help me overcome some personal hurdles? I believe so, yes. But they were not the source of my help–HE was.

My Resources to You Are Not to Trump PRAYER to GOD for HIS Solution for You

This is why I stress in whatever resources I provide for you—no matter how much they have helped me personally—your ultimate resource is PRAYER.

Maybe my resources can offer help & maybe God will use them to help you overcome a hurdle, just as He used them in my life to do the same… But maybe God knows you need something else instead.

God knows your situation better than I do. God knows your reasons for hesitation, resistance, anxiety, etc. specifically. He also knows what will help your personal hang-ups specifically.

No matter how good a resource & no matter how much it has helped others, the fact remains that ONLY GOD KNOWS what exactly you need.

Where Does My Help Come From? My Help Is from the LORD, The Maker of Heaven & Earth

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven & earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

What or who do you look to for your help? Do you look to your wits or charm? Your “wisdom” or logic? Past successes? The support of others? Your bank account?

Where does YOUR help come from? Where do you look for it?

Shine HOPE by demonstrating that our help is not in past successes, but in relying on & leaning into GOD as our help… by inquiring of Him EVERY time versus assuming we know what’s best… by walking in obedience to HIS lead over our logic. Shine HOPE by always turning to Him in ALL things Big OR Small.

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, & He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6) (emphasis mine)

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 & family… & 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 over 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!!

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!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

My Prone-to-Rebellion Heart

I have been honest lately about specific sin areas that I wrestle with, & while I have seen God move mountains from where I once was, I still have so much work to do on my stubborn, prone-to-rebellion heart.

It’s not that I don’t want to please God, but I oftentimes want both—to find a way to please Him AND still have what I want.

Like with lust, as I talked about in “Lust, the Secret Sin”, I look for loopholes where I can “technically” still obey, but still indulge in what I want. I justify & try to fool myself & others until I can keep my façade that I don’t mean to be a façade.

My heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), as the Bible says, & I am pretty good at fooling even myself when I want to. But the Bible, God, also says that my heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), as is true for every other human being.

Paul even laments this in saying that he does what he does not want to do & doesn’t do what he wants to do. (Romans 7:15)

Our lustful flesh is constantly tugging at us to just take a bite & all will be well. And I am no exception with this pull.

Getting My Way (Over God’s) Never Pays Off

Satan’s tactics haven’t changed much since his, “but did God reaaally say that?” (Genesis 3:1) Satan still does this to us every day, creeping in little doubts & little, “but maybe you should try YOUR way… just in case God is wrong this time.”

But God is NEVER wrong, is He?

And I know this. I have seen it firsthand, in my life. I have seen me wrestle & “win,” getting my way & then seeing all the cards inevitably fall. My way never works & then His way always does.

But still I resist. STILL.

So Defeating… & Yet, Met with So Much Grace upon GRACE

If you are feeling beat up by Satan for making the same bad choice or disobeying God the same way for the hundredth time & Satan is whispering to you that you must not be a Christian, you must be lying to yourself, & not to come crawling back to God AGAIN… I get it, I REALLY get it.

Satan is very good at deception & lies… in fact, God, in the Bible, describes him as “the father of lies.” (John 8:44) His whole business is lying to us… & seeking whom he may devour, kill, & destroy (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10) . And he is good at it.

But God is bigger still.

God’s Grace ABOUNDS

There’s a little nugget of Truth God has been reminding me of lately—besides the story of the prodigal son’s return (Luke 15:11-31), where the son was rehearsing his speech after all his wrongs against his father, but he could barely get a word out before the grand, warm, happiest of welcome homes by his father—but besides that story, is the little nugget where Paul is talking about how awesome God’s grace is, how much we NEED it & how powerful & all-covering it really is, before saying, “but does that mean we should let sin abound because God’s grace abounds? Certainly not!” (Romans 5:1-6:2; 2 Corinthians 9:8)

But read that again. “Because God’s grace ABOUNDS.”

And again, “WHILE we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (emphasis mine-Romans 5:8)

In other words, it’s not based on my goodness or willpower of lack of mistakes… my standing before God, once my faith is placed on Jesus, is based solely on my faith in HIS goodness, HIS obedience to God on the cross, HIS perfection & holiness! NOT mine.

Hallelujah! Praise God!

But Still… The Sin That So Easily Ensnares Me

But still….

The sin that so easily ensnares…. (Hebrews 12:1b-2)

I am so easily deceived. The lusts of my flesh still scream for attention sometimes, wanting what I know is not good for me… wanting what God commands me to avoid. (& if He commands ANYTHING, it’s because He knows better what will damage/harm me & what will bless/fulfill me. His Truth is the ONLY standard I can 100% rely on 100% of the time!)

But still….

The sin that so easily ensnares….

Why?

How Do I Move Forward When I Don’t Want To?

So, knowing all of this:

1. God is always right
2. God’s grace ABOUNDS, DESPITE my undeserving
3. My heart, in its lusts is deceitful & desperately wicked
4. Satan is always whispering doubts in God so I get ensnared by those lusts of the flesh
5. AND God can help me, where it is impossible for me, nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26; Ephesians 3:20-21)

But what do I do, knowing all of that, when I don’t WANT to change?

Asking Me to Give Up My Idol Feels Like a Threat…

I recently signed up for a new health program & I find myself stressed because I feel like the meal plan is asking me to give up my nonexistent firstborn child.

I have, with God’s unwavering support, guidance, & help, grown leaps & bounds from old me & old habits… I walk daily, make more well-rounded breakfasts every morning, cook a Whole30 Fast & Easy recipe every week (I LOVE their recipes & it focuses on whole, clean foods–it’s been a lifesaver of delicious, easy recipes that help me learn to eat better & enjoy it! (I don’t get commissions for advertising, I just really love it), etc….

BUT, I love to eat out. I love to treat myself with FOOD. When I am restless, stressed, bored, etc., I want food as my burst of joy. I turn to food as a dopamine fix to help me feel excited about my day. It makes me happy.

BUT, I turn to food to numb over hard things vs. turning to God for wisdom/direction in those moments.

I have made food an idol that I worship & adore, that I turn to in times of distress or anxiety, that I turn to to feel good & be excited for my day.

And asking me to give up eating out or eating whenever I feel like it… feels like a threat. I tense up & look for my loopholes to reassure me into staying just as I am.

Obeying in Part… Is Disobedience Still

But I had all the loopholes. I convinced myself that the SOME was good enough. SOME good habits, but keep some bad ones. Do SOME good for my body, while still getting to hurt it sometimes (too often).

I’m not saying I can’t ever enjoy food, but as my friend Jackie says, “God wants us to enjoy PURE pleasures—pleasures that don’t have negative side effects that hurt us.”

And eating out 5 times a week is not exactly a PURE pleasure. It has side effects on my insides: headaches, tummy aches, fatigue, etc. & indulging so often is definitely NOT a pure pleasure.

But I don’t want to change. I don’t want to give up my over-indulgences. I LIKE going to food when I am tired, sad, bored, restless, anxious, or as something to look forward to when out shopping or out on a date with my hubs or vacationing.

And telling me no feels like a threat to my happiness.

I feel like I don’t even want to pray about it because I don’t want to feel MORE like I should stop.

HOW to Move Forward When You Don’t Want To

So, here goes… How to move forward when you don’t want to:

Pray.

I know, I know… prayer does little without me being willing to ACT ON what God directs me to do.

But I need to repent. I need to be honest with myself AND with God. I need to be willing to accept that no matter how WELL I can justify it or sugar-coat it, I am abusing the body God made for me when I shut Him out & rebel.

I am dishonoring Him with my choices in how I treat His creation—ME.

I need to confess that to Him. I need to be willing to accept it as wrong, EVEN IF I have NO desire to do ANYTHING about it.

And then I need to ask for His help even in the WANT.

My Prayer in Stubbornness

“God, I am sorry I have mistreated Your creation—ME. I’m sorry that I abuse it in my abundance of wrong choices. I’m sorry I am so rebellious & stubborn & selfish, no matter the COST. Please forgive me. And forgive me for my attitude of rebellion, of not even wanting to change, KNOWING I need to. I have an addiction that feels impossible to break free from. I relied on food in Hokkaido in my darkest times because it was the ONLY thing about my life that made me feel any NORMALCY, but in that, I created a pattern, a harmful, destructive pattern, of turning to food over You. I’m sorry, LORD. Please forgive me for relying on my “need” for a fix more than on You. I’m sorry for how hard-headed I am, how much I resist Your good judgements. Forgive me. Please help change my heart. Renew me. Help me see that I can hand this addiction over to You. Help me see I can trust You with it. Help me let go. Guide me to learn PURE pleasures that honor You with how I treat my body AND are things I heartily enjoy. Thank You for starting that spark with the Whole30 Fast & Easy cookbook. Continue to work that out in me & change me. Make me want what You want for me. Help me let go of food & turn to You as my hope & joy instead. Help me know HOW. Thank You for Your ever-persistent faithfulness, love, & goodness… & GRACE that ABOUNDS… toward me. Thank You for never giving up on me… or on any of us. You are so patient & kind & gentle… & powerful to do the “impossible.” Thank You, Lord, forgive me… & help me. AMEN.”

It Feels IMPOSSIBLE, But WITH God, It Is NOT

“With man [humanity/willpower], it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful & just & will forgive us our sins & purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“Have no other ‘gods’ before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)

Shine HOPE, by not letting your deceitful heart rule your decisions, but rather the Truth of God, with His help every step of the way… even when you don’t want it.

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 & family… & 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 over 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!!

Silver Medallion Necklace

This textured silver-tone chain from India can be worn separately or layered with other necklaces from our One World Collection. The uniquely textured pendant adds the perfect artistic touch. Three length options allow you to choose your comfort & style. 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 this necklace & 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!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Does Prayer Even Work?

Have you ever felt like, “Prayer? What’s the point?”

Or maybe, when someone tells you to “pray about it,” you scoff & think, “Well, thanks, that is about zero percent helpful to me right now”?

Maybe prayer seems too “spiritual” or maybe you do it but you don’t really see it help anything.

Maybe you feel you do it because you grew up hearing you should do it, but you don’t really see prayer accomplish anything.

I have probably felt all of those & more growing up as a Christian.

Ask God… The HOW Matters

I get it. I used to feel like prayer was just something you do because it’s “churchy” or because I’m supposed to. I didn’t really see how prayer helped me in any real way.

But, I did, through the years, ask God to help me understand why I should pray… to show me what I didn’t seem to get… to reveal how maybe I wasn’t praying right.

I know I say all the time that there are no magic words to prayer, that there is no magic formula, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter at all HOW you should pray.

Besides, why would God tell us, in the Bible—His Word to us, to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) if prayer was pointless?

I think the biggest reason I was struggling with prayer is that I was completely missing the whole point of prayer. I was praying wrong.

Why Do You Pray?

If I am praying to “get something” from God, as if He is my personal genie, then I am not getting the point. He doesn’t exist to carry out our every whim.

If I am praying as if I’m the ringleader, coming up with the plans, & then asking Him to carry them out for me, then I am not getting the point. He doesn’t exist to make my plans happen for me.

Prayer is not vain repetitions of, “If I say it enough times, maybe God will answer me.”

Prayer is not a magic formula of, “if I say it the ‘right’ way, maybe God will answer me.”

Prayer is not just empty, meaningless words to put “good vibes” out there because, well, “it couldn’t hurt.”

Prayer is not meant to be a “backup plan” to throw out there while you try to fix it yourself, your way, in your strength & plan.

Prayer is not the magical fairy dust to make your plan take flight.

Prayer is not saying, “God, help me to grow in my faith,” while not ever taking any steps of obedience of what God already tells us will bolster & strengthen us in our faith in Him.

Prayer Puts HIM As LORD

Prayer is a posture of the heart.

Prayer is acknowledging that HE is God & you are not.

Prayer is recognizing that “many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the will of God that will prevail.” (Proverbs 19:21)

Prayer is a heart posture of stepping back from ME being in charge, & recognizing that He alone holds that position. His kingdom, where He rules, is heaven AND earth. (Deuteronomy 10:14; Matthew 6:9-10)

Prayer is putting Him in the driver’s seat of your life & letting Him run it.

Prayer is releasing control of YOUR WAY, & letting Him have HIS WAY.

Prayer is relying on His strength instead of your own… His power, His wisdom, His comfort, His peace… instead of leaning on anything else, including yourself, for those things.

Prayer is saying, “I am weak, but You are strong. I am not enough, but You are.”

Prayer is saying, “not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Prayer Relies on Him AS We Walk in OBEDIENCE to Him

Prayer is not reliant on “believing ‘enough,’” but believing rightly (Matthew 17:20) that if anyone can, He can… if anyone is able, He is (Matthew 19:26)… if anyone loves & cares for you, it’s Him (1 Peter 5:6-7), & praying accordingly.

Prayer is saying, “God, I know that no matter how much I want to believe it, I DON’T know what’s best, because my perspective is limited. But I know that Yours is not & You DO know, so please help me see what to do.”

Prayer is saying, “I am not the solution, You are, so God, please help me do it Your way, even if it’s not the way I pictured it.”

Prayer is saying, “God, I don’t feel like it, AT ALL, & I’m sorry for my bad attitude, but please help me do it anyway as I step forward. I want to do it because it honors You, so please help me! Change my heart & enable me!”

Instead of Praying __________, Pray ____________________

Instead of, “God, help me to do this,” & then stepping away from it until He makes you feel like doing it “enough,” Instead, pray, & DO IT, trusting that if it indeed honors Him, He WILL help AS you do it.

Prayer is standing on His promises as if they are factual vs wishful thinking (because if He says it, it is factual), versus a hopeful begging for what He has already promised to give or provide.

Instead of, “God, please be with them in their hurting,” when He already promises to be with us… pray: “God, give them peace. Fill them with Your comfort. Let them feel Your presence of comfort in this difficult time. Help them see You move. Give them wisdom on how to best move forward through this storm. Show me how I can help lighten their burden.”

Jesus’ Model Prayer

A great place to start, in learning HOW to pray, is Jesus’ model prayer, in Matthew 6:

Jesus said, “In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom & the power & the glory forever. Amen.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

To better understand this prayer, please listen to the sermon series recordings by a pastor I very much respect as someone who preaches God’s Word as is, without fluffing it, but with grace to edify his listeners (found on gracehome.org, starting June 6, 2021, by Pastor Tim Perrin–HIGHLY recommend this series, even for those who have maybe heard this passage preached a billion times).

How to Know If You’re Praying Wrong

So, how to know if you’re praying wrong? To sum all of this up, prayer is a heart posture that says, “God, You ALONE are God. Enable me AS I obey YOU. Help me to trust You to enable me when I know I am NOT enough &/or feel I have nothing left to give. Be my comfort & give me Your peace. Lead me in YOUR plans, not mine. Teach me Your Truth & show me how to LIVE IT. Help me to walk in obedience to You, even when I don’t feel like it or feel like I care, changing my perspective & will to Yours vs. insisting You see & do mine. You always know best. You keep Your promises. Thank You, God, for Your faithful, generous, long-suffering daily grace for me! Amen.”

There is no magic formula for prayer, but it IS possible to pray incorrectly or ineffectively.

Shine HOPE by asking God to teach you how to pray in a way that gives Him the glory & credit He deserves WHILE you walk in obedience to what He already tells you in His Word.

Amen & amen. Let it be so.

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 & family… & 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 over 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!!

Darling Charms Set (India)

This set of six pairs of versatile & colorful ethically collected bone, clay, & metal charms are handcrafted in India by Artisans who are committed to fighting child marriage & providing opportunities for women to become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans. Designed to mix & match, create a new look each time you wear them with our Customizable Gold Hoops or your favorite bracelets & necklaces!

Every purchase supports vulnerable women in areas of extreme poverty 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!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

“I Want to, But I Just Don’t See How to Make It Work…”

Have you ever felt like you just can’t do it all?

You know you ought to read your Bible every day (Joshua 1:8), but you just don’t have an hour to sit & read/study your Bible every day… or read enough chapters to read through it in a year… or have already missed so many days that it would take days of straight reading to catch up.

You know you’re supposed to “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) & go to God in prayer about everything (Philippians 4:6-7), spending time talking with Him & listening for Him to guide your heart & thoughts (Proverbs 3:6)… but you just don’t have the concentration to sit for an hour every day… & you’re not even sure if you know whether it’s Him moving you or not, so honestly it just feels like a waste of time.

You know you are called to serve widows & orphans (James 1:27) & those who are weak (Acts 20:35) but you are ALREADY serving your family & church, & maybe you have a job & young kids on top of everything & you just don’t have that much time left for everyone ELSE. (John 15:12)

You know you are commanded to be generous (Proverbs 19:17; Psalm 37:21) & that giving is better to receive & we’re supposed to trust God as our Provider, NOT ourselves (Luke 12)… but you’re already strapped for cash & the idea of being generous when YOU don’t even seem to have enough seems ludicrous!

Remember… Holiness Doesn’t Necessarily Mean DO MORE, But Rather, Do the RIGHT Things (What God Directs)

The Christian life seems to have so many demands.

And then, to hear a call to BE Holy (1 Peter 1:16), it just feels so exhausting & straining & leaves you feeling icky because nothing ever seems to be enough!

Well, last week would be a great post to start with if you’re feeling this way, because there is a whole lot of GOOD NEWS to counter these oppressively guilt-laden thoughts. Check out “The Difference Between Acting Holy & Being Holy.”

The “All or Nothing” Scam

But there’s something more I want to talk about with you today: the “All or Nothing” Scam.

Satan wants us to set our standards of God’s commands in these areas based on what we see displayed or suggested by others.

And while those encouragements: to spend more time in the Bible & in prayer with God & in serving those who need it & in giving more… are all worthy pursuits & commanded by God, I might add, the Bible doesn’t map out reading the Bible in a year as God’s standard, & so on.

Maybe it’s just being faithful to GET IN THE BIBLE… making it a HABIT… a DAILY habit… more than making sure you read “enough.”

Don’t Let Excuses Lead to Disobedience

Now don’t get me wrong, reading the Bible & taking time to pray consistently & intentionally WILL influence & impact your life ALL the MORE, the MORE you spend doing them. The MORE you read His Truth, the MORE you will begin to notice it influencing your decisions & mood. The MORE you pray, the MORE you will see His hand in your life & the MORE you will find your rest in Him in or out of storms.

But when we refuse to obey because we can’t do it ALL, we are being fooled at best & being disobedient (while trying to justify it) at worst.

Have a burden for the poor, but feel any help is a drop in an earth-sized bucket, so you just don’t try, working to block the ache out of your heart? STOP it. And pray. You may not be capable of ending world hunger (or maybe God WILL use you in that way), but He can direct you on how to make a difference for a human being wondering if they are insignificant & invisible, to show they are loved by God.

God Sees Through It… So Be Honest with Him… & with Yourself

I mentioned this in my video last week that sometimes, honestly, it comes down to just being honest with God (& yourself) knowing God already knows & sees your rebellious, stubborn heart.

“God, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I resist doing what honors You. I let myself be fooled that because I can’t do it all, I should just not do any of it. I am making excuses versus turning to You for help in taking steps of obedience. Please forgive me. I am selfish & arrogant to think it’s a waste of time to feed my heart with Your Truth & to spend time with You. Please forgive me. Help me change my perspective. Give me a hunger & an unquenchable thirst for YOU. Help me see & recognize my NEED for You. Help direct me. Show me pockets of time & direct my steps, bring it to my attention. And EVEN WHEN I DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT, help me to determine to DO IT ANYWAY, knowing that it 1. Honors You & 2. Is for my GOOD if You have commanded it. Help me trust You better & help me to obey EVEN WHEN I am feeling stubborn & rude towards You. Thank You for Your inexhaustible daily grace & Your long-suffering patience with me. I could never deserve Your love & MERCY. Forgive me & help me determine to DO BETTER, Not perfection, but progress. Not ALL, but to START & to DO IT. Help me not buy into Satan’s “All or Nothing” Scam. Help me obey You. AMEN.”

Do you need to pray that prayer today?

I have prayed something akin to that prayer SO MANY TIMES that it’s shameful & embarrassing, but God keeps beckoning me to get up, dust off that shame through the filter of Jesus’ grace, & to try again (with His help).

Determine to Obey Anyway… Even If You Start with Baby Steps

Don’t buy the “All or Nothing” Scam. It’s a life-sapping LIE.

God is patient & gentle. He makes you aware of pockets of time. His Truth is meant to be the refreshment & bolstering you need. He guides & enables. Determine to obey anyway, even if you start with baby steps.

Determine to obey. Determine, when all the weight of it all seems overwhelming, to stop & say, “God, I know You don’t ask me to do it ALL, but don’t let that stop me from doing SOMETHING. What can I do right now, in this moment, to walk in obedience to You… to honor You?”

Don’t let the “impossible” ALL scare you away from asking God how to do the SOME.

God has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11); … with Good works HE has planned IN ADVANCE for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). You only need to ask for His guidance on what… & determine to draw from His help every step of it.

He’s got you.

Shine HOPE by determining to do the SOME, even if you don’t feel you can do the ALL.

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 & family… & 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 over 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!!

Ellora Necklace (India)

This set of two adjustable gold-toned necklaces (golden coin charm strand not shown) can be worn separately or together. Mixing classic styles together by layering freshwater pearl and golden coin pendants make these delicate necklaces on-trend.

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 necklace & 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!

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!

The Subtlety of Sin

My heart has been convicted recently: I struggle to praise God when I struggle.

Maybe you can relate to that? Or maybe my confession seems reasonable & not necessarily something to even feel convicted about.

But it is.

Why? Because the difficulty I consistently experience in praising God in my storms expresses that those are areas where I don’t trust Him.

As if to say, “because this didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, God must not [care/be able to do better/know what He’s doing/etc.].”

Praise expresses the exact opposite opinion of God. Praise says, “because this didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, God must [care enough to do His better plan over mine/ have a better plan than mine/know better than me/etc.].“

The Dangers of Refraining from Praise

But, as I mentioned, I have been feeling convicted about this because rather than praise, I complain. And not only does complaining show my lack of trust in God, but it opens myself to be vulnerable to Satan’s exploitation of my lack of trust in God.

Opening myself to Satan’s attacks means I am more vulnerable against my struggle with depression, with fear & anxiety & worry. It means I get easily frustrated &/or imbittered.

It makes me doubt God & begin to pull back from Him rather than drawing nearer.

Praise Him in the Storm

We are called to praise Him, even in HARD times, because it puts God back on His throne in our hearts. It reassures us that God has a plan & He knows what He’s doing… that He very much DOES care. It puts our trust back in Him & not in either our circumstances or in ourselves.

And not only does it return God to His rightful place as God in our hearts, but it serves to comfort & reassure us, knowing no matter how hard it is–it’s in His hands.

How Can We Praise Him When It Hurts?

But HOW can I PRAISE while I weep? How can I praise Him while my heart breaks & pain courses through me relentlessly, in the MIDST of great loss or heartache? How can I praise Him while I am hurting?

Prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Draw near to God & He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

Resist the devil & he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

The Holy Spirit interprets the groanings of our hearts. (Romans 8:26-27)

TURN TO God when pain hits. Ask for His comfort & wisdom & guidance & peace IN IT. (Proverbs 3:6)

And start reminding yourself of Truth… Truth of WHO GOD IS. (Psalm 77:11; Psalm 105:5)

Let the Words of My Mouth… Be Acceptable in Your Sight

“Let the words of my mouth & the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength & my Redeemer.” (Psalm19:14)

God, You are Almighty (Isaiah 6:3). God, You work ALL things together for the good of those who love You & who are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). You are GOOD (Luke 18:19). You saved me from Hell (John 3:17). You paid my debts (John 3:16). You rescued me (Galatians 1:4). You heal & bind up wounds (Psalm 147:3). You are my Strong Tower (Psalm 59:9). You are my Refuge & Strength & very present Help in time of need (Psalm 46:1). You are with me always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). You are eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27). You alone are God (Psalm 83:18). Your ways are higher than my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Nothing can separate me from Your love (Romans 8:38-39). You are amazing God!

PRAISE Him IN the storm! Turn your eyes to Him. PRAISE HIM.

Will I Praise Him in the Storm? Do I Trust God?

Do you trust Him? REALLY trust Him? Even when all seems to be falling apart?

Do you trust Him?

Shine HOPE into your own heart in the midst of dark situations by determining to trust Him & praise Him—even in the storm.

((NOTE: To read several verses about what God’s Word, the Bible, says about PRAISE, check out this link. (I cannot vouch for this website as a whole because I am not familiar with it, but I found this compilation of verses to be a good resource. Or, try a concordance or an internet search about PRAISE in the Bible.))

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!!

Northern Lights Studs (India)

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

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, & 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!