Make Sure We Don’t Miss the Whole Point
We are told to pray when we’re worried, to pray before a meal, to go to church, to be good & make right choices & have a good attitude. To serve & give & tithe to our church. How to dress, how to act, how to say all the right things.
We are taught so many things, but so often, I feel we miss the whole point in all of those doing of right things.
This life isn’t about checking all the right boxes nor about being a good person nor about having God as our little helper through life.
YES, we ought to strive for those things—do what you ought to do, live in a way pleasing to God, trust & rely on God’s help throughout life.
BUT, life isn’t about all that. It is for living a life that gives God glory. It’s about living for Him. Not anything else. Doing that in everything we do. THAT IS the point.
Do You Treat God Like Your Little Helper?
Do you live life that way? Do you live like God is a little helper on your shoulder or like He alone is LORD of your LIFE?
Is He your subordinate, your assistant… or your Lord?
Are YOU the one leading things… or is He?
Do you allow Him space to adjust your schedule, your dreams, your attitude, your will & way?
Or do you figure out how it ought to look (your way—even a churchy way) & just ask for Him to “help out”?
Who is really, ACTUALLY in charge of your life?
I Will be the Broken Record… Because I KEEP Needing to Hear It
I know I sound like a broken record talking about this. I know I say it over & over & over again. Maybe you’re feeling it’s getting old….
But if I still struggle remembering this… there’s a chance maybe someone else out there does, too.
I get shown constantly how the world does life. I don’t need to ask or seek it out.
But giving up all the social “norms” to live fully surrendered to a life that gives God glory in all things? I have to SEEK that out with EFFORT… or it just does not happen.
LEGITIMATELY… Reading Your Bible Is FOOD for Your Soul… Are You Malnourished? Do You Even Realize Whether or Not You Are?
I want to present you with a challenge this year… one that I feel will really revolutionize how you pray, what you feel brave enough to pray for, & how you see God show up in your life:
- Read your Bible every day. FORGET the year plans if they intimidate you–God never specifies how many chapters to read–just that you READ & MEDITATE (dwell) on it. So, do that.
- AS you read, look for HOW people in the Bible prayed. Watch how God responds to their prayers. Watch the humility, the boldness, the surrender-to-desiring/seeking His will… in their prayers.
- PRAY that God help you know & love Him better AS you read. Pray to see Him better so that you can love Him better.
- Watch Him transform your perspective. Not all at once, but you will see it & you won’t ever want to go back. Satan will throw EVERY distraction at you to get you to quit. But remember, this isn’t a year plan. So, after a day missed… pick up that Bible AGAIN. No shame. Just read. God doesn’t NEED you to read… but He tells you to because He knows how well it will help YOU. So trust Him, & READ IT.
- AND, side note, but you BEST believe, that if God asks you to do something that honors Him… HE WILL help you accomplish it if you stick with it, apologize when your attitude is completely lacking, & ask for you to step forward in it, to show you WHEN, & when you feel the nudge He WILL give, EVEN IF you find every reason WHY THAT TIMING IS TERRIBLE… you will find that He indeed knew better than you EVERY time. Trust the nudge. And READ.
As you read & pray & look for how God is prayed to & for what & how He responds… you will begin to see God how you ought… as LORD. A Lord Who loves you & cares for you & protects you & has your best interest at heart if you would but trust His way over your own.
Talk to Him Like He Cares for You–Because He DOES
Don’t go throughout life tossing prayers up at Him as just your “backup.” Or out of mindless routine.
Talk to Him like He cares about you (because He DOES–He sent Jesus to die for YOUR sin), like He can do so much more than you can ever work out in your own limitations (because He CAN-He made the world & everything in it out of nothing, by His WORD alone), like His will, guidance, & way… obedience to Him daily & moment-by-moment trusting His lead is INFINITELY better than any routine or societal norm could cook up (because it IS-You are not the main character of your story-HE IS).
He will be glorified regardless. He will have the final say no matter what. He cannot be stopped. He cannot be thwarted. He will prevail.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
Do You Treat God Like a Little Angel of Help on Your Shoulder? Or as Lord of Your Life?
Do You Treat God Like a Little Angel of Help on Your Shoulder? Or as Lord of Your Life? Live like HE IS the KING of kings & LORD of lords… Because HE IS.
Shine HOPE by living your life with Him at the helm, letting Him lead, humbly submitting to His will, His interruptions, His purposes for your life… live a life that will matter for the Kingdom of God long after you are dead & gone–our life is but a vapor. TO GOD BE THE GLORY, AMEN!
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***
***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***
Coming Next Week
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As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 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
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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!!
XOXO Candy Heart Pouch, (Handcrafted in INDIA)
Create dignified jobs for women in India that allow families to leave the slums when you carry this adorable XOXO Candy Heart Pouch! This stunning beaded, blue-colored pouch is handcrafted by women earning a fair and dignified wage for her work in India. No detail is left out with this embroidered and hand beaded pouch that showcases the amazing craftsmanship of our Artisan Partners. Featuring “XOXO” spelled out in block letters.
Every purchase supports families in areas of extreme poverty in India.
***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!***
How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
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-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
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