How to Pray in 4 Simple Steps

As a young girl, I didn't grow up learning childlike bedtime prayers, or how to talk to God. I wasn't raised in a Christian home. My decision to accept Jesus as my Savior came at about age 16, but I didn’t truly make him Lord of my life until another decade had passed. My desire to pray didn’t fully develop until I had children of my own. 

In 1999, soon after the Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colorado, I sat in my car outside my children’s school with tears pouring down my cheeks. I was listening to a radio broadcast that discussed the Moms In Prayer ministry (at that time called Moms In Touch). 

The woman on the radio asked, “If you’re not praying for your child, who is?” 

My heart was immediately convicted and I knew that I needed to become purposeful and deliberate in my prayer life. I made a few phone calls and joined a local prayer team through the ministry. 

In all honesty, I knew how to ask the Lord for things I wanted, but I didn’t know how to pray. What’s the difference? One method focused on a presentation of a wish list, while the other was about communing and building relationship with the God of the universe. 

I was immensely grateful for what I learned through Moms in Prayer. As we met together as moms, we followed a simple 4-step formula of prayer. Not because it was a legalistic ritual, but because it was simple, Scriptural, and easy to follow. By praying through the four steps, a group of moms could easily stay on track, begin and end our prayer on time (we prayed for one hour each week), and cover our children with fervent, timely, and meaningful prayer. 

Each prayer group had a leader. That leader was responsible for selecting Bible verses each week that provided the framework for our prayers. One Bible verse was selected to enhance to each of these four steps:

1) Praise

During this portion of our prayer, we offered praise to the Lord for His character.  Praise turns our focus to the Lord and turns it away from other distractions, large or small. The Bible teaches that the Lord inhabits the praise of His people (Psalm 22:3). Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name”. Our praise serves as a vehicle into the presence and power of God.

A very brief sampling of Scripture verses:  Psalm 28:1-4; Romans 11:33-36

2) Confession

Every day we fall short, in some way, of pleasing the Lord. Let me tell you, some days are much worse than others, but we know that as human beings, we will never fully hit the mark. When we confess our personal sins to the Lord, we agree with Him that what we have done isn't in accordance with His will. The action we confess might be as simple as a momentary, angry hatred toward someone (like the driver who just cut us off), or a blatant, inappropriate act.  

Mind you, we didn’t verbally confess our sins in our prayer group. There is a time and place to “confess your sins one to another” (James 5:16), but in our prayer circles, all of our confession was silent. Always, we asked the Lord to bring to our minds things that we had thought, done, or said that were not pleasing to Him. 

Simply explained, with confession behind us, our slates were clean, and we could enjoy uninhibited communion with a holy God. God’s holiness means that He physically cannot be in the presence of sin. We couldn’t enter His presence at all without the saving work of Jesus Christ. Confession expresses our desire to “be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16) and our reliance on Him to grow toward holiness. 

Sample verses:  Psalm 51:1-2; Psalm 51:9-10; 

3) Thanksgiving

This was the portion of prayer where we specifically thanked Him for answered prayer. 

With a brand new prayer life, I’d often forget what I’d prayed. Since I didn’t remember asking, I didn’t remember to say thank you and give Him the honor and glory when He answered.  This deliberate time of thanksgiving helped us acknowledge the gifts, grace, and mercy that our Lord provides. It also acknowledged God as the Giver of all good and perfect gifts (James 1:17). 

Sample verses: 1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 95:2-3

4) Intercession

Finally, as a last step to our prayer time, we would ask the Lord for the needs, wants, and for the desires of our hearts.  This part came easily, especially as a group of moms who had long lists of concerns for their children.  

It seemed I knew how to ask for what I wanted even when I didn’t know who God was.  But when this became the least emphasized part of my prayer life, I truly learned what it meant to spend time with my heavenly Father. It didn’t seem so awkward to ask for what I needed when I’d already acknowledged Him as my Heavenly Father and prayed through the other three steps. 

Sample verses:  Joshua 1:9; Zechariah 2:5; 2 Corinthians 3:5

I stayed involved with Moms in Prayer for a number of years and enjoyed every minute. My prayer life has grown since those early gatherings, and to this day, I meet with a weekly prayer group. Not only does joining with others offer great accountability, it provides the blessing of interceding for one another.  Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered, there I am in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20) Once I experienced that truth, I never looked back. 

These four steps of prayer are nearly always a part of my prayer life, but I’ve also learned the blessing of silent meditation on His Word and character, waiting on the Lord for direction and guidance on decisions (John 16:13), and reliance on the Holy Spirit. A deeper prayer life didn’t come immediately, but is worthy of the practice it took to achieve. 

I continue to grow in my prayer life and trust the Lord will always reveal His greater glory in the process.  Nearly every day, I appreciate the teaching I received in the beginning phases of my intercessory walk. It was a valuable, foundational starting point that I hope blesses you today.

Your Turn:

Where are you in your prayer journey? In the beginning stages or at a deeper, more established point in your walk?

What is the best advice on prayer you’ve ever received? How has it helped your prayer life?

Be Strengthened Today, by His Word,

Cathy

Psalm 119:28

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Bookshelf Treasures: 5 Must Reads, Should Reads, & Planned Reads For This Year

I’m often asked what I like to read.  Hands down, I prefer Christian non-fiction books that build into my life and help advance my walk with Jesus.  Once or twice a year, when it’s time to power down for some R&R, I’ll throw in a fiction book as well - frequently young adult or Christian fiction. 

I tend to read deliberately and at a slow pace so that I can absorb what I’m reading and, when possible, apply it as I move through the author’s message. Since that’s become my practice, I choose fiction works carefully. What I read stays in my heart and mind even longer than what I watch on a screen, so I veer toward G to PG-rated, pure-in-heart material. 

My favorite works are those that are immediately applicable - those that make an impact on my thought life and daily decisions as soon as possible. 

I don’t like to borrow books because it takes me a while to finish a good read, and by the time I’m finished it’s marked up with notes, highlights, and page folds. I’ll generally carry a book with me wherever I go and the covers of my favorites get pretty beat up and ugly. If you offer to loan me a book and I decline, please understand why. I’m trying hard to respect your property. :)   

Below are several books that I recommend and a few I look forward to reading (descriptions in blue italics are from amazon.com for each title as of 1/17/16): 

“Must Reads” for This Year:

1) The Bible

This is the baseline of truth and life change for those who follow Christ. The HCSB has become my favorite translation, but I also enjoy NASB and ESV.  It’s possible to read the entire Bible in one year by devoting just 15-20 minutes per day. 

2) Believing God - Beth Moore

This is available as a trade book and a Bible study with DVD or audio teaching.  I highly recommend every option you can get your hands on. 

"Is it working? Your belief system, that is. Is it really working? God's intention all along has been for the believer's life to work. From divine perspective toward terrestrial turf, God meant for his children to succeed. . . Are our Christian lives successful? Are they achieving and experiencing what Scripture said they would? In a recent sermon my son-in-law preached, Curt told us the only way we were going to impact the world and the next generation is to prove that our faith in Christ is real and that it works. For countless Christians I'm convinced it's real. My concern is whether or not we have the fruit to suggest it works.” - Beth Moore

3) Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Donald S. Whitney

If you are looking to draw near to God and develop practices that will help you grow to recognize His presence, this book is for you!

Drawn from a rich heritage, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life will guide you through a carefully selected array of disciplines. By illustrating why the disciplines are important, showing how each one will help you grow in godliness, and offering practical suggestions for cultivating them, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life will provide you with a refreshing opportunity to become more like Christ and grow in character and maturity. Now updated and revised to equip a new generation of readers, this anniversary edition features in-depth discussions on each of the key disciplines.

4) Enemies of the Heart - Andy Stanley

Recognizing how 4 emotions wreak havoc in our lives inspires the pursuit of freedom to overcome.  Andy provides practical helps to finding victory. 

The difficult circumstances you are dealing with today are likely being fed by one of four emotional forces that compels you to act in undesirable ways, sometimes even against your will. 

Andy Stanley explores each of these destructive forces—guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy—and how they infiltrate your life and damage your relationships. He says that, left unchallenged they have the power to destroy your home, your career, and your friendships.

In Enemies of the Heart, Andy offers practical, biblical direction to help you fight back, to take charge of those feelings that mysteriously control you, and to restore your broken relationships. 

5) Finding Joy in the Journey: Savoring the Fruit of the Spirit - Cathy McIntosh

Okay - this is slightly self serving, but it wouldn’t be right to leave my own book off of the list. There’s never been a more life changing experience for me than learning the truths that God showed during life challenges.  I pray this book will profoundly touch your life and help you learn to recognize and embrace God’s best.

Do you have those days ... or even seasons of life ... when joy seems elusive or impossible to grasp? God's Word makes it clear that He provides the gift of joy to each of His children. Cathy McIntosh (Author, Speaker, and Ministry Leader) shares Biblical truths and practical tips to embrace God's very best in life. She reveals why struggles common to many women, such as fear, worry, shame, trials, and confusion, cannot steal our foundational, divinely-given joy. This book and included Bible study are perfectly suited for individual or group use. Come embark on the journey to experience joy on a daily basis, regardless of circumstances.

“Should Reads” to Enjoy Soon

1) The Noticer - Andy Andrews 

I’ve read several books by Andy Andrews and enjoy each one.  Technically I suppose this one is fiction, but the life lessons are real and relevant.  

Like The Traveler’s Gift, The Noticer is a unique narrative is a blend of fiction, allegory, and inspiration.  Gifted storyteller Andy Andrews helps us see how becoming a “noticer” just might change a person’s life forever.

2) The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts - Gary Chapman

This is a simple and phenomenal help for relationships that you can put into practice and see results today. 

In the #1 New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages, you’ll discover the secret that has transformed millions of relationships worldwide. Whether your relationship is flourishing or failing, Dr. Gary Chapman’s proven approach to showing and receiving love will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner—starting today.

The 5 Love Languages is as practical as it is insightful. Updated to reflect the complexities of relationships today, this new edition reveals intrinsic truths and applies relevant, actionable wisdom in ways that work.

3) Soul’s Gate - James L. Rupert (fiction)

This is one of my favorite fiction works. It verges on spiritual sci-fi (without a lot of sci-) and keeps my heart racing.  

“Every now and then we get a break from reality. A glimpse into the other world that is more real than the reality we live in 99 percent of our days. The Bible is about a world of demons and angels and great evil and even greater glory.”

“Readers with high blood pressure or heart conditions be warned: this is a seriously heart-thumping and satisfying read that goes to the edge, jumps off, and 'builds wings on the way down.'” —Publishers Weekly

4) When Godly People Do Ungodly Things - Beth Moore

Spiritual warfare is a perpetual reality and this book helps me see things from a heavenly perspective. 

It is reported in the headlines, confessed in the pulpits, and hidden in the pews in churches around  the world. The seduction of God’s people by the deceiver is a tale as old as the garden, but we are always surprised when it happens. We must realize that Satan is a lion on the prowl and we are his prey.

Beth writes with a passion fueled by the Biblical warnings of the schemes of Satan’s seductive activity and the broken-hearted concern of a teacher who receives countless letters from repentant Christians limping on the road to finding restoration. Delivering dire warnings to Christians to safeguard themselves against Satan’s attacks, Beth also reveals how you can know if someone is vulnerable. Beth writes, “We, Christ’s church, are in desperate need of developing His heart and mind in issues like these.” She fears that often God is far more merciful than the Body of Christ is with the deeply repentant and those desperate to find their way home. When Godly People Do Ungodly Things will be a guide to authentic repentance and restoration.

5)  Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire - Jim Cymbala

This book poured new fuel on my passion for prayer. 

The Times Are Urgent

God Is on the Move

Now Is the Moment to …

ask God to ignite his fire in your soul! 

Pastor Jim Cymbala believes that Jesus wants to renew his people—to call us back from spiritual dead ends, apathy, and lukewarm religion.

Cymbala knows the difference firsthand. Thirty-five years ago his own church, the Brooklyn Tabernacle, was a struggling congregation of twenty. Then they began to pray … God began to move … street-hardened lives by the hundreds were changed by the love of Christ … and today they are more than ten thousand strong.

The story of what happened to this broken-down church in one of America’s toughest neighborhoods points the way to new spiritual vitality in the church and in your own life. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire shows what the Holy Spirit can do when believers get serious about prayer and the gospel. As this compelling book reveals, God moves in life-changing ways when we set aside our own agendas, take him at his word, and listen for his voice.

Books I plan to read this year:

1) Mission Drift - Peter Greer and Chris Horst

This is recommended reading for a non-profit board I’m part of.  It gives a big picture view of how decisions we make today can impact generations of ministry. 

Without careful attention, faith-based organizations drift from their founding mission. 

It's that simple. It will happen. 

Slowly, silently, and with little fanfare, organizations routinely drift from their purpose, and many never return to their original intent. Harvard and the YMCA are among those that no longer embrace the Christian principles on which they were founded. But they didn't drift off course overnight. Drift often happens in small and subtle ways. Left unchecked, it eventually becomes significant. 

Yet Mission Drift is not inevitable. Organizations such as Compassion International and InterVarsity have exhibited intentional, long-term commitment to Christ.

Why do so many organizations--including churches--wander from their mission, while others remain Mission True? Can drift be prevented? In Mission Drift, HOPE International executives Peter Greer and Chris Horst tackle these questions. They show how to determine whether your organization is in danger of drift, and they share the results of their research into Mission True and Mission Untrue organizations. Even if your organization is Mission True now, it's wise to look for ways to inoculate yourself against drift. You'll discover what you can do to prevent drift or get back on track and how to protect what matters most.

2) Kitchen Table Counseling: A Practical and Biblical Guide for Women Helping Others - Muriel Cook and Shelly Cook Volkhardt

A fellow Women’s Ministry Leader recommended this and I’ve read about 1/3 of it so far. It’s been a great help in ministering to hurting hearts. 

This lay-ministry counseling guide is a good leader resource for women’s ministries or personal use. Learn how to address your own needs so you can effectively help others, take people to Jesus without taking on responsibility for their burdens, and balance a counseling ministry with your other priorities. With Kitchen Table Counseling, you can offer true biblical hope to other women in the face of heartaches.

3) Fervent - Priscilla Shirer

You have an enemy . . . and he’s dead set on destroying all you hold dear and keeping you from experiencing abundant life in Christ. What’s more, his approach to disrupting your life and discrediting your faith isn’t general or generic, not a one-size-fits-all. It’s specific. Personalized. Targeted. 

So this book is your chance to strike back. With prayer. With a weapon that really works. Each chapter will guide you in crafting prayer strategies that hit the enemy where it hurts, letting him know you’re on to him and that you won’t back down. Because with every new strategy you build, you’re turning the fiercest battles of life into precise strikes against him and his handiwork, each one infused with the power of God’s Spirit. 

New York Times bestselling author Priscilla Shirer, widely known for her international speaking, teaching, and writing ministries, brings her new role from the 2015 film War Room into the real lives of today’s women, addressing the topics that affect them most: renewing their passion, refocusing their identity, negotiating family strife, dealing with relentless regrets, navigating impossible schedules, succeeding against temptation, weathering their worst fears, uprooting bitterness, and more. Each chapter exposes the enemy’s cruel, crafty intentions in all kinds of these areas, then equips and encourages you to write out your own personalized prayer strategies on tear-out sheets you can post and pray over yourself and your loved ones on a regular basis. 

Fervent is a hands-on, knees-down, don’t-give-up action guide to practical, purposeful praying.

4) The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands - Lysa TerKeurst

Are you living with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule and aching with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul? 

Lysa TerKeurst is learning that there is a big difference between saying yes to everyone and saying yes to God. In The Best Yes she will help you:

Cure the disease to please with a biblical understanding of the command to love.

Escape the guilt of disappointing others by learning the secret of the small no. 

Overcome the agony of hard choices by embracing a wisdom based decision-making process. 

Rise above the rush of endless demands and discover your best yes today.

5) Untangled - Carey Scott

All women want to feel is valued. But problems arise when we seek confirmation that we are enough using the world's standards. Almost from birth, we are trained to find the approval and acceptance we crave in the eyes of family, friends, and even strangers. The result is that we cannot believe we are who God says we are--accepted, loved, beautiful, and treasured. We get tangled up in the world's assessment and our own self-judgment.

With hope-filled writing and plenty of hard-won personal advice, Carey Scott shows women how to untangle their self-esteem from the world and anchor it in Jesus. She lovingly shows readers that God was intentional in how he made them and that he is well pleased with his work. Women will learn practical strategies to escape unattainable standards and the performance-based measuring stick of the world, and find comfort in the fact that they are not alone on the journey.

There you go!  A  glimpse at my reading list: past, present and future!   I’d love to hear which books you consider favorites - and why they’re at the top of your list!

Please comment below or leave some of your favorites on Facebook or Twitter.

Be Strengthened Today, By the Word,

Cathy

Psalm 119:28

  

7 Power Tips to Plan This Week with Purpose

What's the greatest source of stress in your life today? Stress often stems from feeling overloaded with responsibility at home, work, school, church, or all of the above.  With a bit of planning, we can relieve some of that stress - really!

January is one of the familiar points in our year when we think, “Things will settle down soon! I can get back on track when ______ (the holidays are over, when the kids go back to school, when the kids get out of school, when this budget project ends).  

We believe control is just around the corner and we’ll soon feel more together.    

It’s comfortable to set new goals when we can imagine a solid, achievable routine. We have high hopes, but when we look back at transitional seasons like these, it’s rare that we see genuine improvement... even after  _____ (fill in the blank) happens.

It’s a disappointing but repetitive truth.  Because we can’t seem to get a handle on our schedules or task lists, we live with a sense of constant overload which makes us default to thoughts like,  

“I’ll do that when I get around to it.”

“As soon as I find the time, I’ll ___.” 

“I’m sure it will happen someday.” 

Before we know it, we’ve allowed passivity to take over. We settle for mediocrity in our routines rather than pursuing God’s best with purpose and passion.   

If you’re struggling to incorporate the changes you hoped to see this year, don’t give up yet! Before settling for mediocre, consider this with me:

The Lord gives us work to do.

We see this truth repeated in Scripture:  Ephesians 2:10, John 17:4, 1 Chronicles 28:10 and many others passages.  

God created us with His purpose and His plan in mind. We’re on this earth to accomplish what He directs.  Each of us has a calling.  Yes, you.  And me too. We’re chosen for specific work.  

Sometimes we lack an understanding of clear direction and calling.  More often, however, we know our calling.  In our heart of hearts we know what the Lord created us to do. It burns within us, yet we wonder HOW we can accomplish so much when there are so many distractions and urgent needs surrounding us. 

Doing is not always easy, but it is possible. It requires planning, sacrifice, and other methods of intentional effort that are uncomfortable but necessary. Often, the only thing that prevents us from fulfilling our calling is our daily routine.  When we attack our daily schedule - our practices, our disciplines, our habits - on purpose and with deliberate intent, we’re capable of accomplishing far more than we imagined. 

A while back I wrote a post about the freedom I found through planning.  If you'd like to read it, click here.  As a follow up to that post, today I’ll share 7 of my best tips on how to become better stewards of the precious resource of time.  

Let’s look at how to schedule our time on purpose - with the caveat that we allow the Lord to interrupt our plans any time He wishes.  Remember, a man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps (Proverbs 16:9).  A plan is a great tool and is Biblical (see Proverbs 21:5, Isaiah 32:8 and 1 Corinthians 14:40), but we can't allow a plan to supersede the Spirit's leading each day. 

OK, here we go:

7 Power Tips to Plan with Purpose

1) Commit to Self Examination.  

Give one week to complete honesty to track how you spend your time. This may seem counter-productive as we remain in our old schedules to find the pitfalls.  But this will provide valuable information.  Until we identify our struggles and temptations, we can’t work toward overcoming them.

If you identify that television (or some other unnecessary distraction) consumes hours of your schedule each week, are you willing to give it up to accomplish the work that the Lord has given you? If something drains your time, fix it. If you can’t fix it, limit it.

2) Set Goals and Write Them Down. 

You’ve heard this before:  written goals are achieved 40% more often.  When we write them down AND enlist the accountability of a friend, our success increases to nearly 80%.  I consider that significant - and quite worth the effort! 

Divide your goals into tasks that you’ll accomplish daily, weekly and this month, then create your to do list.  

3) Stop Multitasking.

I can almost hear you groan…  We take pride in our ability to multitask, don’t we?  But when we try to focus on more than one thing at a time, the quality of our work diminishes and takes longer. Multitasking it’s a bad habit that grows beyond our to do list.  Soon we begin to multitask with people. We believe we can check our phone while still giving someone our full attention, then we miss important details. Break the habit. Whenever possible, do one thing at a time, do it well, and then move on.

4) Schedule Ways to Stay Sharp.  

As you consider your schedule, plan time to rest, play, observe sabbath, and take care of YOU.  It’s important to have our own cups filled as we strive to serve and bless others. We can’t give of ourselves if we’re always running on empty.

5) Discover Your Peak Time of Day

Are you a morning person or do you like to work into the wee hours?  When do you do your best thinking? When are you most productive? When do you have the most energy?  Schedule your high priority projects during that time and take advantage of your best mental clarity.  

6) Do the Hard Things First. 

Brian Tracy wrote a book called Eat That Frog which recommends doing your hardest, most difficult activity first thing in your day. When we stick to it and do the worst first, everything throughout the rest of the day will seem easy!

7) Know your Priorities. 

To you, what constitutes time well spent?  List your top 5 activities then consider how often you’ve actually done these things in the past several weeks. Knowing what’s important help us focus on high priority activities without letting the urgent overtake the important. 

My best advice to serving the Lord as a good steward of our time is:  make a plan then execute.  I hope these 7 power tips will help and encourage you as they have me.

God has a purpose for our lives and He has chosen each of us to do good work.  We can accomplish much for Him during 2016, especially when we use our time with purpose and intentionality.  

Realize the Lord has chosen you to do this work. Be strong and do it!  (From 1 Chronicles 28:10).

Your Turn:

What are your time traps?  What activities distract you most?  

What can you give up in order to accomplish your calling?

Continue the conversation by leaving a comment below or chiming in on Facebook or Twitter!  I can’t wait to hear from you. 

Be Strengthened Today, By His Word,

Cathy

Psalm 119:28

Be Strong! (And Just Do It)

We all have a past. Every one of us. As we reflect, some moments make us proud, while others cause us to cringe in embarrassment.  A few may bring the sting of heartache.  But one thing is sure: every moment of our past is part of our testimony and makes us who we are in Christ. 

Our Past Prepares Us for the Future

There’s not a minute of our lives that the Lord would change because He’s used every millisecond to conform us - more and more - into his likeness.  Each smile, every tear, and all of the things we may wish would have never happened gave us cause to lean on the Lord, whether we recognized we were doing so or not. 

We doubted and learned to trust. 

We laughed and enjoyed the celebration. 

We suffered and learned to let go. 

We hurt and then recovered. 

We sinned and found redemption. 

We faced challenges and embraced victories - even small ones. 

If the process isn’t complete today, we find peace knowing it’s underway.  He who started a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). 

All of our moments, right up to this one, have made us ready for what we’re about to face. They’ve prepared us for the road ahead and strengthened our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

We’re Ready for What’s Next

Whatever has happened over the past months, whether happy or sad, traumatic or joy-filled, let’s find a way to be grateful. We know they’ve served a purpose and made us ready for what’s next in the journey we call life.

In 1 Chronicles 28:10, King David said to his son, Solomon in preparation for what was next:  “Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”

I believe the Lord has the same word for us today.  Fill in the blanks of this sentence:  “_______ (your name), The Lord has chosen you to _________ (your assignment). Be strong and do it.” 

Has the Lord chosen you to do something? Is it exciting and adventurous or challenging and unglamorous?  Perhaps it’s as simple as caring for your family, ensuring the house is kept and the meals are prepared.  Maybe he has chosen you to care for a special needs child and your hands-on parenting roles last decades longer than you ever imagined. Maybe He’s given you a challenging assignment of shining for Him in an office full of people who reject His love. Or loving a husband with more emotional needs than you “signed up” to supply.  Maybe He’s called you to step into ministry and serve children, lead women, or participate on a worship team. 

Our current calling - the work that the Lord has chosen us to do - may be something easy or extremely challenging. We may find it exhilarating or consider it drudgery.  Either way, the Word tells us that we’re chosen for this task and instructs us to serve the Lord with a whole heart and a willing mind.

Solomon had a mighty task before him. David said “The task is great because the temple will not be for man but for the Lord God.” (1 Chron. 29:1) Solomon was chosen to do something that was not his idea. It may not have been his passion or the first priority that he’d envisioned for his time on the king’s throne.  Yet, God chose him to complete the work.

God Equips the Called

Be encouraged in this as I am:  As King David commissioned Solomon to build the temple, by the Lord’s grace and great generosity, he was provided with all that he needed to finish the work:  Plans, materials, labor, resources.  God fully equipped him for the work at hand.

You’re equipped, too.  We forget sometimes that the Lord gives us all we need to walk in step with His Spirit. All of our needed resources are available to us, but they often look far different from what we imagined. When we don’t see what we expected or hoped for, it’s not an excuse to forsake our calling. 

Upon realizing that the Lord has chosen us to do this work, we have three choices:

1) Reject the work.  We can walk away and refuse to do this thing that He’s called us to do. We can quit and look for something better.  Sadly, this happens among us every day. In learning to recognize and embrace God’s best, I would encourage you to stay.  Instead of running away, pray that the Lord confirm your calling and ask Him to give you a love and passion for it.  

2) Do the work while grumbling and complaining.  This leads to a life of misery. Please don’t do it.  Serve the Lord with a whole heart and a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9) by showing a heart of gratitude, a willingness to grow through the journey, and a heart that praises Him through every trial. He is faithful. Trust Him. Embrace what God provides, what He instructs and walk in joyful obedience. Blessing will follow and we sure don’t want to miss it!

3) Be strong and do it for the Lord’s glory.  This requires serving in the Lord’s strength rather than our own flesh.  We do this by walking closely in relationship with Him so that our needs are met while we serve others. By the Lord’s power and His work in us, we can live according to Colossians 3:12-13, “Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another.”

As we embark on a new year, may we walk in strength and do as the Lord directs.  I pray that “the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus - the great Shepherd of the sheep - with the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21 HCSB)

Your Turn:

What challenge are you facing that the Lord has chosen you to do?  

How will you be strong and do it?

Join the conversation by leaving a comment below or chiming in on Facebook or Twitter.

Be strengthened today, by His Word,

Cathy

Psalm 119:28

3 Shifts of Thought to Help You Find a Mentor

I went through a long season of passionate career goals. I can still remember how it began.  Just months after the birth of our son, I walked through the doors of an exciting office environment, still plump with maternity weight, and accepted the invitation to recognition, appreciation, and “status.”  

When I entered the workplace, I over-confidently considered myself a follower of Jesus Christ, fully capable of balancing professional and family lives. In my fancy suits and high heeled shoes, I turned my focus on job performance, promotions, increasing income, and corporate success. Family, health, and even God slowly began to take a back seat.

During those years, I developed close friendships with several women in the workplace who gradually influenced me toward new age thinking, astrology, mysticism, and other “isms” that pulled me away from Christ.

Slowly, subtly, and without my realization of what was happening, my new friends persuaded me to question my faith and doubt the sovereignty of God.  That wasn’t their goal. They were simply sharing their views. They were smart, savvy, and successful. I was young, outnumbered, an ill-equipped debater, and tucked my own beliefs away without a fight. I began to believe as they believed. They had a significant influence on me. 

Decades later, I realize there was something that could have helped me hold fast to my faith during this unrecognized assault:  a mentor.  I needed a friend who could point me back to truth, remind me to stand firm in my spiritual armor, and pray for me as I walked through the office-disguised minefield. A mentor could help me navigate conversations that were happening at work and model the “how-to’s” of abiding in Christ, even when it was not easy.

I needed a friend who would share her successes and struggles by allowing me to learn from what she’d faced through her own experiences. I needed female accountability to help me stay true to my commitment to grow with God, and surrender to my need for complete dependence on Him. 

Finding a Mentor

It’s not always easy to find a mentor.  We may imagine someone with similar likes and interests, one who is several years older but has found success doing exactly the things we dream of accomplishing ourselves.   

For instance… 

Maybe you imagine a Christian mentor who manages a household with abundant love and an absence of anger. You hope for someone who conquers clutter, can teach you to quilt, and once produced a house full of well-behaved, neatly dressed children. Just being next to her will deepen your walk with Christ. You envision her linen closet with symmetrically folded fitted sheets aligned neatly on the shelves.  Of course, she loves photography just like you.  

If you’re career oriented, your imagined mentor might work in the same profession as you.  She uses only Erin Condren calendars, is an effective communicator, and finds time every day to spend with God. She’s a master at multi-tasking, can not only hold her own in a boardroom full of testosterone, but earns great respect. She thrives in a peaceful, laughter-filled marriage with her best friend. 

I hope you’re beginning to see one of the reasons finding a mentor can be difficult:  We set our expectations far too high. 

3 Shifts of Thought to Help

Once I understood these realities, I shifted my thinking, and finding a mentor became much easier to consider:

1) Your Mentor may be someone you already know but haven’t considered.  God ordained you for this particular time and place. Where you live and who you know are part of His sovereign plan.  Therefore, the mentor who best suits you is likely someone in your own church, workplace, or town.  Or, she may be a friend who lives a fair distance away but can communicate regularly and easily through technology like Skype or FaceTime.  I don’t believe that God placed your perfect mentor across the world and will make you move mountains to meet her or wake at 2 am to talk with her.   

2) It’s highly unlikely that your mentor will share all of your interests, dreams, and ambitions.  She may not have had her life together in her early years and may have missed the class on how to fold a fitted sheet.  (Maybe that’s something you can teach her).  Searching for a mentor with a heart for Jesus, one who has learned from some hard knocks in life, and can help you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, will produce a great choice.  

3) A mentor may not be your mentor forever. The most intimate time of your relationship may be for a season, not a lifetime.  Lord willing, she will forever be your friend and provide trusted counsel, but perhaps God chose her to mentor you only through a specific time or circumstance. When considering a mentoring relationship, be careful not to cloud it with weighty expectations of forever-ness. Longevity is an extra gift, not a guarantee.

Once your’ve cast aside the notion that you’ll never find a mentor, ask the Lord to place a potential mentor on your heart.  Ask that He bring her name or face to your thoughts and allow time for His answer.  I believe you’ll soon recognize that “so-and-so” has been on your mind for a few days and you’ll recognize this as the Lord’s prompting.  Pray again - that the Lord will prepare her heart for your invitation and then ask if she’ll become your mentor.  

Many have mentoring or discipleship groups within church congregations.  If that’s you, by all means, allow them to help! Get involved when the opportunity presents itself. 

Finding a mentor and walking shoulder-to-shoulder with her through the challenges of life is an element of God’s best that’s not only essential, it’s commanded in Titus 2:3-5. God prepares us for these types of relationships, whether we serve in a role of mentor, mentee, or - like me - both. The Lord will faithfully provide women to model and mentor to us if we’re willing to seek them out. He’ll present women in our lives who need our loving influence as well. 

All those years ago, in the midst of my spiritual free fall, the Lord sent an unexpected mentor right to my office doorstep. I didn’t realize I’d needed her, but she was His gift to me.  One day I hired a sweet, young receptionist for our office who “happened” to live and breathe Jesus Christ.  She was younger than me in physical age, but had more spiritual maturity. When she began work in my office, she immediately began pointing me back to Christ and had a profound influence on my Christian walk. I’m grateful beyond words. 

A faithful mentor is priceless.  Trust that God has one for you, then watch carefully and go out and find her!

P.S.

I am still occasionally in contact with some of the women from the office team I mentioned, and love them deeply. I pray for them and have since shared my faith and my surrender to Christ. Only the Lord knows if they’ll accept His invitation to follow Him. 

Your Turn:

How has a mentor influenced you for God’s glory?

Or how has the absence of a mentor left a void?

Continue the conversation by leaving a comment below or engaging on Facebook or Twitter. 

Be Strengthened Today By His Word,

Psalm 119:28

Cathy

What if Weight Loss Tips Were About More Than Weight?

On a late summer day, I broke a personal rule and checked email as soon as my eyes opened. I know better.  Any distraction before I seek the Lord’s face completely derails my time with Him. But that day, I succumbed to temptation and opened gmail before my Bible. 

This subject line captured my attention: Love Your Body, Weight Loss is NOT the Goal.

Now I’m no thin mint. I can’t remember the last time I felt happy with my body image. BMI charts classify me as obese - that is, until today - but I’ll get to that in a bit. 

As I read, a few of Janet Thompson’s points hit my heart like a 2 x 4.  

1) “Weight loss without a realistic lifetime eating plan is doomed for failure.”  

I’ve heard that dozens of times.  But I’d recently regained 30 pounds I’d worked hard to lose, and her words resonated.  

2) “The way God created our bodies, Energy (Calories) IN and energy OUT = maintained weight.  More IN than OUT = weight gain.  More OUT than IN = weight loss.”  

I majored in science. I get that kind of stuff.  But could it really be this simple?  The preface that God created our bodies to work within this ordered system spoke to me and I kept reading.  

The third 2 x 4 was the real clincher:

3) “To be successful at long term weight loss, we must adopt a new lifestyle, just like when we became Christians and we put off the old way of life and put on the new.” (Italics mine).

Now we were on to something.  My spirit cried out, “I can do this!”  And I knew immediately, this pertained to more than weight loss and body image.

A Universal Truth

Truth has universal application.  Think through these points with me since they can apply to nearly ANY area of struggle. Look at Janet’s sentences again with blanks inserted: 

1.  _____________________ without a lifetime plan is doomed for failure.

2.  The way God created (us), more ________ than __________ = ___________.  More __________ than __________ = ____________.

3.  To be successful at ____________________________, we must adopt a new lifestyle, just like when we became Christians and we put off the old way of life and put on the new. 

Now, let’s fill in those blanks with some of our common areas of struggle:  

1.  Calming anxiety

2.  More worry than trust = anxiety.  More trust than worry = peace.

3.  overcoming anxiety

OR, how about:

1.  Overcoming shame

2.  More negative self-talk than belief in who God says I am = feelings of condemnation.  More knowledge of identity in Christ than listening to lies of the enemy = freedom to be who I’m created to be.

3.  leaving shame in the past

Are you getting the picture?  Don’t leave out the valuable words that surround those blanks as you consider what you’re currently wrestling.  In your personal situation, what would you like to overcome?  What do you need more and less of in your daily walk with Christ?  

Yes, truth has universal application. There’s beauty in that. 

It’s About Freedom

This is why I believe we should talk about weight loss, even during the week of what is likely our largest feasting holiday of the year.  Let’s have this conversation now, because it’s not only about weight loss. 

It’s about freedom. 

It’s about identifying the areas of bondage that oppress, and breaking free from chains that hold us captive. It’s about adopting a new mindset and embracing a shift in our spirits. 

Finding freedom through truth - especially in areas where we’re accustomed to walking in captivity - is an incredible element of God’s best. Sometimes it’s only as freedom comes that we begin to realize the level of defeat that had become comfortable and routine. When our change becomes obvious, we’ll want to holler, dance, and celebrate.  Because we’re FREE!  

Embracing the Miracle

After reading Janet’s post that morning, I’d like to tell you that I had great quiet time with the Lord. That’s not the case. I didn’t spend time in God’s Word before I left for work. I downloaded calorie counting apps and started a life change.  I took off some old habits and asked the Lord to help me as I put on some new. 

Here’s the miracle that happened:  I felt released from bondage to food. I felt liberated from captivity. The numbers on the scale became a secondary consideration. 

For the first time - probably ever in my life - I found the will to say no to a chocolate bar or a portion of comforting mac and cheese without feeling cheated.  I no longer think “I can’t have that,” but look at my daily calorie allotment and know today’s not the day. If I eat carefully tomorrow, I can budget it into my meal plan then.

Treading Through Triumph

I’m thrilled to report that our family enjoyed vacation in September and I lost weight during our trip.  All while enjoying ice cream on Disneyland’s Main Street (one of my favorite things to do and I didn’t have to say, “No, I shouldn’t.”).  All while eating In-N-Out Burger two (or maybe even three) times.  Yes, I chose a “protein-style” burger (lettuce-wrapped), and ate fries only once, but I relished the experience with my family and didn’t feel left out or deprived at all.

A dear friend visited last week from Canada. We stopped at many of her favorite US restaurants and I shared wonderful meals with her.  She brought my very favorite unavailable-in-the-states candy bars and I sliced them up and delivered bites to everyone in the house. We loved it and I didn’t feel guilty.  Not a bit.  When my friend left, the scale said I’d dropped another pound, which was not nearly as sweet as the absence of self-reproach I’d experienced throughout her stay. 

Just this morning, I saw the disappearance of the final pound needed to move my BMI classification from “obese” to “overweight.”  I caught a glimpse of myself in a wall-sized mirror in a retail store and didn’t want to move away from the reflection.  In fact, my lips curved into a giant smile as I peeked a second time. 

We Can Do This!

Now I fully realize that two and a half months of successful behavior does not a lifetime make, but I’m a lot farther down the road than I’ve been before.  Pray for me, please.  And I’ll pray for you too.  It’s only in the Lord’s strength that we can do all things.  

Let’s not fail to DO because we’re deceived into thinking that we CAN’T.  Today is always the day to begin a new, God-honoring habit to recognize and embrace God’s best for us. 

This newfound freedom is very high on the list of things for which I’m grateful this Thanksgiving.  Breaking out of bondage and experiencing victory where I’ve battled for years is a savory taste of God’s best. I’m embracing it.  Will you, too?

Your Turn:

Where have you experienced victory in a battle you fought for years?

How is your life different now that chains are broken?

Be Strengthened Today, By His Word,

Psalm 119:28

Cathy

Continue the conversation by commenting below or on Facebook or Twitter! 

Read Janet Thompson’s post here.  

  

Lessons from the Garden

“The pay is great,” my friend explained. “You’ll receive some of the harvest.”  

She’d recently presented an opportunity to work in a garden that supplied a local Farmer’s Market. It sounded good to me since this year we decided not to plant our own shared garden.  And, this would allow me to get outside and get some exercise.  How difficult could it be?  I committed to two hours a week to start out, not knowing my pay would far exceed fresh, tasty veggies.

I called the “Garden Lady” and introduced myself.  A very pleasant, friendly woman briefly explained how it worked and invited me to come and visit her farm. I was well on my way to what would be an amazing experience.  The tour included visiting two greenhouses and a “huge,” young garden. Most of the produce had just been planted.

“Garden Lady” introduced herself as Cathy.  I quickly knew in my heart we would become friends and was grateful when she began sharing her faith.  She had a love for Christ that flowed freely, in not only her words, but in her actions.  My first clue came through her thankful heart for her garden, and how she loved providing for others.  She spoke often of how the garden is a great place to pray and talk to God and we began to share that experience together. Of course, we have become friends and I am so thankful God directed me right to her garden.

Which are the Weeds?

On my first day I was asked to weed.  Sounded easy enough as I have had a lot of experience with weeds.  But immediately I discovered that I needed help in distinguishing between weeds and plants.  You see, many weeds are very pretty, healthy looking, and some even have pretty yellow or white flowers.

Most of my experience with produce comes from the grocery store where there’s no hint of the plants that generate the harvest. Very patiently, Cathy pointed out this is what a green bean plant looks like or this is what a beet plant looks like.  (I must admit I don’t eat beets, let alone pretend to know what the beet plant looks like.)

In some cases the weeds looked healthier and more mature than the plant.  In my defense, none of these new plants had produce on them, so how was I to know the difference?  Cathy and my co-worker even knew the names of the weeds and bugs that would destroy the crop if left unattended.  You will be proud of me for recognizing the tomato plants and the lettuce right away.

Humor me for a moment while I share what I learned this summer.  When weeding, it is very important to support the plant. If I wasn’t careful when I pulled the weed, the plant would come up too.  An example is a small, fragile carrot where a healthy, tough weed has decided to grow right next to it.  In those cases, it was important for me to put my fingers around the carrot, close to the good soil in support, while gently pulling that weed so its entire root came up.  At times, I asked my co-worker to place her hands around the base of the larger plant, press down on the soil to keep it secure while I wiggled the weed free from the fragile plant. I am pretty sure I heard that young plant sigh, “Thank you! Now I can breathe, drink the water, and bask in the sunshine so I can grow strong.”  My mentor told me - - an exposed root of a weed makes for a dead weed. 

Once the fruit came on, it became easier for me to distinguish between plants and weeds because I recognized the yummy fruit and veggies.  When the plants bear abundant produce, it’s a beautiful sight.  And as I picked items for the farmers market, it was exciting to know that many people would benefit from eating them.

God's Bounty

I enjoyed my time in God’s creation listening to the birds, watching a frog hop away when I scared him (and he scared me), seeing a half-eaten watermelon that was evidently dessert for a turkey. The bunnies hopped through the produce looking for something yummy to snack on. Even the mosquitoes and grasshoppers were created by our Lord.  The cows stood across the road mooing a morning song under a blue sky with white clouds. The air was crisp and refreshing.  Sometimes I was all alone on my knees - a great position to talk with my Lord and be still while He talks to me.  Some days I had the opportunity to work with other women who love God and delight in the perfect setting for sharing and praying.

The pay, indeed, was great:  spending time among God’s creation, receiving gifts of the harvest, and tasting new things. How many jobs have fresh blueberries or cherry tomatoes in four different varieties to be taste tested?  And the view from “my office” was spectacular.  The intangible pay came through the lessons that the Lord allowed me to see.

The Harvest in our Hearts

A garden is a perfect picture of our hearts.  How are our hearts prepped for what God wants to plant in them?  Is God’s word written on my heart that I may not sin against Him?  (Psalm 119:11)

How about your heart?  Are there roots of bitterness, anger, hate, jealousy and shame that will take hold like those weeds?  Is it almost impossible to see the plants of the spiritual fruits - - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control because of those weeds?  If so, those plants cannot produce fruits of the spirit because the weeds will overtake them.

Just as I spent many hours weeding rows and rows of tomatoes, peppers, carrots, radishes, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, onions, garlic - - I must continue to weed out those roots of bitterness, anger, hate, jealousy and shame from my heart.  

God’s word is always reminding me that an exposed root is a dead root.  And, it is very important that I surround myself with others who love God who are willing to hold my heart secure while I am uprooting those ugly weeds.  At times, my husband is that helper, sometimes my biological sisters; however, more often, it is a spiritual sister who is helping me so my heart gets the eternal nourishment it needs.  Then I am able to share my “produce” with others, just as “Garden Lady” shares her beautiful harvest.

One particular day as I picked produce in preparation for the Farmer’s Market, the sun was shining on red, yellow, and purple cherry tomatoes. Each shone with the light of the sun.  Similarly, I can shine with the light of the Son, Jesus, and my fruit will go on to bless others.   John 15:8 says, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Next time you enjoy a juicy red tomato, a yummy watermelon, or a tart pickle, remember the labor of love that someone gave to keep destructive weeds away from the plant, allowing it to grow strong and produce.

Similarly, remain diligent in exposing the roots of bitterness, anger, hate, jealousy and shame in your heart.  Using the word of God, intentionally pull them out - root and all.  And if a sister needs you to hold her heart secure while those “weeds” are plucked from her heart, agree to be available. You’ll both reap a harvest.

Blog Contributor, Debbie Andrews

Debbie Andrews and her husband, Charlie own and operate a quaint hotel in the small town of Wallace, Nebraska.  Their 4 children chose wonderful mates who have blessed them with 8 fun grandchildren.  Her heart is full of love for the Lord and the family He has given her.  Teaching, scrapbooking, canning and sewing are talents God has given to Debbie to share with others.