A Brilliant Love

Links are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I will get a small commission, but you will pay the same price. All opinions/statements are my own.

Some of us are more disciplined than others. Some of us grew up with better examples than other people. For these reasons and many others, we develop bad habits. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how you were raised or your personality type. We all have free will to make our own choices. Bad habits have some benefit, or we wouldn’t do what’s bad for us. Unhealthy food is sometimes delicious, and it is filling and comforting. You may have started smoking cigarettes because someone you admire does it, then you continue not only because it’s addictive,  but because it relieves stress. You may crack your knuckles or bite your nails because it helps you focus when you are stressed. There are bad habits we acquire for comfort, stress relief, or other ‘benefits’ that can be replaced with habits that are good for us. Here, I will share some ways to stop bad habits.

Recognize the cause of your bad habit.

Moving forward, it will be helpful to know why you have formed your bad habit. be aware of your ‘why’.  You may sleep in late because you have the option to press snooze on your alarm. Or maybe it’s because you sleep with your alarm right beside you. You may eat an unhealthy lunch every day because you work across from a fast food restaurant and it’s convenient. Recognizing the reason behind your bad habit will help you move forward.

Replace your bad habit with a good one / choose a substitute for it.

I stated that your bad habit has a benefit. Otherwise, there’d be no reason to do it. Know what that benefit is and find out what healthy habit you can incorporate into your life that will replace the unhealthy action with a healthy option and you get the same benefit. For example, sleeping in late is comforting and you enjoy the extra rest. To replace sleeping in late, set aside quiet time during the day when you cuddle up with a good book and a blanket for a half hour and read.

Get rid of triggers.

There can be one trigger that supports your bad habit, or there could be several. Note what those are and eliminate them to the best of your ability. Let’s stick with sleeping in late. Say you sleep with your alarm beside your bed and you have a snooze button. You can mindlessly reach over (still half asleep) and hit snooze or dismiss. Or maybe your bedroom is too dark. This is optimal for good sleep, but will also enforce sleeping in in the morning. Get an alarm with a light on it that gradually brightens when it goes off. Also, you can choose a different alarm sound that is more motivating than a blaring alarm that is the last thing you want to hear upon waking.

Get a support partner.

Whatever bad habit you are trying to break, tell someone close to you who you know will be supportive. Maybe even someone who needs to break a bad habit themselves. Having a support partner will be extra reinforcement for you to break that bad habit. Accountability will help motivate you to stick with a new good habit and not go back into your old, unhealthy ways.

Surround yourself with people who will reinforce new, good habits.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “birds of a feather flock together.” Being surrounded by people who are doing the same unhealthy things you are doing is a reinforcement to keep those bad habits. It will take sacrifice, but you may need to cut some people out of your life (or just spend less time with them). It may be impossible to do this. Maybe those people are your parents, brother or sister, or others who you live with currently. Join a support group or go to a place where you know people will be who will support your new lifestyle.

Begin with awareness.

It may seem daunting or overwhelming to begin, but get excited about the new you! Even if it is a small habit you are replacing, you are moving forward. Be aware of when your bad habit happens. How does it make you feel? Who are you around when you indulge in this bad habit? What are some things that trigger you? You may want to keep a journal to track these things, as well as how you are progressing with your new, good habit.

Don’t beat yourself up when you fall back into your old ways a time or two. This is natural. Focus and move forward. Don’t give up on yourself!

This article is adapted from James Clear’s website. https://jamesclear.com/how-to-break-a-bad-habit

If you are looking for further reading on stopping bad habits and creating good ones, I highly recommend James  Clear’s book Atomic Habits. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

Struggles with insecurity and self-doubt are so toxic. In this sin-ridden world, we are constantly bombarded with images and messages that go against the image we were created in. Every single one of us was made in the image of Almighty God. Culture has made everything the Word of God is against, acceptable.

Whether you grew up as a church kid, in the house of the Lord 2 or 3 days per week, or if you’ve never stepped foot inside of a church (or somewhere in between), I believe that each of us needs our own personal encounter with the risen savior through the presence of the Holy Spirit. A lot of us get to the point of desperation before we give into the power of the cross and repent. But I digress.

This post is not particularly about salvation through Jesus Christ; But if you are a Christian, I hope and pray that you know your worth in Christ! For me, it took several years to gain confidence in my identity in Christ. And I have not arrived yet! He is still affirming me and renewing my mind through the washing of the Word of God.

If you doubt that you are unique, that the Lord loves you, and no one can fulfill the purpose God has for you but you, open a Bible and begin to immerse yourself in the Word of God. You are precious! Created in the image of a God so mighty, He is the creator of all life. He loves you so much that He came and died the most horrifying death EVER, went to hell so you don’t have to, and now sits on the right hand of our Father, interceding for YOU. For your salvation. For the abundance of life He wants you to live here on this earth to bring Him glory!

Personally, before I knew Christ, I had such a low opinion of myself that it was hard to have a healthy relationship with anyone. I am still a loner type, that’s my personality. But the Lord has done amazing things with my life and I can live in confidence. Once a person is born into faith in Christ, the wrong mindsets need to be unlearned so that the mind is transformed by the living Word of God.

You are unique. If you need me to remind you, there is no one with your fingerprints. There is no one with the same thoughts as you. There is no one who can do what you do like you do it. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! Let that one sink in. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and God has countless thoughts about you. Good thoughts.

If you are feeling like you don’t fit in, embrace that. Seek the Lord for His purpose for you. The Lord has an assignment for you to change someone’s life. If you are a believer in Christ, He is your rock, and He has called you to be someone else’s stability. The Lord created us to be in community. Find your spot in the community He has placed you in and do what you are good at to contribute to your community. Even if you have to learn a new skill, there is something for you to do.

If you don’t fit in, be a leader. In your family, at work, or in your church. If you are asking, “Who will listen to me or want what I have to offer?”, trust that the Lord will make a way.  Begin to pray and stay reading your Bible. The Lord will empower you to reach souls for His kingdom.

Find your purpose and identity in Christ and He will direct you to what skills He wants you to hone to bring Him glory. Even if you are doing something that the World finds unworthy of the Kingdom, looks at Jesus’ example. On this earth, He was lowly: He was very humble, as we should be as His followers. If you don’t know what your calling is, begin to serve wherever you can. The Lord will continue to direct you as He sees that you are faithful.

Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I pray for this woman who is reading these words. She is unique. There is no one like her because you made her a masterpiece. Lord, help her to see your worth in you. That you have a unique calling for her and that where she is at, there are people who are benefitting from her being alive. Help her hone her skills, Lord. Skills that will bring glory to her name my God. The blood of Jesus over her right now!

Amen

So many people deal with mental health struggles. But not everyone with mental health struggles has a mental illness. I believe in taking care of your whole self, not just treating a mental health issue with medication.

Are you someone who knows someone with a mental illness and you’re unsure how to help that person? One of the first things to consider is how close you are to that person; How much influence do you have with them? Will they take your advice? If you are not that close to that person, I suggest you begin to pray for influence with them, as well as wisdom on how to help. If you are close to them, still pray. Pertaining to prayer, I am talking to born-again believers in Jesus Christ.

Another thing to consider when you want to help a loved one with a mental health issue: Is that person already on medication? Or are the issues they are experiencing new symptoms? And how serious are these symptoms?

If your loved one is already on medication, they have been experiencing a problem for weeks or months, and it is affecting their life, urge them to see a doctor. Take note: Are they exercising? Are they indulging in bad eating habits? Are they hanging around negative people consistently? Of course, it matters how close you are to this person. If you have good trust with them, ask these questions if you don’t know the answers already. These may be questions their doctor will ask (I hope!), but maybe you can help your loved one solve the reason for higher levels of anxiety or stress. But like I said, if they are already on medication, they may need an adjustment.

Now, if your loved one is not on medication and is having symptoms they have not dealt with before, and they are serious symptoms, I’d suggest praying for them. If you both are Jesus followers, pray together! Get in the Word of God! Open your Bible and find scriptures that talk about anxiety, fear, enemies trying to overcome your mind, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

While you are praying with your loved one and believing for God’s help, make sure your loved one is getting enough sleep, eating healthfully, and taking vitamin supplements. I want to stress that when treating mental health issues, the whole person is important, not just taking medication and calling it a day.

After making sure that your friend or family member is seeing a doctor and /or taking care of themselves properly, continue to pray for them! We all are in a spiritual battle and prayer is vital, especially when the battle gets strong and negative thoughts and harassment from the enemy begin to manifest through anxiety, depression, emotional struggles, suicidal thoughts, or other symptoms of psychosis.

Prayer is vital, but also make sure you are checking in on your loved one often to see if they are okay. If symptoms are so serious that they need to be hospitalized, visit them often (that is, if they are hospitalized for longer than a day or two). Help them come up with a plan so once they come home, they can stay stable. If they do not know Christ, and you are a believer, share with this person who God loves so much that Jesus saves, and already provided for their salvation and healing. Impress on them the importance of accepting Him as Lord and Savior.

A lot of people with mental illnesses have low self-esteem problems and low opinions of their worth. Encourage your struggling friend or family member to read books to help them understand their worth, as well as developing a journaling habit to get their emotions out and keep track of their progress (whether backward or forward). I’m telling you, reading and journaling are really great self-care habits for anyone’s mental health. If you don’t like to read, or aren’t a writer, still incorporate these activities into your life. They will help you to stay mentally healthy! Encourage your loved one to set a certain amount of time for writing every day. Maybe start writing for ten minutes per day! And read one page per day, to start. Encourage the development of good, healthy habits like this instead of harmful ones.

From personal experience, my husband has been a huge support in my mental health journey. Some tips from what he has been to me: Encourage your loved one past their doubts and fears! If they have thoughts, actions, and beliefs rooted in fear and doubt, lead them gently past those feelings. Encourage them to keep moving forward in productivity and success. You might be thinking that these two things have nothing to do with mental health but yes! They do! Having a daily routine is important and will establish self-worth and esteem. Getting up every morning, cooking healthy meals, having a hobby or job (or their kids, if a parent!) to pour their time and attention into are important. We, as humans are meant to prosper and be fruitful with our time and resources.

In conclusion, encourage your loved one to:

1. Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior
2. Read their Bible every day and meditate on healing scriptures.
3. Incorporate self-care habits such as reading and journaling.
4. Healthy diet and exercise.
5. Take a multivitamin and research other helpful supplements to foster good mental health.
6.  Get good sleep.
7. Live a healthy lifestyle.
8. Seek a good support system (regular Bible study group, 1 or 2 good friends, or a counselor/therapist).
9. Encourage medication if they are living healthy and still struggle.

Remember, even if a person chooses 1 or 2 new healthy habits and sticks with them, that’s awesome. Baby steps are great, as long as we are moving forward toward being more healthy. Remind yourself and your loved one that you matter. They matter!

Links are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I will get a small commission, but you will pay the same price. All opinions/statements are my own.

I am compelled to write this post because of a previous post I wrote entitled, One Truth The Enemy Doesn’t Want You To Know. In that post, I mentioned mental illness pertaining to identity in Christ. I am writing this article to ‘clear up’ what I said in that post; really explain more of what I meant. I will also share some of my experiences with mental illness.

When I first started blogging, I wrote some about my mental illness. I shared that I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 13 years old. I am close to 40 now, so this has been my entire life.

Explaining here what I believe of mental illness, I do not want to condemn anyone in any way. I am still on medication. I still struggle with things. But I have found freedom and am grateful to the Lord for my stable mind.

If you have been a Christian for any amount of time, I am sure you have struggled with your thought life. The enemy will throw any type of negative thought or temptation your way if he thinks there is even a 1 percent chance you will take the bait. Because you have negative thoughts, doesn’t mean that you have a mental illness. Everyone, Christian or not has negative thoughts at some point in their life. People with mental illness struggle with so much more than negative thoughts. At times, it is a barrage of negative thoughts, voices, and anxiety. I believe it is easier for the enemy to gain ground in a person’s life with mental illness through negative thoughts and feelings because we feel more intensely.

I read a book by Mel Bond entitled, If It’s Not Good It’s Not God. He writes that all bad situations come from the enemy, as the title implies. If you want to check out the book, you can purchase it here on Kindle.

I will not go into a book review,  but it was very good. You can leave a comment or email me if you are interested in a book review. The point of mentioning the book is the title. God is a good God.  He promises good things to His people. That being said, we live in a world full of sin. People hurt people and many don’t want to follow laws, let alone treat their neighbor right or obey Biblical principles.

Being that God is good, I don’t believe mental illness is from Him.  Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, Borderline personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and other mental illnesses are not from the hand of the God I serve. I believe they are curses from the enemy of our souls to torment us. Mental illness runs in families and most times (if not all of the time), is passed down from a parent or grandparent who has it.

Back to what I stated at the beginning of this article: I am not here to condemn anyone. I don’t know everything, but am here to share what I have learned and experienced.

As I mentioned, I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder when I was very young: 13. After being on medication and in therapy for several years, I confessed to a counselor, an instance of abuse that happened when I was around 7 years old. This was the first time I told anyone about what happened, but I thought of what happened to me constantly for many years. I was around 21 years old when I told that counselor what happened to me, and I told her I believed I was dealing with PTSD,  not Bipolar Disorder. Now, after mentioning this, I was diagnosed with PTSD as well.

Labels, and what we believe about ourselves have power. The Bible says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7a, NKJV) What others project on us as we are in the formative years of life has a lasting effect on us, and some people never get over the negative ways they were spoken to or treated as children. I am not suggesting that because I was diagnosed with mental disorders or believed the diagnoses, thus I took them on. Mental illness runs in my family, and I have relatives with bipolar disorder. I do believe that people calling me crazy and treating me as if I can’t take care of myself made my mental state worse.

There is so much I could say that won’t all be discussed in this post. I will be bringing more posts on taking care of yourself with a mental illness and such articles. I know that mental illnesses are real diseases, but I do not think that medication should be pushed down peoples’ throats without treating the whole person. Mental illnesses are real diseases, just as diabetes and various other physical ailments are real. these diseases wreck peoples’ lives and make it difficult to live life in freedom.

Deliverance is real too! I believe there is power in the blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, the Word of God, prayer, and the laying on of hands. If you are a Christian, you should believe in deliverance as well. Is it God’s will to deliver every single person with mental illness? I do not know. If you’d asked me several years ago, I would’ve told you yes. As of now, I have prayed for deliverance countless times, I’ve traveled far to visit deliverance ministries. I have tried weaning myself off of medication after visiting a deliverance ministry that I watched others get their healing at. Last year, I decided not to try going off my medication again, after weaning off was a fail. I sort of decided that Bipolar disorder is my thorn (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

I read another really good book that I am keeping close: Deliverance And Spiritual Warfare Manual by John Eckhardt. John Eckhardt has been in the ministry of deliverance and healing for a number of years. Reading this book opened my eyes to the origin of some diseases and various other spiritual problems that plague people, and practical steps to deliverance. If you are interested in that book, it’s available here. I highly recommend it, if you are studying spiritual warfare and deliverance.

I am grateful that there is medication for me, and it is working. I am grateful for the Word of God and the presence of the Lord. I am grateful for healthy food and supplements. I am grateful for my supportive family. I am grateful for the Lord’s purpose for my life. I am blessed to have the Lord taking care of me and to be in a healthy environment.

Mental illness does not have to define you! You can be on medication, even be seeing a therapist or counselor, and live a normal, healthy life. Some of the things people without a mental illness do may be harder for you, but even so-called normal people have challenges to overcome. You can choose to tell people of your mental illness as a part of your testimony of Christ, or you can choose to hide it from people you meet. That is totally up to you, and either choice is fine, but your diagnosis and your struggle are NOT your identity.

Father, I pray for every person reading this who has a mental illness. I pray for peace and joy over their lives. I ask you to open their eyes of understanding concerning their mental state. I ask that you take away confusion, depression, and the spirit of infirmity. I know you are a healer! I know you are a deliverer! Father, I pray that every person reading this immerses themselves in your Word, to find freedom. For everyone reading this who knows of someone who has a mental illness and isn’t sure how to help them, I pray you give them Wisdom. I pray they pray. Father, thank you for the cross and blood of Jesus!

In Jesus name,

Amen

As Christians, we all have our own walks with the Lord. He will show more of Himself to each of us, as we draw closer to Him in prayer, the study of the Word of God, and submission. One of the most important things we all need to learn is that the Lord is holy. Everything about Him is holy. The sooner we come as close as we can to learning what the meaning of holiness is, the better our journey with Christ will be.

The holiness of the Lord equates to Him hating sin. He can not stand to look at sin. Hearing this, you may say, “Then how can I ever live up to His standards?” Well, none of us can. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus to die on the cross for each of us. He took the punishment we all deserved to satisfy the wrath of the Father forever. When one comes to this knowledge, then believes in the power of the cross and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord, that individual is brought into right relationship with God.

So many people are scared or hesitant to commit to a relationship with God through Christ because of what He may require of them.  The Lord has the best plan for your life. He created each of us for a specific purpose. He will take you one step at a time, and you will never have to do anything He wants you to do alone. As believers in Christ, we have His power to go with us through life to live out our purpose here on earth.

Here, I want to share several scriptures that talk of the holiness of God and how the Lord wants us to walk in holiness.

Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? – Exodus 15:11

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. – 1 Chronicles 16:29

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. – Psalm 29:2

Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days. – Psalm 93:5

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. – Psalm 96:9

When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. – Isaiah 29:23

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. – Isaiah 35:8

I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes. – Ezekial 36:23

And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ – Ezekial 38:23

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. – Hebrews 12:14

and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 1:4

I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. – Romans 6:19

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. – Romans 6:22

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. – 1 Corinthians 1:30

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. – 2 Corinthians 7:1

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. – Hebrews 12:10

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. – Hebrews 12:14

These are just a few scriptures I found that pertain to holiness. I hope and pray that this gives you some direction and insight as to how the Lord is holy. I pray that you take your relationship with the Lord to the next step and continue your study of the Lord’s holiness.  If you have a relationship with Him, you will be learning His love and holiness for eternity. That’s exciting to know, right? Let’s start now!

All scriptures listed here are from the New International Version of the Holy Bible

Links are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I will get a small commission, but you will pay the same price. All opinions/statements are my own.

I just want to say that breastfeeding is not bad. On the other hand, choosing not to breastfeed is not bad. I believe that it is a good choice to breastfeed if a mother is able, but if she’s not, for whatever reason, that is okay.  I am not going to go into details about why it’s a good choice to breastfeed and all the reasons one may not be able to, but if you want to hear about my choice, you can read another article I wrote here.

Here, I want to share ways for you to bond with your baby, whether you’ve chosen to breastfeed or not. Also, fathers don’t breastfeed, of course, so these tips can be for new dads as well! If you are a new parent, congratulations! Your life is forever changed, There will be hard days, there will be great days, there will be many precious moments. If you are a grandparent, I encourage you to bond with this precious life, as well. This little one needs you. If you are an aunt or auntie, take these tips as well. It is a parent’s responsibility to care for and raise a child, but I believe in the African Proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

So go head, Mama

Go ‘head, Papa.

Go ‘head, Auntie.

Go ‘head, Uncle.

Go head, Grandma.

Go ‘head, Grandpa!

1. Bottle feeding. Breastfeeding is an intimate way to feed your child, so it is highly praised, but bottle feeding is also a bonding experience: For mother and father alike.
2. Skin to skin contact. Just sitting with your child on your chest or belly, skin to skin is a great way to bond with a newborn baby. In the hospital, they encourage this right after birth, but it can be continued at home.
3. Bath time. The act of washing, lotioning, and dressing your baby is also intimate and is a great way to bond.
4.  Singing. Singing nursery rhymes or even your own favorite songs to your baby will help her development, as well as create a bond between the two of you.
5. Reading to him. Reading to your child is one of the best things you can do for his development, and will encourage bonding because he is learning from you and you two are enjoying the experience of the book together.
6. Having a special place you go with your baby. This is an excellent way to bond with him or her. Pick a place such as a park, the library, Barnes and Noble, Target, or maybe a museum. Someplace that you love to go, and now, as a parent, can share and enjoy with your child.
7. Teach her to read early. Start with flashcards with sight words. Also, a great program to use is My Baby Can read. This system is great because it includes  DVD videos that teach sight words and pronunciation, as well as flashcards and books. There are different sets to choose from, but this is a good option to start with:

It is a blessed thing to be able to bond with your new baby, and no one can really understand it until that newborn little sweetheart is right in your arms and you are doing it. Being a mother. Or being a father. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be kind to yourself. Learn. Learn from the day-to-day, learn from peoples’ experiences who you trust. Watch YouTube videos, read good parenting books. This child is yours. The Lord entrusted him to you, and you can do this!

Links are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I will get a small commission, but you will pay the same price. All opinions/statements are my own.

Productivity is the main goal for those of us who are doing this adulting thing. depending on your work schedule, how many kids you have, whether you are single or married, and how much you help you have from family,  your schedule varies from the next guy (or lady).

It helps to have a schedule that is not rigid, per se, but one that allows for you to get the things done that need to be done on a regular basis. If you find that you don’t know where to start, or in general, your life looks like a mess right now and you are struggling to be productive, here are some ways you can be productive today.

This is a list of things you can do to be productive today, or even pick and choose a couple to make regular habits, Have fun with this! Tes, some of these things are chores, but life is supposed to be enjoyable! So don’t grumble about the things you know are chores, but you need to do them. Make them fun, in your own way!

1. Journal. Spend some time writing whatever you want to.
2.  Workout. Sweat! Getting in some exercise can make any day productive because you know you did something great for your health.
3. Meditate or pray. Pick up your Bible and read or sit with a list of things you are grateful for and be thankful,
4. Clean your kitchen. Yeah, we do dishes every day, but when was the last time you gave your kitchen a deep clean? Or even cleaned out your refrigerator? Go ‘head and pick today to get that done!
5.  Do all your laundry (and put it away!)
6. Vacuum or sweep, At least do your main areas.
7. Clean your bathrooms.
8. Cut your kids’ fingernails and toenails.
9. Plan meals for the week!
10. Make a list of grocery items you are out of and go shopping.
11. Meal prep for the week!
12. Take your kids to a park and play with them for an hour or two.
13. Read a self-help book and write some actionable steps to improve your life.
14. Ask someone close to you if they need anything, and go do it for them!
15. Clean out your car.
16. Pay bills.
17. Wash and deep condition your hair.
18.  Write a letter to someone and send it.
19.  Plan out your week! Or weekend, or even just tomorrow.
20. Put on some music and worship.
21. Get in some good prayer time.
22. Clean and organize your desk or office.
23. Go through your clothes (or your kids’ clothes) and put the ones that you don’t wear or don’t fit to the side to donate or sell.
24. Have a yard sale!
25. Give yourself a pedicure and/or manicure. (Or go to the nail shop if you can!)
26.  Cook a really yummy dinner.
27. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
28. Draw and/or have craft time with your kids.
29.  Go shopping for house decor.
30.  Pick a new hobby and start it.

This list is just the beginning of ideas for ways to be productive today. Make some of these habits. Add some of your own ideas. Make your own list. Just get started! I know that not every day is going to be super productive, and you’re not going to feel good about every day. But I hope that you take some of these ideas as inspiration today to go to bed satisfied tonight.

Also, a great inspirational book I read recently and will be going through again (because it was so good!) is Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book teaches how to create new habits and quit bad habits in an effective manner. It is best selling and I know why. If you want to take some of these ways to be productive and create new, good habits, but are struggling to get them to ‘stick’, you may want to pick up this book. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

What do YOU do on a day that you feel like you don’t know where to start? And do you keep a planner? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading. God bless you.

Links are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I will get a small commission, but you will pay the same price. All opinions/statements are my own.

When you are in Christ, it should be second nature to worship Him. We don’t have to let the weight of the world pull us away from His presence! A good thing is that the Lord is not evasive! When we praise Him, he comes near to us. We don’t have to jump through hoops to enjoy His presence. He is a good Father and He wants us to enjoy Him. Here are some ways to set an atmosphere of worship in your home, whether you are alone or the whole family is around.

Praise Music/Instrumentals

Sometimes, a good Christian / Gospel song is all you need to invite the presence of the Lord. It can get you in the mood to worship Him and can set the tone for a day well spent. Find out what kind of praise music you like best. Gospel, contemporary Christian music, choir music, soft worship music, or instrumentals. I like them all, for different occasions. Some of my favorite artists are Jonathan McReynolds, Marvin Sapp, Tasha Cobbs, Kierra Sheard, Toby Mac, Casting Crowns, Grace Williams, and Julie True.  Lately, I have been putting on instrumental music that I’ve found on YouTube when I pray or read my Bible. For instrumentals, I always go to the Channels Kyle Lovett, and Dappy T Keys.

Read The Bible Aloud

The Word of God is always going to be a way to invite the Lord into your home and set an atmosphere of worship. Either you can sit alone and read aloud or invite your family to listen to you. Or take turns reading! Have a Bible study! Or you can turn on a recording of the Bible being read. There are tons of those on YouTube. Also, a really great recording of the whole Bible that my husband and I have been enjoying for years is The Bible Experience. It’s an audio collection of the bible read with background effects that made each scene come alive. You can find it here on Amazon:

Clean House

You may be thinking to yourself, “What?! Clean house?!” Well for me, whenever I clean my house, I always put a song or a sermon on and pray as I clean. I think to myself, “What if Jesus knocked on my door? Would I be embarrassed to let Him in?” I don’t want that answer to be yes, so when I clean my house, I feel like I’m inviting the Lord in. It is sort of an act of inviting Him in, for me. As I sweep, mop, pick up and declutter, fold laundry and wipe off surfaces, I always feel the Lord is proud of me for taking care of my home and making room for Him. Lighting candles or burning wax melts always adds an extra touch.

Be still and Quiet

For so many of us, especially us moms, this is hard to achieve. I have to fight for quietness and stillness in my home! But I value it, so I do fight for it! Having prayer time or Bible reading time usually has to be first thing in the morning or late at night. Sometimes, if the kids are quietly playing or engrossed in a good TV show, I can put my headphones on and read my Bible. This has been my trick lately. I have yet to get some noise-canceling headphones, but they are on my Amazon wish list! Here’s a pair I have my eyes on:

Join A Prayer Line

There are a lot of these going on. A prayer line is basically a group of believers joining together virtually by phone or online to pray and worship together. Check with your church and see if there’s one going on. Mine has one weekly. Or go on YouTube and search’ live Christian prayer’. A couple of channels I know of that have live prayer sessions are Bro Mike Man Of God and International House of Prayer. There are also some really good prayer, worship and Bible study groups on FB. Just search for them and you’ll find them!

This is my best advice for creating an atmosphere of worship in your home. You may feel stressed, but you CAN have peace in Christ! You CAN have joy in Christ! The Lord does not want us to feel hurried and anxious. Come to Him with all of your worries, because He cares for you. When you worship Him, you are taking your eyes off of the problem at hand and giving it to the Lord, who wants to take care of it for you. God bless you! Let me know how you are incorporating this advice into your daily routine!

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So many people have identity crises. It’s really sad to look at the world and see the confusion that goes on in the hearts of humankind. If you were raised with parents who are believers and they taught you the truth of the Word of God and your identity in Christ, you have an advantage. But the enemy is crafty. He will get a lie into your mind in any way he can.

The news, social media, TV, the radio, school, ungodly friends. All of these are gateways for the lies of the enemy to enter your life. Even if you were raised in the church and your parents kept you from the world as much as they possibly could, the enemy will lie to you and make it seem like you missed out on a lot of fun. In truth, the Lord’s way is the best way to live because holiness is the way our creator intended for us to live.

The truth I want to talk about that the enemy doesn’t want you to know? You are made in the image of God. He is our creator and He made us to be like Him in order to bring Him glory! So many don’t believe that basic fact and they are suffering greatly. Some are aware, some are unaware that there is a greater truth that they have not grasped.

God loves each and every one of us more than we realize and if we know Him, there will forever be more of His love to discover. If you don’t know Him, you are missing out on a great truth. God is love and you are fearfully and wonderfully created in His image! This is such a great implication that if we can just grasp this truth, a lot of our problems will be quelled because the enemy won’t be able to penetrate our minds with the lies he has crafted to deceive us.

There are a few ways the enemy wants to distort the fact that God made us in His image.

Plastic Surgery and Body Modification

When we don’t know the love of God and the fact that we were made in His image, it is easy for anyone of us to lose confidence in ourselves stemming from insecurity. This can result in wanting to look different. Now, some people take a drastic approach to changing the way they look. All sorts of plastic surgeries are possible and people take advantage of those possibilities. Nose jobs, liposuction, breast implants, and butt implants. I’ve seen documentaries of a few different people who got thousands of dollars in plastic surgery to look just like someone else they admired. That is just so sad because if you only knew Him! If you only knew Jesus and His purpose for your life, you’d have such joy!

Then some people get hooked on tattoos and piercings that change their entire look. I believe these actions are demonic because the Lord did not make you to look like someone or something else! I’ve seen people go so far as to have their whole bodies tattooed, piercings all over their face or skull. I’ve even seen a man get his tongue split and his eyes tattooed black so he could be a so called human snake. I shake my head at this because these extremes are such a huge perversion and they sadden the heart of my Savior.

Sexual Perversion

I could write a whole other post just on this topic and maybe I will in the future. The LGBTQ community has really grown in the last decade and in the past couple of years especially, the agenda the enemy has placed in their hands is rampant.  There are men dressing as women and women dressing as men, and trying to teach our children that this is okay. Then we’ve got some so convinced that they were born to be the opposite sex that they go through a sex change and hormone therapy. It doesn’t matter if one gets the sex change and takes hormones, still, they are the gender the Lord created them to be. It’s so sad because I have even seen a couple of people who had sex reassignment surgery then came to the knowledge of Christ and wished with all their hearts that they never would’ve gotten the surgery. I know that there is repentance for those people, but there really is no repair for the way they abused their bodies.

Mental Illness

Now, this needs to be a whole ‘nother post too and I will write one in the near future, Lord willing. Medically, we are told that mental illness is a chemical imbalance in the brain and I am not trying in any way to condemn anyone with a mental illness. I take medication myself. But I am learning so much about generational curses and demonic oppression. The Lord can heal any mental illness, instantaneously, or gradually. The reason why I am bringing this up is that mental illness is in our minds and the war against the enemy is in our minds. Some develop PTSD from trauma, some people develop bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and are told that it runs in their family. Most people with mental illnesses go to therapy at some point in their lives and they work through negative thoughts and things that happened to them or words that were spoken over them in their lives. In whatever state, our minds can be transformed by the renewing of our minds according to the Word of God!

If you are struggling with any of these problems or anything else related to your identity, I advise you to get a Bible, make it your best friend, and ask questions. Ask to get an answer,  not to debate. Humbly accept what the Word of God says about who God is and who He created you to be. Get to know our Savior, Jesus Christ! As always, if you have any questions, email me or contact me on any of my social media accounts. I am willing to help lead you to the Lord. Remember, you are greatly loved and anyone can overcome the enemy by the blood of Jesus Christ through Salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit!

The truth is that in Christ you are:

Forgiven

Chosen

Fearfully and wonderfully made

Royalty

A priest

An heir to the kingdom of God

Holy

Righteous

A great resource that I highly recommend that talks about spiritual warfare and demonic oppression in great depth is a book by John Eckhardt called Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare Manual: A Comprehensive Guide To Living Free. You can purchase it here on Amazon:

History has a pattern and some things repeat themselves. But one thing I know is that if the Bible says it, it will happen!

In the Bible, the book of Malachi says that the Lord will send the prophet Elijah before the day of the Lord. I am telling you that there is a prophet here on earth right now leading a ministry of repentance and holiness, preparing the way for Jesus to come back for the church! He is that prophet the book of Malachi spoke of!

Dr. David Owuor is a prophet whose ministry is primarily in Kenya. For years, he’s traveled the world, preaching repentance in different countries. Since coronavirus, he’s stayed in Kenya, holding services. This is the most powerful ministry on the face of the earth and the Lord has shown Himself mighty through this man.

There have been thousands of healings come from this man speaking the Word of God over people in the name of Jesus. Numerous people have been healed from blindness, deafness, even AIDS! People crippled from birth have gotten up and walked, no longer needing their wheelchairs. One of the most shocking healings I’ve seen was a little girl who had leprosy, healed by the power of words spoken over her by this man of God! Here is a video showing this miracle:

Honestly, I hesitate to tell people about this ministry, but the Lord wouldn’t let me get the idea out of my mind ’til I wrote this post. I’d like as many people as possible to know about this ministry. It has helped me, as well as my family to buckle down, live in repentance, and work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Ultimately, it’s up to you to see the value of following this ministry. I’ve been following this man for years and have never seen him ask for money. So, what’s he doing it for? Why are all of these healings happening and why are so many people from different religions turning to Jesus? Isn’t this the type of revival the church has prayed for?

Another thing Prophet Owuor has displayed in this ministry are hundreds of prophecies fulfilled. He’s prophesied earthquakes, diseases, and other seemingly ‘natural’ occurrences that have happened just the way he said they would. He even prophesied the discovery of a diamond planet, the Zika virus, and yup, COVID-19. Here are a few videos I’ll share with you:

So, another thing, Dr. David Owour is actually a doctor. Before he began this ministry for the Lord, he went to school in Israel, as well as in the U.S. He had plans for his life, but the Lord spoke to him of the ministry that would follow. Actually, he ran. He didn’t want to do what God wanted him to do. But the Lord kept giving him visions until he obeyed and started preaching. Here, I’ll share a video of some of his testimony:

Just like before Jesus came to earth the first time, to be born as a baby, the Lord sent John The Baptist to prepare the way for His ministry. Many followed John the Baptist, waiting for Jesus to show up on the scene. Now, we are waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and rapture his church, and there is another forerunner. Dr. Owuor is the two witnesses spoken of in the book of Revelation! He has proclaimed it himself and others have testified that they see two men when they look at him, not one. A film director went to one of his meetings to prove him false and instead, she believed in his testimony because the Lord opened her eyes and showed her!

I know this man is not God, but he was sent by God to show signs and wonders to bring many to repentance and prepare the Church of Christ for His coming! If I were you, I’d want to find out for myself, is this man for real? Is this someone I should be listening to? The Bible says we will know them by their fruits. For the past eight years, I have been following this ministry and I have seen many videos of healing, heard many teachings on holiness, righteousness, and repentance, seen many prophecies from his mouth fulfilled over time and there’s nothing to doubt. There’s been no reason for me not to believe him.

I know the Lord wanted me to share this ministry with you, so here you go.

Dr. Owuor website: https://www.jesusislordradio.org/

Dr. Owuor radio station: https://www.jesusislordradio.info/

Dr. Owuor YouTube channel: Repent and Prepare The Way

He comes on live on YouTube Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, usually around 11 AM or 12 PM. He stays on for several hours.

I pray the Lord will open your eyes of understanding and show you the truth. In the name of Jesus!