Category: 31 days

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. ~Isaiah 26:3-4

May He fix our minds on the masterpiece as we are intentionally aware of each brush stroke we make.

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here.

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here.

My beautiful mother sent me this post by Sarah Markley. Be encouraged. REST. Be present in your season. 

    "As much as it’s continually uncomfortable to be with groups of people who are successful in ways that I would like, I’ve just come to understand that my “season” isn’t now. That has been a hard road…I believe God wants us to do great and mighty things for Him and He’s called us to listen and obey Him in this. But maybe my own personal tension between feeling like I should be farther along than I am and wanting to be a good steward of what I do have is simply that I’m in a different season. I don’t have to struggle against the season that I’m in.”

Read the rest here

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.” ~Psalm 1:3

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here.

Some days are easier than others. Today was one of them. Well, it wasn’t exactly easy; I barely had a spare moment and a child put their sticker on the mirror (it’s not coming off either). But as I reflect on today, my heart is full. I’m content. 

It’s easier to be present when we’re content. And as much as we like to think contentment is a feeling, it’s really a choice.  Do we trust He knows best for this moment? Are we filling ourselves with the task He’s placed in front of us or wishing we had another one? Or are we skipping to the next one without finishing the first? Are we going to choose to trust that He is enough? Though it may take a while, our heart follows our head. Maybe the first step to being present is choosing to be content.

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here.

“For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’ ~Jeremiah 29:10-14 

My head knows it but it takes a while for my heart to catch up. I think it’s a part of the process of letting Him purify my motives and teach me how to seek Him with all of my heart. 

Where I am is where I should be. He has big plans for me. I just need to be a faithful steward of what I’m given right now. 

It’s coming before Him each day with open hands and radical trust. It’s trading my dreams, desires, and plans for something much bigger. It’s accepting grace and living in that freedom from one moment to the next. 

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here.

Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ ~Jeremiah 29:7

Sometimes (ok, a lot of the time) I forget that we have a direct line to the Creator of the universe. In my self-absorption and personal agenda, I forget that every moment I’m given is a divine appointment. And the Author of the moment wants me to talk to Him. He wants to hear about the situation, the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the hard, the hurt, the easy, the infuriating, the exhilarating, the monotone, and the colorful. 

But He doesn’t just want a play by play.

More specifically, He wants us to use our leverage for the good of those around us–even those who are holding us captive or put us in exile. Pray for the good of the “city” you’re placed in even if you don’t feel like it. As we live in the moment, looking for opportunities to serve those around us may we be conscious of the spiritual impact we have as well. And may we be present enough in the moment to know how to pray appropriately.

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here.

Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ ~Jeremiah 29:7

I think this verse speaks for itself. We need to get outside of ourselves and look for opportunities to serve those around us. We were placed in each particular moment for a reason–to bring Him glory. May we never become so self-absorbed that we miss an opportunity to share His love; may we seek those opportunities out. I pray this week that we are aware of the moments we are given to serve in love.  

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others ~Philipians 2:3-4

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce…~Jeremiah 29:4-5

Ever had one of those days where you forgot to eat? Or you all you ate was a bagel and the rest of the can of almonds you left in the car yesterday? When we’re in a hurry moving from one thing to the next, sometimes sustenance can take a back seat. We think there’s no time to pack a lunch or sometimes even stop to sit down and eat a meal that requires utensils. So instead we stash our purse with protein bars and fill up on Starbucks. And though these will fill our calorie count for the day, they won’t satisfy our stomachs. We forget that the only reason we’re able to keep going is because of the time we take to refuel.

The same is true of our soul. We need to nourish it just as much (if not more) as we need to nourish our bodies. Carve out moments to be still, to really listen. I think we’ll find ourselves refreshed and more conscious of the moments we’re in. 

O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! ~Ps. 34:8

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here. 

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens…~Jeremiah 29:4-5

In order for something to grow it has to be 1) planted and 2) tended over time. As we live in each moment as it comes, we should be aware of the seeds we are planting. Every decision we make is a seed in that it leads to another decision. Eventually, decisions become habits and habits become lifestyle choices. When we are in the habit of being consciously aware of the opportunities in front of us, we start to realize the weight of our choices. We begin to see down the road a little more clearly. 

Not only should we be aware of the seeds we are planting, we should also pay attention to what is growing inside of us. Are we allowing allowing that incident from the other day to turn into bitterness? Are the lies from last week replaying in our heads? Are we fostering an atmosphere of love? Do our lives paint a picture of peace, patience, and joy? 

Planting a garden is not something done haphazardly on the spur of the moment. Yes, we need to be present within the moment but we also need to realize how this moment will affect the next. Slow down. Think about the seeds you are sowing for yourself and planting in others.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22

This is part of 31 days (of being present). Join the other 31 day-ers here.