~ Your Salvation ~

If you never accepted Jesus into your life as your personal Savior and you wish to have a relationship with him? You can ask him into your heart by praying a simple prayer similar to this:

“Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe you rose 3 days later overcoming all evil. Please come into my life. I cannot do this life alone and I no longer want to. I am tired of living this life my way. Lord, please forgive me of my sins and wash me clean. I want to get to know you and live a different life with you by my side. Thank you for hearing my prayer and I believe our relationship starts now”.  Amen

STOP AND REMEMBER YOUR LIFE WILL NOT CHANGE INSTANTLY BECAUSE YOU SAID THIS PRAYER.

You spent a tremendous amount of time in life living how you wanted to live. Now, you must work with the Lord to undue your thinking, forgive yourself and change your perspective in your life and this friend, takes time. But if you have a desire to change and put in the work, you can be on your way to a victorious life. 

I have included a declaration prayer for you so that you can write it down and maybe carry it with you when life gets challenging. I did not have many resources available to me when I decided to live a different life in Christ and when adversity came about. I want you to have this prayer. Together we can seek the Lord. I suggest finding a local body church in your area and purposely start to surround yourself with like minds. You are no longer your past and you must choose to live life differently. This is the best day of your new life. Whoooooooo. :)

Remember, you have power and courage to change the way you think. You just have to remember you cannot do this alone. Jesus is the only one that can save you (Acts 4:12)

Declaration Prayer

I will not stop, give up, waver, or move until I see deliverance in this circumstance. I trust God at his word and I know that he is working it all out together for my good. God moves on his timing, not mine. While I wait I will do my best to enjoy my life. I will search for positive moments, serve others, and pray. I can join a local body church and speak to a pastor, join a support group, read the word of God and do positive things to occupy my mind with all things that are honorable, pure and good. I have positive options.

If I feel panic or fear about any situation I will pause, pray and be still in the Lord’s presence. I will try to seek wise spiritual counsel.  I will worship in music. But I will not give in to the enemy’s tactics as he tries to play with my emotions. I know that he is trying to hurt me and move me away from my Father. I declare that all strongholds that are not of the Lord will flee, move, banish for good in the name of Jesus.

I am blessed. I am of good cheer. I have authority. Peace is in me. I am favored of the Lord and this too shall pass. God is pushing back the darkness and I am no longer in bondage as Christ is my Savior. Christ died so I can have peace. Therefore, I will be still in God’s presence and give God a chance to move. I believe. 

God you’re good. Lord you’re gracious. You’re wonderful. You are my provider, my protector, my peace maker in this storm.  I surrender my thoughts, words and this situation to you.

Amen

In Christ,
Monique Smith

 

~ Will You RISE Above It? ~

Most stress comes because we have taken our eyes off of the Lord and we have given most of our attention to the circumstance in front of us. We forget that we do not have to go about any situation alone. Often times when we can step back and re-evaluate what is in front of us we can see that we have some options to go about the stress a different way. We just choose to do what is comfortable for us to do because we don’t want to suffer.

Life won’t really ever make any sense until you make a decision to approach it differently than you normally would. Ask yourself what is most important your way or a brand new approach to it?

No more stress, doubt, confusion, panic, anger, or bitterness…..Rise above this and let it go. God will work in out.

Questions to ask yourself in Panic?

·         Did you pray first? Have you asked God what he thought or for direction?

·         Did you search the word of God on this topic or something close to it? If so, write down your observation in your journal and pray for clarity.

·         Could you possibly be over reacting? 

·         Putting your emotions aside, what is really the issue?

·         Did you listen carefully? Are there more facts to consider?

·         Have you considered leaving the whole situation alone that is stressing you out? I am saying to not make a decision or react on anything. Have you sought a peaceful environment and gave it to the Lord?

10 Tips on How to Relax:

1.       Go for a walk around your block– talk to Jesus

2.       Pray, pause and breathe in and out (do this for 10 minutes in a quiet place)

3.       Draw, paint or write. Get creative. You can take up a new hobby… J

4.       Read the funnies in the newspaper - LAUGH

5.       Read a favorite book or watch a new TV series

6.       Get a mani/pedi

7.       Dance. Go to Zumba or turn up your favorite song and move

8.       Exercise for 20 minutes

9.       Write down some short term goals

10.   Do nothing and sit still on your favorite couch or chair while sipping on your favorite beverage (preferable non-alcoholic, alcohol brings confusion you need clarity)

In Christ, 

Monique Smith 

Prayer Starter: 
Lord, I am tired of doing things my way. Your ways are higher. Help me to rise above the circumstances that I face right now. I do know that all things work together for my good and you would never task me with something that was not for your glory. Help me to stand firm in my faith with holy anticipation. I trust you Father. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen 

 

~ Worry Pants ~

What is worry? Well, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary online, worry is when one allows difficulty or trouble to dwell in their mind. You know what I found out sisters? Worry is the catalyst to all other emotions that take you down a road that is not going to do you any good but give you heartache (panic, fear, confusion etc). It promises you a false sense of peace. Worry is of the devil and when we are sitting with our worry we are the most vulnerable to the enemy. He is having a fill day messing with us and our emotions.
As a believer, we are set apart as holy brethren (Hebrews 3:1) and we will experience ALL of the exact emotions as any other human EXCEPT we have a great hope. We have so much authority and do not have to be crippled with fear. We do not have to sit with our worry.

When I “feel” worry I do not have to react to it. I can choose to stay in the presence of the Lord and fight with him by my side. The other day I was really just in my worry pants. I was thinking about the strenuous relationship I have with my older son. How I am not happy in my job sometimes. I started to think about the safety of our younger son. The salvation of my kids. I started to think about my husband and how maybe he just does not love me. I mean I was so anxious. I put my worry pants on so tight they were sucking life right out of me that morning. Not to mention I was walking around with them and those pants did not even look cute (metaphorically speaking). No one told me that my pants of worry had me looking like a bag of mess. Not until I started reading about worry in the Bible was when I could see that I put on the wrong attire that morning. Instead of putting on the armor of God I put on my anxious floral blouse, my pants of worry and shoes of fear and tried to strut my stuff like I was something. But I was nothing...

Matthew 6:25 speaks to worry. It tells us not to worry about life because our Father in heaven takes care of our worries. Verse 27 asks us “can worry make you live longer”. If we think about it all worry does is make us rock back and forth in anxious thoughts telling us that we will get somewhere if we keep thinking on thoughts that cripple us. It is a bold face lie and it pushes us farther away from our Father. God is of peace NOT worry. When we refuse to be in peace we are asking for trouble. Sure, life is hard. Life just down right is not pretty at times. It can feel as if it has spit us out from the belly of a whale with no water to drink with absolutely no help. I think when we start to think like that we are in trouble. Life was given to us at a heavy price tag. Jesus came so that we can have and enjoy life (John 10:10).  If we sit down in the dumps stuck in worry we will think and behave according to that worry. Why not choose a different path when feelings of anxiety try to come about?

Today, I encourage you to do something different when worry tries to consume you. Look yourself in the mirror and say out loud “Lord, I am yours and I will stand on your hope. I will not worry. I will be bold and courageous”. Many have said it, but truly when worry comes send Jesus to answer. Why worry about something you have no control over?

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Thank you Jesus for my salvation. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for loving me even when I cannot stand to love myself some days. I declare your peace over my life. Holy Spirit, come fill me. You are welcome to move in my heart. I declare renewed thoughts and a sound mind. I am yours so I will put on my armor of faith and not move from your presence at all costs. You love me and you are for me so I will focus on your truth. Amen