~ Activate your Faith~

Weeks before my birthday, I had blood work and an ultrasound done with my gynecologist because of abnormal bleeding. I had to wait weeks to get the results. On the day of my birthday, my doctor explained I have a fibroid or polyp on the top lining of my uterus and that he needed to go in and get a biopsy. I listened as he talked and started to write down exactly what he was saying. I left his office overwhelmed and my heart was scared immediately. I sat in the parking lot with Jesus. I begged for his perspective because mine wanted to panic. I called hubby and he immediately encouraged my heart, he is a faith filled man and I thank God for that. He told me that I will be just fine to trust the Lord. As I drove home, I was in deep thought. I thought back to all the prayers and times in my prayer closet that I asked God to stretch my faith. 

With fear trying to choke me, I said “Lord, your will be done”. Peace did not come immediately. I sat in defeat for about 5 hours, mind you it is my birthday. I kept saying “Your will be done”. Doing this I believe, was activating my faith. By the end of the day, I had peace. I go into surgery at the end of this month and I am not fearful. I will take this test as a challenge and truly activate my faith. I know Jesus is for me and sisters, I will pass this test. Now is the time!!! I cannot shrink back in fear and give the devil a foothold. My body is doing funky things and I am in pain BUT I still will plead the blood of Jesus. I will fight with all I have and choose JESUS. This life is not about me. This life is about my Father. I am to glorify him with my life and that is what I will focus on. 

This life is temporary. Jesus never said that we will not have trouble. In fact, he said the opposite. I believe he wanted us to get one key thing out of John 16:33. Jesus wanted us to grasp that HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD, so we need to cheer up when adversity strikes. He gives the hardest orders to his strongest soldiers so with him we truly can do ALL things. Trusting God in the unknown is everything we say we represent as Christ followers. Even though things seem a little dim and we really have no idea what God is up to we can choose to still be that light on a hill that will shine bright for him.We can activate our faith. 

If you face something right now that is threatening your life mentally or physically I encourage you to plant your feet on solid ground. Get on your knees and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Pray that you are steadfast and that by God’s grace you can look that circumstance right smack in the face with the eyes of the Lord. Jesus will never give you something he knows you cannot handle. This circumstance you face is to glorify his name. NOW FIGHT SISTERS! Fight for your Father’s sake.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Oh GRACIOUS King, your will is most important, Father, Your ways are higher. I am nothing without your unmerited grace. I pray that I am steady, immovable, planted and ready for whatever you need me to face. I love you Jesus and you are my life. I will decrease so that you can increase. May I fight for your name sake. In the name of Jesus. Amen 

~ Instead, Be Filled with MY Spirit ~

This will be long so grab some coffee.…..What I share is personal but I hope to help someone.

A couple of days ago I had a very weak moment an “emotional melt down” you can say. I was in much fear and doubt and used alcohol to cope. I drank 2 glasses of wine and a beer and would have drank more if not for the Holy Spirit. I felt so horrible after. I knew I was doing wrong and just pressed on in it because I was believing so many lies. I was under a spiritual attack this is for sure.

After I left my friend’s house, I felt horrible because some of my testimony is that I use to drink heavily when life thru me curve balls and Christ helped me see the lies in all that years ago. I had no desire to drink but I did it because I was sad and did not even turn to Jesus. 

Years ago I would find the nearest corner store and fill the bag up with my beverage of choice and just get drunk. When I would wake the next day I would always feel bad. That little buzz was not even worth it because I felt so ugly about myself each and every time. Alcohol and drugs are meant to strip you of your hope if you do not already know that. They come promising a fun time and then leave you completely empty. I remember I would try and “get drunk” when my kids were not around or when I knew my husband was home so I could be irresponsible for a little. I would blast my “mariachi music” and feel so sorry for myself. In Mexican culture, this is the norm: to drink and have a big BBQ on Friday and Saturday and have a good ol time “partying” and forget about your problems. Was not until I was older and found Christ again that I understood that I was living in complete lies. That whole way of living would have destroyed me if not for Jesus.

Some, would say “well, Monique you are being too hard on yourself” “what is wrong with what you did, your human” or the kicker is “Jesus, drank remember? surely you can”. For me, this type of behavior is not acceptable. Just because I am given grace does not mean I get to live a sloppy life. Drinking to drown my sorrows is unhealthy, point blank. Now, to occasionally have a glass of wine here and there is okay in my book BUT to drink with the sole intention of getting “drunk” for me, is a sin. Although the bible does not say drinking is a sin, the bible does say in Ephesians 5:18 why we should not do it: “do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit”. What is debauchery anyhow? According to Webster, this means indulgence in sensual pleasures, scandalous activities involving sex, alcohol and drugs. Hmmm. All that just is a bad mix that I do not care to put myself in. It is a life that screams more of me and less of Jesus. Proverbs 23:32 also says “in the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper” and it truly does. How do I move on when I do something bad? I give it to Jesus. I repent and truly seek his face with all my heart. Until I am really sorry about my behavior Jesus cannot do anything with my mess.

Why do I share all this with you? I mean because it is really putting my business out there. I share because someone somewhere has exchanged their identity in Christ for indulgence of this world. They have forgotten about the hope Jesus provides for a little and has focused on what this world can provide. I raise my hand in complete guilt. That is what I did. Someone somewhere is wrestling with this bad and I want to share what the Lord put on my heart to help encourage your spirit. You are NOT alone and NO MATTER what we face drinking will not help. Jesus can truly exchange your worries, doubts and fear with his spirit instead IF we release our grips on our thoughts and circumstances. See? I did not want to release my grips I wanted to sulk and feel sorry for myself. I did not even bother to capture each thought down. I wanted to cope in an unhealthy way so Jesus let me be. Jesus cannot dwell in that type of environment. I share my sin with you all to say EVEN in my mess that I created Jesus loves me. He will always be there to lift me out of any pit. He saves the lost that is what he specializes in but I cannot continue in my sin. Asking God to show me why I did this is what is my heart's prayer. 

If acquiring minds what to know, I drank that day because I was sad my husband was gone in travel and I started doubting him and my marriage and I started listening to the enemy. For some crazy reason I thought just the craziest things about my husband and started to call them truth. I started going backwards instead of forward. I was visiting my past is what I was doing. I started to feel lonely and to top it off I did not spend time with the Lord for 2 days, which is unusual for me. I have mentioned many times that when I try and do this life alone I fall flat on my face.

What all this taught me was that I cannot function without Jesus. I need him every second of my day. I need him in good and bad and when I leave him out of my life I can sometimes do very stupid things. Did I lose my salvation? NO. Will I fall back into past destructive behavior again? NO! I had an isolated moment that lasted all of 4 hours and I can now take this mistake and learn from it. I will tell you that when I got home that night, I asked for forgiveness. I sat and prayed with my Father and was so ashamed. He sat with me in complete quiet that next day and I heard him say “You are still mine in whatever mess you create, I am your Father and no earthly thing can ever change that. Nothing or no one can separate us, now get up and fight”. 

Isn’t like our Jesus, to just not care about what we did or whatever mess we created? He wants our hearts and when we give him our mess he will turn it all around. We are to be filled with his spirit not this world’s. Clearly, when we try and fill ourselves with poison our body rejects it, we are his children and will always be protected. NO devil in hell can take us from our Father. The devil is still a liar and God still sits on his throne.

If this is your struggle, I pray for you. Inbox me privately and we can pray together. Please know you are not alone. Jesus loves you and strongholds can be broken.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Lord Father God, I am so sorry for trying to live this life my way and leaving you on the back burner. All that this life has for me will destroy me if I leave you out of it. Holy Spirit, convict my heart when I am not aligned with your Holy instruction. Lord, I desire to live a life that pleases you, not me. Work with me in this area, Father God. Thank you for your love and your everlasting grace. Thank you for saving me. Help this unhealthy habit flee in the name of Jesus. May I be filled with all that you are and less of who I am in the flesh. Amen 

~ The Condition of Your Mind ~

We change our minds so much. At times, we are sure about one thing and then the next minute we are fixed on something else. One minute we have peace and the next minute we are so utterly disturbed and worried that we literally make ourselves sick. We tell the Lord we trust in Him and then we are anxious about something shortly after.

I could remember on countless occasions where I was able to stand on faith so easily one day and then the next day I was so drenched with doubt and unbelief I felt completely crazy. Why was I so double minded? Sisters, my mind wandered all over the place and I had no control over my thought life. I was double minded because I was not renewing my mind in Christ. When I was in defeat I did not seek the Lord. I was not in the word much so I had nothing to stand on other than my ways of handling defeat. My ways were/are pathetic. 

In 1 Corinthians 2:16 it tells me that I am to have the mind of Christ and to hold the thoughts of his heart. I remember being so frustrated because my mind did not look like Christ what so ever but I knew I so desperately wanted a renewed mind. The condition of my mind needed help.

As Christians, when we first get saved and receive Christ as our personal Savior, we must understand there is a process that needs to take place with many new decisions. We will not immediately have some “super powers” that some might think. We have lived life our way for a long time so we must now include Christ in our lives and work with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit imparts new revelation to our spirit. The Holy Spirit enlightens our hearts and minds (Luke 24:45-47) and will teach us everything of the Lord (John 14:26). But we have to ask for help. We have to pray and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives daily every step of the way. The condition of our minds MUST be renewed and the only way we can have that done is with our Father each and every second our our days. In Romans 12:2 we are told to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. If we want to change the condition of our minds we must not be conformed to what this world thinks and how we use to live. In Christ, we are new sisters so this means we are to take on a new way of living and thinking. 

God is the source of ALL things. God is the channel of ALL things. God is the goal of ALL things and our only proper response is to worship him. When we daily depend of God what happens is that we transform into the image of Christ. When we seek to discern the will of God we commit ourselves to biblical principles. When this happens slowly the condition of our mind changes. We become steady in our thinking. We are being molded and shaped for God’s will and our life changes.

I encourage you to step out in faith and grab a hold of God’s truth for your life. Seek the Lord in all you do. Surrender. Repent. Study. Listen. Be still. Fast. Pray. Love. Believe. Hope and repeat it all again over and over and over each day. The closer you stay to the Lord the more the condition of your mind changes. 

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Lord God Almighty, your love is so loyal. You never just leave me to handle this life all alone. You’re more faithful than the rising sun. Thank you for your grace, for your truth and for always being here for me. You listen every time I speak. I want to grow deeper with you Jesus. Holy Spirit, I invite you to invade my life. Come now, please help me. I need you. I am nothing without you Father. May I continue to stand strong in your name each day knowing that when I abide in you, you abide in me. Amen 

~ God Material ~

I use to always think that I could not come to Jesus until I was pure and clean, without any blemish basically. I thought that in order to be “God material” I had to fix myself first. This is one of the lies that I use to believe that prevented me from being who God needed me to be. This lie is the farthest from the truth. In fact, this is exactly what the enemy wants you to believe. Sisters, this lie will cripple you if you are not careful. When I admit that I am a mess, absolutely nothing without Jesus is when Jesus comes to me. I do not have to have it “all together” to be a child of the highest King. God is attractive to me because I am not all that attractive. In my brokenness, Jesus appears. But I had to “let” him, which is the operative word.How did I come to this realization? Not on my own for sure. I will tell you that I had to go around many mountains and live a foolish life, every day the Lord guides me. I made so many mistakes and dumb ones at that. Heck, I still mess up so many times BUT I now know the truth and it did/does set me free. 

See, back then I did not think God heard or cared about his lost, messy kids; the ones who were roaming around this life negatively living life, absolutely broken. I thought he only truly helps and cares for the kids that obey him in everything and live this “holy” life. I thought I had to be perfect to call myself a Christian. I did not think I needed to involve God in my life because I lived a “messy” one. I thought how could God help me out when I am selfish, mean, rude, bitter, and hurting people? How can he help me when I keep drowning my sorrows in alcohol? Or when my heart is so full of pain, shame or pity? How can he help me when I was so ugly to my husband and kids? Until I started spending time with the Lord and truly understanding his character and his great love for me is when a light bulb went off. Until I cried out to the Lord asking for forgiveness, for another chance is when he just came and sat with me. He put his hand in mine, picked me up from the floor and whispered that he loved me. Jesus was always with me BUT I did not understand that he doesn’t dwell in the environment I created for myself. He is so patient and will wait until I “want” to include him in my life.

The many intentional days that I sat with Jesus, he reassured me that I am “God material” and that I do have a spot in his kingdom (Galatians 3:26). Jesus showed me what my specific instructions were on this earth in his commandments and all throughout the Bible. Day by day Jesus showed me how to live an abundant and victorious life (John 10:10). He also showed me what he loves and what he does not (Psalm 97:10 & Romans 12:9). He started replacing all those lies I had been told over the years by that evil snake and replaced them with HIS truth. But you see, I had to read his truth in order to see all this. I could not rely on pastors each Sunday, Joyce Meyer books, or any others to give me this truth. He wanted me to sit with him and need him. He told me in his word that I do not have to be perfect and that is how it all changed. The bible shows us many verses that deal with the thought of this “perfectionism” if you struggle with that (1 John 1:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Romans 8:1-39, and James 3:2).

The more I spent with my Father, the more he showed me that I was his material. He showed me that I do matter and that I do have purpose (Jeremiah 29:11). I believe what Jesus has been doing all along was/is molding me. He wants to mold each and every one of us but the problem is we show him we do not need him so he sits back letting us do what we want. 

To be his is to believe he died on the cross for us and rose again 3 days later. To be his, we realize we are nothing in our own strength and need him to come into our lives. To be his, we take our eyes off of ourselves and keep focused on him. We are no longer live in bondage, we let him change us. To be his, is to read his word and apply it to our lives. To be his, we love, sacrifice, endure and find true joy in serving him and others. To be his, is to develop a relationship with him. I could go on and on, I hope you see my point. 

Sisters, we ARE God material and I encourage you to stop believing lies people are whispering in your ear and most importantly stop listening to any foolishness the devil is saying. All that is of God will produce good, never evil. God is not of evil. He is pure and righteous. Open up your heart and his word and start to figure out for yourself who God is and I promise you your life will change.You are a child of God, it is now the time to act like it. 

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

God, we hide things occasionally from you that we need to admit. Forgive us. Have mercy O’ gracious Father. Give us the courage to speak up, surrender and the strength to face the disappointment and move on with you. Replace all those lies we have believed with your truth. Jesus, may we yearn for your word each day. May we desire to sit with you and learn to love the things you love and hate the things you hate. You are molding us. You love us and we stand in hope and faith. Thank you for your grace and mighty arm. In Jesus’ name. Amen 

~ God......Your Provider ~

Yesterday I was laid off of my job. They were gracious enough to let me work a couple weeks from home part-time so I am grateful for their flexibility. I will tell you that I felt relief yet excitement at the same time. The old Monique would have just panicked and cried and had a huge pity party thinking on all the negatives. I do need to work do not get me wrong. We have bills to pay so I do not have the luxury just yet to stay home and not work BUT sisters, I do know that God is up to something and I am too thrilled.

I am excited because I get to bear witness as to what God will do in my life within these next few months. Do I know what he will do? Absolutely not. But I do know he will take me on a journey and I just know it will be good. Sure I probably will have some trials but I will tell you that I am not focused on that. I do not even want to know what his plans are. My prayers are that I am obedient to his plans and sensitive to his spirit when he calls me to act. I do not want to live this life for me and keep having to wonder about our bank account. I trust that the Lord will somehow provide for us in that area, he always has. A job loss is not the most unfortunate thing IF you switch your perspective. Any loss for that matter is not bad, IF you focus on what God’s promises are for your life.

·         God promises that I will prosper – Jeremiah 29:11

·         He promises me rest – Matthew 11: 28-29

·         He gives me power when I am weak – Isaiah 40: 29-31

·         He promises to supply ALL my needs – Philippians 4: 19

·         He will give me peace if I listen to him – Proverbs 1: 33

The list really can go on and on. Fact of the matter is God will provide. He is constant, faithful and loving. So in this situation I choose to see it as a blessing and not a hinderance.

IF you are going through a challenging time right now, I encourage you to look to your Father and focus on what he promises, not what this world will. This world will chew you up and spit you out alive BUT he promises life….

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Jesus, you are for me, Father. You said in your word that you will not abandon me. You said that I am your child and that you will supply all my needs. I choose to focus on ALL that you are and not ALL that I do not have. You are my provider, my stronghold and anchor. I am nothing without you. I love you Lord and I cannot wait to see what you have planned. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

~ Take up YOUR Cross ~

Jesus said in Mark 8:34-38 that we as his believers must take up our cross if we want to be his followers. So this means that we must forget about ourselves and get out of our comfort zone. We die to the way that we use to live and put on new perspectives that is of the Lord and daily fight the good fight of faith. What always felt so good in the flesh will not no more, now is the time to suffer. Jesus talks about if we want to save our lives that we must destroy our life it and give up the very life we live for “the good news” (Mark 8:35). I don’t know about you but all this is kind of scary right? All the talk about death, sacrifice and forgetting me? As a new believer, this had me thinking that following Jesus was just too much. Sounded like I had to live a life of so much discomfort and that seems crazy right? May I explain some things?

If you have read any of my previous posts I talk a lot about being sooooo rebellious as a new believer. I had the whole gospel wrong. If someone was outside looking in they would have thought the gospel was about making Monique feel good. I was all about me. I wanted to become a Christian so that I can see what God can do for me and the crazy life I created for myself. I will be completely 100 percent honest. I wanted a new me, new marriage, new peace, a new life all together but I did not know that I needed to work with the Lord to change me. I thought being a Christian was this sense of entitlement. Like you know when you are a child of a King, you just automatically are born into a kingdom. You get the robe, new fancy gold, and an area you reign over? Well, I thought in my warp way of thinking: “I am now a child of God” where are my benefits?” I had no idea following Christ came with a great deal of suffering and sacrifice and when times got hard I bailed. I did not like how I was feeling in trials and I just thought it was too hard to “take up a cross”.

I thought what does that even mean anyway? Take up a cross? Like how can I even do that? Duh Monique, it’s metaphorically speaking. The cross represented the ultimate sacrifice Jesus was nailed to. The cross represented love. True love….Jesus died on a cross for me. For my sinful life so that I can have a new life. When I focus on the cross and all that it exhibits I can follow Jesus knowing that I am honoring him and all that he did for me. I am to nail my past to that cross and stop looking at the things I nailed to it and endure daily, fighting for what is true in Christ. When I start to “feel” a certain way I give that “feeling” to the Lord and do what the Holy Spirit tells me which 9 times out of 10 will make me feel uncomfortable. But when I switch my perspective to the cross. In that moment, I remember the ultimate sacrifice and know that my little feelings are nothing compared to what Jesus endured. So I pick up my "metaphorically speaking" cross and I carry it with pride honoring my RISEN Savior. I die to me and step by step (daily, every second) I carry that cross knowing that my Father is well pleased in my service to Him. He smiles when I die to me and put him first. 

Sisters, I had to switch my thinking about what the cross meant. How did I do that? Every day in the word sitting at the feet of Christ asking him to fill me with wisdom and his presence. Praying that he gives me his perspective and not mine. Taking up our cross each and every day is hard and yes we will suffer but at the end of that suffering is a beautiful exchange and a eternal reward that this earthly life cannot give us. Sisters, this earth is not our permanent destination, heaven awaits us.  When we follow Jesus we enter HIS kingdom and we are safe but we have to constantly follow Jesus. We cannot follow Jesus when it is convenient for us only. We are no longer this world’s (meaning we don’t just do what we want living in sin) we belong to Christ so we should change. We are his children BUT we need to act like it to. We cannot live messy just because grace exist (that’s another blog post). J

I see taking up my cross daily as a privilege and when I do take up my cross my Father meets me right where I am. He gives me all I need to with stand its weight. We should never be ashamed to carry such a high honor. Jesus says in Mark 8:38 “don’t be ashamed of me and my message among these unfaithful and sinful people! If you are, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with Holy angels”. I don’t know about you but I find it exciting to live a life following Jesus and carrying my cross daily. I do not want Jesus to be ashamed of me.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter

Lord, Father God…..I am nothing without you. You came into my life and made me new. You saved me by dying on the cross for me even when you did not have to. You made it possible that I am in right standing with my Father. When I sit with you each day Lord, please open up my heart and mind to your word so that I can be convicted. I want to follow you at all costs and I will take up my cross daily knowing that I am doing so in your name. I cannot do this alone and I need you every second of the day. May I never lose my passion for you. Thank you Jesus, for my salvation. I Love you!! Amen. 

~ A Heart for Jesus ~

I remember when I started to desire more of the Lord whole heartedly and started to care more and more about what Jesus loved vs. me. I remember being so very excited. I was so refreshed BUT when adversity hit I fell flat on my face. I was so defeated, negative and angry. I thought life would change immediately because I was a “Christian” who was saved. I did not know that my new decision would slowly transform me. I thought this was instant. I had too many expectations of the Lord in the beginning of my walk with Him. I was demanding. Like, “Lord, what you are going to do for me today?” and when he did nothing (so I thought) I was pissed. I went back to my old thinking and would drink heavily. It truly was a vicious cycle. 

I was under attack a lot and I did not understand why and I thought it was God teaching me a lesson for being bad all those years. It was not until I understood my enemy when lights went off. I finally understood that I have a true enemy who hated me with so much passion. I was falling victim to his attacks and did not realize the power I had. I believed each lie he told me.

When my prayer life changed and when I starting truly studying God’s character is when life started changing. I started to invite the Holy Spirit to come fill me and show me how to live a new life in Christ. When I opened up the word of God I prayed first. I asked God to make his word come alive in my heart. I wanted a renewed mind, a new mouth and I wanted to be someone who reacted to adversity differently so bad. I wanted help but did not want to put the work in. It was easier to cry and complain and feel sorry for myself at times.

I asked God to help me have his heart and eyes. I asked God to help me hate the sin I used to love. I asked God to change me fully. I prayed this over and over and over until I woke up declaring God’s promises. But I also went through trial because I was shedding new skin and God needed me to stretch my faith so it was this struggle for me. I started to renew my mind and did not know that was happening. Suddenly I became confident. God’s word daily started to make sense. I read in many translations and was engulfed hours and hours alone just me and him. I started being really intentional about my time with Jesus. I made him a priority before the day started. I knew if I did not the enemy would come try and play uninvited. 

The enemy really is not that intelligent, my sisters. He tries to steal the very seeds God plants in us but he really is not all that smart because he forgets that we were purchased with a heavy price tag. He forgets that Jesus, our RISEN Savior already defeated him. He tries to confuse us with his games. You have to realize and be confident in the fact that you are not his property and your life is NOT any of his business. You belong to Jesus as a believer! You will fall BUT God will pick you right back up and set you on HIS path again. You have got to trust that no matter what. 

Sisters, when you understand that your steps are ordered life becomes so exciting. You wake up with a new hunger each day. Each day becomes a gift you slowly unwrap and you start to see life with a different set of eyes. THAT my friends!?!?!?! Is what you call a beautiful l exchange…..

What use to be hard is not anymore because of Jesus. The life you had before does not matter because of Jesus. You no longer live in shame and condemnation. You are new because of JESUS.  Those burdens are lifted. You are free and you start on a lifelong journey with your Father because of Jesus. Will you make Jesus the center of your life? 

I encourage you today. If you are been wrestling with something and need clarity. Pull back from it all. Leave all distractions and sit with your Father for days in fast and prayer. Your thoughts will be cleared and you will start to be focused and there is where you will hear from your gracious King. He is close to those that abide in Him.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Lord, you are my King. You love me and you see me for who I am. You are my Creator, my way maker, the anchor for my soul, and my steady hand. You are my rock and fortress. You’re my protector and guide. I worship you. Today, I ask for nothing. I just need to know how can I serve you Jesus? Who can I bless today? I press into you Jesus with all my being. Amen

~ 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