September's Instagram 30 Days of Christian Journaling/Picture Prompts #arisenyou

I love to write. Writing purges your soul is what I believe. I have created: September's Instagram 30 days of Christian journaling/picture prompts for anyone who wants to join me. This is a fun way to help you with your walk with the Lord and challenge you to look at many aspects of your life while writing. Share these questions or prompts with everyone you know. Hashtag your pictures on Instagram using #arisenyou. Have fun and grow ladies…..

1.)What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

2.)How can you grow with your walk with the Lord? Name 1 specific way.

3.)What is up with my critical heart lately? Write down your circumstance. What verse can help me with it

4.)My love walk? What is hard about loving others? How did Jesus love?

5.)Write a prayer to your kids or future ones

6.)What is your acronym for GROW?

7.)Draw, doodle or write out your perspective of Grace

8.)Describe the day you accepted Jesus into your heart. How did it happen?

9.)What do the Fruits of the Spirit mean to you? Explain

10.)A prayer of thanks

11.)What devotion are you currently doing? Is it helping you? Share a picture with your journal and favorite morning drink

12.)What is your favorite worship song? Write it down and mediate on it today

13.)Today is clean out your heart day. What has you upset or bitter? Can you try forgiving? Write about the situation

14.)Write out a prayer for your husband, Father or son

15.)Write out the Lord’s prayer and use your favorite shade of pink

16.)Empty your heart before Christ. Write a letter to Him

17.)Define Faith using your own words

18.)Your favorite Christian quote and why

19.)What is emotional wellness in Christ?

20.)Share a picture of Jesus & Coffee

21.)What did your pastor speak on? How can you apply it to your life?

22.)SOAP a verse of Proverbs.

23.)What Christ centered book are you reading? Write down a profound passage from it

24.)FAST DAY: What can you fast for 2 hours? Why did you choose this?

25.)Goals for October: Top 3

26.)Write a letter to a friend in need and share a special verse she can mediate on. Mail it to her

27.)What does the Bible say about cleaning house? Write down the verses

28.)Pray over anxiety today. What verse helps bring comfort?

29.)How can you practice patience today? Skip you and serve someone. Write who you choose to practice patience on?

30.)SOAP John 16:13

Together let's grow and write for Christ...... :)

  

Amazing Love

In reading the book of Hosea with my www.shereadstruth.com community, I re-watched the movie Amazing Love on Netflix. It is about the book of Hosea. I watched it before but as always when you watch something again you get more out of it. The story of Hosea is so beautiful. It showcases a picture of God’s amazing love for us through the unfaithfulness of Gomer and Israel. God chose Hosea to love his unfaithful wife and preach the gospel to a rebellious nation. I wondered could I even muster up that much love for people who treated me so badly?

Through watching this movie I understood something huge, Hosea was feeling God’s pain. The people of Israel turned their hearts away from the Lord, just as Gomer did to Hosea. But Hosea was relentless. He loved Gomer and God’s people through it all, he would not stop showing others the Lord. I sat there and cried and cried because I was reminded that in my fifth God picks me up and lets me dwell in his strong arms when I am so unfaithful to him.  

God’s loves me and you because His love is not dependent on us. I could not do any good deed to win the heart of the Lord. He loves me no matter what I do and that is that. How great and amazing is this? Will we honor the Lord by being faithful in love to his people? Yep, that means ALL His people: the mean and unfaithful spouse, the lying friend, the parents who left us, the people who talk bad about you, or the kids that reject us? 

Sisters, we are all a work in progress and will never just “arrive”. But with this amazing reminder in our hearts and by faith through Jesus Christ we can be a Hosea to someone here on earth. We can show God’s love to others so that they know He loves them no matter what they do. Today, I encourage you to love so deeply without expecting nothing in return. Be a Hosea......

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter: 

O’ most gracious Father, you love me through it all. I worship your Holy name and I thank you for saving a wrench like me. Jesus, will you please live your life through me daily? I need you and cannot do this alone. May I love without expectation? Amen

~ By Faith...............

Three years ago I faced one of the most trying times ever. I had to make a life changing decision within my marriage and I was afraid. Would I put myself aside and let the Lord work in me? I struggled. To be frank, I did not want to do this as I knew that much would be revealed about myself. I was very selfish ladies. Life was all about me. I did not want to put aside all that was comfortable for me and step into the unknown. I was very scared. But I stepped out in faith and I told the Lord that I would obey. I ask him to change me, not my husband or the marriage, just to change me. Oh, how he answered the cry of His broken daughter. I did not know how the Lord was going to fix my marriage let alone me BUT I knew he was crazy faithful and that I could trust in Him.

What is faith ladies? Well, according to the word of God in Hebrews 11:1: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. So in other words, we go wherever and do whatever without knowing the outcome. We put our trust in the Lord and can rest because we know that the Lord has our lives in the palm of his hands. Faith is not doubt nor anxiety in the waiting. You trust and believe every minute of the day with the Lord giving you strength and when you are weak you go to the Lord with it. 

If I was going to step out and trust the Lord in my marriage or anything in my life I needed to have faith, faith in the impossible. When I made a decision to step out in faith, the Lord provided supernatural strength that I could not obtain on my own. In my quiet time today, I was reading Hebrews chapter 11 & 12 and I was wrecked because the word showed me the many faith filled men and women who obeyed God and did not waver. I was reminded again that I need to have FAITH and believe. I was not to look at my circumstances I am to focus on the cross. 

By faith, Abraham obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going, Abraham went. God tested him through the sacrifice of Isaac and provided. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell. By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice and he was commended a righteous man. By faith, Sarah trusted that God would give her the son she always hoped for. Wow. Where is your faith Monique?

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith, it is impossible to please God because any one who comes to him must believe. We must believe sisters! We must believe that even when the circumstance looks real bad that the Lord will do the impossible and work all things out for our good.

Today, is my marriage perfect? Am I perfect? Do we argue? Do I fail? Do we fail together? I am human and so is my husband and we are not perfect and we will mess up…But with test and trial we grow stronger because we believe the Lord is molding and shaping us. We will get to exactly where the Lord needs us to be together. My marriage is a journey. We are both a work in progress and the Lord will guide us. My faith is everything. I lived to long without Christ to not live every day for Him. God did not promise that we would not go through trial but He did promise that he would do the impossible if we would trust Him. I trust Him. Will you? 

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Father, you perfect my faith. You are my hope. I worship you right now. I praise your glorious name. Today, I give my all to you, I lay it all at your feet. I believe that you are working on my behalf and I am yours forever Jesus. I fix my eyes on you Lord. I will not lose heart nor grow weary. You are my stronghold. Nothing else matters nothing in this world will do. You are my center. Amen

Is Jesus Your Center? How Do You Respond To Life Challenges?

Much has happened friends. I have been busy with much: packing, moving, getting ready for school, family and marriage commitments, and homework has been just a tad bit demanding. Now, that I have vented may I share with you some things?   

One day as I was sitting with my Father just having a grand old time, I heard Him ask me a question in the middle of my planning session. He asked if I would worship Him in both joy and suffering. I cried out instantly: “Yes, Father. I will Lord! I will worship you through whatever comes my way”. In my typical Monique fashion, I immediately responded to Him and did not think. Was that not what I was supposed to do?  Ladies, God asks me something, an important question? Was I not supposed to be obedient immediately? Well, my sisters I should have been honest with my Savior saying “In my strength no, but with you, I can, yes”. It is not like He doesn’t know my every thought. It is not like He doesn't know that when trial comes that I can be a spoiled brat. It is not like He doesn't know that I would cry, complain and pout first when adversity strikes. I continued my praise and studying with him that day and went about my business. I did not know nor understand why He asked me what He did but I knew it was for a reason and deep down I was scared. I knew something was coming.

Shortly after this conversation, what happens? Yep, you guessed it: CHAOS……all hell broke loose, my friends. I got hit with much: in my marriage, with my older son, school, my thoughts were weak, I was super emotional and irritated all while trying to move. I mean you name it, it all just kept coming. I did what I knew to do. I prayed and prayed. I listened to every sermon I could get my hands on. I went to quiet places and sat, read, worshipped and I just could not hear my Father. He was silent, so I thought. Now, in the past (after getting saved) when trial came I would stop reading my Bible, would not go to church, and stop praising my Father. To be honest, I would get mad at Him. I would say something like: “really Father, why are you doing this to me”. I would act like a little brat like how DARE God inconvenience me. HA, what a hot mess. Thank God he has changed me a little. :/

When all this was happening to me I told myself that this time I would keep pressing. I had passion miraculously, even when I thought my Father was silent. Even though life was real bad for me, I vowed to sit at His feet  and thank Him for His love and all the blessings he is doing for me and the family. I remembered the conversation I just had with the Lord and it was my motivation. I started speaking God’s promises over me, over my marriage, over my kids and over the situations. In the midst of all the struggle, He was there. He was in me. He was the reason I was able to keep going. Ladies, he never went anywhere. I was the one that moved, not Him. My thinking changed for a little there. I had to purposely switch it to faith filled responses. Will you worship me Monique? Will all this move you? I lifted my hands with tears in my eyes and said: “Yes, I will worship you, my precious Father. All this will NOT move me, I will live for you, I will stop this endless cycle of luke warm Faith”. I started worshipping, singing, shouting, and fell to my knees. I refused to let the enemy think he got me. I wanted to show him who I served.

When my husband said, “I am leaving”, when my oldest son said “I have better people in my life than you”, and when my sister started accusing me of wrong doing, I stood in faith. I stood in faith because I knew that my Father would turn this all around for my good. Has he worked out all the kinks? Nope, not yet. Will he ever? I don’t know, but what I do know is that He loves me and nothing will ever change that. Why? Because He says so. You see, I did not want to be that unstable Christian. The one who lets her feelings rule her. The one who runs when trials come and complains when things were not perfect. I wanted to learn how to have faith in my sufferings. I wanted more of Jesus and less of me. I prayed it all time so it was time to put my faith where my mouth was. 

Just because every trial known to man comes our way sisters, doesn't mean that Jesus is not with us. It may “feel” like He is gone BUT sisters He is right there with you. He did not leave me. He was not silent. That was what I “felt”. Truth is I did not want to face the harsh reality of what the Lord was trying to teach me. He wanted me to recognize that my immediate reaction to trial must be faith. I must answer trial with “I trust you Lord”. I need to stand with my head held high with Jesus as my shield not buckle. 

I am so thankful for a Father that teaches and loves me. A Father who has my best interest at heart. Ladies, whatever is going on in your life that is making you “feel” hopeless right now, remember God is with you. God loves you and ALL of it will work out for your good. Wait a little longer. Give it to Him and step aside. Cling to His promises. Worship Him through it all. Praise His wonderful name. Count your blessings. He must be the center of your life. Answer the trial with faith.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Father, I give all my anxiety and fear to you. I surrender my hold on them and release them into your hands. I life my eyes to you, for you are my help in time of trouble. I will praise you in the midst of all that happens in my life. I do not need to be anxious or afraid of anything because I find hope in you. Your love comforts me. Your power gives me all the strength I need. I will remain faith filled. Thank you for giving me the courage to go forward and fulfill the destiny you have for me. In Jesus’ precious name.

Amen

~ Be Consistent ~

How do you know you are growing? How do you know what you are learning that you are applying to your life and most importantly your walk with the Lord?

Recently, life took a huge blow and it left me feeling confused, sadden and with a broken heart. But there was purpose in that blow. May I share?

Someone near and dear to my heart told me that I was not practicing what I preach with them. That I was not practicing love, patience, kindness, goodness or self-control. Immediately, I was on the defense because I thought I was doing a wonderful job. In fact, I decided to point out specific times where I felt growth was ever so present and compared the times where significant growth was not present. But what was I trying to prove? Was I even listening to their concerns? Did I let this person talk? Did I take the information they gave me and question it or aligned it up to what God’s says? No, I just blurted out all I wanted to and said my peace leaving that person hurt and sad.

Was this person right? Did this person see through me? Was I not where I thought I was? I was so ashamed and sadden. After about 5 hours of feeling sorry for myself. I went to the Lord. Why did I take so long? Well, quite frankly I knew this person was right and I knew the Lord would confirm it so I was scared. I wanted to sit and have a party for myself for just a little.  :/

The Lord pointed me to Galatians chapter 5. As I was reading I could not swallow. I had a dry mouth and my palms were sweaty. I knew that I was in fact not showing the Fruits of the Spirit with this person that I was doing the opposite. Some days I was nice, kind, patient and loving and some days I was rude, mean, and impatient and did not listen. It just depended on what kind of day I was having, now that I look back in retrospect. How hypocritical was that Monique?? I tell you this because your friends and family are the first people that will see the fruits you bear when you follow the Lord and vice versa. They are also great people to ask and get some feedback from if you want to gauge your growth. 

See ladies, God doesn't just stop giving us his grace, mercy or love one day and then the next day he stops because he is having a bad day. No, the Lord constantly gives His grace, love and mercy to all His children. Yes the Lord is not of flesh, He is the Lord of Lords and is not fickle with His emotions. I am of him. I was made in his image and I am his child. I should look a little more each day like my Savior, not worse off. That is how you know you are growing. So the results were in and I was not growing in this area with this person like I thought I was. I refused to stay sad. I took this pain to my Heavenly Father and left it there and apologized to this person. 

Maturing in Christ takes time. But when you are truly living for the Lord you die to yourself daily and don’t take others down with you in that process.You love people ALL people and that love requires self sacrifice. You enrich their lives. Build them up. Not choose different days to do that. We all fall short of the glory of God every second but for me personally, I know God wants more out of me. He wants me to soar and I cannot soar when I choose to make the decisions that are not of him on different days of the week. I need to be consistent. 

If you mess up, which you will. Be humble about it. Talk to that person. Let them know you are sorry. Don’t wait until they come to you. Treat others how you want to be treated.

Together we will grow and together we will be about our Father’s business.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter

Lord, forgive me for my selfish ways. I am truly sorry for how I treated your son/daughter. Father, I desire to grow in you and I do not want my ways to increase so that you decrease. I want more of you Jesus. I am a lover of your presence. Please continue to teach me and convict me when I am not treating others right. With each step I take I know you are there by my side. May I live this life honoring you with my words and decisions each minute of the day, not when I pick and choose to. Thank you for your love, mercy and grace. Amen.

~ Stretch Your Faith ~

All hell is breaking loose. You have no money, no job, your spouse cheated and you are just at it, people are talking bad about you, you lost your job, your car broke down, bill are stacked – in fact collectors are calling and your lights are about to shut off as we speak and to top it off you just found out a family member is sick. You just have no hope. What happens now? What do you do? Do you keep speaking about all that is wrong? Do you just give up?

May I suggest some things? How about you sit in the dark with no lights and find a candle, light it so you can read your dusty Bible? How about you ignore all the people speaking bad about you? Go on and work out payment plans for your bills and trust money will come? Have you applied with every temp agency known to man or worked on your resume? What about praying a “healing prayer” over your family member?

Ladies, God is a purposeful Father. (Jeremiah 29:11) The struggle you are in right this very minute is because HE wants it that way. How can He allow all this Monique? Does He not love me? Of course He does, don’t be ridiculous now (Jeremiah 31:3). He is trying to show you some things. He wants you to stretch your faith (Isaiah 54:2). He wants you to stop trusting in every earthly thing or person and truly rely on Him (Proverbs 3:5). You can let go of your grips and allow Him to work you know? God gave you power and authority remember? Your "grips" on your adversity is when you continue to worrying, keep talking about the issues, and when you get frustrated in it all. You won’t let God work because you keep picking scabs or speaking negatively. My sisters, you have given God nothing to work with. 

I get it. You need much right now. Sis, you cannot keep underestimating our Savior. Life will be hard. You will struggle. No one ever said that you would not but in that struggle where is your faith? Have you stop in all the madness and talked about all that the Lord WILL do? Have you fasted, volunteered somewhere, prayed, read, studied, walked, sang, or praised? 

What makes you think that all the adversity you face is not for a purpose? Do you not serve a powerful purposeful Father? He does NOTHING in vain. It is all so that you can know how big He is. He wants you to watch Him work. Will you trust Him with it all today? Will you stop dwelling on your troubles and give Him praise for ALL that He is already doing/done? Just because you can't see it doesn't mean He has not done it. You can't see it because you don't believe fully.

I say all this in love. I have been through it, trust me. I have struggled just as you have. Until I made the decision to give it ALL, I mean all to the Lord, nothing in my life changed. In fact, it all got worse. There were many times I had no job, no money, bills were due, no car to get me anywhere, ALL my family turned their back on me and I had a crying baby at my hip at 19. I believe God let me struggle because I refused to let Him be “my everything” in life.

I encourage you to look up every verse you can on God’s character today and stop right now speaking to your mountains and let the God of Grace handle it all. Easier said than done you say. Well, thinking about all your problems gets you nowhere why not try something different?  Why not enjoy today and just rest. Let God take care of it all. Why do you need to do something right now? It all starts in your mind. Renew those thoughts in Him ladies.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter

Heavenly Father, all hell is breaking loose. So much is happening that I cannot focus. What I will do right now is start mediating on what your word says. You told me that you will NEVER forsake nor leave me so I will stand on that promise today. I do not know how you will work it all out for my good BUT you say you will so I will trust in that. I surrender. I give it ALL to you. Everything. I don’t want it no more. You take it Father. You will hear my cries. You will give me the desires of my heart when I start to believe you will. Forgive me for my complaining and remaining in the same place. Teach me how to stretch my faith. Here is my Bible. I am everything you say I am. I can do everything you say I can do. I will rest in you right now in the name of Jesus’. Amen

~ He Turned It ~

I was pregnant at 13 and had my first son at 14. I married his father at 18 and we were separated at 21.  Looking back I never thought I would be following Christ so fervently today. I thought I would never find true joy or peace. What an awesome God we serve.  

God used everything I went through for HIS glory. Never did I think I would graduate high school early and be almost done with my Masters in counseling. Never did I think I would remarry after divorcing my ex-husband. Never did I think I could love or forgive again. Never did I think I could live a life free of bondage and ugly thinking. I sure never use to think I could live a happy peaceful life after so much pain I endured. When I was young, I believed many lies the enemy whispered in my head, lies that were meant to harm me. I tell you sisters, there is something so powerful when you deliberately choose to renew your mind in Christ. I would be so lost if I did not have my Savior today.

I remember pleading with God that day I found out I was pregnant. I was so scared that I would not be a good mother. I went to church with my parents and was saved at 14. Did my life produce much fruit immediately after I made that decision? Nope, not at all. I did not let it. I blocked my own blessings with the way I lived and how I thought. No one explained that I would have to choose to renew my mind after being saved. That I had some work to do and that the Lord would not just instantly make me act like a new Monique. When I did confess with my mouth that I believed in Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior that did change my life that day (little did I know). But I did not let the Lord into my heart allowing for a relationship with him. Without a relationship how can Christ work? Life did not start to make sense for me and with my walk with the Lord until about 5 years ago, I mean really make sense. I was baptized in water in 2009 and 2010 life slowly started to change only because I started working with the Lord to renew the way I thought. I was tired of going around the same mountains. My life changed when I gave up doing things my way and purposely sought God every day.

How did the Lord take a bruised young teen mom and start molding her into His servant? By His gracious love and mercy. By showing her who she was in Christ. I could not see who I was in Christ until I picked up His word and met him there every day. Today, am I the perfect wife, mom and friend? Uh, no. There is only one spotless lamb. But I will tell you that I am much better than I use to be and I know that the Lord is not through with me yet. He is molding and shaping me to become all He needs me to be for His glory. I am too excited……

Great news is that he has a plan for you too. He can take all that was meant to destroy you and change all that mourning into dancing. Will you trust Him? Will you let Him help you renew your mind? Will you allow Jesus into your heart and let Him be the center of your life totally? Ladies, God desires relationship with you. He wants to walk along side you and just be with you. All he wants is good for you. Jeremiah 29:11 says so: “For I know the plans I have for you. “declares the Lord. “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. How can you not find peace in that?

I encourage you today to let go and let God. Let God turn your pain into a beautiful dance. I pray that you may you use your personal pain as a testimony for His glory one day. Because if he can turn it for me, he certainly can do it for you.

Let’s go sisters! Together we shall grow……

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Father, I thank you for loving me back to life. I thank you that you are the author and finisher of my life and that I can completely trust in you. You are my solid rock. You are the only one that can change me from the inside out. I life my hands to you and worship all that you are. Please come into my heart and change me and help me cut myself some slack because you will do a good work in me when I believe you will. Help me to renew my mind in you and not of this world. Help me to be still and focus on nothing and no one but you. I believe that you can turn my life around. I will choose you. Amen

It is TIME.................

How you feeling today? Are you on edge? Are you upset it is Monday and you have to go back to work or are you just “not feeling it” today. Well sisters, today is the day for change. Today is the day that you change your attitude, adjust your thinking, and start to take the spotlight off yourself. Until you make the decision to get your thinking back on track for the Lord life will seem just plain irritating. You will start to see yourself complain more, nag more, yell more and just focus on negative more. It is Satan’s plan for you to live outside of God’s will and you cannot go down like that. You are a daughter of the King.

I was just telling my husband the other day how I crave peace now and in fact purposely search for it. I started thinking about the times I did not and how I made life for myself and probably him real irritating. I use to pop out of bed irritated because I had to wake up and get started with life. I just wanted to lie there and do nothing all day. So I carried that mindset with me to the shower, to the kitchen, to the car, to work and relationships were affected. I lived on the edge sisters. I had no peace. I needed change.

You see God needs to use you and me and he cannot use us when we are always on edge. When we are on edge we spiral downward real fast to a place that is not pretty. When we get to that place we try and invite others and when they don’t want to come we get mad. We are something else huh? It is time for change. Time for a different way to live, it is time to clean our hearts and minds before our Father. Time to let go and ask God for help.

Sisters, you have all the resources and thee most powerful God to help make change happen right now in your life. You have prayer, all the truth and encouragement you can find in scripture and not to mention the ultimate guide, the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 says: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and SELF-CONTROL. You can control yourselves. You don’t have to let your feelings control you. You can renew your mind. Go grab your Bible and purposely pursue God’s peace. I want to remind you that you are a child of the most high God and he has a plan for you. He wants you to flourish and live with purpose and peace.

Ask God to tender your heart right now. Lift your hands and ask God to forgive your complaining spirit and to please help you to renew your mind.It is time to grow and you cannot grow with that same ol attitude you had yesterday. Today is a new day filled with new grace for you to enrich the lives of others. You were made to shine bright for God’s kingdom. 

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

God, I do not want my frustration to become who I am because I know I am more than that. I am ready to surrender my heart, my ways and my thinking over to you. You are the only one that can make true change come about in my life. I long to have the abundance of the fruit of the Spirit but I cannot do this alone please Help me Father, I need you. Thank you for hearing my prayers and thank you for your word as it soothes my soul. I love you. Amen

~ God Is On Your Side ~

Life has been crazy for the Smith’s. We have been busy trying to close out shop in one city only to move to another and that can be a bit of a headache. But we are excited to see what God has in store for us in this season of our life. Things were not always this way for me though.  

We have so many plans sometimes don’t we? And when they do not pan out the way we want we can tend to be a little sour. A couple years ago my family moved out of a big city to a smaller city as I mentioned in previous posts. I was sour point blank. I was upset that God moved us out from our comfort zone. I did not trust His plans right off the bat. I doubted and questioned what he was doing.

Now, I am so grateful He did what He did. I can see His hand in all that He was doing. He brought us to a place where we knew nobody only to strengthen me, my marriage and my walk with Him. Today, life is different for me and I would not change the way it all went down for nothing.

Sisters, God’s plans are perfect. We may not see light when change is happening in our life and when we are faced with the unknown but He truly works things all together for our good even in discomfort. I know this first hand.

Today, I encourage you to mediate on His truth. I was doing my devotional this morning and reading with the lovely community of www.shereadstruth.com ladies and read Matthew 5:2-12, The Beatitude’s. The one that really stood out for me was verse 8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

In the midst of change or chaos in your life it is my prayer for you that you see God. That your heart is pure before Him and you will trust His plans for you and not what you see for yourself.

Be blessed my sisters God is on your side!

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you that in the midst of uncertainty you always encourage my heart. Father, I ask for nothing today. I choose to sit and worship you because you are my stronghold and I want to honor your name. I love you Lord. Amen

~ My Emotional Needs As A Wife ~

I fall short of the glory of God daily as I am not spotless, especially as a wife but I believe in those falls God is trying to get my attention. Something happened recently that made me shift my focus and start thinking about who I let meet my emotional needs in my marriage. I starting thinking about how often do I let my Heavenly Father meet my emotional needs within my marriage.

The Lord has worked on me in this area hard lately and I would imagine that He will continue too. When I get mad at my husband I often dwell and pout if my husband is not being what I call "there for me".There are many times that I look to my husband to be my rock, shield and protector when I should be looking for God to be my sole source. When my husband disappoints me (which he will) or of course shows he is human just like me and I think he is responsible for “making me mad” where or who do I run to for emotional comfort?

Do I fight and argue my way until my husband soothes me or do I run to my Heavenly Father and let Him fill me? Unfortunately, I have given my husband the burden of fulfilling my every need at times and I have forgotten that God wants to fill me. Yes, there is nothing wrong with my husband being my partner, my best friend and lover BUT when I let him be my SOLE source in situations, there is a problem. I raise my hand in guilt because this can very well be the case in many scenarios lately. God wants my attention when my husband and I disagree. He wants to guide me and help me, He wants me to seek Him before anything. Bottom line Ladies God is thee only source that will fill our every emotional need that we have and HE is very jealous when we allow someone else to be what HE is supposed to be in our lives. God will get our attention somehow.

I will say that yes my husband does need to be mindful of my needs and understand me and vice versa so our marriage can flourish. BUT my husband will not know the very workings of me like my Heavenly Father does as he was not designed too. It is not his responsibility to get it right all the time and be MY everything so why am I pissed at him when he fails? God has designed me so that only He can fulfill all my emotional needs and I need to learn to go to Him and not my husband for everything. Because it is not fair that I place all that burden on my honey baby. I was reminded of this the other day and I make it my solemn prayer that I lower my expectations with my spouse and give him room to breathe because where there is freedom in my marriage our love can truly flourish.

Ladies, let’s ask the Lord to become our sole source and help us to run to Him instead of our husbands first. 

In Christ, 

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter: 

Lord, you are my provider, shield and protector and only you can fill every hole in me. I love you Father and I want to not place any one or thing above you. Please help me to run to you to meet any emotional needs I have in my marriage instead of giving my husband that sole responsibility. I have a Heavenly Husband in you and it is not my desire to neglect you. Thank you for loving me and opening up my eyes. Decrease me Father so that you can increase totally in my marriage. Amen.