Are You Beautiful?

Today, I heard a beautiful song on the radio, filled with emotion and soul. The words truly touched my heart because, sadly, there are many people who have a poor self-image and judge themselves harshly because of the closed-minded opinion of what others deem beautiful.

SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL by Alessia Cara

She just wants to be beautiful
She goes unnoticed, she knows no limits
She craves attention, she praises an image
She prays to be sculpted by the sculptor
Oh, she don’t see the light that’s shining
Deeper than the eyes can find it
Maybe we have made her blind
So she tries to cover up her pain and cut her woes away
‘Cause cover girls don’t cry after their face is made

But there’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are
And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful

She has dreams to be an envy, so she’s starving
You know, covergirls eat nothing
She says beauty is pain and there’s beauty in everything
What’s a little bit of hunger?
I could go a little while longer, she fades away
She don’t see her perfect, she don’t understand she’s worth it
Or that beauty goes deeper than the surface
So to all the girls that’s hurting
Let me be your mirror, help you see a little bit clearer
The light that shines within

————————————————————-

Like many people, I have been a victim of ridicule and bullying for most of my life. When I was younger, I felt like an outsider who desperately wanted to be beautiful and popular but, the more I tried to be something I wasn’t, the more lost I became. I didn’t realize that, in order to be seen as beautiful, I had to first love myself. The best way to see our own worth is by seeing ourselves through God’s eyes and knowing that we are all His beautiful creation.

Psalm 139:14: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

In our society, we are surrounded by advertisements, music videos, movies, and other images of beauty but, the unfortunate byproduct is that these images can also have a negative affect on people who think they have to change their appearance and, if they don’t, they will not be seen as beautiful. We can’t allow ourselves to be convinced that we are anything less than beautiful. There is truth to the saying “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” because there isn’t just one right answer. Tall, short, curvy, thin. We are who we are and we need to love ourselves. Rather than focusing on what we are lacking, we need to focus on enhancing our own beautiful traits, the core of who we are inside.

1 Peter 3:3-4: “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

We are all beautiful, unique creations in God’s eyes. Just as fashion trends change, the concept of beauty changes. We can’t live our lives trying to be what other people want us to be because, if we do, we will be chasing after something that is truly unattainable. We can’t keep up with the ever-changing opinion of external beauty. Instead, we should focus our attention on allowing our light within to shine brightly so the world can see our beauty. If only we would love ourselves according to God’s opinion of us, we wouldn’t question the beauty we posses. We would realize that we all have value; we all possess beauty because, as we live our lives for God, His image is reflected through us. Goodness, kindness, compassion, understanding, love. True beauty is shown in our actions, not our appearance.

1 Samuel 16:7: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”

God created you and you are beautiful. Accept it. Embrace it. We do not live our lives according to other’s opinions. Live your life according to God’s will and your beauty will shine bright always.

Thank you, Lord, for creating each of us as a precious, beautiful member of your Kingdom. Thank you for teaching us to live our lives with grace and beauty so You can shine through us. Thank you for showing us that we need to love ourselves. Thank you for showing us that beauty is found within. We pray that we will never question our beauty. Please remind us that our worth is not found in the opinions of others. Only Your opinion matters. Amen. – Katie Ann

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How Do I Love Like Jesus? Part 3

There are times in our lives when we feel judged and ridiculed. People may put us down and treat us poorly and, as Christians, we are expected to forgive them. Forgiveness can be hard to swallow because it is difficult to overcome and accept the many emotions we experience before we can truly forgive someone. Anger, frustration, sadness, confusion. When we are overwhelmed with all of these emotions, it is difficult to put things into perspective and realize that we have to love like Jesus and forgive. Jesus forgave us for every single sin we have committed, or will commit in the future. He took all that sin upon himself so that we could be saved. His love is unconditional and has no limits. He was willing to endure the sins of the world on our behalf to show us all that He would do anything to protect us. We, too, should afford the people we meet with love and protection. We need to be a safe place for others seeking refuge, free from judgement and ridicule.

Romans 14:10-13: “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”

It is not our responsibility to judge others for their opinions or behaviors. Just as we don’t wish to be judged by others, for this reason, we need to keep our judgement to ourselves, pray for God to give us peace, and forgive those who behave in a way that we do not agree. However, we are responsible to encourage each others to make good decisions and to live our own lives in a way that serves as a good example for others. Even Jesus experienced judgement but He was able to transcend above the questioning from the religious leaders and the persecution from the people who once followed Him. His road to the cross was filled with pain and betrayal but Jesus knew that the agony that He would endure was worth saving His children. If the Lord can forgive the maltreatment He experienced, we surely can forgive others by His example.

Ephesians 4:31-32: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

God gives us the strength to forgive. God gives us the strength not to judge others. We need to see the light in others so they can also see the light within us. Jesus has taught us how to rise above and to show love and forgiveness in the face of opposition. Jesus taught us that extending love and compassion to others has lasting effects. Love can change the world. Continue Jesus’ legacy of love by opening your heart and sharing it with others.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us strength to forgive. Thank you for showing us that loving others is more important than judgement. Thank you for forgiving us when we judge others or neglect to forgive. Thank you for teaching us how to love others without restrictions. Thank you loving us more than anyone could possibly love us and thank you for expressing that love through our salvation. We couldn’t possibly thank you enough to express our appreciation for saving us. We pray that you continue to remind us that there is no message that is more important to share with the world than that of Jesus’ love. Amen. – Katie Ann

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How Do I Love Like Jesus? Part 2

In Part One of this series, “How Do I Love Like Jesus,” I referenced how Jesus was often tested by the religious leaders because they did not trust Him. They did not like how people were following Him and listening to His teachings.They were deaf to the love He was spreading throughout the towns. People were drawn to Jesus because the words He spoke were real and honest and full of love. They needed hope, not legalism. Luke 10:25 describes another time when Jesus was questioned by the religious leaders. Jesus not only answered the question correctly but He also used the opportunity to tell a story about kindness and about living without prejudice.

 Luke 10:25-37 (MSG):

“Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. ‘Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?’ He answered, ‘What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?’ He said, ‘That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.’ ^‘Good answer!’ said Jesus. ‘Do it and you’ll live.’ Looking for a loophole, he asked, ‘And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?’ 

Jesus answered by telling a story. ‘There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’ 

‘What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?’ ^‘The one who treated him kindly,’ the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, ‘Go and do the same.’” 

Jesus wants us to show love to one another and be a true neighbor to everyone we encounter. Today’s definition of a “neighbor” is based on their proximity to us, but Jesus defined being a neighbor as something much more. His story shows us that being a neighbor isn’t about location, it isn’t defined by someone’s religion or someone’s race or the stereotypes that we may have learned about other people. Jesus’ story was important for the people to hear because they had been taught that the Samaritans were to be despised and hated. They were taught to have absolutely no contact with any Samaritans. Jesus needed to show the people that over 500 years of animosity needed to be torn away and love needed to replace it.

Jesus wants us to apply this same logic to our own lives today. We need to live our lives in a way that serves the best interests of humanity. It is unfortunate that, as we become adults, it is harder to find the compassion that we once had as children who naturally show love to others, without fear or distrust. We have been jaded by stereotypes and prejudice which have clouded our judgement and kept us from treating everyone with respect. We question goodness because we don’t see enough of it. We need to change our frame of mind by showing kindness every opportunity we have. We have to reteach ourselves to love with the heart of a child. Just as we were reborn when we accepted Jesus into our hearts, we need to also allow our minds to be reborn. We need to push away the doubt and distractions so we can naturally show others love, not because we have to but because we want to. A neighbor isn’t just the person living next door; a neighbor is defined by their behavior. Jesus wants us to treat each other like neighbors. We all have one thing in common and that is our ability to love. Share some love with your fellow man and help make this world a better place to live.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching us how to love. Please help us treat others with kindness, compassion, and, most importantly, with love. Thank you for bestowing on us the awesome responsibility of showing Your love to the people around us so they will know that our differences, whether race, religion, gender, or anything else that makes us special, do not change the fact that we are all children of God. Please help us love unconditionally and with the heart of a child. Thank you for teaching us how to be a good neighbor. Amen. – Katie Ann

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How Do I Love Like Jesus? Part 1

Our country is in turmoil, but what can we do to help? There are numerous possible answers to that question but the one thing that is seriously lacking right now is love. We need to show others that they are loved. Luckily, we have been blessed to have the Bible to show us exactly what love should look like. Jesus lived a short life but He spent His time on Earth loving other people. He is our perfect example of what love should be.

Mark 12:28-34: “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ ^‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus was a great teacher but the religious leaders felt intimidated and threatened because people were listening to His teachings and following Him. The religious leaders tried to test Jesus and His understanding of the religious laws, and Jesus was able to pass every test. The Son of God knew the correct answer to their question: loving the Lord is the greatest commandment and loving others as ourselves is the second. We are commanded to love God above all else because He is our Father and Provider. We would have nothing if it weren’t for Him. Putting God first is our way of showing God our appreciation and love. When we put God first and love Him with every fiber of our being, loving others comes naturally. When we follow the Lord, we embody the Fruit of the Spirit, the nine Christian attributes that should guide us in every decision we make.

Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

We need to allow ourselves to be consumed by the Fruit of the Spirit to encourage us to live our lives according to God’s will. They help ensure that our love for other people doesn’t get diluted by all that is negative in the world. Life is never without injustice but our relationship with God helps us to rise above and focus on what is good. Jesus’ example of love showed us two things. First, Jesus showed us that we have to love in order to share the gospel and grow His ministry. Second, He also showed us that love is necessary for all people because love feeds the soul. Love encourages, love strengthens, love heals. When people are depressed, they need love. When people are hopeless, they need love. When people are hurting, they need love. And it is our responsibility to show love to others.

1 John 4:8: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

So to answer, “What can we do to help?”…the best way to start is to love others. Not selectively. We need to love completely, regardless of gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, religion, age, or anything else that sets someone apart from others. Our country is comprised of many different backgrounds and experiences. We cannot begin to understand who we all are or what we have been through but there is something we all have in common as human beings: an innate need to be loved. We can make a difference in the lives of the people around us if we take the time to show them that we love them. Love each other for our similarities and our differences. Love like Jesus.

Thank you, Lord, for loving us. We pray that we will love each other just as You love us. Thank you for showing us that love shouldn’t be conditional. Thank you for using us to help heal our nation by showing others Your love. Thank you for teaching us how to live our lives for You so we can help others who are in need. Thank you for the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives by sharing love. Amen. – Katie Ann

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The Ballots Have Been Counted…What’s Next?

For many months now, we have been inundated with information about the elections and now we have reached the conclusion: the next President of the United States has been decided. Every 4 years we vote for a new president and every 4 years there are a difference of opinions about who would make the best president. Some people hold strong to the ideals of their party, while others vote according to the ideals they feel the best candidate possesses. Some people vote, some people don’t, but inevitably someone will stand victor as the new Commander in Chief. Sadly, the United States is currently a country divided. We have allowed ourselves to lose sight of how God wants us to react to the election results. Regardless of how we may feel about a candidate, or about each other’s political opinions, once the ballots have been counted, we have to accept the decision of our new president because God commands us to do so.

Romans 13:1: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

When a candidate wins the election whom we didn’t choose, it is difficult to stand behind them. It is difficult to respect someone when we do not agree with the choices they make or the things that they say, but God instructs us to respect our appointed leaders because their power has been afforded to them by God. Now, I understand that this election has brought forth a lot of deep feelings on both sides and, for many people, the word “respect” seems absolutely impossible to give to either candidate, but all things are possible with God. We don’t have to respect their choices but we do have to respect their position of power. It is obvious that this election has made a large impact on all of us. For this reason, it may take a while to come to terms with the election results. Whether tears of sadness or tears of joy may fall, we have to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord. Anything is possible with God. Our votes have been cast and counted; this is something we have to accept and move forward. The next 4 years will be an adjustment but we need to hold tight to hope because God is the highest power and He gets the final word. Presidents come and go but God is forever with us.

Matthew 28:18, 20: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

If this election has left you angry and brokenhearted, seek comfort from the Lord. Do not let yourself become consumed with hatred. Hatred only hurts ourselves more. Hatred does not reap the results that we hope for; it hardens our hearts and keeps us from persevering. If this election has left you happy and hopeful, be a gracious winner but remember to be understanding of others who do not share your contentment. Everyone is entitled to their own feelings and should be given time to adjust. No one likes change but I foresee big changes ahead for our country. We need to come together for the common good and show people that, even as huge of a debate as this election has been, we are still capable of moving past our differences. We need to stand up for what is right and make choices that will serve the people of this country and future generations. We can’t allow this disagreement to incapacitate us nor allow it to ignite rage against one another. The most important thing we need to remember as Christians is, when we face adversity, we need to remember to treat others the way we would like to be treated. Jesus didn’t tell us to treat others according to how we think they deserve to be treated. Jesus didn’t say to treat others well only if they have the same opinion as you. Jesus said:

Luke 6:31: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

We need to love like Jesus. Today and always.

It may not be easy but God will help us through it. Rise up and be united in love, my friends.

Thank you, Lord, for being our leader, our friend, our father. You are truly the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank you for creating us with free will so we can establish our own opinions. Thank you for helping us to move past disagreements so we can get back to loving each other, despite our differences. Lord, today we pray for the future of our nation and its citizens. We pray that your power will permeate our government so good choices will be made for the people of this country and the rest of the world. We pray for the new president that he will act and react for good and not for evil. We have faith that you will guide his choices and you will protect us. Thank you for showing us how to truly love one another so we can follow your example. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Are You Following Blindly?

When I was a kid, I played a computer game called “Lemmings”. I had never heard of a lemming and, therefore, I was surprised by the characters’ behavior. As the first lemming would reach the edge of the cliff and fail to make the jump, the other lemmings would follow closely behind and fall off the cliff also. The lemmings had no regard for consequences; they simply followed the leader blindly, which led to their untimely death. Being a Christian, however, is quite the opposite. Having a relationship with Christ is a conscious decision that we make for ourselves because we have faith, and therefore, we have been saved from death. We follow Jesus, not blindly like a lemming; we follow Him with eyes wide open and strive to make our choices according to His plan until we go home to be with the Lord. His plan is always to our benefit. God would never walk us off of a cliff because He wants only the very best for our future.

John 12:26: “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

We have faith that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life to the Father. When we invite Jesus into our hearts, we make the choice to follow Him. It is through our faith in Jesus that we have been invited into the family of God. The trinity is complete with the Holy Spirit, who works in us and through us to allow us to experience an amazing closeness to Jesus and the Father. We follow God because He has shown us love and mercy. He speaks truth and we trust Him. He teaches how to be better people by showing love and compassion to one another. Because of His example, we strive to live our lives for the betterment of the human race as individuals working toward a common good. God has shown us that our actions not only affect our own lives but the lives of others. We choose to make good choices so as not to lead our brother and sister off “a cliff”.

Titus 2:7-8: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about you.”

When we follow the Lord, we grow closer to Him. We begin to learn more about who God is and we fall deeper and deeper in love with Him. God has proven to be an amazing Father and Lord. An article in Forbes states that there are “10 Qualities That Make a Great Leader: Honesty, Ability to Delegate, Communication, Confidence, Commitment, Positive Attitude, Creativity, Intuition, Ability to Inspire, and Approachability.” God embodies all of these characteristics and more. We can safely put our faith in God and follow Him because we know Our God rules with fairness and love. He will lead us and guide us through our walk of life, encountering blessing after blessing until we reach the end of our journey on Earth, and then onto eternity to be with Him. He has prepared our way through this life and the next. He has thought ahead to the end game and protected us by making the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live forever in paradise with Him.

John 8:12: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

If we follow Him, we shall live. We aren’t lemmings who follow others to our death. We are children of God who follow Him toward LIFE.

Thank you, Lord, for leading us. Thank you for saving us from death. We are unworthy of the tremendous sacrifice You made on our behalf but we are so thankful that You did it anyway. Thank you for caring about our life on Earth, as well as our eternity after death. Thank you for preparing a place for us in Heaven with You. Thank you being a mighty leader who rules with all of the attributes of an amazing leader. Thank you for being fair and kind, and always looking out for our well-being. Thank you for being a God of love and forgiveness. Amen. – Katie Ann

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What’s the Right Choice?

The hero of the story comes to a fork in the road and has to decide which road to follow. The road on the left is straight and clear of obstructions. The road on the right is an uphill climb and covered in debris. Will the hero choose the road on the left or the road on the right?

The solution to the hero’s predicament may seem like a no-brainer: Of course the hero should follow the road on the left! Only a fool would take the road on the right! Or would they…? Life is full of tough choices and sometimes the easiest route is not always the correct answer.

Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

God doesn’t want us to choose the road based on the level of complication. Even though the easy road is less strenuous and quicker, it could be leading you around the blessing, instead of leading you to the blessing. And the difficult road, the “road less traveled,” could be more complicated because it leads to an even greater blessing. We don’t know what we will encounter but we know that He will guide us every step of the way. It is through life’s struggles that we gain greater strength of character, increased faith, and patience in the face of adversity. We have to use our wisdom and discernment to make the right choice, according to God’s plan. We have to have faith that God has prepared us for the road ahead. When we put our faith in the Lord and trust that He will protect us, the difficult road ahead seems less ominous and we are able to make the RIGHT choice, not the EASY choice.

2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

The Bible acts as our map and our guide through life’s obstacles toward making good choices. Scripture teaches us how to be righteous, god-fearing men and women by instilling in us a code of morality and integrity. However, there may come a time when a choice needs to be made and the right choice isn’t quite so clear, the proverbial “gray area” that throws us off our game. Always remember: When a difficult choice presents itself and we are unable to identify the right choice, turn to the Lord for direction. Go back to His Holy Word and you will find the answer you seek.

Philippians 4:8-9: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

When we fix our eyes on the Lord, His goodness and love leads us to the right choice. But, if you are still unclear which road to take when you encounter a fork in the road, simply ask the Lord for wisdom and He will reveal to you the right choice.

Thank you, Lord, for guiding our steps so we make the right choice. Thank you for Your Word that prepares for the road ahead. Thank you increasing our faith and understanding of You with each new experience. We always want to make the right choice but, if we ever take the wrong road, thank you for forgiving us and helping to find our way back. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Where Is God?

Have you ever experienced an especially trying time in your life when it felt like God couldn’t possibly be further away from you? Normally, these feelings are brought about when a resolution to our problem isn’t manifesting as quickly as we want or need. Our lack of patience is understandable, given the circumstances, and yet it is counterproductive to the very concept of faith. Faith requires us to fully trust God, and that includes even the most difficult of scenarios.

Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I am reminded of the famous Footprints poem: a man is questioning God as to why he only saw one set of footprints in the sand during the hardest times in his life, even though God told him that He would always walk with Him. God tells the man that, in those moments, the one set of prints belonged to the Lord, as He was carrying the man. We have to have faith that God walks with us always, in the good times and the bad. When life is too much to take and we can’t figure out how to solve an issue, we need to pray and hand over our troubles to God. We have to willingly submit to the Lord so we don’t work against the plan He has already put into motion. It is in the moments that we are struggling the most that we can fall into the Father’s arms and allow Him to help us through it.

Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

God is the Shepherd and He takes care of His sheep. Worrying, stress, frustration, sadness…God knows that we are going to experience these emotions but He wants to ease our struggle as much as possible. When we hold onto the negativity and pain, especially when we are vulnerable, they can potentially consume us, making it impossible for hope to shine through the darkness. We are blessed to have an outlet for the negative emotions that we experience: our faith. It may take some time but God removes the dark cloud hanging over our heads by allowing hope to be at the forefront of our minds. Hope has the ability to completely change our mindset so that we can look forward to when a resolution arrives.

Exodus 33:14: “And He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”

God is always with us. He will not leave us. EVER. Even if we turn away from Him and think we can figure out life on our own, God is still there. He will give you the peace you need; you simply need to ask Him for it. It is difficult to have patience when it feels like your life is crumbling around you, but do not lose hope. Have faith in God’s way. He never gives His children more than they can handle so, if it feels like you will never be able to get ahead of the negativity in your life, just know that God must think that you are incredibly strong and, with His Almighty Power, you are unstoppable. Don’t let the enemy try to tear you down and make you feel like God has stopped helping you. The enemy is a liar; God will never stop helping you.

Thank you, God, for the being the constant in our lives. Thank you for always being there for us. Thank you for instilling in us the positivity and hope that we need to make it through the hard times. We pray for greater faith. We believe that You will bring us through the dark times. We pray for greater peace to ease our fears. We know that fear is not of You. Thank you for walking through life with us. Amen. – Katie Ann

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