The following was recorded live inside our Every Day Incredible Ladies Facebook group.
Last week, my boys wanted to make slime. One of them got a kit in a Christmas stocking and they wanted to make the slime. They were so excited about it, and we were just getting in the door, so I wasn’t really ready to stop and make the slime with them but they were so determined!
They were ripping open the package and getting the stuff out, starting to gather what the instructions said that they needed. I was watching them do this, thinking, “I’m not really ready to do that with them yet.”
I knew they needed some help, but they were so determined to go ahead and do it, right then.
They didn’t want to wait, so I let them.
I knew probably wasn’t going to turn out very well, and it didn’t (it was more like slimy water, it wasn’t actually slime like they were hoping), and of course they were disappointed. I was disappointed for them. Later on, I realized that’s kind of how God does with us sometimes.
Sometimes we get so determined do things our own way; we get so determined to have our hands fully on whatever project it is, or whatever life event it is, and we want things to happen in our own time so badly… I’ve been there a billion times. But then I realized that God allows us to do it sometimes. He may know that it’s not going to work out like we want when we try to force things to happen, and when we try to do in our own time, but sometimes He just steps back and lets us because we are so determined and we have that free will.
In the book, I share an analogy about how going off and doing things on our own is kind of like walking into Antarctica wearing shorts and flip-flops. God may allow us to do it because we’re so determined, but then we’re not in His protection. We are be exposed to the elements and it’s going to be very dangerous to be in that that position, but as soon as we call out to the Heavenly Father, then He can bring us back into His protection again. That’s what we need. We have to call to Him and trust that He who He says He is. A good example of that in Scripture comes from Matthew, chapter 14 verses 28-31, and that’s when the disciples see Jesus walking on the water. “‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ’tell me to come to you on the water.’ ’Come,’ He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat walked on the water and came toward Jesus, but when he saw the wind he was afraid and, beginning to sink cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’”
For a moment, it was like he forgot that Jesus was who He said He was. He forgot that God is all-powerful and God could save him, because all he needed to do is trust that God was who He said He was. That Jesus was who He said He was; and he would have been safe. He was, as soon as he called out to Him, Jesus was right there and that’s exactly what happens. Whatever we are facing, whatever it seems like we are sinking in, Jesus hasn’t gone anywhere, and He is who he says He is. We can always cling to that. We can always turn to that when we are exposed to the elements because of our own choices. We can always step back and say, “Wait, this isn’t where I need to be. I’ve got Heavenly Father who is going to save me if I just call out to Him.”
So, our breath prayer for this week comes from Psalm 46:10, and it says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
That’s one of my very favorite passages. I absolutely love it. Our breath prayer is not word-for-word from that verse, but the concept comes from that verse.
“Lord, I believe you are who you say you are.”
Because sometimes we just need to be still, and know that He is God- believe He is who He says He is, whatever the situation is.
As you pray that this week, I want to encourage you to ask these questions: Do you really believe that God is your provider? Your healer? Your defender? Do you really believe those things? When you’re tempted to worry, Are you really believing that God is who He says He is? What would it look like if you’re truly acting as if God is who He says He is?
This week, while you’re doing that prayer, pray it every time the prayer comes to mind or you’re tempted to worry, just focus on doing just that in every situation- act as if God really is who He says He is. Because He is.
He truly, truly is.
I hope that is encouraging to you guys. I hope it gives you a challenge for this week to really act as if God is who He says He is. If you need any kind of reassurance about who God is, do a study on the names of God and just focus on who He is this week.
Remember to check out the information about the workshop that’s coming up next month, and be watching for information about the new book! I’m so excited that’s coming out March 12th, and the workshop is February 7.
Have a great week, good night ladies!
