savedbygrace417

[savedbygrace417]

Discipline…

Some are very disciplined while others struggle. I am one that struggles. It’s also very easy for me to fall out of routines, especially when summer comes around. As a teacher, I am very used to routines and follow a very similar day to day discipline. When summer hits, everything falls to the wind. I pray less and spend less time in His word. There’s something about summer where my time becomes flooded with laziness.

More Like You by Reed Deming touched my soul. As I was listening, I couldn’t help but think how deeply I desire to be more like God. It then hit me how distant I’ve become over the last month and a half. I need to be truly disciplined in prayer and time in my Bible to strengthen my relationship with God to become “more like Him.”

These lyrics helped me with my prayer to do better.

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to you with open arms and a vulnerable heart. I ask for your undeserving grace and forgiveness for the distance that I have made between us. Father, help me to fix my priorities. Help me to put you first, everyday. I pray that you are my first thought as I wake up and my last as I fall asleep. Lord, I want you to change me, break me, take me deeper. I desire to be more like you. Show me how to find my way back. I am praying that you take all of me and mold me so that there is no distance between us. You don’t give up on your people. You are a promise keeper. Please, bring me back. I am over the worldly characteristics, objects, and designs. I want to be more like You. I need your help achieve growth, Lord. Thank you for keeping me in Your arms reach. Thank you for accepting progress over perfection. Thank you for shining light on this sin. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. You are the air I breathe, every move I make, and the purpose in my life.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen”

[savedbygrace417]

Our words are powerful. We have two options: speak life or speak death. Stop, think, be confident and spark joy for yourself and others. “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” -Matthew 12:34 https://www.instagram.com/p/CnA-9Dqr43nSumKS1Al4BwOY1S7vFZzgLM4-ro0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[savedbygrace417]

[savedbygrace417]

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17‭-‬19 ESV

[savedbygrace417]

Acts 22:16 “And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name”

I was baptized this Easter Sunday (2022). I was delaying, putting it off because I have time, right? That’s what I hear a lot of time. Having time wasn’t necessarily my issue. My issue was mustering up enough courage to make myself vulnerable to my Paster and church community. I’ve always been the quiet church goer, in and out as unnoticed as possible. Well, I did it! I reached out and set baptism on 4/17/22 in motion! Glory to God that he put it on my heart so much that I couldn’t hide anymore. Easter Sunday service and the 10, yes 10, baptisms that followed were astounding. Pastor’s message, the testimony, and a cram packed house made for such an impactful service. Praise rang out, tears flowed, and God was surely moving in that place. Sunday afternoon, I received a message thanking me for my bravery. I was told that if it wasn’t for my actions, they may have never had the courage to go forth with their baptism. As I was laying in bed , I realized that it wasn’t me. God did that!! HE USED ME! Man, does that feel crazy good. The word “used��� tends to drag along negative connotation but the Lord “uses” us to reach others, to spread the gospel, and so much more. I was used by Lord God Almighty and I am in awe! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING! 💛