New Year, New Habits with the Best Chronological Bible Reading Plan + Resource Bundle
Welcome to 2024! A year for growth, introspection, and building some strong spiritual habits. What better way to kickstart your year than by diving into the wisdom of the Bible? Imagine having all the tools at your fingertips to not just start a new Bible reading plan but to cultivate lasting, healthy spiritual habits. Intrigued? Let me introduce you to the ULTIMATE Bible Study Bundle. It’s a comprehensive group of my most-requested resources to propel you forward in faith.
The Ultimate Bible Reading Toolkit
In this fast-paced digital age, we understand the need for simplicity and convenience. That’s why I curated the ultimate toolkit for your spiritual growth—all in one, easy download. Unpack SEVEN invaluable resources designed to jumpstart your spiritual journey and foster a deeper connection with God. Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside.
The Bible calls us to spiritual maturity, but I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve had trouble in the past sticking to a reading plan, or cultivating healthy habits of being in the Word on a daily basis. Things really changed for me when my mental health was at its worst. I knew I couldn’t just “pray away” the depression that was actively eating me alive. But I also knew I desperately wanted the joy, peace, and contentment God promises those who follow Him. I began to study Scripture in a new way, and the web of lies that had ensnared my mind, mental health, and wellbeing began to loosen. Eventually, it fell away completely.
This bundle–is a collection of SIX of my all time favorite resources, and I’m thrilled to offer them to you, for free. Let’s check out the bundle.
1. See the BIG Picture with the Best Chronological Bible Reading Plan
Ever felt lost in the vastness of the Bible? Here is my favorite Chronological Bible Reading Plan—a roadmap through time. Experience the narrative, Psalms, and prophets in a sequential flow, making comprehension a simpler. This has become my favorite way to read the Bible. It’s perfect for beginners or folks looking for an easy plan to follow. It’s not a year-long plan, so simply read as much as you like each day, until you’ve worked through the whole book.
2. 90 Days to Transformation: The Bible Reading Challenge
Challenges breed growth, and I’ve got just a good one for you! Dive into an intense 90-Day Chronological Bible Reading Challenge. This 90 day Bible reading challenge has been updated with a bookmark checklist format for easy reference, as well as the classic one-sheet. This is more than just a reading plan; it’s a transformative journey. I’ll be launching a summer challenge in June–so be sure to subscribe to emails or join me on Instagram and Facebook for details.
3. Reshape Your Sabbath and Reclaim Your Rest
Jesus calls those who are weary and burdened (See Matthew 11:28-30). Developing healthy spiritual habits does not mean adding weight to our already full plates. Ours is a God of blessing, grace, and rest. Make this the year you embrace Sabbath rest–a practice that cultivates trust in God, while giving you the gift of time and peace. The “Reshaping Your Sabbath” worksheet, empowers you to carve out meaningful moments of rest. Unplug, rejuvenate, and enjoy the rhythm God designed for us. Read more about creating a Sabbath routine here.
4. Unravel the Old Testament: Your Guide to Understanding
The Old Testament can be a challenging terrain. Some might even use the word “boring.” Fear not! The Ultimate Bundle equips you with a study guide focused on appreciating Old Testament Law. You’ll gain understanding, but also gain an appreciation for these foundational portions of Scripture. This simple resource enhances the chronological Bible reading plan.
5. The Easiest Way to Journal: Quiet Time One Liners
Creating a habit of reading and understanding Scripture shouldn’t be complicated. Further increase healthy spiritual habits by incorporating the SIMPLEST, most sustainable journaling technique ever. This printable journal page—Quiet Time One Liners is the easiest way to capture your thoughts, reflections, and prayers in a format that seamlessly integrates into your daily routine.
6. Inductive Bible Study Made Easy: Infographic Guide
Inductive Bible Study is a powerful method to dive deep into Scripture. While the inductive method can get very complicated, it doesn’t need to be. I’ve simplified this effective study technique with an easy-to-understand infographic. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned reader, this guide will revolutionize the way you approach Bible study.
Why Settle for Less?
Sure, there are free chronological reading plans out there, but none offer the comprehensive support and resources packed into this bundle.
Ready to Pursue Truth with the Best Chronological Bible Reading Plan? Sign Up Now!
If you’re feeling stuck, seeking clarity, or simply yearning to move forward in faith, start here. This New Year, let’s mature in our faith, and cultivate healthy spiritual habits. Sign up now to unlock this exclusive bundle and embark on a transformative journey. Make 2024 the year you embraced God’s Word, and all the goodness it holds.
Enter your email below, and let’s embark on this exciting journey together!
My prayers seemed to be met with silence. My perspective on unanswered prayer was about to change.
I had been praying for things to change for months. Over and over I asked God to remove the pain in my body and mind.
Still, the pain remained.
I sat on my patio in the warmth of the North Dakota summer sun and contemplated my reality. My body had been forever altered through a freak spinal injury during a low-impact fitness class. I thought surgery would fix the pain, the doctor said I was a perfect candidate.
Yet the pain remained. Somedays it was worse than before surgery.
Prescription painkillers took the edge off. I took them around the clock. Never did I imagine I’d be dependent on pills to function, but here I was.
Where Was God in The Unanswered Prayer?
My whole world seemed upside down. My body had failed, my thoughts were jumbled, my prayers felt stunted. Where was God?
If you’ve experienced blinding pain—whether emotional or physical—you will understand. Ongoing pain can send us drifting, especially when we try to anchor ourselves with something prone to floating away.
Unknowingly, that’s what I had done. I staked my self-worth and self-esteem on my physical performance and ability to work. When that was taken, the structure of my identity and faith began to crumble.
As I sat in the sun, I thought about the seemingly thousands of times I’d prayed for relief that never came. Then I asked myself a convicting question, “Do you worship God because you know He is the one and only God, because He alone has rescued you from the penalty of sin…or do you worship Him because you want Him to give you what you want?” Did my faith rely solely on the outcome of an unanswered prayer?
Prayer Is More Than Submitting Wishes To God
My prayer life had been distilled into one prayer—a wish—whispered repeatedly from my heart: Please make this pain go away. Heal my body. Make things how they used to be.
As Christians, we pray to a living God. This means our prayers do not need to be limited to wishes as though we’re tossing pennies into a fountain. Our prayers can be worshipful conversation. Prayer affords us the opportunity to sit at the throne of the Almighty God, to bask in His presence, seek His divine discernment, and allow the sheer majesty of His closeness to properly align our hearts. Prayer is so much more than closing our eyes to present a wish list (or worse, a to-do list) to God. It’s a conversation, it’s a gift.
In my distress and grief, I’d cast aside those truths about prayer. Day after day I submitted my singular request with no room for discussion, teaching, or transformation. That day in the sun, I faced a choice. Could I muster the courage to trust that God is good, holy, and true despite my physical and mental pain? Or did I only accept His sovereignty when I got what I wanted or didn’t need to depend on Him to move forward?
Maybe you are at a juncture requiring similar soul searching. What will your choice be?
Pain Doesn’t Equal Unanswered Prayer
I chose the former and set my pain up like an altar of remembrance. It was testimony that I chose Jesus, despite the pain of the world and imperfection of human existence. I prayed a new prayer in which I proclaimed to believe that God is who He says He is in Scripture—whether my pain vanished or never relented. As, as creatures of free will have the ability to intentionally trust that God is good and that His goodness can coexist with worldly suffering. Pain does not nullify His righteousness, omniscience or love for us.
God is an ally who sustains and redeems us as we traverse a world where we “will have trouble,” (John 16:33). He thwarts attacks from the enemy and turns them into assets in our personal ministry and redemption story.
When we find strength to overcome the lie that we’ve done faith wrong when we experience pain in this life, amazing things can happen. When our prayers seem to be unanswered, maybe it’s time to reassess the heart of our prayer. Are we too blinded by our ideals to see a gift God wants to give us? Is God trying to perform a bigger miracle that what we are envisioning?
Complete erasure of my pain would have been a miracle, but God did something bigger. He placed peace, joy, even happiness in my heart despite the pain. He paved a way for me to thrive and live abundantly—even in the midst of the pain. Sometimes the biggest miracle is the ability to stand firmly in peace while facing adversity that seems insurmountable (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Shifting My Perspective on Prayer Prepared Me For Trials To Come
I didn’t know it, but I was about to lose my mind. Even after this heart-changing moment, I would spiral into a life-threatening depression. Nearly everything I thought about God, marriage, myself and life would be put to the test, shaken and rebuilt in Truth.
There was great pain, but greater healing. I see now God was never far from me. He was with me as toxic thought patterns were extracted from my mind, poisonous lies were syphoned from my heart and destructive misconceptions were pruned from my faith. Consciously choosing to shift my perspective allowed God to step in and heal brokenness that had caused a lifetime of cyclical anxiety and depression. Starting with this shift in prayer-life, He began reaching in to bring about mental healing that would last. He began giving me something I didn’t even know to ask for.
When placed in God’s miraculous hands, He will take our suffering and use it as a medium to create redemption, ministry and joy. This journey starts when we summon the courage to humble ourselves enough to step aside and trust Him to be the good God He claims to be.
How Can I Help You Hold Onto Hope? I’m Here To Serve You.
Here are a few ways, but I’m always open to new ideas.
Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook where I share more about faith, finding rhythm in Bible study/prayer, my past with mental health and raising emotionally healthy littles.
Sign up for my monthly newsletter where I share encouragement, resources and recommendations.
Allow me to meet with your group in person or virtually to hear more about my testimony, discuss the intersection of Christianity and mental health, and field questions. Learn more about speaking engagements here.
If you are in a position of leadership or ministry, I offer consultation calls designed to answer questions and strategize ways to serve individuals grappling with their mental health.
Let me tell you the story I most wanted to keep secret. It’s the experience I never wanted to live, the story I didn’t want affiliated with who I aimed to be, the tale I feared would both define and disqualify me.
I’ll keep it short. You can read a more detailed account here.
After years of enduring cyclical anxiety and depression, things came to a head. I experienced a full-blown mental health crisis. I lost my mind. That’s the core of my mental health story.
The reason I used to be shy about sharing this tale is that I thought it ended there. I thought losing my mind was the story. I mistakenly thought losing it was the most interesting and defining part of the saga. In the years since I’ve come to realize that that being mentally ill is not the most interesting part of the story.
No, friend. The most interesting part of this story isn’t what was lost, but what was found.
I found strength to fight.
I found a will to live when suicide seemed like the only peaceful option.
I found deeply held lies about myself and God and the Truth to uproot them.
I found a healthier marriage.
I found peace.
I found restoration.
I found healing that lasts.
I found a living God and redeeming love.
This list could go on and on. I discovered that a history of mental illness, suicidal ideation or believing lies doesn’t mean disqualification or ostracism. If you share this piece of history, or find yourself walking through a time of mental trial, hold onto this truth: you are not disqualified from a thriving future, you are not destined for ostracism.
You’re Not Disqualified | You Can Find Victory
I used to be afraid having walked through life-threatening mental illness would mean I’d never be seen as fit or trustworthy again. This is a lie. Instead, this experience uniquely qualifies me to proclaim God’s power and ability to restore beauty to life’s ugliest bits.
It qualifies me to encourage you in the midst of a mental health battle or in the midst of loving someone who is. If you are wondering if there is can be lasting healing or a life worth living on the other side, let me offer you a generous helping of hope. Allow me to come alongside you who are looking for courage, strength and proof that overcoming is possible.
The redemption waiting for you will qualify you, too. Not just to testify that mental health disorders can be overcome, but for a life exemplifying victory. On the other side of this you will be poised to empathize and encourage others.
Some Things Are Better Off Lost
I’m here to serve you. This story isn’t just about me. It’s about creating a vivid “word-image” of often invisible conditions and unseen pain. It’s about testifying to the possibility of mental wellness, God’s goodness and victory on this side of eternity.
Instead of asking you to raise your hand to admit you’ve lost your mind, I’d like to boldly raise mine first. Just because something gets lost doesn’t mean it can’t be found. Sometimes losing something makes room for finding something better.
Honestly, some things are better off lost and left behind. Depression, fear, anxiety, self-loathing, self-harm and lies are a few of those things.
I Lost My Mind, Now I’m Here to Serve You. How Can I Help?
Here are a few ways, but I’m always open to new ideas.
Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook where I share more about my past with mental health and action steps for maintaining recovery, coping and raising emotionally healthy littles.
Sign up for my monthly newsletter where I share encouragement, resources and recommendations.
Allow me to meet with your group in person or virtually to hear more about my testimony, discuss mental health, and field questions. Learn more about speaking engagements here.
If you are in a position of leadership or ministry, I offer consultation calls designed to answer questions and strategize ways to serve individuals grappling with their mental health.
Previously, I shared a bit about my personal experience with suicidal thoughts. After publishing, I heard from an unexpected number of women–some military dependents, some not. Many held similar fears of hurting their husband’s career or being a burden to those they love. Today is a follow up on the lie that suicide is a loving option. Today I’ll walk us through the maze that love, suicide and mental health can form.
So many who struggle with mental health can relate to perceiving themselves as a burden. It’s a bizarre and dangerous headspace. You dislike yourself and what your existence has become–but you love the people around you. Eventually your perception of yourself becomes so toxic, you start to believe the lie that eliminating yourself is the most loving thing you can do for those around you.
Being you has become unbearable. Ergo, being with you must be unbearable for those you love.
Being you has become unbearable. Ergo, being with you must be unbearable for those you love.
Like I said, it’s a slippery, dangerous trail of thinking–but others in our community have been there.
What can be done?
Depression is a Liar. Turn to the Truth.
First, remember depression is a liar. Then turn to the source of Truth, the Bible.
When I had those toxic thoughts, Derek kindly pointed me to the “Love Chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13. After all, love for the man I married was one of the only things that hadn’t blurred out of focus. With this starting point, I began unravelling a mess of lies. Line by line, piece by piece I cognitively examined what Scripture outlines as loving–at a time when I thought disappearing might be the most loving solution available.
Here’s a bit of how that process looked for me.
Love is patient.
In the Greek this is literally “to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others.” Now apply that to this toxic thinking.
Love patiently, persistently waits, knowing help and healing may take a while. Those who love you will wait with you, being “slow to anger, slow to punish.” Loving yourself means understanding it takes patience to heal.
Love is kind.
Being kind to yourself means having grace while you find help. Being kind to Derek meant showing grace to the person he loves (me), and choosing intentionally kind words to speak about myself and him.
Love is not jealous/envious.
Love is not jealous of another’s circumstance. Those who love you are not jealous of a different circumstance. I needed to stop comparing myself, situation, troubles, etc to anyone or anything else.
Love trusts.
Choose to trust your loved ones when they tell you, you aren’t a burden. Trust your own tenacity and ability to overcome.
Love hopes.
Love for yourself and those around you means continuing to hope. Hope for a solution. Live in the joy of hope—even when enduring sadness and hardship. Find strength to hope for a future without depression and anxiety. Love does not interfere with others’ hoping for these things alongside you.
Love perseveres/endures.
Real love continues to persevere until a help can be found. Elimination of self is not loving perseverance. Those who love you will persevere through the season. Show love to them by choosing to persevere until help and healing can take root.
The Most Loving Thing You Can Do is Persevere in Finding Healing.
The darkness of depression can cause, even the clearest-thinking individual to become confused by lies and sadness. Depression is painful, can feel shameful and embarrassing, the mental agony can seem unbearable. If you’re there right now, know that healing is possible and it’s out there. The most loving thing you can do is persevering to find healing—not eliminating yourself.
If You Love Someone Struggling, Point Them to the Truth In Love.
If someone you love is in this headspace, love them by pointing them gently to Truth. Remind them it won’t always be like this, they are not a burden, and you’ll fight for healing alongside them. It might save their life.
I NEED YOUR HELP | ONE MORE THING BEFORE YOU GO…
Christian and military spouse. YOUR help will get the book published. The easiest way is click “FOLLOW” on Instagram or sign up for my monthly newsletter via email (below). Your support demonstrates interest in this story and these words of hope.
Above all, thank you for being here and for your support. It’s an honor to share my testimony with you and I’m excited to see the great things God does through your journey.
In January, Derek came home with the unexpected news that he’d been assigned to an upcoming deployment. For me, momentum had been building steadily with my writing goals and I’d finally said, “Yes,” to God’s prompting to start penning a long-form memoir about my experience with mental health crisis. In that moment in the kitchen, after the boys were in bed and my hand was on the blender, preparing to mix my nightly protein shake, everything came to a halt.
Now instead of feeling creative and ready to move forward toward the things I believed God had clearly set in front of me—I was frozen. As if I was unknowingly playing freeze tag, this moment was my tag, causing me to stop midstride.
Have you ever had a moment like that?
My entire focus shifted. We planned for months apart. Seven, to be exact. Uneasiness and uncertainty welled up inside every time I thought about doing life without my husband for “most of a year.”
Writing is always a welcome outlet for me, but when military assignments, especially deployments, are in the picture, the best policy is silence. Unable to fully disclose was what happening in our home and in my heart, I wrote vaguely about anxiety and emotions. The headspace once open for writing, book proposals, and dreaming up creative endeavors was crowded out with dreaming up reasonable consequences for a defiant three year old and ways to convince an infant to sleep all night.
Hemmed in by daily responsibility, fatigue and operational security measures, I felt claustrophobic. Stuck. Lodged between the need for silence and the desire to share my heart transparently.
Finding Freedom Within Hard Circumstances
I had an image of a dog pulling on a taut tether in my mind. I was frustrated to be restrained in my pursuits. However, as in all difficult seasons, growth happened and peace grew once I stopped straining against the circumstances. Like the frustrated dog, when I stopped snapping my jaws at things beyond my leash, my throat relaxed and I could breathe again.
I wasn’t off the tether, I wasn’t unstuck—but I was able to thrive in the space I was given at the time. I was able to see the unique beauty and opportunity within these circumstances. God is a kind, responsiblemaster. The tether He gives us is always long enough for the space we’re in at the time.
I loosened my grip on the things I thought I’d accomplish in these months and allowed myself to be happy amid the daily grind of wiping faces and preparing PB&Js. It wasn’t a perfect practice. Many days I was overwhelmed and cranky because I remembered that I was stuck in some respects. But mostly, we were okay.
Moving Forward Again
Now, I’m coming down from a season of heightened awareness. The kind that comes from being vigilant for two. My mind is shaking loose. I’m becoming unstuck, dislodged. As a person recently stuck, here’s my advice:
Circumstances can leave you stuck, really stuck, but circumstances are faithful to change and you’ll move forward again. When you are stuck in one way, growth will be forced in another way. Find a way to weather the circumstances you’re in, even enjoy them. Eventually, the growth that stalled will move forward again.
Why the Deployment Ended Early and Why I Would Have Been Okay, Even if it Didn’t.
PS—for anyone wondering how seven months apart turned into four, it went something like this. Shortly after Derek left, President Biden announced all troops would be out of Afghanistan by September 11. That would reduce our time apart to six months.
One day in early June Derek mentioned the possibility of an even earlier return. Then, in late June, just days before I would travel to Indiana with the boys he told me his homecoming was imminent. We’d be back together after only four months apart. I was surprised that I wasn’t overwhelmed with giddy relief. Instead, I felt excitement, but also a deep confidence that we’d be okay if he really didn’t return for a few more months. This was puzzling at first, but ultimately a sign of growth, hard fought, well earned.
More Positivity and Encouragment
Let’s get to know each other. Join me on Instagram and Facebook where we can connect more deeply. I’d love to hear from you. Don’t forget to sign up for emails, so you can access freebies and never miss a post.
I’m launching a new short series all about Intentionality. Today I’m sharing how intentionality relieves anxiety. Other posts in the series will cover: Action Steps to Intentionality, Intentionality in your mind (taking your thoughts captive), and Cultivating an Atmosphere of Intentionality at Home.
I’ve talked before about my struggles with mental health. I feel God pulling on my heart to share more. Battling anxiety and depression is exhausting and oh-so-hard. But I’ve found complete healing and I think others can too. So I’m planning content that will share more of that journey with you. Starting with this series. *At the end of this post is a simple prayer for the anxious heart!*
When God Whispered Intentionality
Several years ago while in the midst of a mental health crisis and counseling I cried out to God. I asked Him to pass me a word that would sum up lots of what I’d been learning the new thought patterns I was trying to make “normal.” A word that would help me move forward.
Intentionality.
I heard it whispered into my heart. Plucked from all the words in my vocabulary. As always, God knows the heart and He gave me a good gift. It’s exactly what I needed to hear.
Focusing on cultivating intentionality, being intentional in my actions, thoughts and decisions was key for me in finding complete healing from depression and anxiety. I really do believe complete healing is possible. For you. For your loved ones.
Whether you are having a mental crisis, like I was–or just want to tame stress and indecision, I’m here for you. Over the next few weeks I’m going to share how I implemented intentionality in my life and how it gave my mind freedom to heal. How it continues to give me confidence to move forward, without wallowing in guilt over what I “could have” “should have” or “might have” done.
Case Study: Living in a Renovation
As we wrap up the remodel of our second floor, (in case you don’t know, when I’m not writing, creating or teaching, I work to oversee renovations on our 1927 fixer upper. See a before tour here. Follow on Instagram for all the behind the scenes fun in my stories) I realized this is the perfect time to talk about intentionality.
When a big project is happening, I get overwhelmed. In the past, taking on many things at once triggered anxiety and panic. In turn, this brought on a depression.
This is the thought waterfall that would progress.
I couldn’t get it all done at once. Panic. Feelings of anxiety, guilt and sadness set in based on my lack of performance. Thoughts of low self worth followed. Those thoughts manifested into belief, which manifested into depression.
It took time to identify and break those deeply rooted thought patters–and lots of work to create a new, “normal” way of thinking and processing. Cultivating intentionality helps me avoid falling into that trap and maintain my calm and confidence.
Over the last month I’ve needed to scrape mountains of peeling paint, repair plaster, paint, refinish floors, cut and install trim, clean up debris…etc. This was all happening while I stay-at-home-mommed full time, wrote studies and resources here on the blog, hosted friend gatherings at our home, carried out the other day-to-day tasks of being an “at home” parent, and said “yes” to ministry opportunities God laid in front of me.
My plate has been full. I bet yours has been too. In no way am I trying to be the Little Red Hen about this. I have help. I have an amazing husband. It’s just an illustration that things have been overwhelming and this could have easily taken on a panicky aspect.
How Cultivating Intentionality Relieves Anxiety and Offers Freedom and Confidence.
I can’t cover all the ways intentionality relieves anxiety in one post. That’s where the series comes in. Today I’m sharing how being intentional has relieved my anxiety and brought freedom into my busy, overworked mind. It can work for you too.
In the following weeks I’ll cover:
Action steps to intentionality
Intentionality in your mind (taking your thoughts captive)
Cultivating an atmosphere of intentionality at home
1. Confidence in Decision Making
Are you frazzled by decision-making? Do you have regrets or beat yourself up for making a “wrong” decision? Does anxiety over possibly making a wrong decision plague you? If so, let me introduce you to intentionality.
As I work on the house, many decisions need to be made. Often with a toddler crawling on me, or in spare minutes between renovations, meals and nap time. Not every choice I’ve made has been perfect. But they’ve all been intentional. I haven’t been anxious or sleepless. By practicing intentionality in my decisions I have gained confidence. Now, decisions (even tricky ones) are made more quickly, effectively and without regret.
2. Intentionality Puts You in Control
Ever feel like things are spinning out of control? Things are being thrown on your plate without consent? You are running as fast as you can but you can’t catch up. Have you felt helpless? If this is you, let me teach you about intentionality.
In the midst of a huge renovation things can easily seem to get out of control. The to-do list is long. Daily responsibilities don’t go away. And it always seems like new opportunities to serve are cropping up–adding more weight to an already heavy plate.
Purposefully bing intentional puts you in control. Not your to-do list. Not the needs of others. You’ll be in awe of what you can accomplish once this power struggle is gone.
3. Relief From Inadequacy
Thoughts of inadequacy used to plague me. Do they haunt you sometimes too? Let’s get intentional.
It’s easy to slide into the belief that you are inadequate when you’re under a mountain of stress (or a giant mess left over from a remodel). I get it. There is always more to be done. A mind practiced in intentionality will take ownership of how time and skill are stewarded. This mind grips God’s truth. You are not made adequate by your works, but by His completed work.
Cultivating intentionality shines truth on the lie of inadequacy. You are in control of the time and skill God has given you. With God’s help, you can take your thoughts (and to-do list) captive and live in freedom.
4. Being Comfortable With Limitations
Are you cool and collected toward the reality that you have limitations? I’m speaking from experience. Trying to do it all, all the time is a fool’s errand. Eventually, it’ll leave you frozen, making spastic progress–neither an ideal outcome.
As with any project, things look worse before they look better. There comes a boiling point where I need to recognize my limitations. and make intentional decisions. Will I cook dinner, or finish plastering a wall? Can I live with the mess in the living room and power through a second coat of floor finish? Will I finish painting trim after bedtime, or just take a shower and go to sleep?
To complete house projects, things in other areas need to slide a little. The photo above shows how my house really looked as I neared the end of the messy work upstairs. Toys strewn about. Chairs stacked up (in hopes that mopping would happen soon.) General disarray.
I needed to chose how to spend my time and own that decision with confidence. Sometimes I chose to plough through tasks upstairs. Sometimes I took a day off and tamed and tended the first floor. No regrets, only a heart of gratitude for the time God hands me and the rest He gifts us.
5. Replace Anxiety With Confidence
To sum it up, chunks of my anxiety have been replaced with confidence, simply by cultivating intentionality. Where nervousness used to reign, calm confidence now lives. Intentionality relieves anxiety. Very purposeful thinking has swept away things past anxiety and panic triggers.
Intentionality Relieves Anxiety
Maybe it’s silly. Or oversimplified. But it worked for me. And I believe it can help you too. Next week I’ll share specific action steps that helped me move toward intentional thought patterns that have become my new normal.
In the meantime, I’d love to have you join me on Facebook an Instagram. There you’ll join a community striving to live intentionally and see the world through a Christ-centered lens. I share daily encouragement and anecdotes of how I see God’s hand in everyday life. You can also sign up for emails below. That way you’ll never miss a post–and you’ll be sure to catch the entire Intentionality series.
A Simple Prayer For an Anxious Heart
Jesus, I know you don’t call me to live in fear, overwhelm or nervousness. But that’s easier said than done. Teach me to be intentional with my time, skills and decisions. To follow in your example of intentionality as you taught, healed and ministered during your earthly ministry. Open my mind to understand the Truth of Your freedom, and to dispel the lies of inadequacy, guilt and low self worth that stem from an anxious heart. Give me a teachable spirit to learn a new way of thinking that better aligns with your best for me. Amen.
This post is last of a series on Sabbath rest. Today we’ll cover some final thoughts and action steps for practicing the Sabbath, including a FREE downloadable guide. Here are the previous posts:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
Practicing the Sabbath isn’t Legalistic
Today we are wrapping up the Reshaping Your Rest series with a FREE downloadable worksheet and a few final thoughts. The worksheet will walk you through assessing how you currently spend your “day of rest,” auditing your Sabbath activities and an action plan for creating a Sabbath that is both holy to the Lord and refreshing to you.
Best of all, our God cares more about our heart posture than our actions.
It’s easy to let our Sabbath rest become something legalistic. To lay out a list of things we are prohibited from doing. That’s missing the point. The Sabbath is a gift from God, Mark 2:27. (More verses on the Sabbath here.) It’s not meant to be drudgery. It’s not meant to enslave us. (Great commentaries and study resources here.)
The Sabbath is a day of rest and freedom. A day to look back and remember what God has done, enjoy the present and the place God has brought us to, and look forward to a future when things will be perfect and we will truly rest in paradise. The Sabbath doesn’t require us to be stagnant or mindless. (More on symbolism of the Sabbath in Part I and Part II.)
Your Sabbath May Look Different Than Mine.
The way you observe the Sabbath should be obtainable in your own house. In order to keep the day holy (literally: set apart), you need to be able to execute it and enjoy it. Having a Sabbath plan will do you little use if it’s an unobtainable ideal. That will eventually stir up guilt and exhaustion as you strive for rest. As you consider Sabbath rest for your own household keep it simple. (Here are some of my takeaways for inspiration.)
Your day of rest may look different than mine. And that’s okay.
Make a Plan for Practicing the Sabbath in Your Home
This is broken down in greater detail in the worksheet, but here are the steps our house took to Reshape Our Rest.
Prayerfully consider the Sabbath. Ask God to open our hearts to the truth of what He desires our rest to look like. Thank God for inviting us into the Sabbath. Repent of disobedience.
Choose a day that will be our Day of Rest.
Discuss what a “regular” work day looks like. Since the Sabbath should be “set apart” our rest day needs to look different than a work day.
Discuss what feels laborious or oppressive, like work to each of us.
Examine how we currently spend time on the Sabbath.
Filter activities through what Scripture says about the Sabbath.
Brainstorm what activities are acceptable and enjoyable for us on the Sabbath. Again, drawing from Scripture.
Create an action plan of what needs to be done before the Sabbath in order for us to enjoy and observe the Sabbath. This takes a little intentionality and forethought.
Our Sabbath Plan
If this still feels overwhelming I’ll give you an example. We decided to be intentional about the Sabbath over the past year. Previously our day of rest had no plan. Things felt unanchored. Sometimes stressful. Sometimes lonely, if we were busy with our own tasks and “unable” to enjoy our family together. Once in a while, resentful if I perceived that I wasn’t getting the rest I so desperately craved after a long week.
Communication has been key to reshaping our rest. Understanding what is burning us out, what brings refreshment to our family, and how we each effectively commune with God guided our plan.
Practicing the Sabbath looks a little different each week, but we prepare, communicate and examine our hearts before we step into our day of rest. Here are things we do or prioritize on our Sabbath:
Church
Pursue fellowship/edifying conservation/community outside the walls of the church.
Time doing something fun as a family.
For me, working on a house projects. It’s a time when I feel close to God and inspired by Him. **However, if projects become something I’m stressed about or burdened by, I do NOT work on them during the Sabbath. Instead I offer my concerns and stress over getting things done as a sacrifice to God. I choose to trust Him that the work will get done–and enjoy my day.
For Derek, working in the yard or taking care of a few things around the house is refreshing. He is joyful as he provides for our family in ways he cannot during the regular work week.
For Derek, intentional one-on-one time with Gideon is important during his Sabbath. For me, it’s important to step away from Gideon for a bit and have a little time to do something quietly alone.
Now It’s Your Turn
You can get the worksheet for intentionally reshaping your Sabbath over in the resource library. It’s totally FREE. It will walk you through the process we’ve used to set apart our Sabbath as a holy day to God.
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Reshaping Your Rest:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
This is the first installment of a series on the Sabbath. Here are all the posts in the series:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
I just got back from vacation. It was nice, relaxing. All the things you want a little time away to be. But there was something deeper going on in me. I’ve been thinking about rest. Real rest. Something we can all relate to (and many of us struggle with.)
Weeks ago, toward the beginning of the 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge, I started turning over the idea of Sabbath rest. Every time I read anything about the Sabbath my heart skipped a beat, the verse became ingrained in my mind. I thought about it through the day. I brought it up with my husband in the evening. This felt like a call to deepen my understanding and change my patterns.
Vacation forced me to set aside work. And allowed me to set aside lots of things that feel like work. This seemed like the ideal time to share what I’ve been learning at start fresh, when it comes to true Sabbath rest.
The Challenge is nearly over. And I’ve been surprised how often Sabbath rest comes up, and how serious God takes it.
I want to be more intentional about observing the Sabbath. As a family, we’ve started to intentionally act on what the Bible tells us about how to take a Sabbath Rest–but I still have a ways to go. Luckily, God sees the heart. He knows I’m earnestly trying to do better, to enter into the rest He wants me to have.
A New Understanding of Sabbath Rest
Until recently I have never attempted to fully understand the Sabbath. However, I’ve spent a lot of my extra time cross referencing and burrowing into what the Bible says about Sabbath rest. I’ve read verses, revisited chapters, looked at commentaries, and prayed.
I’ve learned a lot. This is a practice introduced at the beginning of the Bible and continues through the New Testament. When Israel falls short or turns her back on God–and God becomes angry–He almost always cites neglect of the Sabbath as one of their infractions.
Interesting right?
Obviously, this is close to His heart. Yet, I think it’s one of the most overlooked commandments in our culture today. We are taught not to have other gods, murder, worship idols, steal, commit adultery, covet, or bear false witness. We know we are supposed to honor our parents and never use the Lord’s name in vain. But when it comes to the Sabbath, we can be surprisingly blasé.
Honoring the Sabbath almost seems like a forgotten commandment.
As I’ve studied, I’ve fallen in love with God’s design for Sabbath rest. It’s beautifully simple, yet so profound it sets our God apart from all others. A sacred day of rest was unique to Israel, a gift from her God. Other Ancient Near Eastern religions and gods did no such thing.
The Sabbath is beautifully symbolic. It symbolizes God’s good-will and care for mankind. By observing it, we show our trust in His care. By setting aside work, we demonstrate an understanding that we are not saved by works–God grace is enough and Christ accomplished the work on the cross.
I could chat for days about how beautiful the Sabbath is. But I’ll let you do some critical thinking of your own.
Some of My Sabbath Takeaways
The idea of “self care” is so hot right now. It seems like everywhere I look I see suggestions and social media posts with ideas for self care. Don’t get me wrong. Self care is fun–and important. But don’t confuse it with the Sabbath. Sabbath rest is deeper and sweeter. Sabbath rest looks outward–turning our eyes toward God, others in need, and expanding the kingdom. In no way is taking Sabbath rest a selfish pursuit. I’m excited to share more with you next week.
First, here are my own bullet points summarizing my new understanding of the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is important and dear to God’s heart, therefore it should be important and dear to our hearts as well.
A day of rest refreshed God. How much more will it refresh me?
The Sabbath is a type of sacrifice. We are to intentionally choose to refrain from work and choose rest. This shows devotion to God and trust that He will provide time and means for our work to be completed–despite sacrificing time away from work to Him.
The Sabbath is metaphorical. Refraining from work and choosing rest is an outward symbol that our works do not earn us favor with God. Christ did the only work that really mattered, and He finished it on the cross.
Sabbath rest is not an excuse to be lazy and binge watch TV. It is not an excuse to be unkind or avoid helping others. The Sabbath is a time to turn our minds to God-honoring thoughts and our hands to God-honoring activities. This means, if I’d be uncomfortable committing an act to the Lord, or partaking in an activity with Jesus in the room–it shouldn’t be done on the Sabbath.
Fellowship, teaching, reflection, enjoying nature, enjoying God’s provision, sharing your experiences with God with others, cultivating relationships…(the list goes on) are all welcome during a day of Sabbath rest.
Observing Sabbath (and gleaning the benefits God wants us to have from it) takes intentionality and practice. Create a plan for how you will observe the Sabbath and get your family on board.
Start Reshaping Your Sabbath Today
Next week we’ll be exploring verses that explain the Sabbath, but I encourage you to start reshaping your take on the Sabbath today. Don’t get overwhelmed. Start with reflection. Here are a couple ideas.
Are you exhausted? Does the word “refreshed” make your soul leap? Do you feel weary?
How do you currently observe the Sabbath? Is it just about church, or is there something deeper happening?
Pray that God would open your eyes and heart to what He wants the Sabbath to look like in your life and home. Ask God to give you a teachable heart and a discerning mind as you reexamine rest. Start a conversation in your home about Sabbath rest.
Coming Up: More on How to Take a Sabbath Rest
Next week I’ll be sharing 10 verses/passages that have reshaped the way I view Sabbath rest. Here are all the posts in the series:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
In the meantime, I hope you’ll start thinking about how you can take a Sabbath rest. I’d love to have you share this if it touched your heart today–and I’d love to get to know you personally by connecting on Instagram and Facebook. There you’ll find daily encouragement and a community of others striving to live life with intentionality, viewing the world through a Christ-centered lens.
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