Yeow — happy Monday to YOU! We hope you’ve had a chance to dig into our new devotional, Living the Surrendered Life. We started it just five days ago so there is still time to join us. Simply catch up if you’d like to follow along on schedule, otherwise PLEASE read at your own pace. Like we’ve mentioned before, our intention is to be reading Truth daily. That means the Bible! Those red letter words are so powerful + encouraging, aren’t they?? Don’t let something as silly as a schedule deter you from reading every day :)
I had a moment last week while I was journaling where a Bible verse popped into my mind and I thought, YES! Yes Lord! This is what I’ve been seeking, to know more about the word + be able to recall verses + words of encouragement later on. It felt great. Have any of you felt that yet? Or, maybe you felt that sort of thing years ago and I’m just a late bloomer –wink! Or, maybe it hasn’t happened with a verse, but perhaps with a portion of a devotion from the Soul Detox {our first devotional} or Living the Surrendered Life {our current devotional}?
I peeked ahead at this week’s Living the Surrendered Life devotionals, and you know what? They are really, really good.
Here are some topics we’ll be studying this week: gratitude [Phil 4:11-12], rejoicing always [1 Thes. 5:16-18], faithful prayers [Romans 12:12], following the Lord’s will [James 4:13-15], repentance leads to salvation [2 Cor. 7:10].
I won’t list everything as I don’t want to spoil the way God will be speaking to each of you ;) But ohhh, trust me when I say this week is going to be so so good. Some of my deepest struggles/fears have to do with fearing the unknown.
I wonder if I were to add an extra dash of trust to my day, would life be easier? The quick, uncomplicated answer would be YES, because I would have more faith to let God reveal His perfect timing [Jeremiah 29:11]. I’m really good at focusing on the little details when really, if I could just take a step back I’d see some of those details are beauty-filled parts to the story, not flaw-filled.
Trust.
Such a big, little five-letter word.
Do you ever struggle with things these sort of things?
This week I want to practice more gratitude, rejoicing, faithful praying, all in the form of Trust.
So my challenge for you as you start a fresh week is to prepare your hearts to be able answer these questions: What are you wishing from your past would just go away? Did you know that patience is really waiting without complaining, and do you need to apply this to your life? Do you dodge responsibility? Is the Lord your God truly *everything* to you?
And remember to look for the beauty-filled parts to the story. We are excited to connect below in the comments!
PS. Let’s memorize this bit of Truth as a group for the week:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
UPDATED: Weekly Truth Lock Screen! Next week we’ll explain how to save it directly to your phone!
I am so glad I pay attention to buttons on bloggers' sidebars. That's how I found y'all :) And I am sooooo glad I did. THIS is exactly what I need right now. God is always on time! :)
I too am LOVING this series! It's nice too that we're all doing this together :) I LOVE how each daily plan feels like it was written specifically for me!
Praise God for #she reads truth!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm really enjoying this new series. I'm learning so much about not only scripture, but also about our amazing God, his unconditional love and even about myself.
This devotional seems so fitting for me and my husband right now, but I think especially me. My husband and I are 25 and have been married for almost three years. We live with his parents and both have part time jobs. I have been struggling lately to be content and really trust in God. I agree that it is something you have to do constantly throughout the day. It is really hard to trust when you do not know the future.
Just trust that he has a plan for you and your husband. Give in to him completely. I agree that you must work daily and often throughout the day to keep God in the forefront of your mind.
My husband and I are also Living with our in laws at the time. It’s so hard. I understand completely. We can talk if you want anytime. [email protected]
This is a great site!!! I’ve been doing the studies whenever I can, which isn’t easy because as soon as you decide to do it, Satan steps up and says oh no you’re not! And starts creating a TON of distractions. But thanks to god being waaaaay more powerful, I’ve been doing it. An let me tell you…I want MORE! I love this. Thanks for the accountability.
I'm laughing… only because I UNDERSTAND! Push through it, girl! Show Satan who is boss ;D
Oh trust. Yes, I struggle with that one! So that is my challenge for the week, need to work on that trust! And I love focusing on gratitude and rejoicing – it's so easy to get pulled under in a woe is me attitude on certain things, this will help in a more positive outlook – built on trust in HIM!
Rejoicing. Yes!! Let's keep lifting each other up + looking for ways to rejoice!
I am already encouraged by this study. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by this group. This post is wonderful and I am really looking forward to this week. Gratitude and trust are so very important in our daily walk!