Your on Mission

You are here on mission.

Your job is to complete the mission and go back to your Heavenly Father.

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

John 17:4

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

TO COMPLETE THE MISSION, YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE YOUR HEALTH SERIOUSLY.

I’ve had health challenges. They distracted me. They delayed me. There were seasons of my life where my #1 priority was getting my health back on track.

You are a soul, with a spirit, in a body. Each component of you needs attention for the “whole” you to work.

God has specific instructions for YOU to thrive.

Judges 13,

The Angel of the Lord appears to Manoah’s wife - he tells her she will have a child - he gives her instructions. He is not to drink wine or similar drink, not to eat anything unclean, and no razor shall come upon his head. His purpose is to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

She tells her husband, her husband prays, “oh Lord please let the man of God whom you sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.” God heard, sent his angel back, Manoah asks, “What will be the boy’s rule of life, and work?”

That’s the question you must ask God for yourself.

What is my rule of life?

That child became Samson, as his story progresses you see that God had given him gifts attached to the disciplines.

There are parameters to your existence.

Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 2:15-17

Ask God:

• Father, what shall I not eat?

• What looks delicious but for me - the way YOU built ME, is not good for ME?

This book, the Bible is a “being human manual.”

God has EVERY area of your life covered.

He tells you exactly what to eat:

I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.

Genesis 1:29

Every moving thing shat lives shall be food for you.I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.

Genesis 9:3

Everything that God has made is what he intended for you to eat to work at your peak performance.

• Vegetables

• Fruit

• Meat, fish, poultry

• Grains

• Beans

• Water

If you stick to what God has made - unprocessed food you are off to an excellent start!

Now it came to pass in those days that he went out to the mountain to pray.

Luke 6:12

Jesus often got alone in the mountains to pray. He hiked. He walked with God literally. He preached on the mountains and multitudes followed him.

We are designed to move!

God’s intention from the beginning was to walk with us! Read Genesis 3:8.

God had Moses come up the mountain to receive the revelation of the laws in Exodus. God brought John the Baptist into the wilderness where he eventually received the word from God to preach repentance.

YOU are designed to experience God through nature and movement.

An excellent place to start and continue your fitness is by walking outside.

God is so intentional that he even designed you to release hormones through movement that produce beneficial feelings, stimulate your focus and creativity, and allow your brain to function optimally.

Jesus and his disciples are crossing over to the other side in a boat, a storm arises, but Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.

Mark 4:37-38

Your designed to sleep. Getting your sleep on lock will literally solve so many issues and destroy the majority of your cravings.

So the child grew and became strong in spirit and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Luke 1:80

John was designed to develop in the wilderness.

There is an environment that is conducive to your growth. Similarly there is an environment that is not. You must identify your greatest distractions and temptation and guard your path against them.

Ask God what environment he designed you to thrive in.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you obtain it. Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

YOU ARE AN ATHLETE.

YOUR RUNNING YOUR RACE.

ATHLETES TRAIN CONSISTENTLY.

EVEN IN OFF SEASON, YOU TRAIN.

There is a strategy for every season. Your life is NOT casual.

Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Daily disciplines will get you to the goal. What you do daily compounds.

If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23

Lock in the daily habits:

• Wake up time

• God time

• Workout time

• Dinner time

• Bed time

• Predetermine your meal plan

• Water goal

• Working hours

• Sabbath

If you lock these in you will stay ready for whatever great opportunities & unexpected pivots come your way. The disciplines go with you wherever you go.

God may be calling you to travel, speak, to enter rooms that could change the trajectory of your life.

You want to hop on that plane, step on that stage, enter that room, strong, healthy, radiant, and knowing you have the energy to get the job done.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind on your journey:

• You’ll know your consistency is mature when you do your daily disciplines “anyway.”

• Cheat days are truly intended for AFTER you reach the goal.

• Stay locked into the vision God has given you, this becomes the fuel for WHY to take care of your body

• Visualize yourself as the healthiest, happiest, version of you doing what God has put on your heart. You mind does not know the difference between what is real or imagined.

• Practice feeling the emotions of reaching your goals and being your healthiest self. Mental rehearsal brings you closer to “becoming” the person.

In closing, remember this:

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1

God will empower and help you on your fitness journey. Ask him. He loves you. You are his child.

beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers!

god bless you warriors!

In Jesus name. Amen.

Love,

Danielle

Die Finished

John 17:4 “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”

These words of Jesus struck me to the heart. He did what he was born to do. He finished the task. That has become my aim and mission in life. That is what “die finished” is all about.

Finding God. Letting him reveal who you truly are. Your purpose. Attacking it, and dying finished!

I am inspired by Paul, David, Moses, Abraham, Joshua, Caleb, Ruth, Esther, Daniel, all these great people in the Bible, who were bold enough to do what God said. They believed God. They were courageous, and God fought for them, protected them, provided for them AND took them on the most thrilling adventures!

They got to leave this world better. That is what I want to do with my life, and what I believe YOU are here for.

I’m convinced YOU were born for an exact purpose. God had a need, designed YOU, formed you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16) and brought you to this earth at a very specific time in history. YOU ARE A SOLUTION.

You’ve got work to do.

I pray that as you seek God he reveals the specifics of the plan to you. I pray you believe. I pray that YOU darling, follow those crazy promptings of your heart. The things so wild you can’t even tell anyone. Listen to them. Follow the instincts, follow the gut feelings! They are telling you who you are.

I heard a quote that shook me into alignment. “If you don’t want to be in the top 10% of your field you are treading water.”

What would you like to be in the top 10% or better yet 1% in the world? What do you have the desire to put the effort into? What would you do paid or not?

Where is your heart?

That’s the thing I believe you are born to do.

Get it.

Live out this life the way God intended for you.

If it is from Him IT CANNOT FAIL.

Release all the potential God has placed in you, and DIE FINISHED.

Acts 13:36 Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;

God bless you, have the best week ever!

Love,

Danielle

Preparing for success!

With the new year in full swing I am certain many of us have fresh fitness & health goals!

There are 2 things that are super important to have to reach our goals.

#1 is Discipline

Discipline means being able to delay instant gratification for a greater reward in the future.

One action step to take to exercise your discipline is to set a schedule! (and stick to it!)

For example: My devotion/reading is at 5am-6am everyday, I workout 6:30am-7:30am Monday-Saturday, I go to bed at 9pm. I eat at xyzzy and I’m done eating by “this time.”

If part of your goal is weight loss/muscle gain you may even set a meal plan so you know exactly what to eat and when.

In the words of Jocko Willing from his book Discipline equals freedom.

“Don’t expect to be motivated everyday to get out there and make things happen. You won’t be. Don’t count on motivation count on discipline.”

#2 is Consistency!

When I first started working out in 2009, after being in horrible shape, smoking cigarettes, drinking way too much, and eating horribly, it took me 6 months before I saw results. BUT just because I wasn’t seeing results doesn’t mean nothing was happening! I created the habit of showing up to the gym, I learned not to make excuses, I found the workouts I enjoyed, I lost cravings, and learned the foods that left me feeling light, energized, and good!

Give yourself a fair shot to reach that '“breakthrough moment.” It takes consistency, there are no shortcuts!

Another one of my favorite quotes is from Tim Grover’s book Relentless (trainer to Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant)

“Crave the result so intensely that the work becomes irrelevant.”

YOU GOT THIS. Remember to share your good news and progress I love to hear it!

Awaken YOUR Gift NOW

There is an urgency in the air.. do you feel it?

I posted the other day on my instagram a quote, “It struck me how desperately our young people need inspirational examples of courageous and compassionate action to aspire to.”

I believe this is more true than ever. It is time for US to rise up. I’m speaking to you. You with a pure heart. You who have the fight and drive deep in your heart to see good in the world.

You who desire to conquer the darkness with light.

Consider this the confirmation you’ve been waiting for. It’s your time to step into your call, NOW.

We each have a special gifting that qualifies us to go into territories and make change. It is your unique experiences — good and bad, that qualify you to go to those places. Only YOU can do it.

You many be thinking, “I don’t really know what my call is though.” That’s ok. I am going to help you.

Here are some things I have learned about identifying your call. My intention is to awaken your gift today.

1. Think about the 3-5 people that you admire the most. Fact - you admire them the most because the gift you see in them is a gift that lives in you.

2. Identify the specific qualities in those people that you respect the most. Fact - Those are the qualities you possess that are screaming to be awakened.

3. Identify your top 3 strengths. What are you able to do so effortlessly that you don’t even consider it work or obligation? These actions/hobbies/skills are your strengths.

4. Which one of your strengths would you do, paid or not, good day or bad day, in fact it might just be the thing that keeps you sane on your worst days. This is your GENIUS. Once you identify your GENIUS, make it your aim to spend the majority of your time here. You have the capability to become an EXPERT in your GENIUS.

5. Your genius is your gift to the world. When we work in our genius, we have an overflow and are able to GIVE.

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”

John Maxwell

Put your dream to the test

Here are some resources to further ignite your calling, strengths, and genius.

John Maxwell “Put your dream to the test” & “Leadershift”

Ed Mylett “The Power of One More”

Gay Hendricks “The Big Leap”

One.Online - Pastor Roosevelt “I Quit” https://youtu.be/hxpXlCRN1Xc

The Power of Fasting

1. Certain things require 100% effort including fasting

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”

Mark 9:28-29

To the disciples question why, Jesus told them this kind (apparently a very resistant and powerful evil being) required spiritual preparation on the part of the one to cast it out, specifically prayer and fasting.

What can we learn from this? There are certain things, that require our full attention and full effort to destroy them, cause change, healing and breakthrough. If something is important enough to us we must go all in to break that stronghold!

2. We are expected to fast

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.” Matthew 6:16

Jesus is saying in this passage NOT IF you fast but WHEN you fast. He expects us to fast, he says this because he knows that power is in fasting. All throughout scripture people fasted for breakthroughs, Moses, Esther, David, Daniel, Jesus. We should follow the example of the wise and do what they did, and they DID receive blessing and breakthrough!

3. Understanding what a fast is (Read Isaiah 58)

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and you healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Isaiah 58:6-9

In this passage of scripture the Lord is telling us about the kind of fasting that he accepts, not just not eating. A fast is meant for breakthrough. You are making a commitment and decision to give up the time you would spend eating, and socializing with others that usually has to do with eating and drinking and instead use that time to spend with Him. Fasting is an expression of your commitment to God. It’s an expression that says, Father I trust you, I know that you can help me in this area, I know that you are capable of all things and I am willing to sacrifice one of my greatest desires (food) to breakthrough in this area.

4. The power of prayer

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:13-16

Prayer is powerful! What is the point of reading the Bible, of going to church, of memorizing scripture if we are just going to read it and not do anything with it!? The whole point of scripture is to realize this is God talking to us. This is our Father telling us what to do, how to be, and how to live this life! We need to grow in faith, we need to practice what scripture is telling us to do. All the reading, and praying is a waste of time if you don’t really believe anything can happen. It’s all just empty words and pretend if you don’t actually start utilizing the power that is in the word of God. We are the righteous people that the Lord is talking about in the above passage. Righteous does not mean perfect. God our Father, our Daddy, our Abba he knows we are sinners, he knows we will continue to mess up and sin, and he has already made the decision to forgive us! That is the whole reason why he sent Jesus. To be a sacrifice for our past sins and sins to come. We’ve not believed in the power that he has given us for so long, and how has that worked out? Why not give believing a shot? Prayer is powerful, praying is the conversation between you and God. You speak, his word (scripture) speaks back, you speak, your conscience speaks back (God), you speak, your peace (God) speaks back. Believe in the power of prayer.

5. There is purpose in this pain

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Genesis 45:5

So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. Genesis 45:8

Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. Genesis 50:19-21

I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Romans 9:17

God’s plan always prevails. He has a purpose in everything. Even if something doesn’t make sense to your human mind, it does make sense in God’s grand plan. We need to remember that he sees everything already, he sees the beginning the middle and the end. He is the author of life! He already wrote the end of the story and we are the ones living it! And he promises a great ending! Those who trust and believe in the Lord have victory! When we are going through something painful, or an illness it may be our testimony, this may be the part that God gets to show his glory, where you get to say to that person that never knew the Lord, “I trusted him through this and he brought me through, he healed me, he is so amazing!” and guess what? Then YOU get to save a life for eternity. Your story becomes their encouragement. We need to remember that it is not all about us. God’s master plan, his great and awesome and good good plan is about the well being of all of his children. The prayer that you may of had for God to use you may be this exact moment!

6. Worship

(Read 1 Samuel 1 )

Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." 1 Samuel 1:11

May your servant find favor in your eyes. Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, Because I asked the Lord for him.

In this passage of scripture Hannah is sad because she has been unable to get pregnant and her greatest desire was to have a son. She cries out to the Lord asking him for a son, and promises that if he would give her a son she would dedicate him to the Lord. After she says her prayer she, goes to eat, and the next morning begins to worship the Lord. She puts herself in the posture of receiving her blessing already. She begins to act as if the Lord has already given her what she has asked for. She thanks the Lord in advance for answering her prayer in her favor. She prepares her mind for her baby to come. We need to do the same! Worship in advance! Praise the Lord in advance! Put ourselves in the posture and preparation to receive what we are asking for. Act as if we already have received it. The Lord can and will deliver. It is on his timeline. If we continue to mourn we are showing no faith at all. Hannah knew to trust the Lord, she had confidence in the Lord. She believed he heard her and he did. Praise in Advance!

7. Focus during fasting

Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Joel 2:12

But there’s also this, it’s not too late- God’s personal message! Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, and sorry for your sins!(Message version Joel 2:12)

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

During your time of fasting, this is a time to get alone with God. It is for a specific purpose, whether that is healing, wisdom, revelation, breakthrough, its a focused time. You may need to eliminate activities and distractions. The time you would be eating is for prayer and reading (hearing) God’s word. You want what you are asking for so badly that you are willing to give up your desires. Make time for the Lord your Father during your fast, give it your all and be ready to receive!

Faith what is it?

What is faith? You know the song “you gotta have faith.” People say all the time “believe in yourself.” Manifesting what you want, visualizing, you’ve already heard it all! But what does it MEAN?! My thoughts exactly here are three things I've learned and am still learning about growing this faith muscle.

1. Faith means you have a vision.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

To have faith, you must be looking further than your circumstances. You must see beyond what is and into what can be! Faith requires focusing on your vision NOT on what already is.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

2. Faith takes action!

Faith prepares for what you are hoping for and you become ready to recieve it.

14-17 Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

James 2:14-17 (Message)

3. Faith does not give up!

When you have a vision, when you belive in the vision, when you believe in something with all of your heart, you do not easily give up on it. Even through hardships, disappointments, different routes, delays, you believe. Strong Faith believes no matter what and gives you the strength to continue in the face of fear and doubt. When you have faith you have joy because you understand that bad moments are only temporary! The worse thing someone could ever lose is faith — because that means you have given up! A life without faith is meaningless.

What do you have faith in? What are you believing for?

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way to get the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1 The Message (MSG)

1 1-2 I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.

The God of Glory

3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantlyfree! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

13-14 It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

15-19 That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

• I have wisdom and revelation to know God, and to continue to know him better as my Father and as my best friend.

• My eyes are focused and clear, I know exactly what you are calling me to do.

• I understand the immensity of the glorious way of life you have prepared for me in this life and even more so in the life to come.

• I understand the power that is in me, the same power you used to raise Christ from the dead. Endless energy and boundless strength.

• I understand that Jesus is ruler of everything not just now and not just in heaven. Jesus is the ruler of heaven and earth forever!

• I understand that the church - believers are the body of Christ - we are how he expresses his love. He uses us. Jesus is Lord of my life.

• The Church - us as believer's are Christ's body in which he speaks and acts, filling everything with his presence.

What are you believing for?

Whatever things you ask for in prayer, believe that you have recieved it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24

1. Ask in prayer

2. Believe you have received.

3. It will be yours.

To ask in prayer means you need to open your mouth and say what it is that you want.

Next step is believing you have recieved it, notice Jesus is using past tense - you HAVE recieved it. That means he wants you to see yourself in possession of what it is you are asking for. In the posture, in the peace, in the healthy relationship, with the healing, ECT. Visualize it!

It will be yours means. It will be yours!

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” Mark 11:23

“But when you ask, you must not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to recieve anything from the Lord. Such a person is doubleminded and unstable in all they do.” James 1:6

“Don't be afraid just believe.” Mark 5:36

WHAT ARE YOU BELIEVING FOR?

God bless you I pray that God our Father fills you with the knowledge of his will. Through the wisdom and understanding that the spirit gives. So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way! Bearing fruit in everything you do! Growing in the knowledge of God! Being strengthened with all power according to HIS glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience. And being joyful and thankful for all that is right now and all that is on the way! In Jesus name Amen! (Colossians 1:9-12)

Love,

Danielle

Trust

This is what the sovereign Lord, the Holy one of Israel says, “In repentance & rest is your salvation, in quietness & trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 King James Version

Message version:

Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come with settling down in complete dependence on me.

In this part of scripture the people were trying to do things their own way. They were trying to make things happen on their own. The Lord is basically telling them, “Relax & Trust me.” Such an easy task was hard for them to comprehend. (Familiar feeling? — I can raise my hand for that!)

In Isaiah 30 God continues to speak, saying that all who wait for him will be blessed, he says he is waiting for you to be dependent on him so that he can be gracious to you! He wants you to call to him and ask for help and he will help you! He clearly says he wants to be good to you! He continues by saying he wants to show you the way to go and he will tell you which way to go! (I summarized it : Read Isaiah 30)

Throughout scripture we are hearing the Lord speak and say trust me. David repeats in the Psalms his secret to success - trusting in none other than the Lord. Solomon continues saying trust the Lord. Jesus says trust in him. Paul says trust the Lord. Have I made myself clear? (I am asking myself this question! -Danielle do you get it yet?! Trust the Lord already! Oy Vey!) All the blessings, peace, prosperity, and joy are based in trusting the Lord.

Trust in him at all times, pour out your heart to him. Psalm 62:8

Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

Steps to Trusting God:

1.Repent - Realize your way isn’t working, admit you were in the wrong (sin) and turn to God for help. Stop doing what isnt working (sinning) Do what is right (leaves peace)

2. Rest - STOP trying to run the world and your life.

3. Be quiet - STOP the chatter in your head (and out loud!) Stop reviewing events & rehersing scenarios.

4. Trust - Trust God. Just do it. Believe what the word says, that he is good, faithful, loves you, and has a good plan for you.

5. Delight - find joy in being in God's presence (spending time with him - learning who he is and getting to KNOW him)

6. Commit - Do what your doing for the Lord, anything he would want you to do would be out of love and not selfish gain. It will benefit not hurt others.

7. Pour out - Tell God how you really feel! Get real! Pour your heart to him, let him know the questions you really have, the doubts, the fears, stop acting like he doesn’t know - he does! He wants you to ask for what you need! Throughout scripture Jesus says Ask and you shall receive, the only reasons you dont recieve are because 1. You don't ask and 2. You dont believe you will receive. Anything that is good for you (In God's perfect plan) you WILL receive. Anything that will harm you you will not.

I'll leave you with this…in writing this blog I am preaching to myself. Anything I am writing is something I am going through and I am determined to have peace in my life EVERYDAY. Faith in God and who he is and him loving me has changed my life. Sometimes its hard to believe in what you can’t see but here's a quote from a pastor I was listening to:

“IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN SOMETHING YOU WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING.”

I pray that your trust in God grows. That your mind quiets and rests. That you are filled with peace and joy that overflows. In Jesus name amen!

Love,

Danielle

Get your Peace back

I don’t know one person who would not desire to have peace. For me peace is what I desire more than anything else. What I mean by peace is an inner calm, free from anxiety, free from worry, free from fear. Some people may debate is that even possible? My answer, is yes! Through my own struggles with fear, anxiety, stress, and worry I have learned that this inner peace is possible but it is something that we must seek diligently. It’s not going to just come, you gotta actually work to get it. The peace I am talking about doesn’t dissolve problems, it creates an ability to do what you need to do in the midst of hardships and stressful moments of life. This peace that I am talking about gives you the confidence to know that even though your in a poopy situation at the moment there is an end to it.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Let’s break this down. I am the kind of person who needs to understand what words mean. So here’s some definitions.

Anxious (adjective) experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Anxious (adjective) wanting something very much, typically with a feeling of unease.

Prayer - a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.

Petition - (noun) a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause.

Petition - (verb) make or present a formal request to an authority with respect to a particular cause.

Thanksgiving - the expression of gratitude, especially to God.

Ok now that we understand what these words mean lets get the meaning out of this verse.

1. Do not be anxious about anything - God is giving us the opportunity to rely fully on him. In order to rely on him we must believe that he is our Creator, our heavenly Father, our Father who created us with a specific plan and purpose. God is saying through this scripture, there is absolutely no need to be anxious, I got you! I am your Daddy!

   I recently went to visit my niece for her 1st birthday. She does not have a worry in the world. She doesn’t worry about where her next meal is coming from she trusts that her Daddy is going to feed her, and he does! God wants this kind of relationship with us. But first we must believe he exists, and believe he is our Creator and heavenly Father. We have to realize how much he truly loves us and wants the very best for us. This is not about “religion” this is about relationship. Understanding who God is in relation to you is the foundation of the relationship, once you realize that you get the perks of being God’s kid!

   Matthew 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat? or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

   Matthew 7:7-11 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

2. Prayer & Petition - Have you ever been to a restaurant and wanted to order another item? When the waiter came over what did you do? You asked! We need to speak! Open our mouths and ask for what it is we need. We must ask God for help. “ God, I am feeling anxious about xyz, please help me in Jesus name Amen.” Prayers can be simple and direct but the point is you must ask! Remember ask and you will receive! Petition is a formal request, write down your request to God, write him your prayer! Write him a letter! If you want to overcome what you are going through badly enough you will do it. You can petition by formally asking God. “ Father my heavenly Father, my creator, I am feeling anxious about xyz, I need your help, I promise to do your will please lead me with your peace and take this anxiety from me. In Jesus name Amen.”

3. Thanksgiving - Take notice of the things your are grateful for, during your anxiety you may be focusing on all the things wrong rather than the things that are right. Even in relationships with friends and family haven’t you noticed you want to give more when someone is grateful for the things you have already given them? Thank God for all that he has brought you through. Thank him for the blessings currently in your life. Remember the former miracles. Write down 10 things you are grateful for now!

4. The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds - It’s not your body that needs God’s peace, it is your heart and your mind. That is where the anxiety rests, in your heavy heart, and anxious thoughts. God is promising to protect your heart and your mind. First acknowledge that he exists, if this is hard for you, say a simple prayer like “God, I believe you exist, but help me with my unbelief.” God is promising that if you pray, petition, and be grateful he will guard your heart, and your mind, and you will have peace! Why not give it a try, you will either be better off than you are or the same.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. What is taking away your peace?

2. What brings you the most peace?

3. Could the things that are taking away your peace be resolved? How?

Action steps to maintain peace:

1. You must seek peace. It isn’t going to just come into your life. You must evaluate what is taking your peace and find a way to either deal with it or change the circumstance. In other words you are going to have to get real with yourself. This might mean changing the people you hang around with, if they are the cause of your lack of peace, or if that is not possible this may mean changing your attitude toward the situation.

2. Stay in the presence of God. God promises peace in his presence. Staying in God’s presence means acknowledging him, his word, keeping verses in your mind instead of the garbage that causes you anxiety. Take notice when you are thinking wrong thoughts, thoughts that make you anxious, have your word weapons ready! Say in your mind or declare out loud, I am kept in perfect peace!

   You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

3. Let peace be your guide. When making decisions let peace about the situation determine if it is the best direction to go. If there is no peace about it, it isn’t from God. He promises to always lead us in peace. This will also prevent further anxieties by not getting ourselves into situations that are confusing, harmful, and hard to get out of.

   Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

May you be filled to overflowing with peace! God bless you, and thank you for reading!

Danielle

Simple Bible reading plan

Getting into a habit of reading scripture can be overwhelming, a great starting place is reading one Proverb a day. Proverbs teaches godly wisdom that is simple to understand and put into action.

There are 31 Proverbs, and most months have 31 days so it works out great!

Enjoy!

Physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:8

How to study scripture

Here are 5 ways I like to study scripture! I hope this is helpful to you too!

1. I look up what I need help with. If it’s courage I Google scriptures about that. I find it's important to have scripture be applicable to my life in real time.

2. I look up YouTube videos from people & pastors I respect on the subjects I am interested in. If it's anxiety for example I will search in YouTube. - “Steven Furtick Anxiety” or “Joyce Meyer Anxiety.” Some of my other favorite pastors/speakers who have Godly wisdom are: T.D.Jakes, Myles Munroe, Allyson Rowe, Transformation Church (relationship goals is a must listen!) One Church LA - Toure Roberts… I will have to write a blog about my favorites!

3. I look up different translations. There are different versions of the Bible, you may understand one interpretation better than another or need clarification. (MSG message version, King James, New Living Translation NLT, ect) you can also Google summaries or explanations of scriptures.

4. I let it marinate in my mind. Think on it throughout the day, write it down repeat it, ask God for understanding and wait and after it marinated you may just get it!

5. I read christian books on the subject matter I am interested in learning about. I have read “How to hear from God” by Joyce Meyer when I wanted to know how to hear Him — I highly recommend it. I've read “The Power of Vision” by Myles Munroe when I wanted to create a vision for my life and find my purpose — I also highly recommmend it. And many other books I will need to write another blog about!! The good thing about reading other books that contain scripture is that the author really breaks things down well.

I hope these tips help you! The word of God is powerful and life changing. I can testify it has transformed my entire life. God bless you!

For the word of God is alive and active.Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Four things that helped me build a relationship with God.

1. Spending time with God 1st thing in the morning.

   Even if it is just 10 minutes. Before anything I need a moment without looking at my phone, email, anything that’s going on in the world. Making this a requirement for my day changes the direction of the day for the better, always.

   So do not worry, saying “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But Seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31-33

2. Learning how to study the Bible

   Whatever subject matter I am dealing with, I will google that. For example, if I am dealing with forgiveness I will google “ scriptures that are about forgiveness.” If I am dealing with having confidence, I will google “scriptures about confidence.” This makes what you are reading applicable immediately and helpful! Even if I just read one verse, and even if I don’t understand it, I will let myself marinate on it, maybe write it down or keep it in my mind that day and let myself just meditate or think on it throughout the day. I also say a simple prayer like “God please help me to understand this, thank you!” Just watch.

   *I have Joyce Meyer’s “The everyday life” Study Bible on my phone, which also makes looking up verses based on subject matter super easy since she already divided up scriptures in the “The word for your Everyday Life” section. You just click on it and it gives you a linkable list.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double - edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

3. God speaks through peace.

Oh boy has this helped me immensely. Peaceful feelings are God saying “yes go in that direction.” Uneasy feelings are simply “No, don’t do it.”

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:26-27

4. God loves me and created me for His purpose.

This right here is life changing and to keep things 100 — I need this reminder daily. Realizing that God loves ME, Jesus loves ME, that God my creator, created ME for HIS purpose, giving me my unique gifts, desires, wants, quirks blows my mind in the best way possible! God is the creator of everything in existence and He decided to create everything that exists! Everything about you and your personality is part of your purpose. You and I are born with everything we need already to accomplish what we are here to do! Like a seed that grows into a big tree! We have everything already in us necessary we just gotta realize it and water it! There is no purpose that is too small or too big.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How prescious to me are your thoughts! (or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me!) How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand - Psalm 139:14-18

Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. Isaiah 49:1

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew (chose) you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:12-14