Sunday Encouragement

I got the sweetest email from a reader this week.

She wanted to tell me that she had a bad day and had a moment when “she lost it.”

She said, “I immediately went to Beneath My Heart to regroup and restore my dignity. I thought to myself, “would Traci have lost it like I did?” And I mean I lost it, sister!”

Oh, sweet girl.  Here is the answer to  your question..  “YES, I would have lost it.” 

I “lose” it at least once a day, sometimes more.  Sometimes I sort of lose it and sometimes I totally lose it, but believe me…I lose it.  {Just ask my husband and kids.  For some reason they compare me to a volcano?  Go figure.}

She also wrote to me, “Also, please pray for me, if you get a spare second. I am trying to hand all my stuff to God, but I feel like I don’t want to be a burden. I know that it’s okay to do this, but there are people with so many other big problems and mine feel so insignificant.”

First of all, I am praying for you.

Secondly, You are NEVER a burden to God.  EVER.

I know how you feel.  Sometimes I feel like it is so shallow to pray to God about my little problems when there are people around me suffering in such greater ways.

But friend, God doesn’t look at it that way.

source

Those cares and burdens that we carry are what He died for on the cross.  He died to set us free from those things that weigh us down.

He knows your heart.  He loves your heart.  He wants to carry those burdens for you.

When you hear those voices in your head that tell you that you are being a burden to God, or that your sufferings are not of value to Him…DO NOT LISTEN.

Those words are not from God, and they are not from you, even though you may think they are.

Those lies are from Satan who tries His best to keep us from a relationship with God.

So I am going to tell you what I tell my sons when they hear those negative words in their heads.

Just say, “Shut up, Satan!  I am not going to listen to your lies.  God loves me, and I will listen to what HE says about me!”  {And yes, I told them it is okay to say “shut up” when you are talking to Satan.}

It’s not always easy to do, I know.  I struggle with negative thoughts all the time. But we need to take every negative thought and replace it with God’s word.

Here are some scriptures to help you, {I mean US}…

You are forgiven. Ephesians 1:8

You are victorious.  1 John 5:4

You are not helpless.  Philippians 4:13

You are protected.  John 10:28

You are not alone.  Hebrews 13:5

You can be strong.  Ephesians 6:10

You are dearly loved.  Colossians  3:12

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Psalms 139:14

You have peace.  Ephesians 2:14

May God’s word fill you with the peace that only HE can give.

Blessings,

Traci