Month: September 2023

Posted on

Meditation…Isn’t that kind of New Age-y?

If you’re like me then you might have shied away from meditating on Scripture for two reasons.

1) The “new age” movement has made it rather weird and off putting (in my opinion any way)

2) You don’t know what it means to meditate on Scripture – you don’t understand it or know how to do it!

Contrary to the New Age movement where meditating means to completely empty your mind… meditation, for the believer, means to fill our mind with God’s Word…to concentrate on it and think deeply about it.

Meditate on God’s Word continually

All throughout the Bible we are told to meditate on Scripture. Take Joshua 1:8 for example… I personalized the verse so that it spoke directly to my heart and mind.

God’s Word shall not depart out of my mouth, I will meditate on it day and night, that I may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then I shall make my way prosperous, and then I shall deal wisely and have good success.

So how do we meditate on God’s Word?

Here are a few simple steps to help you get started:

  1. Choose a verse like the one above or phrase that has caught at your heart or you’d like to understand it better
  2. Read the surrounding verses so that you catch the general context of your chosen verse
  3. If you’re reading on your phone take a screen shot of this verse…or you can write it out on a 3×5 card
  4. Read the verse over several times, out loud is even better. If memorization comes easily to you—memorize the verse, if not just keep repeating it over and over again—you’d be surprised…you may just end up memorizing it by accident.
  5. Think about each of the individual words in the verse. Here’s a great free Bible app to get your started with digging into the meaning of the individual words in the verse https://www.blueletterbible.org/products.cfm They also offer a free app for your phone – just type Blue Letter Bible in your app store to find it
  6. Spend time thinking about the verse you’ve chosen. I like to write out my thoughts because it helps me process through them better.
  7. Ask yourself some questions about the verse…

a. What is God saying to you?

b. Does it tell you something about God, about yourself, about how to live?

c. How will you respond to what you’ve learned?

d. Do you need to renew your mind?

e. Do you need to change something you’re doing? Stop doing something?

Take time to pray about what you’ve learned and ask the Holy Spirit to bring it back to your mind throughout the day when you have a moment to ponder the verse and what you’ve learned about it.

Here are a few images to help you find your way around the desktop version of the Blue Letter Bible…

Go to the link (#5 above). Pick a verse⬇ and add it to the highlighted area,

Then click on the highlighted area show above.

That will open up ⬇ this screen. Click any number to open up the concordance meaning of the word.

Here are a few scriptures to help you get started…just in case you’re like me and you’re mind goes blank when you’ve been given something new to try😊

📋 Joshua 1:8

📋 Isaiah 40:31

📋 Romans 5:8

📋 1 Corinthians 13

📋 Philippians 4:6-7

📋 Mark 11:22-24

📋 Hebrew 4:16

📋 Hebrews 10:23

📋 Romans 8:31, 38, 39

I’d love 💞 to hear about your experience with meditating on God’s Word. Have you done it before? Do you enjoy it? Did you find it difficult to do?

Posted on

Are You Limiting God?

Are your thoughts limiting God?

Did you know that unbelief in our hearts stops God’s hand from moving in our lives?

(All Scripture is New King James Version. Italics and emphasis added by me.)

James 1:6-8 tells us very clearly that…

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Matthew 13:58 speaks about unbelief…

Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Look how Mark 6:5 says it…

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

😖If you suffer from unbelief—God’s Word will be limited and constrained in your life—by your own choice!

🥰 But when you replace unbelief with faith and resting in the promises of God—you take the limits off God and allow Him to do a God-work in your life!

So how can we fuel our belief?

1) Fuel your belief through God’s Word

It is said that there are at least 7,147 promises in God’s Word—it shouldn’t be too hard to find at least one that speaks to your circumstance!

Simply Google “what does the Bible say about…(insert your issue here)”.

  • Write out the Scriptures that speak to you
  • Read them over and over and over again till they start ministering to your heart
  • Read them aloud with force and meaning – speak them over your life
  • Meditate on them
  • Memorize them so they’ll be with you at all times.
  • Write them on a recipe card and pop it into your pocket so you can read them whenever doubt/fear/anxiety/worry attacks

2) Fuel your belief through recalling God’s Provision in your life

Take the time to recall God’s goodness to you. Remember all the times that He has blessed you, blown your mind with His Kindness, and showed up for you when you needed Him most.

Remind yourself of the many, many times God has blessed you. Speak of them out loud. Share them with a close friend. Spend some time thinking about these times and praising God for His provision, and then tell Him how you know that He will provide for you now—just as He did then.

Speak words of thanksgiving and love to God for His provision for you. Speak words of trust. Quote verses that speak of God’s provision for your life and of the times that you’ve experienced that same provision before.

Encourage yourself in the Lord—just as David did when his life took an extreme left-turn – see 1 Samuel 30:6.

If you can’t remember any such times ask the Holy Spirit to bring them to your remembrance—that’s His job (see John 14:26)

If you have trouble remembering God’s goodness to you—I would highly recommend getting yourself a journal and start writing out each blessing God gives you—along with the date—so you’ll be prepared for the next time the enemy pours his ugly unbelief, fears, doubts, and worries into your heart!

3) Rebuke the father of all lies—your enemy the devil

Recognize that all those negative thoughts of fear, doubt, unbelief, etc—don’t come from God! They are placed in your mind by your sworn enemy—the devil! He is the father of lies.

John 8:44 NKJV tells us this exact thing:

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

As a Child of the Most High God these lies do NOT have to be a part of your life! You can reject them and tell your enemy to get away from you! Scripture even tells us how in James 4:7…

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

The Biblical definition of Submit (from https://www.gotquestions.org/submit-to-God.html) :

“to obey, put under, be subject to, submit oneself unto, put in subjection under or be under obedience or obedient to.”

Submitting to God means that we put ourselves under the command of God’s Divine viewpoint rather than our own very human viewpoint. It’s surrendering our will to God’s Will. It’s realizing that we see with our human eyes but God, who knows the beginning from the end (Isaiah 46:10) sees the end result of our actions. He will guide us in the way that will have the best end for us—even though we don’t yet see how it could benefit us.

Submitting to God means acknowledging Him as King of our lives and our Lord and Savior. We put ourselves under His authority and are obedient to what He is asking us to do.

When we submit ourselves to God—our enemy…the devil will flee from us. After all our Daddy is way bigger and far more powerful than our enemy is!

1 John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

We have also been given the authority to command demons to leave. Here are just a few verses that speak about the authority we have…

Luke 10:19 tells us…

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Luke 9:1

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,

There are more verses that speak to this—all you need to do is Google them or use a Concordance.

The more you believe and trust God…the more He can work in and through your life. The abundance or lack of it that you receive in your daily life is totally up to how much of His Spirit…and all the good things He’s given you through Him…you allow to flow into your life!

Which one of the things listed above ⬆ will you start implementing in your life today?

Posted on

Do You Have Faith Like a Child?

Have you ever wondered how you can have faith like a child?

I know I have! That’s why today I’d like to share a growing understanding I have that’s really helped me…so I thought it might just help you too!

In Matthew 19:14 we are told…

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

“For of such”—the kingdom of heaven is filled with this “kind or sort of character” according to Strong’s Concordance. That means that the kingdom of Heaven is filled with those who have the same simple trust in their Father that a child has in their daddy!

Think of that…🤔 Having the same absolute faith in the Word of God as a child has in their parent. When a child’s daddy says something–then that’s what it’s going to be.

Just like a child we need to take God’s Word at face value. We need to read the Word and know that it means what it says and says what it means. To take God’s promises literally—just as a child takes their parents at their word!

When God says it—then IT IS! And that’s all there is to it. No wondering if it is so! No doubting! No worrying! No unbelief!

God said it—therefore it is!

For a child—when daddy says he will do something—then it will be done. For a child—their daddy can protect them from anything.
For a child—their daddy is stronger than the strongest person in the world.
For a child—their daddy is superman and their mommy is superwoman.
For a child—as long as dad or mom are around everything is right in the world.
For a child—they can play without worry because they are always safe.
For a child—if daddy or mommy says it—then it simply IS

It’s no different for us…as adults. If our Daddy—God—says it in His Word—THEN IT IS!!!

We MUST learn to take God’s Word at face value! When He promises us something we can take it to the bank!

BUT we have been taught to doubt and distrust God’s Word…

Ever had these thoughts?

  • Maybe that promise isn’t for you
  • Maybe that promise isn’t meant for today
  • Maybe you’re not understanding it correctly
  • Maybe God didn’t mean it to say what you think it’s saying
  • Maybe God wants you to suffer through this because you need to learn something
  • Maybe that’s for others but “I’m not good enough” to deserve that

And so we talk ourselves out of hope and as we do so we take the power right out of God’s Word—making it of no effect in our lives. We strip God of His power and then we wonder why He isn’t answering our prayers, cries, moans, fears, and tears.

Unless we believe—how can God do anything in our lives?

Our unbelief can keep God’s Promises at arm’s length

Here are just 3 of many Scriptures that give a pretty good picture of just what doubting and unbelief can do to our faith…what they can cost us…

Hebrews 3:12-15, 18-19

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today”, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 11:16

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

James 1:6-8

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

We must have that same faith that a little child has in his/her Daddy!

The… “My Daddy can do anything!” kind of faith.

We need to display the “MY Daddy is bigger than yours and he’ll beat your daddy up!” kind of faith—when we come face to face with our enemy! Why? Because it’s True. Search God’s Word to see if it isn’t so!

I dare you to Google “God’s promises in the Bible” and start meditating on the verses you find there. Here’s one source to get you started: https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/gods-promises-verses-in-the-bible/

Meditating on God’s Word increases our faith

Meditating means to roll it over and over in your mind. To read it again and again and again. To think about what you are reading. To ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His Truth to you from that promise.

Write it out over and over again. Speak it out loud. Write it down on a recipe card and carry it in your pocket or purse and pull it out to read and think about while you’re waiting at a red light. During your commute to work—if you’re not driving of course. During your lunch break… coffee break…at bedtime.

Every free moment you have—pull out that card and think about what it says and how God will bring it to pass in your life. See yourself living this promise in your life. Imagine it happening in your life. Praise God for working out His promise in your life.

Praise Him even when you don’t yet see it happening in your life!

If it’s in the Bible then it is true!

It’s as true for you today as it was in the time that the Bible was written. God doesn’t change with the passing of time (Read Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17). His Word is as True and as accurate today as it was in the time of the Disciples.

Trust Him in the same way as a little child trusts her/his daddy—and then watch and see what He will do for you. His Word is Truth.

Isn’t it about time we start believing that God’s Word says what it means and means what it says?

If someone you love could use help or encouragement in this area of their lives…please share this article with them!

Posted on

Welcome to My Blog – Living In The Fullness of God

Welcome to My Blog – Living In The Fullness

Here we will talk about how it’s possible live our lives to the fullest whether it’s in the area of our spiritual well-being, our physical health, or our emotional health. If any one of these parts of our being are sick or in trouble then we are sick.

Living whole - body, soul, and spirit

In my 67 years of living…and especially in the last 6 years…I’ve learned the importance of living a balanced life – body, soul, and spirit! If there’s a problem in our body we’ll feel it in our mind and emotions. If there’s a problem in our spirit we’ll feel it in our emotions or our body. And so on…

For instance:

Did you know that if you find yourself feeling depressed it’s your soul signaling you that it’s starving for some positive input? It’s telling you that it’s time to read your Bible or other inspirational/teaching book…learn something new…or watch a motivational or inspirational video…or listen to a good Biblical teacher. (Email me for a list of Bible teachers I enjoy listening to and learning from.)

Your soul is not being fed and one of the ways it tells you is through a feeling of unexplained sadness, emptiness, longing, or even depression!

Living In The Fullness will focus primarily on Spiritual health from a Biblical point of view…

But… it’s truly impossible to speak about the health of our Spirit without touching on the health of our body and soul as well. They’re all intimately connected. None of these individual parts can live outside of the other two.

In future blog posts I will be sharing the things I’m learning about Living in the Fullness in our Spirit, soul, and body.

I’ll share my thoughts and experiences as I put what I’m learning into practice in my life.

Why am I writing this blog?

Because I want to share my heart with you in a way that I simply can’t do in an Instagram or Facebook post!

  • Will it be perfect? Nope! Very unlikely!
  • Will it be interesting to read? I certainly hope so! Feel free to let me know if it isn’t.
  • Will it be funny? That’s up to you. I don’t really think I’m funny – but some people I know think I am.😊
  • Will it be thought-provoking? I’m guessing it will be. The things I’ve been learning lately have certainly provoked of lot of thought on my part!
  • Will it be every day? Nope! I live a busy life as a Jesus-loving…wife, mom, Grandma, DIY homemaker, entrepreneur, and small business owner. But I am hoping to add something here on a semi-regular basis.

I look forward to getting to know each one of you better. I’d love it if you left a comment to tell me who you are and where in the 🌎 you live.