Faith & Inspiration

Is God Your #1?

We live in a selfish world and we are selfish creatures. It is easy to say that we are living in this world to have careers, families, etc. We base all those desires on OUR wants, but have you ever stopped and thought about what God wants for you?

The Lord has His timing for everything. You will know when the time is right when the Lord places something in your heart and tells you to just go for it. I know sometimes we make decisions and assume they are the best because it is in our own desire to make it happen. Jeremiah 29:11 says, 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 hope and a future. The Lord isn't here to set us up for doom! He has great plans for us that will come but we must seek Him in prayer and remain patient.

I have very strong desires to go back to school to earn a Master's degree. This is a goal of mine that has been placed in my heart since I was an undergrad. That goal has slowly drifted to the back of my heart. I know that NOW is NOT the time. Realistically speaking I cannot just storm into the admissions office and apply for a graduate program. You might ask, "Well why not?" The answer is simple,  Be Still, Psalm 46:10. Ask God to give you the patience you need to receive his plan for you. Ask God to be with you every step of the way until he shows you what He has planned for you. God doesn't take no for an answer, and He will show you the plans HE has for you, NOT the plans that YOU have for yourself.

This is something that I struggle with everyday and you are not alone. Putting God first can be difficult, BUT it shouldn't. Putting God first in our marriage, career, families, desires, etc should be rather easy. Ever heard the phrase "ask and you shall receive" sometimes it is fate that our desires are what God had planned for us all along. Everything we do is all in God's timing. Do not be dismayed if you time has not yet come , be patient for when He places it in your heart, then you'll know that it is time.

Coping With Mild Anxiety

Have you ever wasted so much energy being anxious over something minor? Have you had feelings of fear or worry take over your well-being? What about being angry or holding grudges against people who have hurt you?  If you have, NOW is the time to stop!

 I currently struggle with not getting along with some people at work but not because of something I did, but because of what THEY did to me. It is so easy to point fingers and remain upset at them for the rest of eternity rather than forgiving them. I literally struggle with this every day! The conflict lowered my self-esteem. I would walk by a certain person with my head down. I would also look the other way to avoid eye contact. And then one day it hit me! WHY AM I LETTING THIS PERSON BE IN CONTROL! The presence of this person was making me uncomfortable and for them it was rather gratifying to see that I have lost my self-esteem.

One day I was listening to KLOVE (Christian radio station) and the message was saying to stop worrying and cast all of your anxiety to Christ. 1 Peter 5:7 says Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (NIV). This scripture has helped me overcome mild anxiety that I have dealt with in the past. I have struggled with the fear of someone breaking into my home. We were living in an area with a lot of thefts and violence, and it was just an issue that was eating me internally. That scripture helped me overcome that fear, and I can proudly say it is not something that is constantly on my mind as fearful.

Since I have been feeling mildly anxious at work, I have turned to God and repeatedly prayed the scripture over and over again to help me overcome the awkward situation. Slowly, I have been able to walk with my head up and make minor eye contact with this person. I'm currently battling with forgiving them, and understanding that they made a mistake by hurting me. They can be forgiven just as Christ has forgiven me. It is definitely easier said than done! I do not want to be friends with this person, I just want my mind and heart to be right with Christ and it will all begin by forgiving and letting go.

 If you are currently battling through fear, worry, anxiety, or forgiveness. I leave you with this:

Philippians 4:6  Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (NLT) 

Christ forgave us for our sins, why can’t we learn to do the same for others?

As Always I Wish You Tons of Blessings and Positivity your way!

XOXO

Spiritual Sunday

So just to set the record straight, I am a new Christian and some of my views may not be agreeable but I want to share my spiritual journey.

So to continue on...

Today was the first time in about 4 months that we went to church. When we first decided to switch to Christianity, we made a commitment and were attending church every Sunday. We were very committed to attending the house of God. Our family and friends would criticize us because sometimes we would choose going to church rather than spending time with our family. It was then that I realized, "Hey I have a true relationship with Jesus, showing up to church every Sunday should not change the way I worship and pray during the week, and should definitely not change my relationship with Jesus or define my commitment to Christianity." So every so often we miss a few a weeks, but that does not change the way we have our relationship with Jesus outside of church. Something I have learned from the church that I attend, is simply that. Going to church doesn't make us good Christians, its the walk you take after that. What are you doing during the remainder of the week to follow in Jesus' steps?

Now that I am getting off topic, I mention this because last night I posted my 2017 goals and ironically, the notes from church basically covered my aspects. I still find myself astounded when God speaks to me at the right moments! I wanted to share that if you miss a week of church its not the end of eternity! Find a plan on the Bible App or on Pinterest. There are tons of bible studies you can pick up on and challenge yourself to remain committed in your walk with the Lord.

I always have worship music in my car. I love listening to Air1, KLOVE, and SOS Radio in the mornings. It makes my day start off in the right state of mind. I like saying silent prayers throughout the day while I'm at work. I like to complete prayers and readings from my Bible Binder. I like to speak to God in writing. I find it easier to express myself that way. I have been following the Lord for about three years now, and there is always room for improvement. The main reason why I titled my blog Phoenixx Diary is for that very reason. The person I was three years ago is NO WHERE near the person I am today! Phoenixx was a nick name given to me in college (but that's a whole different story that will remain personal), and I took the nickname literal! I feel like my whole life was me living in the past. Past regrets and mistakes. I was not moving forward in life and was in limbo. I find myself changing each day for the better! So that is why I say, "Find the phoenix in you!"

If you guys have any tips, bible study recommendations, etc for "newbies", definitely let me know!