Did you know giving helps us to flourish? Let’s talk about it!
Giving is simply providing love or other emotional support to someone else. Giving to others doesn’t just benefit them; we benefit from giving as well.
Giving provides a social connection. Volunteering with an organization allows you to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about the same cause. As Christians, we understand community is everything and is extremely necessary to our growth in Christ.
Giving is good for your health! Fo’real! Giving lowers stress levels, decreases blood pressure, and is also associated with living longer! Yes! GIVING! Scientists have found the act of giving releases endorphins in the brain called “Helpers High,” which causes people who give to feel happy!
If that hasn’t sold you on the importance of giving, let’s go to the Word.
Today’s Scripture comes from 2 Corinthians 9:7 –
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion (NLT says “ or in response to pressure”) , for God loves a cheerful giver.
How will you be a blessing to others? Be intentional about your giving. Create a plan for making sure you are giving daily. Remember, giving isn’t always monetary. It can be helping someone if you can do it, sharing your lunch, or giving a compliment or encouragement.
What are your biggest dreams? Think of the impossible things you’d like to see come into your life—and dream big. Want to give your vision a jumpstart? Start by writing down your goals and then use these questions to make your dreams come true faster.
1. What’s your highest priority in this lifetime?
What’s most important for you to experience, explore or embrace this time around? Maybe you want to travel the world or go to an Ivy League college. Until you can answer this question, your life goals will be off purpose. When your intentions are unaligned with your inner passion, they will lack the power to attract the people and situations necessary to become reality.
Get clued into your true joy. What activities did you enjoy as a child? What are your hobbies now? When your goals are aligned with your soul, synchronicity kicks in to guide you to your target.
2. Is this your dream, or someone else’s?
Are your goals your own choice, or what others think you should strive for? Are you all wrapped up in making other people happy by doing what they want or by fitting into other people’s visions for your life? Do you want to look back in your old age and wish you had followed your passion? Will you regret having “played it safe?”
It’s not selfish to follow your own dreams. Only you can determine what path is right for you. What joy can you share with others if you haven’t given it to yourself first?
3. Are you settling for less than?
Are you resigned to accepting less than your full share of love, health, and success this lifetime? Have you compromised and sacrificed your dream? It’s not too late to change paths and follow your dreams.
Anything short of living your true passions will never make you happy.
4. What will you feel like when you reach your dream?
Imagine that all your dreams have come true. Really focus on that feeling of accomplishment, and let it sit with you. Personal passion fuels a vision. Dive into the thrill and exhilaration of the feeling of living your dream.
The Hawaiian Kahuna say, “Where your creative attention flows, so flows your life.”
5. What steps can you take today toward your dream?
Don’t defer your dream. Set up supports and systems around you to instantly translate your intentions into action. Surround yourself with people who are supportive of your aspirations. Seek out mentors who will encourage you to pursue your goals. Jump on every opportunity that is in line with your purpose and vision.
Are there smaller projects that lead to your larger dream? If the dream is to run a marathon, train for a local fun-run first. And find a way to measure your progress. Track those little wins by writing in a journal or telling a friend.
6. Are you telling yourself: “I can’t have my dream?”
Most people don’t believe they can live their dream. Either their belief system has them believing they can’t make a living doing what they love, or they feel they don’t deserve their dream. To avoid the pain of feeling they can’t have their dream, people often keep their dream so buried they can’t remember they ever had a dream. Keep your dreams at the forefront of your thoughts by reminding yourself every day what you’re striving for.
Everyone has a dream! And everyone is destined to fulfill that purpose. Why wait?
There are moments in which I take a serious pause with a jolting stop with the hydraulic actions-Iike a car with switches. Y’all don’t know nothing about that bounce! Ha! Did I tell you that in the 10th and 11th grade my crew wore the blue… and that wasn’t Dallas blue. Well I was more of a friend of the crew or more like a girlfriend of one of the crew. Even then I had much love for being in a community. Quite frankly a lot of my identity came from being “in community”. Whether that being in a social club, sorority, crew, life group aka cliques it’s all the same. But one thing at this seasoned salt age, I’ve really that I’m really tired of people,places and things that require me to lose myself in the process.
I’ve always felt the pressure to fit in. There’s always been a gap between what I want to be and what I think the world thinks I should be which turned me into a social chameleon.
I tried to be the person I felt I should be so I’d blend in with those around me, whether that meant spending a Friday night at the club or attending a corporate meeting at the head office it all required dedication.
So without even realizing it I would change myself, my desires, and sometimes even my opinions to fit into whatever mold was required at the time. But if you’re constantly trying to prove your worth to people, it may be true that you’ve already forgotten your value and that’s where I am today!
There was always a difference between what I wanted and what I thought I should want—my opinion and the norm of society somehow differed—and I’d always assumed I must be the one off beam.
This leads to a life of sacrificing ourselves to please others, living their dreams at the expense of our own.
Reflection Questions
Are you losing yourself—in work and busyness, addiction to success, pleasing others, trying to be or appear perfect, accepting your cultural programming, following default options, or a relationship?
What will you do, starting today, to bring more of yourself back into your life—to be unapologetically YOU?
The world offers you many solutions to your fear. Anxiety medication, relaxation techniques, psychotherapy exercises or even escapism through alcohol or drugs.
But here’s what God offers you:
Him.
God offers you the peace of His love, the steadiness of His protection, the rock solid foundation of His promise.
And His promise is that if you step into the legend He created you to be, you WILL succeed.
It doesn’t matter what other people say. There IS greatness in you. God designed you to reach your full potential, to be powerful beyond measure, to have success and joy and abundance in your life.
Don’t let fear make you quit. Don’t let the terror of what “could” happen affect how you take the next step forward.
As a daughter of Christ you’ve been given the incredible gift of God’s peace. This means you don’t have to let the fear trouble your heart, you don’t have to let the unknown shake your fight.
You can leave it in God’s hands because He knows exactly what He’s doing. Believe me, sister of Christ, you can do everything God designed you to do.
He knows exactly what He’s doing.
So stop quitting. Stop giving up. Fight your way through the fear. Fight your way through the hardship. Fight yourself through the struggle.
Trust in God’s peace, trust in God’s strength, trust that you are BIGGER than any fear trying to get in your way.
You are BIGGER than any fear standing in your way.
As I stare down the barrel of 50, everything has a new sense of urgency…..
In other words: time never felt so precious.So short. I have to outrun this aging body and try to check off the items on my bucket list in a decade or two.
There’s no time to spare!
It’s alarming to me to look back on my youth and realize how much time I wasted. I know you might be tempted to reassure me, to assert that I didn’t waste anything, that everything ended up meaning something.
Well, I’m sorry to inform you — believe me, I am — that I really, truly did waste time.
You see, I was always waiting for something or someone to get things started. Sure, I was pretty proactive when it came to my writing. I regularly worked on my craft and reached out to magazines and publishers, hoping to catch an opportunity.
But every other part of my life felt confusing and overwhelming. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t even know I could do or start something. For a good block of my years I’ve wasted it on pursuing dreams or aspirations that quite frankly I don’t even know why they were aspirational goals in the first time.
Life, however, is not a race against others. It’s a personal journey, unique and significant in its own way. Embrace the fact that you are on your own path, with its own set of challenges and triumphs, learning and growth. It doesn’t matter how fast you go or what others are doing. How much you grow, learn, and enjoy along the way matters. Celebrate your achievements, however small they may seem, and embrace your failures as opportunities for learning and growth. Let your journey be driven by your own goals, values, and passions, not by the desire to outdo others. Ultimately, it’s all about running your own race and finding joy in your journey.
I believe we all have greatness from within and the challenge is to spend time enough to discover it. So I’m making this personal declaration today that I’m going to cease the second half of my life and I’m choosing to do it my way!
When it comes to freedom, we often associate the term with work or things that bring us stress. We fail to realize that freedom is associated with our spiritual well-being and our ability to surrender to God and obey his plan for our lives. The Word of God stands true and leaves us with instructions on how exactly Jesus set us free through his life, sacrifice, death, and resurrection.
As we celebrate another 4th of July, I would like you to pause and consider this.
What’s getting in the way of you engaging more regularly with joy?
A negative mindset?
An unproductive habit?
A self-limiting belief?
Is there something that you need to free yourself from so you can experience more or deeper happiness?
As for me, I’ve been working on my belief that a jam-packed schedule is the only way to demonstrate productivity and value. Instead, I am leaning into the power of breaks, the value of rest and play, and the importance of letting go of the guilt that makes me think that I need to “make up” that time on the next day. How am I doing this? Glad you asked! I have made the commitment to fully reclaimed back my Fridays! That’s right no meeting Fridays unless they are critical! It has been so liberating to say the least….
You should try it. And if it’s not Friday’s how can you maximize the time you have? How can you use your time more wisely on things that bring an upside curve on your mouth?
What can you let go to lighten your shoulders and engage in more smiles? That’s how you make this “independence day” count! Let Freedom Ring!
Affirmations are a self-help strategy used to promote self-confidence and belief in your own abilities.
You’ve probably affirmed yourself without even realizing it by telling yourself things like:
“All I can do is my best.”
“I’ve got what it takes.”
“I believe in my ability to succeed.”
These simple statements help shift your focus away from perceived failures or inadequacies and direct your focus toward your strengths — those you already have and those you
want to develop.
But do they actually work? Kind of.
Affirmations generally work as a tool for shifting your mindset and achieving your goals, but they’re not a magic bullet for instant success or healing.
For example, you might replace a negative or anxious thought, like:
“I’m so terrible at interviews. I’m probably not even as qualified as the other candidates. There’s no way they’ll hire me, I should just leave.”
With a positive affirmation:
“I have all the necessary skills and experience, and I’m the perfect candidate for this job.”
Using affirmations may help you feel more relaxed before your interview, and knowing you’re fully prepared can also help you avoid self-sabotaging thoughts or behaviorspotentially interfering with your success.
Remember, action is key
Repeating an affirmation can help boost your motivation and confidence, but you still have to take some action yourself. Try thinking of affirmations as a step toward change, not the change itself.
Consider that nosy co-worker who always asks questions about your personal life. You don’t want to say anything to offend, but you also have no intention of answering their questions.
An affirmation like “I can remain calm even when I feel annoyed” might guide you to a habit of deep breathing or grounding exercises when you start to feel your blood boil.
These tactics, combined with your affirmations, help you get through the stressful moment until you can politely make an escape.
The affirmation didn’t make the change, you did. But it did offer a starting point.
What are you focusing on today? Are you focusing on your situation, or on God’s promises? You may have all kinds of problems coming at you. Maybe you’re feeling discouraged as new problems and challenges have popped up in your life. I have an iPhone and there is a new setting that allows you to take pictures in portrait mode. This feature allows you to focus on the object of interest and somewhat blur the other surrounding areas. When someone asks what they should do to ensure the power of God continues to work in their lives for unending peace and prosperity, I give them a simple answer: focus your mind on the Lord the same way you focus your camera lens on an object to get a clear image. When your mind (thoughts, emotions, and attention) is focused on God’s Word, you’re guaranteed to always walk in peace and prosperity. Your mind is a powerful tool given to you by God for transforming your life from glory to glory. If you’d give the right attention to the word of God, it doesn’t matter the storms that come against you, you’ll be at rest because the Lord Himself keeps you in “perfect peace.”
The Hebrew word for “peace” in Isaiah 26:3 is “shalom,” which describes the “rest” of God, wherein is prosperity, health, strength, and salvation. This means that you can be as prosperous, successful and healthy as you want to be if you yield your mind to God’s Word. But if we lose our focus, we are susceptible to the darkness. If you’re currently walking in spiritual darkness, I encourage you to shift your focus. Focus your eyes on Jesus and His glory. The Word of God is your secret to a miraculous and supernatural life. So keep your focus on God’s Word and divine peace and prosperity will be your continuous experience. Don’t let it get you down. Don’t let it take your focus off of God.
Prayer for Today
Jesus, thank You for bringing light into my spiritual darkness. I confess that sometimes I focus on the things of this world rather than setting my sights on You. Help me to shift my focus. I want to look upon Your glory and have it transform me. In Your name I pray, Amen.
It’s clear that in life we all will experience many uncontrollable challenges on a daily basis and some are greater than others. Our lives have many facets with work, home, family, friends, colleagues, partners and perhaps children as well. And over the years, no doubt, commitments have crept in, almost unnoticed, to the point where, whether you know it or not, there are probably multiple versions of you juggling lots of different plates. During the time that I started writing this blog, I changed jobs twice yet within the same organization and there have been several times when the feeling of being overwhelmed has crept in like a dark shadow. But, it doesn’t have to be that way if you know how to control the controllables. For this moment, think about how many versions of you there are. There’s the personal you with family and friends, the professional you with colleagues and bosses, you in a relationship, you as a parent, as well as just you being you. Each version of you has to meet different demands and expectations. Each version of you dialed up or down as you and your life evolve.
Managing the tensions between these various versions of me is something I’ve had to learn and, if I’m candid, am still learning, as new demands and challenges arise. The answer isn’t to become universally excellent at all of them, but to understand which one requires the most attention at any given point. Remember, there are many versions of you but only one physical you. One thing I learned is the value of saying no because every time you say ‘yes’ to something unimportant, you are saying ‘no’ to something important. Remember you can’t be all things to all people. Know your priorities. Know your goals. Know what needs to get done over the coming weeks, months and years for you to feel that you have played your best game. And, say ‘no’ to everything else.
Sure, some people around you might not be happy. But would you rather live your life according to the approval, rules and demands of others, or be aligned with your truth, your dreams and your goals?
What are you going to say ‘no’ to today, tomorrow, next week and next month, to ensure you achieve personal and professional success?
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, as we begin to take steps in the direction of our purpose, we ask that You give us wisdom, insight and patience. We ask in faith that as Your word promises us, that You will give us wisdom in every small and big decision as we further step into our purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.”
Genesis 16:9 NLT
I’m not a fan of the movie The Color Purple. Maybe because of the physical and mental abuse. However, there were a few songs that I will always remember, and one of them was sung by the infamous character Shug Avery while she was singing in her father’s church belting, “God is tryin’ to tell you somethin’.” Sis, it’s time for you to seek God’s power for your healing. You can’t sit in this dark place forever. It’s time to shift. It can start with that subtle feeling inside, leading you toward a path you never thought to travel. Maybe it’s the small voice that whispers in your mind to think toward a different perspective than the one you have now. Or, it could be hearing a word from God that you think isn’t possible, only to hear it confirmed over and over by others who had no knowledge of this message beforehand. When we are at a crossroad in life or just feel a stirring in our hearts for more than our present circumstances, this is usually when God might be telling us something we need to hear or do. God calls us to seek Him daily for answers, requests and peace that comes from obedience and trust in Him. When we make it a point to follow Him, He can open up more of the plan He has in store for each of us. So, if God is telling you to do something, your willingness to surrender will activate His intervention and blessings. God will answer your prayers when the time is right. Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace. Anytime you don’t have peace in your heart about something or feel uneasiness, that’s a sign that you should stop and pray to make sure you are in line with God’s plan for your life.
Remember, His plans for you are good. He leads you by peace and fills you with His joy. Trust me, it will get better in due time. In today’s reading I don’t want you to miss this divine moment, because God is trying to tell you something right now. He is telling you to get back up, take the lead, speak up, shake the dirt off your shoes and start over again but this time with Him. Now is the right time to move with the authority and power of the Holy Spirit. Now is the time to tell the enemy you are done living this mundane life with no zeal and joy. God is trying to tell you something, you just need to pause and listen.
Prayer for Today
God, thank you for all you’ve done for me throughout my life, even while You were knitting me inside my mother’s womb. I can’t thank You enough for all You have done for me, especially in sending Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Lord, prepare my heart to follow Your call. Help me be alert and ready for when You call me to do something, go somewhere, or to change something about myself to shine my light for You. Lead me to where You need me most and I thank you for believing and loving me. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Excerpt from Breakthroughs and Bless YOU’s Devotional Journal
