Are you struggling to hear God’s voice or discern what He’s asking of you?
I know what it’s like to want that so desperately. In my experiences as a wife, mom, and ministry leader I’ve had many moments where I felt stretched way too thin and spiritually malnourished.
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God Devotional was born out of my own desire to grow closer to God through saying “yes” to Him every day. And I’m so excited to share it with you for the very first time.
Here’s a peek into the pages of the devotional, complete with Scripture, thought, prayer, and reflection questions for the day.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good
to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
(Genesis 50:20)
Thought for the Day: God untangled my need for approval with the challenge to live for an audience of One.
Whenever I’ve stepped out to do something I felt God calling me to do, the voices of criticism and condemnation have been there to greet me. Early on in ministry the voices were loud and cruel. “You’ll never be a speaker.” “You are not wanted.” “Look at you. Do you really think God could use someone like you?”
Sometimes I measured myself against other people. “She’s so clever. She’s so educated. She’s so connected. Who am I compared to all that?” Gradually, I shrank back. I pulled away. I put up a front of perfection with carefully crafted words and a house and kids that looked just right. Polished on the outside yet completely undone on the inside.
Eventually the Lord called my bluff. He’s good at that. I was simultaneously going through the books Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Victory Over the Darkness by Neil Anderson. Often I would have tears stream from my eyes while attempting to get through the lessons. But one day it was more than just tears. It was sobs pouring from a chest so heavy with burdens I thought I might literally break apart.
Down on my face, I asked God to speak to me. What I heard in reply was one simple yet life-changing question: “Will you share your story?”
“Yes, I will share my story. The good parts. The parts that are safe and tidy and acceptable.”
But safe and tidy and acceptable were not what God was looking for. He wanted the impossible.
Totally impossible.
Absolutely impossible…in my strength.
But God wouldn’t drop it. He met every one of my arguments with Scriptures about relying not on my strength but on Him.
He untangled my need for approval with the challenge to live for an audience of One. He helped me see where the voices of doubt were coming from and challenged me to consider the source. And, quite simply, He kept whispering He loved me over and over again.
The first time I shared my story was nothing but an act of absolute obedience. I kept my head down and my guard up. I expected the ladies listening to all start stoning me…especially when I got to the part about my abortion. The shame of all the abuse and rejection was nothing compared to the shame of my choice to abort my child.
I’d wept over that choice.
I’d repented.
I’d gone to God hundreds of times and asked for forgiveness.
I’d laid it down every time there was an altar call.
But nothing brought the redemption that this day brought. As I stood shaking at that podium, I shared exactly what and how God asked me to share.
And then the miracle happened.
When I finished and dared to look up at their reactions, tearstained faces were looking back at me. Mouths were whispering, “Me too. Me too.” In that moment, I finally understood “what Satan means for evil, God can use for good.”
Seeing God use the very thing that made me feel utterly worthless to help others changed everything. I was finally breaking free from Satan’s chains of shame and could see his lies for what they were.
In that moment, I felt victorious—not in my own power, but in the Lord’s strength and ability to use all things for good. Without that decision of obedience, I would not have been able to see how God wanted to work in the lives of so many women that night.
My saying yes to God gave others the courage to say yes to Him as well. Burdens were lifted. Lives were changed. Hidden secrets were touched by grace. It’s a beautiful thing when women say yes to God. In what way is He calling you to say yes?
Dear Lord, thank You for making the impossible, possible. Thank You for taking every event in my life and using it for good. You are worthy to be praised. I want to follow Your plan for my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflect and Respond:
What has God placed on your heart to share with others?
Be intentional in encouraging someone with a compliment, positive note, or text message today. The Lord wants to use our words and actions in our own lives as well as in the lives of others.
I’m giving away 5 copies of the devotional today!
To be entered to win, leave a comment below with an answer to the reflection question: “What has God placed on your heart to share with others?”
Good morning Lysa,
Like you I also made a terrible mistake of having an abortion many years ago and of course God forgave me. I did go through many years of regret but God’s grace got me through it as I put it in the back of my mind or try to. But one day at church as my pastors mom was speaking about how God is merciful on the woman that had abortions and that our babies are in heaven with God, as I heard this message I wept with tears of relieve and I knew that God had forgiven me. Thank you for sharing your story and I too have shared my story with a family and friends to help them understand God’s grace and mercy. May the good Lord continue to Bless you and your ministry.
God has placed on my heart to share the Women Who Say Yes To God study. I want to make available my lessons learned and struggles that I face and my weaknesses and my victories…anything God impresses on me to share. No more hiding behind that shiny veneer of “everything’s fine!!!” I just want others to know the freedom that Christ gives us and that He is there, holding us up and cheering us along. So, I will be blogging my journey through this OBS: http://womenwhosayyes.wordpress.com
I can’t wait to get started!!!
I want to share with you about letting go. I struggle with giving God my worries/troubles. I’ve recently gotten sick over the anxiety and stress of the burdens I carry. God is my rock, and I need to get my childlike faith back and fully rely on Him!!!!!! 🙂
God has recently impressed upon me to share with a particular woman that it’s okay to not be okay all the time. And in sharing my struggles with a sister, I found out that she has the EXACT struggles that I do! We all walk around with masks on, pretending we have it all together — yikes!
Today I was sitting and hearing some lovely songs on HIM and then as I moved to some of my fav numbers in Tamil , a strange but yet a profound thought crossed my mind.. Some of these numbers pull the deepest strings of my soul and in atypical behaviour theory – these are called conditioning of the mind. That is we hear specific things/ specific sounds/ see some signs and some thoughts will reflect in our memory .. it may be pulling out old files and revisiting them.. the good bad and the best all of them come out… In one such thought of a song that Ananth had made me hear saying this is for me– suprisingly i chanced to hear it yesterday and today too… as it appeared on you tube (later i realised i have it downloaded in my phone – but have avoided hearing it ) …. It pricked me that you are feeling for some of these memories because you have never mourned them…. then i just closed my eyes and asked god.. “should i mourn them at all? , lord- have i lost anything at all? or is it them who have lost me? How should i construe it? How do i console myself.. if at all it hits me deep within and i go spiralling in nostalgia?”
He replied .. “Emma, you mourn or you feel the hurt when you feel that you have lost.. stop that thought. Whether they have lost you or not, is for them to correct their lives about”
Me : “How do i stop the thought? These are automated ., :)”
He replied .. ” Emma, have you let the dam flow from your mind ever? have you let yourself drown and remove these unto me yet?”
Me : “No… i ve never mourned any loss.. taken it in a stride that i thought is mine..” “I understand you lord… i am still in the realm of my doing to wash this away… let me move this to you .. let me mourn unto you”
A profound message for me…
MOURNING TO HAVE LIFE
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Little did I know that I yet have to mourn,
Thinking I am steadfast, I continued to pull the shots;
Wondering what is in for me , I moved my pawns,
Not knowing what it can do to me, I craved the past;
Today, when hurt yet again in nostalgia,
Feeling the want of that one aspect in my life,
I tried to shrug and push it under the carpet;
HE stopped it saying, things can never hide under the mat;
Take it out , crush it with me, mourn unto me,
Throw it in the dust, you cant do it, but I can HE said;
Why do i hold on to it, I thought,
A small hope of having back all lost?
I shall give you new land and new hope, HE said
Yes lord, so shall I wait, I cried,
Your mourning is only till you know your value HE beamed,
Never have I given me so much importance lord, I said;
You need not, the world will,
You need not, I will,
Look into my kingdom and it shall all be yours,
Never to mourn again for anything that you think is lost;
What a powerful promise I wondered,
Lord, do i deserve it ever, I felt,
He smiled and told unto me, my Emma you are forever,
I lay prostrate in soul and thought and thanked for the glory of mourning today;
Let the dams burst and wash away the feel,
Let the thoughts burn and dust away,
In HIS name, I shall never want to mourn again,
For HE has cast every one of them out of the mind’s pane,
Wanting to show me that I am holding my past,
HE has pushed me today to mourn unto him till i am lost,
Oh, it soothes me, I want to cry,
Oh, it makes me run so that I can fly;
Wanting to make me exceed beyond excellence,
HE has moved the mountains in my mind,
I know HE carries me on HIS shoulder,
For there can never be anyone throwing at me any boulder!
In HIM I live,
In HIM alone shall I die,
With HIM alone I shall cry,
As HE alone can make me fly
Amen!
Oh my goodness- to not be afraid to reach out to Christian woman who believe in a different ‘flavor’ to the way I do. That’s us ok to not believe in everything the same- I can sill learn about faith and love.
Hey Lysa. For just over the past 2 1/2 years my husband and I have been & are missionaries in Zimbabwe. As Australians, we know what it is to live in a 1st world country…. to live with all those distractions…… coming away from that & living in a 3rd world country that is presently facing such enormous upheaval……. I can only run to God (my Hiding Place) & seek His wisdom & His will for my life. Every day is a battle ….. hearing the voice of the evil one (distractions) I am soooo looking forward to studying His word & everyday saying ‘yes’ to Him….. no matter the cost! Would you pray that I have the courage to share my story one day soon? Having a Devotional on exactly that would be awesome.
God has recently placed on my heart to take action by trusting in His power and provision to accomplish that which he wants me to do whether it is mentoring the local neighborhood kids at day camp or at church with my young women’s group.
I really needed to hear this today. I’m struggling with feelings of negativity toward a friend who has lied and spread gossip about me. Thank you. I want to share with women that God is there, no matter what, and regardless what others do He is there always.
My faith has been tested recently, God has impressed upon me the importance of trusting in Him and Him alone. Heaven is my goal and I am just a visitor here on earth. I want to fix my eyes upon Jesus and stop the worry and pain. He is my healer and my God. Nothing else should matter. I am no longer afraid of what today has in store for me. Jesus will prevail.
Lysa! You’ve done it again! Your words to go straight to my heart. I woke up sleepless and decided to read your blog…and I am left in tears. Yesterday I was recalling the story of how you came to adopt your boys–what a beautiful act of obedience. It has been especially meaningful to me as my family is currently in the adoption process. I need the examples, like yours, of courage in the face of fear. My fears flood me and paralyze me even now–months away from having our child home with us. As I look deeper at my fears, The Lord has been showing me that at the root are extreme feelings of inadequacy. Your blog this morning brought up memories–I carry them around with me like weights. See, I have two children who, of course, are imperfect like all humans are…yet I blame my shortcomings for their every flaw. And now, with the adoption, comes an extra pressure…that my inadequacies as a parent will be on display. I don’t know if I am ready to tell the world all that (I feel) I have done to effect my children, but I am ready to look at them for myself. I am ready to give them to Him and let Him expose them as the lies that they are; for Him to fill me with the truth of His love and sovereignty.
Thank you, Lysa, for allowing yourself to be used by God. You are a blessing!
I think God wants me to share with hurting women, like in prison or drug rehab. My early years were very messed up. I don’ t know how to tell it without choking up so miserably that I can’t be understood. The only way I can do it is Him. Of course I keep thinking what an idiot I am.
For the month of August, God has me sharing with his daughters the power of confessing the word in four areas of our lives: finances, relationships, health and destiny. Now I’m up at 5am creating a blog site (Thanks She Speaks Conference!) to put it on instead of taking the easy way out and posting it on Facebook :).
God has placed on my heart that now is the time for me to TELL the love of Jesus. I have missed many opportunities to do this for fear of rejection. Oh, it’s easy for me to SHOW the love of Jesus in the way that I live and treat others. Just the other day I turned to a devotional for that day and it’s title was, “Just Tell Them I Love Them”. WOW! How plain and simple is that?!
Obedience showers in His Grace brings amazing Joy!!
God has been teaching me that it’s OK not to be perfect and that I must rely on Him and not my own powers and my own “independence”. I’ve learned this when I opened my imperfect self to others and realized we were going through similar struggles.
God has placed on my heart for me to share my story of abuse. My shame and my fear. Growing up with a mother who tried to destroy me by her actions and words. Years of hurt piled so high on top of me, breaking me at my core. Then learning the secret to which my mother has kept from me my whole life, I have a different father from my sister. A lie held by her for 22 years. A man that never knew I existed. By God’s strength I’m learning to walk through forgiveness and fully rely on the truth that God loves me and will use this for good!
I have learned that I must forgive myself and that God gives grace even to sinners like me. I actually wanted to post in the hopes of winning this book for my friend Dionne. She is down and called last night for me to pray for her struggles. this is a Godly woman and my best friend. She would love a copy of this devotion but I would also pray that you would pray for her as well Thank you so much. Her email is baderd@franklinacademy.org
I have found that sharing the plethora of daily devotionals & providing a “recap” of how they are speaking to me (& my obvious foul-ups that go along w/ how the devotionals speak to me) has supposedly helped friends of mine. I have a tendency to share my outlook through Facebook or other written media due to the lack of confidence I have in “speaking.” (Though my spelling & grammar can be more atrocious using this channel of communication.) With this posting about your devotional, something stirred in me… I wonder if I should try and do short “devotional” type sessions w/ a few of the friends that have voiced their appreciation for my posts?
Recently, God has wanted me to tell others about His love and His goodness. When I had struggles in school, He delivered me. When things seemed hopeless, He showed me that He still performs miracles. There were times when I didn’t think I would make it and I wanted to give up, but God brought me through. He has taken me through these things for a purpose, and that is to help someone else.
“You are as sick as your secrets”, how many times have I heard that or said that out loud but never let it sink into my heart. The Lord has been pressing me to share more of myself to the women that I meet in my 12 step program. He has pushed me past my comfort zone and He has asked me to take on more responsibility when I can’t see the possibility of it. Satan tells me “Im too busy”, I have already too much on my plate, I cant possibly help and the big lie, “there are others better qualified than you!” Today, August 1, I thank God for my 29 years of soberity and say Yes to what He writes on my heart.
I come from a ‘shame’ culture and it has only been during the recent years that I have come to really worship God without any pretense. In my culture, it is taboo to admit any weakness, open up about one’s sordid past… Although it is so normal to show all kinds of emotions. I find myself like a specimen under a microscope, strange and different when I do speak about what I feel about God and how He is working in my life. It is so out of my comfort zone. But God’s fire is burning inside me that I can’t help but speak. Thank you for the encouragement. I may look like a good Christian girl but God is daily sorting out the garbage inside me and helping me bury them all… And I know He will complete that work in me. I know He will.
God has placed on my heart my imperfect humanness and the fact that I cannot live this life without His guidance. I have learned through a damaging secret that I am not perfect nor do I need to be. I have learned a dependence like no other on Him and want to let others with secrets know that He is waiting at your door. Let Him in!
I still live the burden of shame in so many areas but the one shame is when I use to wet the bed. It burdened me for so long and why God did’t answer my prayers(at least I didn’t think so). This carried into my adult life and how I looked at life. I have learned that shame is an enemy used to keep us down. Today I shared with my heart and tried to share what He wants me to share. Sunday I have been asked to lead women’s bible ministry and I don’t think I’m capable so maybe your book can help me.
I am blessed to have received inner peace from God and when someone asks how I am able to deal with certain issues, or when i know someone is going through a difficult time, I share with them how it all came about by finding and talking to Jesus.
I’m laying here in tears after reading a portion of your book. I have been through similar experience. I have heard God tell me to share my story, but I’m so afraid and ashamed of things that I’ve been through. I even questioned God…What would I name the book? He revealed it to me months ago, and I am still struggling with embarrassment of my past. I got up this morning feeling stressed. I decide to check my emails and came across yours. Thanks for sharing. I’ve decided to start writing my book. God bless!
For many days, God is reminding me of lordship. To surrender everything to His hands even my hang-ups. I’ve been sharing my journey on confronting and giving it up to God with my churchmates. I’ve volunteered in our church’s campus ministry, and it’s amazing how the Holy Spirit helps me in communicating this to students as well (I’m always claiming Matthew 10:19-20). There are times we tend to put our hang-ups at the back of our minds not knowing that this emotional baggage manifest itself on our everyday lives. Just as what Jacob did, I really believe that we should wrestle this with God. And He will never leave us on our battle with it. Instead, He will bless us with His powerful presence and will sustain us with His grace. This is what I am so excited to share with other people. 🙂
Job22:28 “You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.” AMP
Whatever the situation / circumstances you have the power within you to decide the outcome.
I am currently separated, going through an ugly divorce. I could let the circumstances overwhelm me, I could allow the pressures of providing for my children, or the fact that I work with my husband’s new girlfriend, or that I stand to loose the house in all of this ugliness get the better of me. But God, in His grace and infinite wisdom, provides a way for me to cope with all of this every day. Every day declare your victory, declare your peace, declare your joy. “Cement the parameters of your situation.”
God is ever faithful, He is Alpha, omega, the beginning, the end and everything in between. You are the apple of His eye, His beloved…rest child, in His love, rest in His grace. He has done it all.
Oh Lysa, it’s early, I can’t sleep and I prayed about turning on the computer…God usually doesn’t lead in that direction, but today He did. I know why…your words again brought tears and are being used by God once again. Thank you.
What has God placed on my heart? To share a bit about marriage and how GOD brought me to where I am…including pieces of my story, my mess, that I’ve never shared, but He’s now asking to be part of His message.
Thank you again for saying “Yes”, setting an example and encouraging me to do the same. Blessings to you from the farm!
I’ve recently been convicted that I don’t give my husband enough credit. God has shown me through prayer that he is an extremely hard worker, and even though he doesn’t tackle things the way I would, that’s okay and right in it’s own way. I’m saying yes to God, that I trust that He equally yoked me to my husband!
I have been led to share snipits of the Proverbs 31 & YouVersion devotionals on my social network feeds, while also providing the link to the full deco. Sometimes no one comments. Other times, multiple “likes” and comments.
I have shared the opportunity of the say yes study and the fact that I have signed up for my first OBS. Not knowing what to expect, but responding in faith to what God is calling me. I am excited and eager to get started.
Thank you, Lysa, for your book, for your ministry, for everything you do!
God bless you.
God has placed on my heart to share with others my journey with depression. I’m still in the process of praying it away, but medication is ok in the meantime!
Some truly amazing things are happening in my life right now. I have had to hire 4 out of 9 new staff for the preschool I am the director of. Many people have asked me if I am worried or stressed. I have learned to rely on my faith to show me the way. The story of filling the last 2 positions is something that could only be from God. While reconnecting and rehiring a former employee over dinner, a former preschool family walked into the restaurant. In catching up with this family, I find out she was recently unemployed. I offered her a job on the spot. She accepted. Moments like that are not random. It’s God’s hand at work. I have shared the story first with my fellow believers to strengthen us all and now when those on the fringe to show how I know it’s God because it can’t be explained in any other way.
God has, and is, leading me to encourage other women. To shine His light, especially in time of adversity. To demonstrate to others, especially my closest friends and closest co-workers that to look for the blessings in all circumstances because if we really look they may be found – it may be miniscual, but they are there.
God has placed on my (our) heart to better equip the women in our church to recognize God and His calling for their lives. Myself and co-leader Jenny are starting the What happens When Women Say Yes to God study this week. The amazing thing is, we had already planned to do the study this summer on our own. The we saw info about on-line study. This was affirmation that we are in God’s will, for ourselves and the ministry — which is EXACTLY where we want to be. Excited !!! Peace
God has placed on my heart to share that with His Love and Grace we can find the way through horrible tragedies. Through whatever life throws at us. That feelings of bitterness and resentfulness blind us from the light of his Love, and that light is the only thing that can allow us to see our way through. That forgiving someone who has stolen people we Love can be too hard to do alone, but not forgiving can block us from His forgiveness. (The Lord is still helping me work on that one). That though it is beyond our understanding God loves us more than we can imagine, and somehow is using all of these things/ events for my Good. God has Been pulling on my heart strings and is Calling me. I’m gonna try to be quiet and still and listen.
God has placed on my heart to pray in private and to share prayer and the miracle of prayer with others. From praying, “O Lord, where are my keys?” and then finding them; to “O Lord, please watch over ________________.” and then learning that at the time I prayed for them it was what they needed or when they needed it. That makes me wonder – how many other prayers do we say for people who may not have faith or who we don’t encounter on a daily basis and they know that something touched them deeply but they don’t know exactly what. There is never a shortage of what to pray about when praying for guidance in my life as well as praying for others. Rather, sometimes the challenge can be to stay still/quiet and let God speak back to me. I have learned that instead of remaining quiet and shy about my prayer life, I am learning to share with others the happiness and peace that comes when I pray as well as the joy of letting them know they were lifted up in prayer. Thank you, Lysa, for your daily dose of encouragement and your constant prayer for all of us.
I have been feeling God telling me to share aspects of my testimony that I’ve been too embarrassed to share. I spent 10 years married to an abusive man, and sharing that has been painful and embarrassing. I feel that I should’ve “known better”, should have seen the signs- but God has been asking me to share. I’m also unable to have children, and God has not only blessed me with 3 children through my second husband, but has been showing me how my story can bless others. Again- sharing that is somewhat embarrasing, but freeing at the same time.
Lysa, Most mornings I share on my Facebook page the Encouragement from that day and I always get positive comments from various friends about how that particular blog was just for them that day. I recently had a friend who is usually pretty quiet send me a private message about how something I had posted that day was exactly what she needed to hear and she wanted me to know how she looks forward to reading what I post every day and wanted to have a closer relationship with me because she felt I was a Godly Woman and she really needed a friend like that in her life. I was so humbled by being called a Godly woman!! I pray EVERY day for the Lord to let me be a light to shine for him and what a blessing to be a vessel to share what you write and be an encouragement for someone else! I am honored in sharing God’s Love thru you and Thank you for taking the time each day to write what you do because YOU are an encourager for me!! Have a Beautiful Blessed Day!!
I work with a lot of young women, many of whom struggle with relationships, raising children, financial problems and juggling daily life. I know God wants me to share my struggles and how when I finally gave up on fixing everything myself and let God in it changed my life. I am about to begin using the devotionals from “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” with them.
I feel led to share by praying more with the people I serve at my job. I recognized the sin of prayerlessness in my life and as I work to overcome it I feel led to pray openly and often. Having the courage to offer prayer to my patients is a huge step I’d like to take regularly.
God wants me to share with other women that he loves them unconditionally – his love isn’t based on what we did, what we do or what we plan to do. He wants women to just know He loves them.
Hi Lysa, So enjoying MTC action plan right now. I shared it with a friend at work yesterday. I feel God wanting me to just show His love to others. I am learning not to shy away from others when they are in need but that it helps to talk to them and say I’m praying for you ( and REALLY pray)! Sometimes people say I am praying for you (to me) and it takes my breath away! The power that we have to lift each other up in prayer! What a loving God we have that he lets us be a part of what He is doing! Praying and praising God for you, Lysa. Thank you for saying YES to God!
Me too! Over 6 years ago, God called me to share my story (God’s Story) in a blog format. As a matter of fact, it was during my time at a SheSpeaks Conference that I thought I was hearing things because writing wasn’t my forte. But I said “Yes” and from that point on He has opened doors that I could have never begun to push open. Now I’m feeling the nudge to write my abortion story in book form…yikes!
~Tammy
Good morning, I love the blog today, it touched my heart in many ways. Lately, God has placed on my heart to be a Titus mentor to younger women. I am 44 and there are many 20 somethings that want a mentor. But, Satan has been telling me how unworthy I am to mentor these precious girls, that I am not holy enough or righteous enough. Today…I am calling them and setting up our first meeting! Thank u Lysa and thank u God.
God urges me to share “realness” when I speak. I don’t have it all together – never will – but I know who holds my altogether for me.
Lysa, the Proverbs 31 devotions have been such a blessing to me every morning and have become a stepping stone, no – a diving board for our Sisters’ ministry at our church. One of our leaders shared a few of the devotionals with us through email, we would comment, then very shortly I signed up myself (as did a few of the other ladies). Each of the ladies that share as part of Proverbs 31 are so different and yet so much the same. We all struggle with something (or many things), but it gives us all hope!
We took the 2012-2013 season to study “Woman After God’s Own Heart” by Elizabeth George. She encouraged us to keep “5 Fat Files” of topics that the Lord is leading us to learn more about or strive for. Proverbs 31 “Encouragements for Today” fill most of my files because they are so relevant to what the Lord is teaching me as well as the rest of the ladies in our group. God is speaking to me to dig deeper into His Word rather than just scratching the surface as I have done most of my life. I’ve been a Christian for 48 of my 52 years and love the Lord with all my heart, but I still (we all still) have so much to learn and struggle with my walk becoming stale. We will never stop learning and growing and falling in love with Him until the day we die. One day when we see Him face-to-face I want Him to say to each one of us, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
Thank you for being faithful to follow His leading and helping lead many other women toward Him every day! May God continue to bless you and your ministry.
We are foster parents, and one of my prayers has been to share the compassion of Jesus to the bio families…without judging their choices and without holding back to guard my heart we want to love them and let them know we care. It’s hard because we get sucked into the vicious cycle of change without foundation, bad choices, more changes, etc. And we wish we could make the choice for accepting God’s grace for them, but we can’t. All we can do is love them through all those hurts and failures…thanks for allowing God to use you through writing!
I have been pressed to share my thoughts that my mind has become a battlefied of negativity. In order to regain happiness I need to study the Word more. The struggles of understanding the bible is working against me. Any help on how to get into the Word would be so helpful.
God is calling me to step forward and share my walk through breast cancer with others.
There is no active breast cancer support group at my church. I am almost 5 years out from diagnosis and up until now have said that I don’t need a support group. I am fine. I was diagnosed this summer, not with cancer, but with lymphedema associated with the cancer that is going to be a lifelong walk. I NEED a support group. So do others and I want to build a support group with God at its center where we can come wherever we are in the process to help and support and love each other.
Your post made me uncomfortable this morning Lysa. It slapped me directly in the face of my insecurities and the longing I have to reach out for God and completely trust Him. There are many things that God is leading me to say yes to. Namely, speaking openly about being adopted, born to a mother that was addicted to crack, not knowing my father and having a major identity crisis. Even now, as a believer and learning to surrender completely to Christ, I struggle with who I am. There are times that I’ve felt defeated by the unwinding of my emotions, mental stability and need to feel accepted despite God’s longing for me to give him my heart and know that I am His. This road is excruciating but God somehow keeps calling me to speak up and out for those kids that have felt loss on an entirely different level when you walk around with the pain that your parents failed you. I too still suffer through my choice to have an abortion mainly because I was afraid that I would too fail my child.
Thank you for making me uncomfortable this morning Lysa by sharing your truth. Your healing brought forth healing and I know that is exactly what the Lord is asking me to do by sharing the sweetness of my misery.
– Sherrell
God has placed on my heart to share more with those who do not know Him. I enjoy time with a neighbor who does not know Him and pray my life, my example will help to draw her in. I’ve also shared with a coworker this study and we are doing it together! I’m so excited to see what God has in store for us!! Thank you for this study!!
Gods been telling me to share two stories to show how he can forgive and change us. I was raised in a very plain christian family, so when my first marriage dissolved due to my husbands drug abuse it was very shameful to me. I was always raised that divorce was completely out of the question. I live with this shame for many years while it kept me far from a close relationship with God. I finally turned all my shame and guilt over to God and since then I have gotten so much closer to Him. There is no sin to large for Gods forgiveness. Now 4 years later God has brought me to a place where He sent me on my first mission trip. This is another experience that i am having a hard time sharing. Not because it was shameful, but because it was so special and emotional that I want to keep it to myself. I know thats not Gods will though. I have been trying to open up more and share what God showed me and how He moved in my life on that trip. God has brought me from a dark place to a very wonderful, happy, light place. I praise God for that.
Your words hit close to home this morning- a little too close for comfort! God has impressed on my heart for some time now to be more open in sharing our story of restoration, healing, and hope. I’ve consented in parts, but I’ve been more than unwilling to share the “ugly” parts of our story. The past year and a half God has brought my husband and I through the fire… we’ve dealt with being separated by distance for the military, working through confessions of adultery, my mom fighting breast cancer, and then giving birth to a beautiful baby girl (our third) who was born with hydrocephalus and cerebral brain cysts. We almost lost her, and had to allow the doctors to operate on her brain three times in her first month of life. But through it all, God has been ever so faithful, and has proven His promise that “hope does not disappoint” (Rom. 5:5). Now it’s time for us to use these painful experiences for His good!
God has pushed me to be real with women. I’m a pastors wife and sometimes we want to act like life is just perfect. When I am real, that seems to really help other women know life isn’t going to be perfect but we can strive to live this life to glorify God.
God has challenged me to give up some things that I was too attached to and to trust him. In doing so I had to give up my house, leave my family, and move out of state. I felt convicted by god so I listened. I am starting at my dream job today and living in a wonderful place…. God is good
Every object lesson the Lord gives me! Jeremiah 20:9 says, “But if I say, ‘I will not mention His word or speak anymore in His name,’ His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”. Giving testimony is a part of how we overcome. …as Rev 12:11 says.
We have been facing some real hard struggles in our family for about 4 years now. Our oldest son got into drugs, alcohol, pills in high school. We pulled him from there and sent him to Teen Challenge. He is home now doing better. He got in a relationship with a girl and we now have a grandson to help raise. They are still seeing each other, but wanting to wait a little, she is not sure she is committed. We have been thru a lot more in between these few words, but thru it all God still is faithful, even when days are hard–there are others out there hurting just as we are. We have learned to continue to share, as hard as it is to let all the hurt and disappointments out on the table–God will use our pain and turn it into purpose. Encouraged to read this book and learn more about how God can use me.
God has impressed on my heart this last year that its not about me. I can be so selfish and want everything that is convenient for me. This life is so short – a vapor – and in that time the only purpose I have is to bring glory to God. But its a daily choice to put ME aside, and take the opportunities the Lord has for me – even if not convenient or easy. The only things that will last are whats done for Him.
Lysa,
I am grateful for the work you, Renee and others do so faithfully.
I strive daily to acknowledge God in all my ways, giving thanks and praising Him. Praying in everything from finding the right parking place to comforting a friend whose mother is in transition to eternity. He uses me in ways I do not expect but am grateful to do as He directs.
I want to live for an “audience of One” every single moment of the day. When I step away, letting others or this world influence me, I fail miserably. I always am reminded of the song, This world is not my home I’m just a passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. I want to continue to share the good news, and always follow His lead!
2013 has slammed my family like a ton of bricks, and it’s only August. Already so many things have happened that would test anyone’s faith to the max and maybe cause them to fall away from their walk with Christ, but I have held on and am trying to strengthen my walk with God daily. It has been put on my heart to not stop praying for loved ones who need more of Christ, and also to trust God in everything more than I do. He is challenging me and strengthening me for a reason. I’ll know why one day.
Thank you for sharing, this hit home to me as well. Over the past year, I’ve felt convicted to be more real in sharing my story with others. I’ve always left out the ugly parts as well. I’ve struggled with this because we have two teenage daughters, and I struggle with them knowing about my past, even though it is not who me or my husband are anymore. I don’t know how to share my story without them knowing the ugly parts too. I know that our past and how God has restored my husband and me would be encouraging to other young married couples but I am afraid of my daughters or my family discovering the ugly past. I am definitely going to pray more about what God would have me do – what His will is, not mine. Thank you for your encouraging devotions, you are such a blessing!
God is calling me to be more than a teacher (Leadership at church) and start impacting ladies lives for healing. I know that what I go through is what I incorporate into what I teach and see that this devotional can be a spring board as I share and develop more relationships with ladies for God’s healing.
For some time God has asked me to share your devotional’s with one sweet friend but I believe that is only a beginning and He is asking me to share more often and to share with others too. Frankly fear of judgement has kept me from doing just that. God is leading me through a valley with my husband unemployed and my son moving out of state for the first time and yet He is giving me peace that is only possible through Him. He wants me to share more of His story of simply surrendering my will to Him and trusting Him.
I have been working through with God the matter of trusting Him. A question that was given to me in another reading, was “Am I willing to bail into the arms of God and trust Him completely ? ” I had to say no, but as I have worked that through, I would share with women that God is walking with us through this step by step, and sometime carrying. He also brought to mind a saying that was given to my husband and I when we got married, which over the 38 years has proven true :God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. Psalm 37:5.
I appreciated your devotional today as it reminded me of this and getting away with Him and saying yes to His choices and trusting Him for His best. Thanks for your words today. God used them as I am walking/working this all through.
Boundaries are necessary for freedom. For those of us with a gift of mercy it is hard to say no. It is also necessary to know who we are in Christ even faced with confrontation to be able to speak truth tough love and not be left with a feeling of guilt. God is working in me on this not to just sweep everything under the rug and think I am being a peacemaker but to be able to speak truth in love.
That God is enough. That He meets you right where you are and provides sometimes in the moment what it is you need. That He is trustworthy. Perhaps man/woman is not but God always is. Put your faith and trust in Him…Him alone.
This couldn’t have been more timely, love when The Lord works that way. Have been in some kind of inner termoil for quiet some time now wrestling with my role in a certain situation. Thoughts of ‘they won’t listen to you’ and ‘your opinion doesn’t matter’ have been creeping in. Still not sure of my role but I am beginning to feel the courage and strength begin to build for whatever I’m going to be asked to do. Prayerful that I will allow The Lord to work through me in this situation and always.
I have a hard time making friends. I’m always putting up walls and making excuses to myself that it’s because I’m too busy. This shows me I need to meet with my audience of one more and let Him do the rest.
23 years ago I made a promise to the Lord that I would help others with an issue that many people have. I still have this issue that I wrestle with daily but I do see deliverance up ahead and I am looking forward to sharing God and how he offers deliverence.
It’s interesting to look at someone else’s life and just feel like, “Wow, they have it all together!” Through opening up and sharing our stories we find that what outwardly seems great, they struggle with the same issues.
The day my world was turned upside down when my daughter spoke out and I realized I was married to a sexual predator I was scared … I didn’t want to be a statistic … I had no clue how to be a single parent. It was very hard, dealing with the fall out, the emotions, all the things my daughter had to deal with. Suddenly the life I thought was amazingly ‘perfect’ was suddenly changed. The cutting, suicide attempts, anorexia … my daughter completely changed.
Ah, but God didn’t allow me to do it alone. I am amazed at the healing that has taken place in the past three years. Our family and especially my daughter have come so far and I know it is a miracle. Repeatedly I would say what Satan meant for evil God can turn to good. We’ve shared our story … only to learn that we are not alone in this … so many people have the same story. I am praising God for the victory we’ve been able to experience … FREEDOM from our past and looking to our bright future.
I loved the devotional this morning … thank you!!!!
What has God placed on your heart to share with others? Very good question, this is going to sound sad but I am not sure. Maybe encouragement but not really sure.
My comment seems so out there from everyone else but I need to trust (wait) that in time the Lord will make it known.
Kim,
I’m with you. I don’t know what it is God wants me to share, or even do on a day by day basis. I’m just seeking his guidance.
Kay
God has been showing me to share His love with my family & friends. I can’t wait to get this new devo. What a blessing!!
God is enough…I must share that God is enough in every situation!
I tend not to have the confidence to share my faith with others in a direct manner, but I have found the confidence to share online devotions/blogs from Proverbs 31 with others and tell them why I find them meaningful. This practice has opened up some surprising conversations!
Thank you for all you do~ Ellen
GOOD ENOUGH….in my heart of hearts I am always striving for that unattainable goal of GOOD ENOUGH. others look and see a woman who has adopted special needs children,has homeschooled for 17 years, always smiling
….but I often feel so short of “good enough”
God has placed working with children in my heart . I have four wonderful children of my own and keep more in my home . I believe that is what has called me to do . Is to minister to children , not only at my house during the day but as well as at church through children’s church .
To take off the masks and be real. There are others struggling and there are others that have already walked this road and they can help. It is painful but also freeing to be real!!
God has placed on my heart to share His word with my young employees. I employ many female college students at my small business I see so many struggles they face in trying to navigate through the trials of college life. Though I consider myself to be a ‘newbie’ Christian and am still learning how to trust in Christ and let Him guide my life, I know there is something I have to offer through Christ to guide these young women in their lives. Sometimes that means offering scripture to those who are Christ followers, but sometimes it means praying for them or simply turning to God to ask that He show me how to help them and that He strengthen me as a leader and a mentor. Thank you, Lysa, for your guidance and God bless!
To be honest, I’m not exactly sure yet what God wants me to share yet. I know He wants me to share, but I’m where you were years ago…. “Yes, I will share my story. The good parts. The parts that are safe and tidy and acceptable.” and definitely coupled with the thoughts of, “You’ll never be a speaker.” “You are not wanted.” “Look at you. Do you really think God could use someone like you?” I want to be a woman who wants to say, “Yes” to God…….thanks for your ministry!
I have been crying out to God for guidance in my life. Even though I have a wonderful family and friends I feel completely worthless much of the time. The worlds voices scream in my ears and blocking them out is so hard sometimes. I know God doesn’t make junk and that my weakness in allowing these worldly voices to infiltrate His creation are my weakness not His. My insecurities about myself effect my ability to have a more intimate marriage and to go forward with the work I know God wants me to do. I am consumed at times with fear of failure at many things and then I try to remember that Jesus is freedom from this world and the voices if I do just what your devotion suggests and focus on the right things. Many mistakes and successes from the past shape who we are today. I guess I should be more thankful for my weaknesses and look at them as having that much more room for God to grow in me.
God has placed on my heart to buy the falling down 110 yr old home I’m renting and turn it into a shelter for domestic violence survivors. As a single mother of 4 surviving on disability from the VA for our income I have no idea how God is going to do this but I know He has a plan. My children and I are survivors of domestic violence and it has not been easy. With little support from family we merely survived for the first 3 yrs. I turned to alcohol, drugs, bars, and sex to deal with the emotional turmoil I had from 10 years of living with abuse. My children and I were not living; we were simply surviving and my home was chaos. Then Jesus came and rescued us. Only a few months ago he sent a group of loving women of Christ into my life. I began praying, reading the Bible, and the first Bible study this group of women did was your book “Unglued”. I accepted Christ as my personal savior and He is now the head of my household. As a result order has been restored to my home and my heart. God is still doing the hard work of restoring what was broken for so long. He is a mighty powerful God! I’m so looking forward to this OBS so I can keep moving forward and say “Yes” to God every day. I’m excited to see how He’s going to use me to lead other women to Jesus; truly father to the fatherless and the ultimate bridegroom!
I will be praying for you Samantha as you continue your walk in faith. I’m so happy to hear that you are my sister in Christ!
This is just what I needed to hear today! Thank you! I was just recently nominated for deacon. I waited until the last possible minute to finally accept the nomination, and I am still wondering what makes me qualified other than my love for Jesus. I guess I just answered my own question…Thank you again for your words!!
Boy, isn’t this timely. God has been impressing on me to loosen my tongue and talk to people about not only how He continually saves from depression, but how He has redeemed my past of giving myself away to any boy or man who asked. That’s the hard one. The shameful one. But I also know that when I do, when that opportunity comes, it will come with great healing. Doesn’t mean I still don’t want to avoid it. I do. But I keep praying for the strength when the opportunity comes.
Considering what God has for me to share is a question I have not answered in quite some time. I keep most people at a distance by changing the conversation to one about them. I will pray this morning for one person to cross my path that God wants me to encourage from my heart today.
Losing my husband to leukemia four years ago, I have found blessings in sharing my story in a couple of different ways. First, I’ve met many others with a diagnosis of cancer. I want them to know not every diagnosis of cancer ends in death. Second, I make sure when someone comments on how well I seem to be doing, I let them know God is the only reason I’m doing as well as I am. Today would’ve been our 32nd wedding anniversary. Never dreamed 32 years ago that today I’d be a widow, but so very glad I know who holds my todays and tomorrows.
God has placed in my heart the desire to counsel and encourage young couples in my life. Many times I have asked God: “why me? My marriage is not even close to perfect”. In multiple instances, when family and friends have called me for guidance and encouragement in their relationship trouble, God has shown me that he can use my experiences in my imperfect marriage to help others. Your message today has inspired me to stop hiding behind my imperfections and to say “yes to God”.
God has given me the courage to help women in domestic violence relationships. I can share with them that HE is there to help along with a long list of loving agencies and safe houses to protect them and their children! I love the devotionals you have and share them with the ladies in a safe house when I have finished!
Wow – every time I read a post by you, it speaks to me. I thank God for the radio ministry that led me to your website! You are such a blessing and inspiration to women everywhere. God bless!
God used my friend to help me get out of the boat and walk on water, all the while encouraging me each step of the way.
This is scary stuff! I was bitten by a dog when I was 6 years old, and still have some scars on my face. Many people say they don’t even notice them anymore, but I know that they are still there. This has led to exactly what you stated, trying to put on the facade that all is great, and our family has it all together even when I feel like a mess on the inside. I feel if I let go of the facade, my scars will show up more. I am ready to say yes to God, and move into the life he has for my family and me, but letting go is so hard! So I am going into your bible study with great excitement and fear. Lord guide me through this, I pray.
God has placed on my heart that even with ADD, dealing with a mom with dementia, and trying to lose weight, I have something to offer others who are dealing with the same struggles.
God used my friend to help me get out of the boat and walk on water, all the while encouraging me each step of the way. I can’t wait to tell her…
God wants me to share my life, my time, my walk with other women who don’t know He is there for them. Regularly I am faced with women who are living in a place of discouragement, pain, confusion and shame. Not knowing how or why to turn to God. When I am able to share the difficulties I face daily, the struggles…honestly, they realize they are not alone. It has been a blessing to me to be able to share my weaknesses, mistakes and struggles and see them produce something positive through the filter of God’s truth. Thank you God for wanting to use all of me to glorify you!
How interesting because I just said to a co-worker yesterday “it seems as though Gods theme this week is Trust” Yes we trust him in our ever day to day but its in those big & overwhelming situations where he is looking for us to fully trust & give it all to him. To not try and solve the problem or provide a solution but to truly trust and patiently wait on him .. To surrender because as moms we want to solve things but he knows best & we simply need to let go let God & be still to listen…
God has laid it on my heart to write a book, sharing my love and unique way of viewing nature with others, specifically women I think. I view nature as His artistic masterpiece (I literally think of God as a painter, paint brush in hand, quite a bit). My issue so far has been getting started. I keep listening to Satan’s lies about how I’ll never get all of those words written (when you start writing, a 10-page chapter seems incredibly long), his lies about my writing ability, his lies about my worth in general, honestly. God put it on my heart to write this book because He gave me a unique gift and I want to follow Him in that but the hugeness of this project is more than a little overwhelming which unfortunately, leads to complacency on my part.
He’s also laid it on my heart to let go of the fears that have held me in bondage for so many years. I am only 28 years old but I have lived in fear since I was a child. I am in the process of breaking free of those bonds and I have to tell you, it feels really good! As I let go of fear, I find out more about the confident Ashley rather than the fearful Ashley.
There are other things He’s speaking to me about, but those are the two main ones that came to mind. Thank you so much for sharing your writing ability Lysa and please thank those that work with you as well who post on blogs and write for the daily email that goes out. I look forward to reading them each day!
Lord, please show me how to overcome Satan’s lies when they become overwhelming and begin sounding like truth. Show me how best to overcome my complacency and follow You with reckless abandon, just as you love me with reckless abandon, no matter what I do or do not do. Thank you so much Lord for your unfailing love and the gift of your Son on a cross, sent to die for my sins. Teach me Lord, that just as you made the ultimate sacrifice, I can sacrifice such things as my time and gain so much from You and Your Word as a result of that sacrifice.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
“What has God placed on your heart to share with others?”
Parts of my past. My testimony.
From my struggles of a healthy relationship with food to how God has showed in my life even when I turned completely from Him in the following more extreme moments of my history:
dabling dangeoursly at one point in witchcraft being a self proclaimed witch, when I was a stripper, doing drugs, homosexuality, self mutilation.
Then finally I hit the point I thought I would never face, unplanned pregnancy and the push from the guy I was with to abort. Thank and praise God my dad spoke sense into me and I listened.
I am still trying to form my testimony fully, but I know God just pulls the right parts out to the right people at the right time.
The Holy Spirit is pretty awesome.
Yesterday the Lotd led me to finally answer one of many Facebook messages I had received from a distant, estranged cousin. When I typed back the “hey, how are you?” I never expected the honest answer of “horrible, he won’t talk to me, the deployment messed him up, he has night tremors and I know he has PTSD.” As a wife of a warrior who has been deployed, mother of three and Behavioral Specialist that works with PTSD and other issues, it became clear that God called me to answer her yesterday, sharing my own story, my understanding of her situation, giving guidance but most of all leading her to pray and listen for Gods response. What satan means to rip their family apart, God will use to bring the closer and make them stronger in Him; just as he did in our home. Thank you Lysa, for leading the way for all of us to be clearer in our path to be His women. God bless you and yours and the women making the choice to say Yes to God.
Lysa, You have been a source of strength for me for the last year because you continually point me toward the only true source of strength – God. The last two years have been the hardest but the most fulfilling if that makes sense. I released all my secrets to my husband of infidelity before we married and the journey since then has been filled with highs and lows that I have never experienced. I have been so desperate and crying out to God for wisdom and seeking guidance. This journey has been one of discovery for me and seeing myself without the mask that I put on for so many years. I have discovered that I am not as ‘good’ as I thought I was, but that I can be better than I thought I was truly for one reason- Jesus. I wouldn’t trade what I have learned about Him and myself through this trial for anything.
My story is one of seeking love/acceptance from the opposite sex and giving up what is most valuable, but I held no value in it. There has been abuse, adultery, lying, but then truly God stepped in. And he began that good work in me, but He didn’t stop. He wasn’t satisfied that I still held onto the mask and lived a life that was less than He intended. So He revealed me and I had no choice but to trust Him entirely. My story is still unravelling as I try to hold onto my marriage and my family. As I try to unconditionally love a man that appears to no longer love me, as I try to point him to Jesus for help with his depression. But God has given me a heart to share my story with others that may be experiencing the same desperate feelings of seeking anyone or anything to live each day in the battle. I hesitate to share though because my story is still a daily battle and my husband is still dealing daily with the consequences of my actions.
When I read about your abortion, the tears just streamed. I want to be real in front of people and you are real. You have greatly ministered to me and I am thankful for you, but also for the promise of what God can do with my story, with me.
Thank you, Lysa!
The easy answer would be to say that God wants me to share with the middle school girls that I work with each day. That I already do. The stretching me answer would be that God wants me to open myself to my friends and allow them to see me without the front that all is well all the time. I’m realizing that relationships can only deepen if I’m willing to open up.
God has told me to reach out to the unchurched, to moms struggling with life or faith and to encourage them in sharing of my story. To build a community of moms that put Jesus first in all they do!
God has put on my heart a burden to teach women the power of prayer. This is linked to abiding in Him and is something I need to remind myself too.
I have a testimony that starts out like a Jerry Springer episode. I have been able to share my story and can relate and empathize with so many people, because I have been through so many trials.
The Lord has been speaking to me about starting a small group at my church for people that need to share their hurts and receive encouragement. Please join me in prayer as I propose this to my church leadership.
God gently nudges me to share my struggles as a stay at home mom…and finding fullness and validation in my children alone. He calls me to scripture often regarding this but I still struggle to feel like I am filled up enough by being st home….knowing God puts women in my life so often who feel the same. He is trying to draw us all to him! Thank you Lyssa…Love your writing so much. God bless.
God has placed in me the ability to be a friend to women who may not realize they need it because they are trapped in relationships they feel they cannot get out of. I continue to be a strong single woman trusting in Him and his mercy and grace and hoping to lift them up!
Thank you Lord for your servant Lysa! Her words, guided by Your word have helped so many of us to see that we are more alike than we are different. While our stories are our own, we share a longing for a deeper relationship with you Lord. So Lord as you refine us in the fires of daily life, keep our hearts open to hear your word, to seek you, to do your will, to share our stories and to grow out of our own brokenness. Thank you Lord!
God simply placed this prayer on my heart this morning.
Hi! I feel compelled to lift people up and use my words to encourage not criticize.
I have struggled for so many years with low self-esteem and still do. There are days I don’t want to get out of bed to face the mountains I must climb. But lately as I have turned to God more and more for the strength to climb my created hills and mountains I have seen successes beyond my wildest dreams. I have seen that each and every day when I have really turned to God for my strength and am feeling good about who I am, that is when God has brought me women to speak with and pray with. I can feel God calling me to share my pains and hurts of never thinking I am worthy and I am desperately searching for a way to make myself feel “good enough” to accomplish what God is calling me to do. I know that God is the one giving me the strength to search for the answers and God is the one giving me the answers and I want to be able to give other women the same hope and determination I have found in the love of God.
After reading all the previous posts, I sense there is a common thread we all share. Though the variables of struggle are different, the need remains the same: Jesus! He is the only source of complete unconditional love and acceptance. At 55, I need and truly crave Him more than ever! Those same whispers you mentioned Lysa are one’s I hear every.single.day. The enemy doesn’t want us to function well within the body of Christ and beyond, reaching others for The Kingdom. With wisdom of the ages, women have powerful life changing testimonies and victories that need to be shared to encouraging all generations. I am ordering your book “Unglued” today. It’s time.
I want to share with friends at our Moms Group that life is more than having the perfect house, perfect kids, the perfect husband, or perfect job. It is all about our relationship with God and relying on Him in every moment. Trying to keep learning this myself!
God has placed on my heart to realize I can’t do this on my own and to lean on him for everything. He has the strength that I lack. By sharing my weaknesses through small groups and with others, my spiritual growth can shine through and hopefully be an inspiration.
God is telling me to be transparent and stop hiding. Start encouraging ~ it is the gift He has placed in me!
I’m so grateful that The Lord uses you in such a way that so many of us can relate too. I’m so grateful that you don’t run from His calling. Your writing touches my heart & makes me want more of Jesus. It’s such an awesome blessing. Thank you.
Today my daughter, Laura, and I are giving our testimony fir the first time of the blood disease God brought my son thru and His grace thru Laura’s hydrocephalus. We are speaking at a local church’s women’s coffee club.
I am feeling God ask me to lead a weekly Bible study in my home. I actually wrote down the title ” What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” as the study I thought we would do. Hmm….maybe God is telling me that is what He wants me to do!
God has asked me to Love, no excuses.
I grew up in a family where I was always criticized, made fun of, teased – never encouraged, praised or thanked for anything – sometimes jokingly, sometimes not. Then my school years were filled with the same treatment. To reinforce the cruelty at school I always had to dress the way my mother was brought up: skirts to my knee (or just below), high necklines, etc. I could seldom dress stylish. Even my hair style and eyeglasses were outdated. When I was old enough to start buying my own clothes, I was scolded and criticized for my choices and anything too short had to be returned. I’m in mid-life now – and I still get the same treatment from people in general, my family, husband’s family, and my immediate family (husband and kids) – but I still take the words quite personally because it has become a part of me and my thinking. I know I shouldn’t. God has told me that. I’m trying to let go and take it lightly. To stand up in my own defense when the occasion calls for it. I’m His child and worth more to Him than to anyone. The scars are deep. It takes more than heeling on the surface. My self-esteem has been shattered over the years. I gravitate to people similar to me or to those less fortunate…to offer encouragement, to build up their esteem, to somehow love on them. I have the spiritual gift of encouragement. God has showed me in countless ways how I have reached people for His glory.
We have a beautiful special needs daughter, who was born with a brain malformation. She ended up with seizures starting around 9 months of age… we were told that the meds were no effective and she is in the 5% that doesn’t respond. We were given to options: brain surgery, at the age of 2, or a specialized diet. We chose the second. She is non-verbal, but over the last 6 months has made leaps and bounds! Her diet was so extremely difficult, between the medical induced allergies, to what kept the seizures at bay. Her diet is now Low Glycemic, Free of Gluten, Dairy, Most Nuts, Egg Whites, Garlic, High Salicylate foods, Peanuts, Legumes, Tomatoes, anything Red and Grains…. Most people want to know what she can’t have, I have learned to tell them what she can. Fresh Meats, Non-starchy Veggies, non- tropical fruits, seeds, and a dose of faith! We made oriental coleslaw with “BBq’d” Meatballs for supper last night! She loves Latkes, made from shredded Zucchini… and best of all… she is beginning to TELL ME!!! I yearn for the day she can say, Momma, but more importantly she is not just surviving, she is thriving! I’m not good at sharing, it makes me uncomfortable, and a lot of times when I do share with others what we do at home, I am often left feeling as if we are aliens on a strange planet. Maybe we can’t eat hotdogs, but I’m learning to be okay with that, I’m learning to say yes to God, to trust His mighty plan, and above all to have Joy while doing it! With Much Love, X’s
When I read your post I knew I had to reply and say, “Bravo”. You are awesome. I felt like I should share with you encouragement for doing what you are doing. You are a great example of healthy eating and your precious daughter is thriving because of you and the grace of God. Keep the faith always and always be the advocate your child needs 🙂
God has placed on my heart to share of His redeeming love and no matter where you or what you’ve done He loves you!!
Hi Lysa,
Your are so REAL. I have been enjoying your daily devotionals from Proverbs 31 ministries for some time now. They have reached down into the very essence of my own personal struggles and have challenged me on so many fronts. When I read the sample of your devotion from your new book about a secret you’d been keeping – I had to choke back tears. For years I have struggled with a deep, dark secret that has been holding me hostage. I’m not sure yet how God wants me to get release. I just know that I am tired!
I am a product of his grace, love and compassion. I only wish I could be more like Him! Thank you for following God’s voice and being his instrument. You are a blessing!
God has been telling me to really slow down and listen to others and reach out to them as I take the time to hear their needs. The world seems so busy as a whole and it gets so easy to be wrapped up in myself rather than listening to the opportunities God is giving me each day to be blessed by being there for someone in need.
Recently our youth group went on a mission trip to a community that was not only less fortunate, but has a very high crime rate. Every night during the week they were to leave, we would have a “pep rally” to get them pumped up for what they were about to do. They were going to be divided up into groups and go into different communities in this town knocking on doors asking for the children and young people to come to Bible study. The night before they left, God laid it on my heart to share with them something I had read in What Happens When Women Say Yes To God. I told them that each morning, before they went out into the mission field to say this “Lord, open my eyes so that I can see what these children need. Lord, open my ears so that I can hear what these children need. Lord, open my heart so that not only can I feel what these children need, but so that I can also show your Love to these children. But most of all, before I know what this day brings Dear Lord, I say yes to you!”. We had 8 of our own youth to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and 3 to be called as missionaries. All because they said Yes to God!!
I’m not sure yet, but am trying to discern where He is leading me!
I work as a 911 dispatcher. Our job is very stressful and you can easily get sucked into unhealthy actions and words outside of God. Not saying I am a saint, but I believe God has placed on my heart to help our center be more relaxed, fun and not let all the negativity that comes with the job bring us down. Help people see more of the positive side of why we are in that room. And that our tongues get sore by the end of the day from biting on them the entire shift 🙂
I have really felt the Lord speaking “Love people where they are, not where you think they should be. In my life as a young christian I know what a difference this would have made for me. Now as a mom of 5 (and at 3 different stages ) it is so hard not to judge them or push them, Jesus keeps saying “Love them I’ll take care of the rest.” Funny how about ten years ago I told someone in a bad place to come as you are to God, he will take care of the junk. Now he is speaking this to me as I struggle to trust him daily. Thank you for you willingness to serve and speak as it is encouraging to this wounded soul.
With such busy lives it is so difficult to find time to study. With God’s leading and blessing I have been able to set aside morning time to study. There is so much to learn and share. God has placed on my heart the desire and the blessing to share what I study each morning with women I know and love. When God leads, I share what I have read and learned by way of email. I chose email over a blog because our Father did not wait until we asked for Jesus, He sent Him to us before we knew we needed Him. I have been doing this for several months now and have been blessed beyond my expectation. He is faithful to reveal His word in season to my lovely sisters in Christ, I am just so thankful He has allowed me to be part of His glorious plan.
Thank you for sharing! I purchased your book; “What Happens When Women Say Yes” at a Women’s Conference over two years ago. I read the first chapter and life got in the way and it sat on my night stand. A few months later, my husband became very ill. I found that my whole life had change in just a few minutes. As I had to temporary leave my job, put my friends and social life on hold, become the “brains” of the household by myself with my two daughters, and take care of my husband, I picked up your book and read it while my husband rested and my girls were in school or at 2 in the morning when worry took over and I couldn’t rest. It gave me peace and comfort. I told others about your book at the hospital when I would see the look on other women’s faces who were going through similar situations. I bought an extra copy to keep in my purse to share. The book change how I took on my new role. God is so good. My husband is well, still getting treatments, but is enjoying life. Thank you for giving me courage to say YES! I will be buying this book for sure!
Lysa, as I sit here with tears after reading today’s blog, I feel led first to express thanks to God for directing me to Proverbs 31.org through my friend Jenny. Second I feel led to share that the feeling of being stretched too thin has defined me for a couple of months . . . until a visit to my folks in the nursing home last week. God showed me, through the smiles of many of those residents, that my being there even though they don’t know me, was more important than being home preparing a perfect meal. Please, sisters in Christ, remember the shut-ins in your community and share God’s love with them through visits and smiles.
I feel God wants me to share my story/struggle/journey with weight loss. But, it’s never been about just losing weight; it’s been about excepting God’s perfect love & seeing myself as beautifully & wonderfully made. And actually BELIEVING it. He’s shown me that He’s going to have me become a speaker (along side my sister, Mary)…HIS timing, of course.
I just love your style of writing, Lysa. I have truly enjoyed everything I’ve read of yours. Thank you.
I believe God wants me to share with others the knowledge of His grace. How His grace alone has changed a wretch like me. I was so angry as a teenager and as a result I ended up with quite a reputation. But as I’ve grown God has shown me who I really am and I love sharing with non believers how God’s grace has transformed me and given me pure joy. The kind that can not be shaken. Thank you Lord!
Yesterday I. Shared on our church women’s face book page your devotion on faith and how I had a melt down on Monday and whatever happens keep that faith in God. Ready for the on line study!
God is leading me to share the gospel with my family & friends…that God is real, that He created us…that He has a plan for us…that He is our Father who loves us and showers us with grace and mercy…we are not alone in the Universe…God has it all figured out…he finished the job a long time ago on the Cross..we just need to abide in Him…and keep saying Yes, Abba (Daddy)
God wants me to share child abuse, rape when I was 13, abandonment by my mother, shame, promiscuity, a bad marriage, anxiety and depression…then love, salvation, cleansing, healing and wholeness.! Oh yes, He does what He promises!
God wants me to share my family’s past and our journey. To show how faithful He is. To show He always provides a way when it looks as though there’s none.
I believe that God is telling me to somehow reach out to women in my area who have school-age children to uplift their spirits and encourage them to put Him first in their life. The Women’s Ministry at my church only focuses on baby showers and the MOPS program. I’m praying for God to show me how He wants me to be involved.
I am an incest survivor who told at age 14. My mother divorced my dad to protect me, but she withdrew emotionally, leaving me with abandonment issues. I’ve had bouts of depression and anxiety over the last 30 years – major panic attack in 1992, out patient depression treatment in 2002, and this past March I had to return to medication and counseling. Like an onion, God is peeling away the layers of hurt in my life. I can talk easily about the abuse and the forgiving my Dad. I don’t carry guilt over my brother’s suicide, I’ve worked through being angry at my mother for “leaving” me. It is a work in progress. I have always felt this draw to write/speak for God, writing many devotionals & poetry. He has shown me it is His will to share my story so others can know true healing is possible. It will be a difficult but greatly blessed journey to expose such intimate things, but it is His will and I must follow.
Today GOD is asking me to share two chapters of my story with the publisher I meet this past weekend at She Speaks. And, HE is also asking me to COLLABORATE with other women (300) to share their God Sized Dream Stories on the web and in print (later) to launch on August 28, 2013 … Yes in less than twenty-eight days … I have some major fears in the money department … http://www.daughtersofthedream.com/
This past year, God gave my family a chance to slow down and we took a sabbatical from our ministry (we are missionaries Poland). When we arrived at our new destination in the US, He decided to strip us from all ministry activities. This was very hard for two type A personalities. We were burned out and frustrated that we had to slow down. But everyday God kept whispering to my husband and I, “I just want YOU! All your thoughts, all you time, all your heart! Just be with Me.” Wow, this call from God was life changing. God reminded me that he doesn’t care about my ministry, my busyness, my service…He just wants my heart. He just wants a real relationship with me. He wants my hopes, fears, hilights, disappointments, tears, contentment, frustrations and more than anything else my love and devotion to Him.
Now that I am back in Poland (we just returned a month ago), I have this new perspective on life and ministry. I now know that my power, vision and love for others can only come from the depth of my relationship with God. He must come before everything and everyone else! Oh what a joy it is to have such love poured upon me everyday from my Savior!
Hi Lysa, a lot of times i struggle with sharing anything at all! Fear of judgement or seeming too “preachy”, or thinking people don’t really care what i have to say, etc etc. All the while inside, I am ‘bubbling’ with the thoughts that God wants me to share whatever it is. Then I leave with the regret of not saying what I know God wanted me to say. So I definitely can identify with the first few paragraphs. Thanks for your encouragement, and all the hard work you guys put in at P31! 🙂
What has God placed on my heart to share with others? That is a good question. I feel like I’m an open book. Very open about some things but if I look closely, I’m very closed about other things. I have a bumpy road sort of story. And when I often tell my story, I smooth out some of the bumps. I leave in many of them, like the deaths of my parents and brother (leaving me the oldest living family member at the ripe age of 39). I leave out how it is I came to be married to my husband who has left me and my sons about 18 months ago. Those reasons I find embarrassing. But maybe it’s time to come to grips with my reasons why I married him so that I can realize much about the marriage and move on? Maybe there is another bump in my road that I’m glazing over that needs to be shared?
We all need to learn to make saying ‘Yes’ to God a daily, minute-by-minute, natural part of our lives. I encourage everyone to make this a priority. how I wish I had ‘gotten this’ at a younger age. However, it is never to late. Praise God! He waits always, for us to turn to Him and let Him love and live through us as we die to our self.
I want to share how God has made my family ” beautiful in His time”. He took a broken girl and a broken family together and made a beautiful family. I’m ever so grateful.
I have been feeling the same way! So many times I feel like I am not hearing God, I feel like its all me. I want to hear what God is telling me. What God wants me to do, His direction for my life. There are so many things I want to do and I want to know it is not me but God who is giving me the ideas. Ugh… Thank you Lysa for hearing to God.
I can share about my experience with infertility
God has asked me to communicate the significance of prayer in our daily lives. Oh, the transforming power!!!
I’ve been battling with the shame of depression, anxiety, and feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy, especially as a mother. I’m making progress, but I’ve also felt led to share this with another woman I know. I’ve assumed it’s for my own healing, but perhaps God intends to use this for more. Perhaps this other woman (or someone she knows) has locked similar struggles inside, afraid for the world to see that she may be as broken as I feel. God is sufficient to cover all my shortcomings if I’m humble enough and have enough courage to let Him! If I’m obedient to share my story, not only may I experience this and truly believe, but this other woman may be helped as well.
I have drifted away from my daily time in the word and gave up attending bible studies when we began home educating our kids. I’m trying very hard to get back to that and am looking forward to what God will have me do and share in the future.
God has placed it on my heart to start a bible study with a dear friend of mine- Unplugged, as we both are going through trying times right now and feel, well unplugged.
My son was born with CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia) and was in the NIICU for 6 weeks. At day 9 he had a serious surgery to fix the CDH. I didn’t get to hold him until day 15 of his life. Now, at 11 months old he is going into surgery at the end of the month for cranio-facial (which in short terms means his skull has fused too soon and could cause brain damage if he doesn’t get it fixed). We’ve been in and out of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for the past year with all kinds of specialist, BUT all that said.. GOD IS GOOD and He will never leave of forsake us. My husband and I clung onto each other and still do, as well as clinging to God! I am truly blessed by my little man Isaac and couldn’t be happier!
Sharing your devotional….our small bible study group finished the DVD study a month ago and the devotional will be such a blessing to remind us of the lessons we learned and help us to keep moving forward in saying ‘yes’!
Lysa, I was anorexic for over seven years in my teens and early twenties. It’s only been in the last year or so I have started to feel like maybe my story coud help others.
Jesus as gentle as He come into our hearts, so that we can be a vessel filled with His heart to do God’s will. We are called out of our imperfections to serve as vessels of love. We need to be as my Friend Jodie wrote: Jesus Hearted Women! I add that a Heart filled with the Lord’s will be a vessel used anywhere, anytime and for the Glory of God! Let us be vessels to feed, serve and pour living water to the world. Shout I’d Jubilee!
God is telling me to share my story too-a story of overcoming a difficult childhood with his help, of returning to his presence again and again as I struggled to ignore the negativity around me. I am in an exciting time of life now-newly retired, listening for his guidance and looking for a way to help others. In order to be obedient to God’s will for me, I spend lots of time in prayer , scripture and journaling. Love your devotions, books and inspiration. Thank you Lysa!
In the world’s eyes, I am the most unlikely of women to be called to help heal the emotionally and spiritually wounded body of Christ, and those who would turn to God in response to their woundedness. What God calls me to share is my childhood story of abuse and my journey as an adult of healing and freedom in and through Christ. It has been a journey of finding emotional healing from the experience of growing up in a ungodly, non-Christian home where on the outside our family looked perfect, but on the inside, there was incest, domestic violence, mental illness, impression management, and various forms of addictions and dysfunctions, as well as issues that had been passed down through the generations. God grounded me by giving me Godly grandparents and Godly great aunts and uncles, but the issues I was surrounded with in my own home had consumed me, in spite of my own best efforts to choose NOT be impacted. It was only after the end of my dysfunctional marriage to a minister, that I began the journey of emotional and spiritual healing through forgiving those who had harmed me, forgiving myself, and learning who I am IN Christ. During the process, God called me from being a professional educator to being a licensed professional counselor. My personal healing of knowing who I am in Christ, was a process took place after I experienced core healing from the childhood issues, as God healed me on a deeper level, as He led me through the experience of many catastrophic circumstances and injuries, trials and tribulations, which were the instruments which God used to teach me how to die to self and live for him, and how to do spiritual warfare on my behalf and behalf of others. The end result is a message of hope and healing, a newfound freedom in Christ, and a greater capacity to live above my circumstances as I continue to grow in His grace and in His knowledge, irregardless of my circumstances, while being used of Him through writing books, counseling others, and speaking to groups who would choose a path of spiritual and emotional healing in Christ, through His power.
I can share that taking that big leap of faith may be intimidating at first but sets you free from the things that keep you in bondage.
Lysa, I have been struggling and praying the same things lately. My story is very similar to yours. What is God asking of me? Am I listening? Am I willing to hear what He has to say? I feel that my life is in another stage of metamorphosis and I don’t know what to expect when I emerge. In the meantime, I’ve been forming thoughts on a blog http://www.faithandbeans.com in hopes that I will stop swerving and get on the straight path of God’s plan for me. Thank you for your ministry. It is a rock to which I hold.
I am a very reserved person and it is causing problems in my marriage. I need to allow God to work through me to give me the courage to share my feelings with my husband before we end up divorced.
God has placed in my heart a huge compassion for children. My hope and desire is to teach children about His unfailing love for them.
God has put it on my heart to share the Bible study Yes God with my sister in law and mother in law. He has also put it on my heart to share with strangers the story of forgiveness I have regarding my father.
I believe God has placed on my heart to share my story of how I’ve went from punishing myself to loving myself and how this journey has affected how I view and treat myself and others. I began saying YES to God a year ago and it has been a great journey, some days I feel more connected than others but I know my relationship with God is growing each day. Lysa your posts always hit home for me, thank you for sharing! 🙂
As I read you blog today I had tears in my eyes. I always try to hide my past. I have never even told my husband everything that has happened to me. I know that I am to share my story with others because the life that I have had and the way that God has brought me through it is amazing. I have been abandoned, raped, abused, depressed, anxiety, fearful, unloved, unwanted, undesired and have had so much anger and disappointment in my life. I use to wonder WHY? WHY ME? But God has showed me that I AM MADE IN HIS IMAGIN that I am loved, wanted, desired, and needed. I was made to be strong in God. I am to follow him and tell other people and show others that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD. All the lies I have been told my entire life and the “bad” things I have to use them to tell women/young girls about God to let them see that HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US. HE LOVES US. I have to get my story out I just don’t know how and where to start. Will you please just be in Prayer for me that I do God’s will in my life. That I not be ashamed anymore of my past and live my life to the fullest. With God showing me and leading me!
Thank you for following God’s call on your life. Thank you for being obedient.
I need this book! I have been struggling to settle down and listen so i can hear God’s voice! Sometimes I wonder if its there and I just don’t want to listen! I read a bit out of the book you wrote with your daughter (a student in my youth group was reading it) and thought it was right on target… I cannot wait to read the version for women!
God has placed on my heart a certain sister in the faith to pray for and create an atmosphere of genuine community and selfless friendship. The challenge is that I am super introverted and I do struggle with depression over this one issue that I’ve prayed about for so long that isn’t seeming as if it’s going to change anytime soon…or at all. I know the Lord hears and sees and HE has let me know that HE loves me dearly and that that love doesn’t depend on me but HIS faithfulness, so I can always depend on it. I just feel so inadequate to be a good friend…comforting words aren’t really my forte and I always seem to create that awkward moment, where there’s just silence or because of a comment not very well thought out. I did read John 15 today because of your devotion and 15:4 is what stood out to me. “Remain in me…” I do realize that apart from Christ I am nothing and can do nothing, but connected to HIM, who is the vine, nothing is impossible! GOD bless!
God has placed on my heart to work with women and children that are in abusive situations or were in abusive situations. To help her understand that she is a beautiful confident woman and that she deserves more and her children then what she is allowing herself to endure. I just started a ladies Book CLub in my own home this past month and am looking for good books. This devotional would defintely be a God send for our little group. Also, this month at our church, some ladies are studying “Unglued”. We just had our first class last night and I know it is going to be a great study. I purchased “Unglued” just last night for my Kindle and can’t wait to start it!!
God Bless
Marie
I believe God has ask me to share the burden lightening feeling you get buy praying. And to reassure that he is listening and wants us to talk to him. I’m a work in progress but each day keeps getting better and your post are so uplifting, thank you.
God has asked me to go back and serve in a ministry I stepped away from last year. He has reminded me that I am to be an encourager to younger women. Also he has used Made to Crave in a mighty way in my life. Thank you so much for pouring your heart into your ministry. You voiced what I have experienced since I was 12 in my battle with food. ( I will be 60 in December) This spring I lead another lady ,10 years younger, through Made to Crave. What a blessing. I look forward to starting the study when women say yes to God on Sunday. It will help me prepare to lead the young mons in my church this fall.
I have been torn by being left twice before divorce and by having my second child taken halfway through my pregnancy due to a fatal birth defect. Yet I have a beautiful blessing in the form of a wonderful 5 year old daughter, and God has made provisions when I least expected them.
I do not know entirely what God has asked me to share yet. I do know that He has called me to a new neighborhood and a new season of life (children going to school instead of homeschooling). I believe He has something for me to do and I am looking forward to walking with Him.
God has laid on my heart to share his love. Plain and simple (:
God has led me to share the power of prayer with others. Not just my sisters but my brothers as well. We all are in need of prayer for one thing or another and I seem to be a very good “prayer warrior” for Him! I have many conversations with God and feel privileged that I can bring so many requests to Him and He knows each one, all the details, and answers them in His time. I have seen him work! I lead a prayer group at church, sometimes it is me and several others and sometimes it is just me. We meet on Thursday mornings and the awesomeness of the Holy Spirit is right there with among this meeting! I love helping others and I know that I am when I tell God their individual need!
As I was reading the question the thought came to me to share with my daughter who’s in college my college experiences, especially the bad. My experiences with the opposite sex left me with shame, guilt and confusion. I’m going to have to pray for courage to share this and ask God why do I need to share especially with my daughter. As far as I know, she’s not had any issues in that area so my thought is why God?. Our last couple years have been rocky and I don’t want her to dislike or disrespect me anymore than she has or I’ve felt.. Thanks for listening
To my sister in Christ, bless you for your words of encouragement. It is very difficult and painful to share and admit, but I have allowed myself to be entrenched and almost addicted to a friend and her friendship, that I have pushed God out of my life. I have made HER my all in all. I am so broken. I want to pray, God, please forgive me for having a false god. I need to learn that friendship, as wonderful as it can be, is NOT a substitute for my Heavenly Father. I want to now, at this very moment, dedicate my heart and my life to you, oh my God. With all the turmoil of a failed 26 year marriage, I have turned away from youand not let You in. Please forgive me. I have failed my five, beautiful children, by not bringing them up more closely to God’s heart. I need to repent of my sin, turn back to you oh Lord, and pray it is not too late for me or my children to receive your grace and redemption.
Lysa,
I can’t begin to tell you how God just used you to speak to me in volume. God wants from me what i journaled about this morning, to lean on his strength to do what i see a impossible. My 87 year old grandfather lives with me and i dont have the mental strength to care for him anymore. I’m single mom, financially, working long hours, he brings strangers into my home during the day when he’s alone, he’s throwing my personal belongings out, he has come to a place that i can’t take care of him. My heart wants to but God is showing me that in my own strength i can’t do it. Thank you for sharing because somehow i feel i have to super woman and I’ve had God in my passenger seat when i should have let him be the driver instead of the passenger. God bless you and thank you for your obedience to God!!
Noemi
God wants us to share His love! His love does not judge, but is full of kindness and peace and is not selfish! The more I grow in His Word the more I understand how He loves us! I want to be able to do this everyday in everyway! Seems the world just keeps getting more self centered and people more cruel. We really have to look at the world through God’s eyes and not ours! I thank God for your insight on all you write about, you are a blessing to many!
I think it is a work in progress to share my story, the good and bad parts of it. I have shared my story of abuse and even today it makes some people uncomfortable to hear it.
Wow , God is really pulling on my heart. In our church we are doing a series on My story, And then I read this. God is not just talking to me, he is yelling at me. I always thought my story was about addiction and then til a few days ago I realized it was something way more powerful. My dad is a minister and when I got saved in 2009 he said to me that I would minister to women. I laughed at him of course. I have a very dark past, like you said how can you share that with out judgment or hurt.
But God has showed me strength like I have never knew, and even though it doesn’t sound like much that is my story is strength and trusting in God through hardship after hardship. I lost my mom a few months ago and honestly ,sometimes don’t want to get out of bed. Even with 4 kids and a job. But I do and only God can give you that strength.
I so need this book, I want to give that gift of sharing to my dad. I want to be obedient to God. I just don’t know how to start.
I have been abandoned and abused, I have turned to alcohol, drugs and men to fill the voids in my life and deal with the depression, anxiety and fear. I have felt unloved and unwanted, all of which have led me to be bitter, resentful and angry.
BUT GOD – He had a better plan for me! I have begun to share my story with other women in a small group at my church, where we Celebrate Recovery from life’s hurt’s, hang-up’s & habits…
“He sent forth His word and healed me, He rescued me from the grave. I give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for me” ~ Ps 107:20-21 🙂
Suzanne
I’ve tried to handle life in my own strength and it has not gotten me anywhere. I cannot forgive and let go of bitterness and resentment without seeking help from my Heavenly Father. I have neglected spending time with Him as I have believed the lies that I’m too far gone or just not worth the effort. I’ve reacted and responded to life’s challenges in ways that have not reflected the grace and mercy of Jesus. Oh how I need to spend some quality time with Him and feel His touch once again!
God has placed in my heart to speak for the unborn and to advocate adoption of the orphans in China. Having gone through adopting a child, He has given me many opportunities to help others in their adoption journeys, to offer encouragement through the process.
I believe that God may want me to share this wonderful love story that seems to revealing itself in my life. After 30 something years in this world and trying to feel, experience, know exactly what true love feels like…I have finally realized that God has truly loved me from before I was even born. I have made a lot of messes in this life but the lovd story is not over….
Lisa- the answer would be my story, too! I am big on sharing testimonies and know firsthand the importance of this action to minister to others hearts, and I have…yet the one area I feel the Lord’s direction to share it, I have put off for far too long. Partially maybe because of what you described as far as lies of Satan over inadequecies, and partially because of being a “busy” Pastor’s wife & Mom of 5…but there is no “putting off” God. He gives AND He takes away, and I pray that my obedience would come before He decides to use someone else for what alone He has called me… Because the truth is- only each of us can share OUR story of Grace and Redemtion… They are all equally amazing and “written” by God Himself, but they are uniquely our own! Praise Him through Whom ALL Blessings flow! Thanks, Lysa, for sharing yours!
Hi All,
I am the mother of a 25 yr old son who committed himself to a year long program of rehab with Teen Challenge yesterday. He has struggled with drugs and alcohol since he was 17. His dad and I have prayed since the onset of his struggles for this. It has been a long, hard and emotionally exhausting journey as his parents. God has seen us through this and brought our son to a place where looking up was the only option left. If anyone is struggling with this I want to encourage you to NEVER give up. I also want to encourage you to LET GO, AND LET GOD. There IS hope even when you think the situation is hopeless. Please feel free to email me if anyone feels the need to talk or be encouraged.
Your sister in Christ,
Tina Collins
God wants me to speak restoration and hope into the lives of women who were molested as children. He that is mighty has done to me great things! What He has done for me He wants to do for them.
Lysa,
Thank you so very much for being a Yes ! Women. Your response to God is something amazing. You are helping shape the lives of so many women, myself included. It’s incredibly encouraging to read over your stories and blog entries. Your words speak right to my heart, filling it with love and comfort. Especially today’s story as I as well had a life changing event occur during the same bible study of “Experiencing God”. During the study , I found Jesus and for the 1st time & claimed Christ as my savior & one true father. The story of my salvation and how my life has changed since I’ve been reborn is what God has placed inside my heart to share. I’m looking forward spreading the knowledge of His Love to others & I’m super pumped up to learn more about what it means to be a Yes! Women !
Thanks for sharing your story. I’m not sure, but I think God is leading me to encourage others and share the importance of prayer in our lives. I’ve been told that I’m a good listener and I try to point out the positive and strengths of others. However, I’m rather shy and quiet, so I think I work better with others one on one. I’m still praying about what it is exactly that God wants me to do and when.
I find it amazing how God can turn the bad things in our lives and if we “trust” in Him, into good. God has been working on my heart over the past few years to trust fully in Him. I know that God has never left me, I left Him. He has always been there waiting for me to come back and these last few years have been so passionate. I know that He is working something big and I do fight it at times, and I lose every time. He has changed my heart, my life and has made me an even stronger person. God has been working deep my heart. I turned away from God and everyone for that matter when I was 14. The choices I made those next 5 years were harsh and I attached myself to things and did things that could only hurt me, I was filled with so much anger. What I didn’t realize at that time was that I already had the seed of God planted in me, and once you have that seed it never leaves you, only you can leave it. Over the course of years He was working in me in a way I could never imagine, but no matter how much I fought Him (and I fought Him) He continued to love and I ran further until finally I was tired of running and God finally broke me down! I went from drugs, alcohol, and self abuse, to ten years in the military as a Police Investigator, to now a wife and mother of a beautiful little girl and a Disciple of Christ. Through God’s Love, through that tiny seed that was planted long ago God never left me, he has been and still is working in my heart, to do what, I’m not completely sure yet. Maybe it’s just to plant the seed of God in my daughter heart and the bigger plan is for her, but what I can tell you is there are days I still have fear and doubts, but there isn’t a day that goes by I don’t Love Him! I’m so thankful and blessed for blogs like these, for Klove, and ministries like Proverbs31 because they plant little seeds and we need seeds! So thank you!
The Lord has put on my heart to share too how in need I am of the continually filling of His precious Holy Spirit. I don’t want to be a weak-willed woman, I don’t want to be a strong-willed woman, I want to be a Spirit-willed woman!!!
Blessings ~
Carrie Kittinger
I’m a storyteller, so I’m always sharing. But lately I’ve wanted to dive deeper into writing songs because music reaches people in a way nothing else can. My fear of not being any good had held me back. The voice I heard as I read this was “just try and leave the rest to me.”
I once had a close relationship with Jesus! The last 18 months have been really hard, full of lots of negative changes, loss of parent, teenagers beginning to drive, job changes with huge decreases in salary, returning to work after years of being Mom, selling, renting, then buying new home. STRESS! I have had times when I just couldn’t pray. I miss him so! I am desperately seeking a renewal in my relationship with Him.
I believe God wants me to share how my life has changed after I accepted Christ as my savior. All the things that are new now since being reborn and how to grow closer to Him.
After years of depression and anxiety, I spent time in counselling. One day the question posed to me was “Who are You?” This meant beyond a role of mother and teacher, beyond the things I filled my time with…who was I? had no idea how to answer….I had wanted to say “I’m a child of God, chosen” but the words wouldn’t come out. I didn’t feel it, I had drifted so far from God’s truths, into a life defined by feelings, and opinions from others. Over this past year I found Lysa’s books: Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl and Unglued- they were a starting point to life changing growth in me…I have since been involved in intensive bible study, speaking engagements, and today I go for a consultation for a tattoo I am putting on my shoulder. This tattoo is of a cross with the words “Grace” and “Love” and my life verse Philippians 4: 6-8 (a verse I claimed this year and wear on a ring, from my best friend, around my neck). I will confidently display “Who I Am” on my shoulder as a visual reminder to me and a statement to others of God’s Awesomeness! He has brought me to the place today that I can say: ” I am weak and anxious yet confident in truth, I am self-cemtered by nature yet a work in progress, changing and growing, I am broken and sinful yet forgiven, I am a child of God chosen for great purpose and I AM LIVING PROOF THAT GOD WORKS AND IS FAITHFUL WHEN WE SEEK AND TRUST! “. I now want to share with the world what my awesome God has done in my heart and can do in yours! :).
I’m not yet sure what God wants me to share with others. I’ve been dealing with anxiety issues and am learning that I need to make God my focus. I’m not in control, no matter how hard I try or what I think. I’m learning to trust in God fully….and sometimes it’s hard to just let go. Patiently waiting to see where He leads me. 🙂
As I go through what I feel are trials everyday in my life I find myself leaning and relying more on our Heavenly Father each day. Two years ago I “thought” I was a believer in Christ but I now know what being a believer in Christ is. There isn’t a moment of each day that he is not with me and that I am not learning from him. As I struggle with Changes at work recently I went to the book of Job and find that I should be asking each day “Why am I here and How can I Grow” rather than “Who did this to me and How can I get out”. There is something very Mighty about our Heavenly Father and for that I am thankful each day! 🙂
I just ended a year long relationship with an incredible man. I learned more about myself and my weaknesses than I ever thought possible. He is an alcoholic and after my being married to someone who was bipolar for 18 years the relationship started out of a need to help and ended with the realization that I am not God and I can’t fix people and I have to let go of my pride and let him heal with God’s help. I know God brought me through yet another challenge to share my story of the realization that God is Enough!
God has strongly put foster care and adoption on my heart…even though I’m a single woman. I’ve often pushed the idea away, because I’m very young (just finishing college!) and I always imagined being married before I would adopt or foster care for children. I don’t know what’s in store for my future with that, but God has made it clear to me that I must be open to care for His children in whatever way he asks me to. It’s been hard sharing this with my friends, family and extended relatives because they often judge me for this tugging at my heart. If I was married, it would be all well and good….but because I’m a single woman, they frown even upon the idea of me caring for a child. I often feel shame from their judgement, even though it’s nothing to be ashamed about….I need to work on focusing my attention on the Audience of One. Lysa — thank you SO much for your honesty, your thoughtfulness and words of encouragement.
I will be leaving for a mission trip to Guatemala in nine days. I want so much to be able to share the love of Christ with women and children while I’m on this trip. I want others to know what peace, joy, hope and comfort there is in having a relationship with our Lord. Please pray for me as I prepare for this mission journey.
We should not live our lives to please others. We should be real…..honest, moral, trustworthy, loyal, and should apply scripture to back every decision we make. Others may not like and may not agree with what we say and do, but if we are living for Christ and acting in obedience to him, then we please HIM….and that is, ultimately all that really matters. And all of those bad things said about us will be turned into something good and fruitful and wonderful for HIS Glory!!
God has placed on my heart to share of his healing powers of the heart. He wants others to know Satan plants lies in our hearts that we believe to be truth and then we live out of those lies. They are the reason we stop living. He wants me to share his truth. To help others find their own individual truth he has for each one of us. He loves us so just as we are. He has healing just waiting for us to be willing to come after it. To hope again. To live again
This is what he has called me to do. Help others hear his truth. Healing the hearts
My infertility journey over the last 6 years. And now the foster/adoption journey God is leading us through.
Lysa,
God has placed on my heart the things I’ve gone through since childhood. When I was 11 my mother died with liver/lung cancer. Then I went to live with my father and stepmother. At age 21 my father committed suicide and then a few years later his wife and stepdaughter were killed in the Valujet crash in the Everglades. Later on I had married the love of my life at age 21 just before my father died. In 2001 I failed miserably at being a mother and wife and left my family and ended up with another man. How could I have left a 4 1/2 year old and almost 2 year old child with their father because I was depressed? Yes I still question how I did this even though I forgive myself and I know God has forgiven me because he loves me and if not for him I never would have made it this far.
Blessings, Terri
I think God wants me to just encourage others. I have no idea how God wants to use me, or what to say to others. I’ve had done experiences I could share, but really don’t feel led to. I do feel like others come to me when they are struggling.
I have begun to share my story with a small group of women at my church
Hi Lysa,
I’m so looking forward to diving into this book during our OBS with Proverbs 31. God has given me a desire to speak to women (and young women) and I’ve turned it away many times, thinking how I’m a horrible public speaker, He can’t really mean me right? I know that I have a message about beauty and self image to share and I know this book will help me get out of my comfort zone, say “Yes” to God and do what He has called me to do. Thank you for your honesty, you are a blessing to me!
I’ve struggled with so many things. Depression, alcoholism, anxiety, single mom for 17 years,abandoned, abused, etc. God has delivered me from all things and restored me to Him. I have walked away so many times yet he keeps patiently bringing me back to Him. One night while lying in bed all my past failures and struggles were replaying in my mind. I’m a loser. I’m always depressed. I’m a alcoholic. Im a adulterer. God spoke to my heart and said child you are no longer any of those things. He said what you are is forgiven. What you are is free. What you are is my child. That’s what I want to share with others. His message of hope that no matter what you go through He loves you with a unfailing love and he always brings His children back to Him.
I believe that God wants me to share that although I trust him with my life, my future, myself, I have so much trouble trusting him with my children and their lives and their futures. I want to try to control and manipulate things for them. I feel such hurt as they struggle through life’s lessons that I want to help. I am learning that God is in charge and my job is to pray and trust. But I struggle daily with this. I am learning to put God first, not my children. I am learning to let Him have His way in their lives and I am learning that He loves them and wants good for them, but it is so very hard for me. I must remember, God is good. That is my mantra, God is good.
Struggles with major postpartum depression.
“Seeing God use the very thing that made me feel utterly worthless to help others changed everything.” Powerful words. Gods grace. The past couple of years have rocked my world. Divorce. Unemployment. But God is Faithful! And, allowing Him to use the ugly for good is healing me and helping others. Praise Him!
Great post today. I think your devotional will be great because you are someone who is transparent.
As far as what God wants me to share? I’m working on a book called, On Shaky Ground, Rising above the effects of Abuse. It’s a hard book to write. There’s nowhere to hide when you’re telling the truth. You are all out there.
I have fallen into an endless pit of despair. I am disabled and trying to get disability. I miss working and helping people. I stay at home all the time with just me and my dog. I am recently márried but I feel I don’t fit the roll of a housewife or anything right now. I feel far away from God. My life was not suppose to turn out like this. I keep praying God will help me find a purpose. Please pray for me that I will achieve a closer walk with God and find my purpose in life. God Bless all of you.
I know The Lord wants me to be real with people…share my hardships and pain and let them know that HE will walk them through it and there is another side…a side of healing!
God has put on my heart to share with my co-workers that living the Christian life is attainable even in working in an environment (school) where they are trying to take The God of the Bible out of everything. .
God asked me to “share my wounds” on the day He called me to Himself and I became His daughter. My story includes that I was sexually molested by my father. I have been trying to figure out for the last 10 years where and how to tell my story. God has convicted me recently on the “tight rein” I’ve had in telling it and challenged me to let go of my face-saving tactics. I’ve written my story in book form and now write a blog, but I still struggle with just telling the whole story – the good, the bad, the ugly – and trusting in how He wants to use it. I hear the voices like you describe in your devotional too. Thank you for sharing your testimony of what it was like the first time you shared and how God used that. This encourages me in a current ministry in my church that just might be my first real place to truly to “share my wounds” the way God asked me to all those years ago.
Today as I was preparing for another long day of PD at school, I was doing my daily devotional. This is a new thing for me. I have been doing this for most of the past three months. My 40th birthday as in July and a friend of mine gave me a devotional journal. She is not a believer. Her family are not believers. But she knew how I have been studying God’s word and knew about my daily devotional time on my back porch. I was so touched by the thoughtful gift. Before I even read your post today, I was already thinking that I needed to text her about how much I have enjoyed writing my thoughts and reflections in that journal, particularly today. Today I quoted your prayer from the daily devotional praying for God to speak for me and not to let my own insecurities or selfishness react first today–just one of many stressful days leading to the beginning of a school year.
So I feel like God was already speaking to me. He was saying, “Reach out to Sonja. Tell her how much her thoughtful gift has allowed me to grow closer to Him. Encourage her today.”
Then your words just reinforced what I sometimes doubt I hear. I am still working on opening myself up to His choices. Thank you.
I too have a shameful past that I continue to allow it to make me feel unworthy. Along with all the abuse I had as a child. I lead a small group of middle school girls and am slowly using my past to try to help them navigate through their lives knowing that God loves them and considers them worthy of his love.
Today on Facebook, I shared, asking for prayers for our county’s animal shelter workers. Due to a wild animal brought to the shelter, we have had an outbreak of distemper; all 143 dogs have to be put down, starting today. I ask for prayers for the 4 workers at the shelter…this is an insurmountable task. God’s strong right hand is needed upon these workers today.
I am just beginning to really listen to God when it comes to sharing my story. I feel there is much more of my story I am supposed to share; however, what I know God has called me to share is my family’s faith in leaping. I was pregnant with my second child. We were in horrible financial condition from student loan & credit card debt and had no savings. While my job as a special education teacher made for a nice second income, I went to work every day with a dread filled heart. While I had once felt called to my career, I felt a louder calling to give up that financial security to stay at home with my children. It was a scary leap. On the outside my husband’s paycheck seemed large and more than adequate to take care of us, but no one could see the mountain of debt we were under. No matter the circumstances, we knew we were supposed to leap first and worry later. It has been a year and a half filled with lessons of faith, patience, and contentedness. God has always remained right beside us. He has taught me what really matters in life and has filled our home with a joy on he can provide. He is teaching me everyday where my treasures are and what really matters in a life lived for Him.
Matthew 6:19-21 is now the mantra of our home.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Cannot hear it enough that God is in control. I need to be still and listen for God. Easier said than done.
God has called me to share my story of a struggling marriage saved by the grace of God. My jusband and I are in the marriage ministry at our church coaching other couples. So far from where we were a couple of years ago.
To start loving my husband, REALLY loving him…
I felt the Lord asking me to share Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” It is so amazing to me that I serve a God who is NEVER changing! Through every trial, heartache, and defeat, God is always by our side with open arms. When we feel as though no one understands what we are going through…God does! It doesn’t matter what the situation may be, or how far we have strayed from Him, He is a CONSTANT source of strength, hope, and joy! I am so thankful for the God I serve and what He means to me! I would LOVE to be the winner of this devotional book!!! 🙂
I chose to say Yes to God, when 3 years ago my husband of 30 years, told me to renounce my faith and join him in a newly discovered cult, or he wouldn’t stop a divorce. While the choice to choose God was easy, the enemy has tried very hard to deceive me. God has, and continues to, gently and lovingly bring me closer to Himself; foiling the evil one’s attempt to bring me to the dark side. Now that I am stronger He has been whispering in my ear it’s time to share my testamony of His goodness, Mercy and Grace through the darkest of times. As a 51 year old, He’s directed me to become Titus 2 woman! Through my experience He has equipped me with His promises throuh His word. He has encouraged me to meet, talk and pray with these younger women and be His vessel to help them through their challenging seasons. Our gracious Father has brought forth beauty out of the ashes allowing me to say Yes, everything I do, I do it for You! I covet your prayers as I continue to seek His will and direction. May God bless you and your ministry. Thank you!
I wanted to share what God has done for me through these studies–he has opened my eyes to His love, caring and compassion for me. I have been dealing with a small bowel health issue over the past few years–there are times when my small bowel stops functioning–it may require hospital stays and other times my doctors have given me the tools to manage from home–for many months I was depressed didn’t understand and I hide my fears from everyone–put on my happy happy face–but through the on line Bible studies I have been able to “put it out there” share my story–each on line leader has prayed me through my “bumps in the road” times when my body wasn’t playing pretty. I had to give up my full time job–but God has provided with me a part time job that I can work when my body is up and running–this is all God not me–I have learned to lean on Him and not me–I love my Group 12 leaders/ladies–we can keep it real!–pray with and through each situation we are walking through–God is faithful and he carries me when I am weak! blessings to each of the Proverbs 31 leaders and staff–
Tell my story…that’s what he’s asking me to do. Yes, Lord.
Even as I write this comment I hesitate to share my struggle with depression and anxiety. Because of the stigmatism still in the church that Christians shouldn’t have this problem I feel like a lot of women suffer in silence. God has amazingly brought me out of the pit and my desire is that other women find this same peace and know they are not alone.
We all have a story…that story will help others when we have given ALL those places to Christ and are transparent. My story goes back many years and includes many heartaches, my heart hurting and me hurting others’ hearts. I have loved the Lord always but my life revealed a sinful, hurt, broken young girl who became a woman, who never believed the Lord could use to help others. My two grown daughters and I have been reading your stuff daily for quite awhile now and we were blessed to see you in Wichita Kansas. I laughed and cried and thanked God for you!!
God has out in my heart to share about my own short comings as well. I stil hold alot of self hate and unforgiveness to myself for all of the things that I have done wrong in my past. I myself Lysa have had 2 abortions and I dont really talk about them much but I have shared my story with other young women who were thinking about making the same decision. I have 3 children twin girls and a son and they are the light of my life. God ahs been telling me to share his gospel since I was 5 years old I knew that I was called to do Gods works.I was even ordained as a minister when I was 16 years old and honestly the happiest and most fufilled days that Ive had in life where those in which I was speaking Gos word.However i think the things that I have done hold me back. Ive attempted suicide twice in my life and one of those times I was pregnant with my girls.I was 20 and alone and in a abusive relationship. I find it hard to forgive myself and hard to find out why God wants me to speak his word.I thought by me getting married it would motivate me to do what I am called to do because I was no longer fornicating and I married a wondeful man.However, I still find myself bringing up my past. I know who God is nad what he has called me to do but Im stii so confused as to the how and whys.And that confusion alone gives me a reason to not do what he says and in turn I feel the “yuck” as you call it, with my decisions.
God has been working on my heart in huge ways. About two and half years ago in the middle of my perfect little christian life I had mid life crisis and became involved in adulterous affair. The Lord swept me up out of my disgrace and surrounded me with forgiving and loving family and friends and a husband that chose to forgive me and love me unconditionally. Following my sinful act I went into a deep depression because I was so ashamed of what I had done. I too have gone to God many times asking for forgiveness. I still struggle with forgiving myself…this past week my family went to a Christian family camp and the message there was that of letting go of your past and letting God use you through your mistakes, we were encouraged to write our story down and find 5 people to tell it to. Up until this point the last thing I have wanted to do is to tell my story but your post today was just another reminder that God wants me to tell it. He and I both know there are other women out there that have dealt with this in their life and need to hear the hope Christ offers and to be reminded that we don’t have to forgive ourselves..that’s already been taken care of…Christ’s forgiveness is all we need. We are cleansed by his blood, redeemed! I am so ready for God to do something powerful with this story….I think I am ready to finally pen it out and see where God takes it.
Thank you for sharing. I am a stay at home mom of 3 beautiful children. My youngest is almost 18 months and when she starts school (in about 3-4yrs, hope it doesn’t hurry by!) I will probably go back to work. I have already started praying about what The Lord would have me do. I keep “hearing a voice” saying I am to write a devotional book. What?! That is definitely not my own voice bc I am NOT a writer. I am still praying just to make sure I am hearing right. Not sure on the timing of this said book. Please help me pray about this bc I want to follow His will but the thought of writing a book is very overwhelming and scary to me. Like you said “Who am I?” Nothing without Him and His good and perfect will. Thanks!!!
My family has soooo much fun together, even though I’m a messed up Mama. My messed-up-ness can’t thwart the plans of God for my children’s lives! So I love spreading the reminder that we’ll never be good enough but God is always great enough. Therefore, we should relax and enjoy the day God has given us!
I just shared with some friends/sisters at prayer meeting last night how God is showing me how important it is to take every thought captive. I’m also reminded of the verse in Proverbs that says out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. When I’m “rehersing” the contrived thoughts (what I think someone is thinking about me) and the irritations of my m-i-l living with us over and over it will come out. I HAVE to BE in His word and I HAVE to repeat scripture and BE constantly praying! I’m also learning that I have a problem with really trusting God…He has things happen in each day for a reason, am I going to thank Him and trust Him. I’m a work in progress and I know
I don’t have this conquered…..the peace and joy that comes when I’m obedient to Him makes me want more of Him. I remembered the verse last night from Proverbs, When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. My prayer for myself and my family is that we hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness.
God wants me to share my struggle with depression with others.
I was reading your devotion on Proverbs 31 today and it was exactly what I needed to hear today. I’ve just accepted an elementary teaching job after I’ve stayed home with my kids for the past 10 years. Nervous isn’t a strong enough word for how I’m feeling! Will I be able to teach effectively after so many years? How will juggle being a full-time teacher, mother and wife? Can I really do this? When I get stressed in life, my patience and temper are the first sign of it! I don’t want to become the woman I was before I knew the Lord and spew all of my frustrations on the hears of my precious little ones. After reading the verse today, it is apparent that God wants this to be MY verse for the next few months. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4 (NIV).
In the past, I would have tried to do all these things myself – now I will strive to remain in Him and He will bear fruit through me. Thank you for giving me a space to share my story and struggles with others.
I believe that God is telling me to share my life with other women. I have always wanted to share but I feel that I am still going through a lot at this time. Lately I have felt pressured to share my life more than ever, but I again I want to wait until I have gone through the trial or tribulation. I am finally understanding that God wants me to share my life now while I am in the midst of going through the many changes in my life. I truly believe that I will be able to help and inspire others by being transparent and allowing them a peek into my life. Please pray for me to have courage and to be obedient.
The scripture that God has given me is
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Michelle
I believe God is leading me to share my 31 year struggle with depression and subsequent deliverance from it. As a mental health provider it is hard to admit to your clients (or anyone else) that the very thing you are called to help relieve is the main thing you struggle with yourself.
I’m the mother of 4 boys. I am very social but I keep very private about all I have experienced raising males in today’s world. I find a lot of people are feeling judged or disappointed by the decisions their children make & by sharing my less than perfect experience as a parent helps others in their time of need. It is hard for me because I adore my children & feel the need to protect their privacy but by doing that I am leaving others thinking what their children are doing is something I have never experienced & couldn’t understand. When in fact I have been through it all & through God’s strength & the power of prayer my sons have become fine Christian men with the experience to back what they believe in. When they were young I had a list of things I felt I could teach them to avoid. I threw that list away a long time ago. Mentally I memorized the list and through it all there is only one thing left that they didn’t manage to do. So, if sharing my experience helps others I am more than willing to step out of my comfort zone & be judged or accepted by the stories I have to share. God is in the details!
About 2 years ago I felt God wanted me to share how He was working in my life. So I began a weekly blog. After about 9 months my writing became erratic and finally stopped. I definitely feel God still wants me sharing. I’m just not sure if it’s through the blog or what and how often. I will continue to pray for answers.
God has placed on my heart to share the story of redemtion that He has given me. I sturggled with the addiction of cutting myself for 10 years. I felt so hopeless and attemepted suicide. I’ve broken several bones in my body. I did anything I could to try to numb the emotional pain… BUT GOD! God has changed my life and has given me a HOPE that is unexplainable. I believe God called me to share His hope with the brokenhearted!
Hi, Lysa.
I, too, had an abortion when I was young. I had never told another living soul until our church got involved with our Not Alone Pregnancy Center here in town. I knew I had to tell my story. I did not want to, though, because I thought, “what will people think of me?” I was a church girl and had been since my conception. The shame I carried was overwhelming. I asked God to forgive me 26 years ago after it happened, but I could never forgive myself. January 2013 I got a chance to share my story at the first annual benefit banquet and silent auction for the Not Alone Pregnancy Center. I kept my head down, got through my 25-minute presentation, and afterward I dared to glance up, and I was looking at people with tears streaming down their faces. They then began to clap and gave me a standing ovation. THAT was the moment I felt a true release of the shame. I have felt since then that God wants me to share my story with others and I am working on (gulp) a book about my story. I was brought up thinking what other people thought is HUGE. I now also understand that GOD is the one I am living to please, not other people. Love you, Lysa! Keep shining!
I struggle with trying to control everything in my life. I need to let go and let God be in charge. His plan for my life is the right one and the only one.
I want to share that no matter what obstacles you face daily our God is bigger and He knows what our journey is and what the future holds for each of us. We simply have to trust Him at ALL times, not just the mountain top times, but the deep valley times too. We all have things that we have done or said that we feel guilty about, and typically we are hardest on ourselves, but we have to learn to ask God to forgive us, and then we have to forgive ourselves too, which is never easy to do. May each of you have a truly blessed day today, and may you be a blessing to someone else!
Oh the tears. I struggle every day with my story and my younger years. Despite the fact I was raised knowing God and loving God, I chose to go my own way through college and for many years to follow. As I began to say yes to God in my forties I lost many friendships and gained the best prayer partner and Sister in Christ I could ever hope for. My children and I became closer as I worked with the youth. It is an amazing feeling to say yes.
Thank you for your story. I truly do understand. I am afraid that one day God will tell me to share all of mine. But, like you, I know he will tell me when and where and will give me the strength to do it.
In Him,
Misty
I agree with Lori. To love my husband. and to show others love also. I know God gives us his strength to do that and for everything else. We have to rely on God for our lives. Not worry about anything,knowing that he is in control. We are fearfully and wonderfully made!
I believe God has laid on my heart the need to share with others that I’m not defined by my past. Matthew West’s newest song, “Hello, My Name Is” has a line that resonates with me. It is, “I am no longer defined, by all the wreckage behind.” WOW!!! How powerful is this?!?!?!?
Thank you for this in a time when it is much needed. I’m in a struggle right now between work friends/church friends/family and trying to surround myself with only people who are willing to grow with me in my walk. I’m listening hard and trying to be obedient but it’s not always easy to break relationships that have been familiar and comfortable at times.
I believe that God is calling me into a women’s ministry and I believe that my story is important. I think that God is going to use all the things that I have been through in my life for his Glory! My story is sad and happy and sad and filled with low vallys and high mountain top experiences and even somewhere on the climb up. I have put this calling to the side for most of my adult life, but everytime I read my bible or read an email or even turn on the radio, I seem to hear God’s calling in my spirit and it has gotten to the point where I can no longer close my eyes and say No, God I can’t hear you. I do hear him and I am saying yes and I want to share my struggles with Divorce and remarriage and blending a family that still after 3 yrs doesn’t seem to want to come together. I am not going through all of these things for the Devil, I am going through this because God is teaching me something that will ultimately help someone else, I am a part of God’s Grand Plan!
I know God wants me to share all that he has done in my life and continues to do.
God has been calling me to share my story of how I was in an abusive marriage and got out. I now serve on the board for a local women’s shelter and help raise awareness of abuse and its causes and help raise funds to keep the shelter going and growing. My call though is to talk to women of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds about abuse – how to avoid it and how to escape it. I have not yet been given that opportunity but look forward to God’s perfect timing. I recently found your blogs and look forward to receiving your emails every day – they have become an integral part of my devotional time. Thank you for sharing your testimony with us and for your wonderful uplifting words. God bless you always!
I really feel God has been dealing with me to listen to His voice and do what He says. Its going to be hard sometimes, but how can I be a Christian and not be as Christ-like as possible. I just have to remember to rely on His grace.
I have been struggling with anxiety and depression for about 15 years now, it started when i moved to go to college and returned after each of my four childrens births. Over the course of the last 6 years, i have been to share mu struggles with many other women and cling to the 1 peter 5:7 and Phillipians 4:6-7. As i continue to grow closer to God, attend buble studies and small grouos and now going on mission trips, I am able to share my story with many women.
THis just broke me down as I cried out to God, “Please don’t make me! Please don’t!” I’ve been struggling for years with my past and with what others see on the outside. I’m seeing my daughter now struggling with “secrets” in her life now. I must brak this chain! But I know I cannot do it on my own. Thank you for this devotion! I’m thanking God that He cares for me still by speaking to me through this, even as I have walked in disobedience. Please pray that I will say ‘yes’ to Him.
I have several songs the Lord has given me that have blessed our small church family and I have felt Him calling me to do more, but I have not been obedient because of feelings of inadequacy. I’m not a good enough mucisian, i’m too old, it costs too much…lots of excuse. Thank you for your encouragement to step out. 🙂
God has placed on my heart today that I should share, sometimes I just want to walk away from it all, my husband, my kids, my house, my job and go be alone in the woods in a cabin and live like a hermit. See my husband is a truck driver and gone Monday through Friday and home on the weekends. I do count my blessings he use to be gone 2 -3 weeks at a time but I feel like a single parent. Managing the house, the kids, the job and throw the business in there and sometimes I just want to run but God has on many occasions has shown me many reasons to stay, like the little hand that rubs my face or the sunset that makes my kids say look mom or the phone cal from my husband just when I need to hear how much he loves and appreciates all I do. God is so good!
Hope… Not alot of words needed. Hope for a better future, hope of cleansing the soul of past mistakes and knowing God loves you where you’re at.
I have been needing a lot of encouragement lately. Taking care of a family, struggling financially, and meeting responsibilities has been taking its toll. After attending the Grace Conference at Quentin Road Bible Baptist Church ( awesome, by the way) I have it on my heart that the best way to find the encouragement and peace I need is to help and encourage others even when I think I can’t. God doesn’t want us to let our finances or family needs stop us from giving what we are able. To give to someone in need is to give to God and God will bless my life and meet our needs.
I came to a third world country ten years ago and see poverty all around. God put on my heart to start a non-profit organization to help reach the poor with what they need physically which will open doors to sharing the Gospel. What I have learned is that nothing comes about in the Kingdom without great sacrifice. I think it is a word that has been forgotten today, and I feel that God has put it on my heart to remind people that we are called to sacrifice everything if necessary to see His Kingdom expand.
God has laid it on my heart this morning to share the idea of being small. As women, I think it’s hard for us not to want to be in the spotlight, and even more difficult not to speak our minds (at least it is for me) I think it’s important that we pray and ask God to help us be small so he can be big. For example, this past week I went to watch my little brother graduate from Air Force Basic Training in Texas. The whole time we were there, my aunt kept interrupting my brother’s stories to talk about her own and, being the protective big sis that I am, all I wanted to do was put her in her place. afterall, it was about Clayton not her! I would get so angry at her for interrupting that I said a few things sometimes just to pick fights and give her a piece of my mind. I realized this morning that I could have been a Christ-like example for her, but instead I tried to be big and bad and she brought me down to her level and beat me with experience. Also, by getting irriated at her, I further took the attention off my brother and put it on me and my vengeful emotions. Father help us to be small and quite, learning from our mistakes and growing in you. Close our mouths and speak through us with a love that only you can fathom. I pray that you would help us to be examples for you in things that are some small and petty as well as things that are much bigger than us. In Jesus name, amen.
Katherine – I couldn’t agree with you more! Why is it so difficult to be less so God can be more? For me, it stems from wanting to be valued. But who values me more than God? My children depend on me for daily needs, my husband for keeping our lives in order and my employer depends on me to perform my work but none of them value me as my Father does.
For years, I’ve felt God’s calling to share my personal testimony of childhood abuse, foster care, and how God led me out of the “statistics” to successfully overcome my history with others. I’ve had the opportunity to speak to many, many child welfare groups (as a social worker) but never to a church. Just this week, God prompted me to speak to a pastor’s wife from a small community. I’ve been reading a book by Joel Osteen lately and I really believe My time is coming…God will use my story for good!
Over the last 6 years, God has transformed me to reach out to others who are teenage mothers or in an abusive relationship. I have spoken to schools and church’s concerning these issues. He is preparing me for bigger things to help more women and girls as I learn new speaking and writing skills.
I think we wear the same size shoes. Once you allow God to work through you the results are amazing and surprising. It’s still hard sometimes to share my life, and there are still tears at times in the telling. Just to make a difference in one heart is awesome.
I’m amazed! I am to share this devotional.
I have finally felt free to share parts of my story and accept the judgemental glares I get. I grew up a dedicated believer until the devil got some serious hooks into my life. At 18 I was convinced I was going to be alone forever and tried to kill myself three times and was seriously ticked it never worked. Then I met a boy who gave me a chance, but he was Muslim. Well, I love this guy and didn’t want to let him go. We got married when I was 23 and I then spent eight years following Islam. I’m now free and have returned to Christ but I am still married to him, he’s truly my best friend. He totally accepts who I am and has even allowed our daughter to be baptized and he came!! It was a beautiful moment that I’ll definitely treasure forever. God is so good!!
God just wants us to always share our heart. Whatever he has put in our heart that day is what we are to share. It might be an experience you went through to help another or it might just be a hug that someone needed. It could even be just a smile and a hello. Could just be a card they get in the mail from you to brighten their day. God uses what he planted to grow in someone elses life. All we have to do is be obedient. If people don’t see Jesus in me they may never see him. Oh what a responsibility………..
Thank you for a glimpse of your devotional. It is God speaking to me.
I so often speak negatively about myself. If I will take the time to listen to what God is saying to me, I know I will hear Him…but to get to that point is hard. I need Him so much…
I feel God is telling me to write a note to a coworker and tell her God loves her. I haven’t been able to do it yet.
I’m amazed! In Gods time, I am to share this devotional.
I’m feeling led to share my testimony about my teen years, all the things that I wish I had never done. If I could help one young girl make the decision to not choose the same path of destruction….
My faith, to tell not just live it. I really struggle with talking about my faith to people that I don’t know well. I am very introverted and find it very hard to step out of myself and talk to others, unless I am pretty familiar with them.
My failures as a wife, mom and woman in general. The reality that I am not perfect in any area of my life but I’ve got to keep getting up and doing my best even if I fail.
As a stay at home mom of 2 boys- 5 & 1, we found out when our 1 yr old was 8 weeks that he has cystic fibrosis. Thankfully he is very healthy and amazes his medical team with his progress. I give praise to God for all this. Some days the reality of his disease is too much to bear, but I know he is covered in prayer by many people that we are blessed to call family and friends. Our story is that of daily miracles and how a life threatening disease can show God’s ultimate protection. How we deal with it is a testimony of not our strength but God’s. Thank you for sharing yourself because Proverbs 31 ministry is how I tackle my day with reading what God intends for me!
That divorce is not the answer and is no good.
Thanks for the great post! As a recovering alcoholic, I used to feel so awkward in social settings where everyone else was drinking. Then one day it hit me that God calls us to be set apart! He uses different ways to accomplish this for each of His children and alcoholism was His path for me. Being rather shy, it is still tempting to feel uncomfortable, but knowing this is part of His special plan for me brings peace that passes understanding. That is what I want to share!
Today’s devotional was just what I needed to be more encouraged to help my best girl friend. She is a wonderful Christian friend who is struggling with uncertainties in her life. Unfortunately, I made some poor choices and was married 3 times prior to the husband I have now. I have begged for forgiveness, left these regrets at the altar, etc. and am asking God to help me forgive myself. Now, as I visit with my best friend, I see how God is using my past experiences/choices to help her. God surely blessed me with the husband I have now, and her husband is a blessing to her. I pray that He will fill me with His wisdom to counsel her, and to pray to Him on her behalf. Thank you, Lysa, for allowing God to work in your life. You are such a blessing to me!!!!
I’m single, a widow in a wonderful relationship and having trouble saying no to sex. I am strong for a period of time, then give in……I know God has set these boundaries for our beneft and I know the blessings that are there when I am obedient. And I don’t want Him to think I love this other person more than I love Him …. I truly value my relationship with my Heavenly Father! I really want to be obedient.
God is good! I struggle with food. I love food!! I have known for about 7 years that I am addicted to sugar and I am in bondage to it. I guess i have just become ok with it and thought it is to hard to overcome. A few years ago my now 7 year old was having some health issues and we discovered that both my daughters and myself are intolerant to gluten and dairy. Ouch! I am so ashamed of my inability to give up these foods while I hypocritically tell my 7 year old that she can’t have it because her reaction is much worse than mine is. While I give it to God , I take it back at the first sight of a donut. I know The Lord wants me to share, but not until I claim the victory for Jesus and be satisfied and filled with him and not food.
As I sit in small groups listening to other women tell what God has put on their hearts, I always hold back for fear of falling apart. But I always feel God gently pushing me to share and tell what is in my heart. Reading this post has encouraged me to want to give in to God and share what He has so gently been asking me to do, to share my pain of having an ill child. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
i honestly dont know. im always unsure about what God wants me to do. maybe i need to spend more time in prayer with Him each day. right now, i do have alot of “dont knows” in my life. i dont know what house im going to be living in, maybe what state, i dont know which of my horses to keep, if any. i know that may sound unimportant to some, but horses have been a huge part of my life since i was small, and not having any would seem unnatural and im afraid i would have a huge void. thank you for todays devotion. im going to spend some time in prayer asking for direction.
Lysa it sounds like you did it again. You wrote a book on exactly what I am struggling with. Do you have a tape recorder in my home? The Lord has called my family to the mission field and while my husband is at school the Lord keeps calling me to women’s ministry because of my past their are so many women out there hurting like I was that can be encouraged that God does forgive no matter what the sin! And you can be used by God! But Satan keeps feeding me lies “You are good enough, look at your past, you lose it with your kids how can you serve God?, You can’t homeschool your children, take care of your home and serve in that capacity you are an unorganized mess!” I turn to God’s truths over and over, yes I lose it with my kids (15, 12, 8, and 3) but I apologize to them and ask for forgiveness over and over and use each of my failings as a teaching moment to point our family back to God, my past has already helped others who struggled with the same sin. But the lie I get caught up on is my day to day unorganized mess of a life! I can’t wait to do this Bible Study I really need it I want to glorify the Lord with my life and help further His kingdom but I know I am getting in the way! Thank you again for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and helping others serve God and share the gospel!
I am becoming more negative than positive in leading my 2 wonderful children. God is tugging at me to speak His Word to them in a gentle tone and spirit. I am so in need of an overhaul… to not only have a desire for the Word EVERY day but actually read/hear it.
What has God called me to share with others? My story. My past. My hurts. My healing through Him. The story of how he took a broken woman and mended the pieces. A story of His grace and love and mercy and forgiveness. A story that says He is not done with you yet. For years I prayed “Lord, Bless MY mess”. I asked Him if there was a way to help anyone through what I have been through to open the doors. I want to bring Him glory. I want to point others to Him. But, opening up and sharing my past is hard. I can feel Him calling me and preparing me. I want to be ready to say yes. Thank you for reminding me that it can be HIs will even if I am afraid.
I totally agree with Mary M. Smith. I will try not to focus on just one testimony, but many. People need different things at different times. I will try to be quite and listen to what the other person is needing at the time, and draw from my own life experiences, and allow God to speak thru me. I am just as guilty as anyone when giving advice, in that I want to tell that other person what I think, not what God knows they need to hear. God Bless you Lisa and your ministry. I look forward to your Blogs every morning on my work computer. It puts a positive thought in my head every day for the work day. I work with the public, and it always seems I deal with at least one person every day, who truly test what i read that morning. I can reflect on that mornings devotional, and it puts a smile on my face.
I feel like the past couple of months God has been calling me to be real with the people around me. My hole life I have been the girl like you discribe the one who “had it all together.” I’ve never allowed anyone to see me struggle, be hurt, sad, confused, frustrated, lonely or even scared. I’ve always had a warm, happy smile and walked around with a confidence that I had it all together. While on the inside I was all those things I just discribed. It has only been the past couple of months I have allowed those around me to see that I don’t have it all together and the confidence I used to have was fake, a wall to keep people from asking the “tough” questions. To me not having it all together was a sign of weakness and failure. God has really shown me that it’s just the opposite, like most things when it comes to be a daughter of His. It’s been a real struggle however, I am greatful for it because for the first time it’s causing me to rely on Him and His strength. To rely on His promises and truth. I’m learning that I can still have a confidence however, this is a confidence in Christ and that He will do all His word promises to do. It’s been a great journey and I can’t wait to see where God will take me.
I just wanted to share that you can overcome evil for good with God. Only God can remove the hurt and the self hate from your soul. He did that for me when I was a drug addict and a wild teenager. He got my life back on track by sending me a Godly man who cared enough to encourage me to stop and turn it all over to God. Since then I am a mom of two wonderful adult children and 3 grandchildren who without God I would have never survived the horror that came when I lost my husband and my life went out of control again. Never give up ladies God has us in his hands and he does not let us go.
I count it all JOY!
I think sometimes we create in ourselves a sense of unrest by letting worry build and fester. I try to share with friends that Worry is a sin. It is second guessing God and His plan. I struggled with it in the past but have come to realize some things are within my control and some things are not. I leave those up to God as to what He allows in my life and I know that if He allows it then there must be a reason. There will be better good come out of it than if my plan were followed. I trust Him completely. Romans 8:28. Matthew 6:25-34
This was spot on for me today. God is, again and again, peeling back the layers of my life, showing me how He wants to use ALL for His good and ALL for His glory…even the ugly of my life. Thank you, Lysa, for this word of encouragement today!
God has a message for all of us to share about His Son, but He has equipped us with unique life experiences to be able to help others who are going through the same things. My message is that God can redeem the broken past and use you again… don’t lose hope or lose heart. He can use you again in His Kingdom work!
I’ve read some of the other comments and hesitate to comment myself. These women have been through so much hurt and my heart breaks for them and whilereading I was praying for healing and restoration for them. What I would share is that God wants us to be strong women, leaning on Him women. Here’s my backstory…I’m 55 (aahhhh) grew up in a fairly conservative church where I constantly heard that we were preparing ourselves to be godly wives and mothers. Which isn’t bad…but roll forward to this 55 yrold who is neither a wife nor a mother.( I am a pretty cool aunt). All my life I felt like a failure. I didn’t want to be too strong spiritually cuz the husband is to be the leader in the home (I really did th
at) . I held back on so many things because I wanted to do them with my husband. I kickmyself up now for all the opportunities wasted. But I also know that my God doesn’t waste a moment of our lives and today I embrace who I am and cherish each moment. I want the girls I interact with to know that they are valued and worthy and not alone. I love men but if God has a plan for us to fly solo then let’s do it! Sorry for the soapbox….
Being transparent is such a crippling thing for me. On the outside I appear to “have it all together” but on the inside – I live with some choices that I made years ago-that are shameful.
I know God has forgiven me, but I fear what others may think.
I don’t know that I’m supposed to share those things, but it is my prayer that if I am – I will yield to the Holy Spirit.
For me its not over a pulpit or a group of woman…its that one woman, when God whispers in my ear…”Yes, her..go speak to her”, “me??” is usually my reply…”um but God, Im in the middle of the cosmetic aisle at a store, u sure??? She’s gonna think Im crazy!” That’s been my usually conversation several times with Him…I wish I could say I’ve been obedient each time, but Im embarrassed to say I haven’t….but I want to say YES each time He whispers in my ear….I want to be a Woman who says YES to God!!
Awhile back, I was asked to share my testimony at a women’s bible group. My first reaction was NO WAY! But since then I have been thinking about what I would share. I will be ready the next time God calls me to speak up. Who knows, it might be today.
I don’t know what He wants me to share. But I am ready to listen to Him when He tells me. Thank you for this. My heart is open. 🙂
I’m feeling the need to be quiet and listen! Stop attempting to justify my actions and Just Be Present for Christ.
Sometimes I get discouraged because I always thought that God would call my husband and I to a greater ministry – you know like risking your life in the jungles of a far away country to help others hear the name of Jesus or having a ministry where you convert hundreds upon hundreds to the Lord. What recently has been placed on my heart is to obediently share His fullness and glory right where I (we) are. Both my husband and myself are in jobs that are certainly ours because God placed us in them and most recently I have felt like God has asked me to obediently serve Him where we are at and in His timing He will call us to a different ministry. I have to smile here because I always feel like He reminds me it will be a DIFFERENT ministry which makes me think that every ministry I find myself in is the greatest ministry calling for this time and place in my life. Thanks for your transparency and reminding us all that if we are willing, God will use us right where we are at every day, hour and minute. Patience truly is a fruit of the Spirit!!
I have taken spiritual assessment tests four times over the past years, always hoping to have a gift I “wanted”. But I am now convinced after getting the same answers every single time that God has given me the gift to teach. I have taught children Sunday school over the years and am the unofficial leader of my monthly women’s group. I could use the encouragement from your devotional. Thank you for listening to God in your life.
God wants me to share the struggles and triumphs I experience as a wife and Mom with a seemingly perfect (on the outside) social media world.
The thing that almost always rolls in my head, the first thought I have when I hear of a struggle, an ache, a disallusionment, is that we cannot let the devil win. God is good all the time, He is right here with us, He is more powerful than anyone or anything. God is love and we have to cling to that. Our hope is in Him. I believe we all share one basic need and that is to be loved and know that we are loved. It seems in all the times I listen to my friends and family pour out their worries and troubles, this fire rises inside of me and I cannot stop from reminding them that the devil not win in the long term and we cannot let him win in the short term. That God is love and in Him we find our hope. I think this is what I need to hear the most as well when I am feeling low.
God has given me this great love for people and while I am still figuring out some days how He wants me to pour out that love, His love, it most definitely is a fire inside of me. Jesus was and is victorious over death. So awesome. So much strength there and it’s all free to us, for the taking. The devil will not win, Jesus is Lord!
This is what I am compelled to share, in many different ways.
The Lord has shown me that even at work I can share the ways, thoughts Of our Lord thought being a Godly nurse. One who loves and care for all the patients in my care. Sometimes they ask and I can share with them openly about our Lord and Savior. Especially when doing Hospice work.
Unconditional love is a gift…sometimes it requires being on your knees to give but it is essential to live!
To share the love of Christ with those around me. Sometimes I’m not the best at being loving, kind & compassionate – starting with my family. Even tho I get discouraged I know God is there to lend a hand and pick me up.
God has been not only laying on my heart, but bringing this to the forefront of my mind, to allow those around me to see Him. To see Him, through my actions, words, and my attitude. This is what all Christ follows are called to do and I know this has been my call since accepting God’s invitation. Lately I am much more aware of how I present myself in His light. I want others to feel the love of Jesus, through me. This has caused me to stop and reflect not only how I act but also the words that leave my lips. It is a daily re-offering of myself and laying down my own thoughts, at times, to allow Jesus to speak through me.
God asked me to share about losing my baby daughter and about the abuse I witnessed as a child – very hard thing to do but it opened the door for other people to share and I never would have guessed the things others had gone through as well.
I’ve been in a very dark place for some time now THINKING that I was remaining in Him and not understanding why God was so silent. I have not been, but now that I have truly opened my heart to the Godly encouragement that was around me and opened my mouth to speak the earnest prayers that God wants to hear, I can once again FEEL that He is truly in me. What a wonderful and freeing sigh I just expelled after putting those words in front of me to read aloud! What is God saying to me? Remain in Me and I will remain in you. I’m not done with you yet and if you only could see what I have planned for you! I LOVE YOU like no other and if you just look to Me and continue to say YES to Me each and every day you will rejoice as my plan for your life unfolds!! And this will be the testimony that I want you to share with those I put in your path…
I feel led to share my testimony with teen girls. Growing up, making wise choices, & staying pure is so difficult. I would love to share with them how to work toward that by discussing the mistakes I made & subsequently what I learned.
I am a grateful believer in Christ Jesus! He is my redeemer, comforter, counselor, healer. I have been delivered from a brain tumor, abandonment, divorce, sexual abuse, severe depression & anxiety. Saying yes to God has saved my life and brought me pure joy. I was not walking with The Lord when this tragedy started, but after saying yes to God he has delivered me from a brain tumor that was suppose to take my life, 20 years later I am walking on my own, married to a wonderful man, have a daughter (which is a miracle on its own). So never limit what God can do!
I saw this in another reading this morning and had already sent it to two friends before seeing this devotional:
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Corrie ten Boom
And the encouragement is that no matter what our situations or circumstances, God is a Faithful and Trustworthworthy God and we need to remember that all He does is focused on our good and for His glory.
To share the little things in life that we so often take for granted with others that are completely given to us through grace and mercy from God! I think I need to share something big and monumental (even though nothing like that has happened to me) but God just wants me to be me and share the little things! Thank you for your blog and your ministry!
Lately God has put on my heart the importance of my relationships with others. I often become self centered and busy and I don’t realize the damage I do to those around me when I put my needs before those closest to me. With prayer and God behind me I am working on changing some bad habits. I believe I will always be a work in progress but I know God is working to make me a better person for His purpose.
Last night I had the opportunity to encourage my cousin. She has a tough relationship with her mom and is going through a difficult time right now. God gave me the words to let her know He loves her and when our earthly relationships fail or aren’t as fulfilling as we would hope, He is there for us. This is something I am learning too.
I am learning that I am not what I’ve done in the past & just maybe God will use me & the things that I’ve done to help other people through their trails in life. I am also learning that satan will use any & all fears, Insecurities that I have to trap me & keep me silent . Because then I can’t help anyone , or share just how great God really is .thank you Lysa your books & devotions are really helping me become the woman that my husband could love again . Can’t wait the read this devotion
I am sharing this devotional with my friends.
Sharing is so difficult for me and it really pushes me out of my comfort zone. However, I feel God pulling me to share my stories of miscarriage. Seems to be a subject no one wants to talk about…mostly because of others reactions or uncomfortable feelings. It’s a heartbreaking experience and mother’s who’ve had this experience need to know they’re not alone. The hurt, anger, sadness, and questions that cloud your mind are all normal responses. This is all made more difficult because many suffer all of this in silence. That’s why I want to share my story, so women don’t feel they have to grieve the loss of a child in silence. I’ve had two miscarriages and I’ve been through all the feelings and questions…a journey God has used to bring me closer to him.
I am not very good at sharing. Not only my past but just my feelings, thoughts. My husband gets upset at me because I do not share. God is really the only one who knows. I am not sure how to change this. But I need to.
God is working on me to open up and share my past, my story and to forgive.
As a volunteer staff member at my church, I lead a few areas of ministry and God has recently placed on my heart, the need to encourage those who work alongside me in those areas – one gentleman in particular who has gone through some really rough times and come out the other side smiling so big, it makes my heart sing! I want him to know that he truly is an encouragement to me!
God has placed on my heart to share with others that everyone who is diagnosed with cancer has their own unique story to share. Each cancer diagnosis is different and each person will have a different experience to go through. Yes, all of us cancer survivors share a common bond, but, we all need to share our stories, as part of healing. I want to encourage others to share their cancer experience and for others to listen and hear what these brave people have to say.
His love…God wants me to love on the unlovable with His love and share with them how much He wants a relationship with them.
My daughter and I just moved from California back to Florida..While preparing for the move and the drive, God laid on my heart that loving others is what is most important to Him aside from loving Him….Nowadays we are all caught up in OUR schedules and to do lists and things that WE feel are important and sometimes those schedules and to do lists get in the way of God’s business and our spending time with those that He has placed in our lives. Don’t get me wrong, I know schedules are important BUT when they get in the way of spending time with our loved ones OR serving others as God would have us do then we need to reprioritize our time and start seeking God about how we are to use it!!!
God has placed on my heart to be thankful for having just enough. We are struggling financially, but there is food in the pantry, the bills are paid, and there is just enough money to provide the essentials like diapers and some gas to get around. I’ve been trying to find a job and I have felt that sudden peace come over me. I know that all of those jobs I was passed over for were not in God’s plan for me. I eagerly await where he will take me next on this journey.
God has been urging me to share some of the ways I searched for significance before completely surrendering my entire heart to Jesus – many of which I have feared people would condemn me for. I know that through salvation in Jesus, I am not condemned but now is the time to focus on the audience of One and no longer desire to please people. I look forward to using Lysa’ s new devotional because I have participated in the study What Happens When Women Say YES to God.
After a lifetime of wondering what it is that God has for me to serve Him in, the last two years I have gone to Africa to serve the orphans and widows, although it seems they serve me because of what I learn and receive from their example on how to trust God! The Lord has given me a heart for the oppressed, broken, wounded, and healing. I have learned what the verse about being called means. He doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called. The first time I went to Africa, I prayed to have my heart broken for what breaks His. I never realized how much He heard that prayer and answered until this second trip when I learned that my sweet Momma died a few days after arriving in Africa and how He carried me and cared for me through His children.
Recently I started a blog out of a passion to share life and testimony with whoever may come across it. I am a sahm of three little ones so my area of influence has been pretty small but I still felt the urgency of the great commission…making disciples. So that’s what has been on my heart to share. Share stories, failures, successes, and mostly God filled life stories and revelation. This book seems right on with what God is walking me through.
I am making a point each day to share God’s promises with a friend who is in a valley right now. I don’t know what else to do for her, but this is what He is having me do, and it is the best thing I can do for her!
Hello and blessings to all! God has placed on my heart to encourage other women in their marital journey. Only by the grace of God have I not only survived in my marriage but thanks to our perfect savior I have learned to be a woman of virtue and how to bless my husband…and still open for learning each day! He’s shown me to share my story with other women and His message of hope. I pray for God’s strength and courage each day!
God bless you for sharing with us. I have a problem sharing, with getting pass God is good when talking with others about how good He has been to me. You wonder if they know how sincere your are, because you feel so ashame about your pass. But when I pray I’m telling God let your light shine in me so that others may see how you have healed me, as I was sick for a very long time. I need prayer to go beyond and tell it all to keep my word about sharing and His light shining. Bless you
I want to share how we have helped our daughter get out of a emotionally/verbally abusive marriage with her ministry/husband of 13 yrs….there are other women out there who need help to know when/how to escape!
God would like for me to share that I am a cutter. A beautiful loving happy child of God. Blessed mother of four amazing boys. Mother in law of the answer to my prayer “please send someone to love my sons more than I even do”, Grammy to the cutest kid in the WHOLE world! And a cutter. Ugly, tears, scars and pain.
Lysa, I am humbly using the failures in my life to reach out to broken homes & marriages through leading a DivorceCare ministry at my church. After going through this painful situation myself, my heart just breaks for these people. God is equipping me & using me in a way that I never could do in my own strength ! We all have a story & a past… Would love a copy of your devotional….
I’ve been avoiding leadership responsibility in my church, waiting until I have it “all together”. I realize God doesn’t want that; He doesn’t want me to try to do any of it in my own strength. I feel broken; I am still mourning a miscarriage and struggles in marriage. But God is faithful! He is carrying me now, and will continue to carry me, and that is the hope I have to share with others. Me, inperfect, incomplete, but seeking the One who created me for His glory.
God has placed on my heart to share with others that you truly desire to know the truth then the truth will set you free if seek after Him. He will show you the hard places that need to be softened and what you need to change in your life that is not good for you. When you make the changes you will see things from his perspective. God’s perspective makes those difficult areas much easier to deal with when going through them with Him.
I feel called to be an encourager; to offer kind words, hugs, pats on the back, and prayers to those around me. Then my focus becomes that of lifting others up instead of tearing myself down.
About 12 years ago, an affair (mine) nearly ended my marriage. My husband had had an affair, and was traveling a lot for work, and I decided that I had had enough. The Lord send lots of red flags my way, but I charged ahead and had a long-term relationship outside my marriage. When my affair was discovered, I was “outed” in a very public way. We come from a small town, and everyone knew every detail. There were even pictures, courtesy of a private investigator. My plan had been to run away with the man I thought I loved, but when the time came for me to pack my bags and go, in the storm of shame and condemnation, I heard the Lord’s still, small voice: “stick with what you know to be true. I chose your spouse for you. Remain in me.” My husband and I decided to stay married, and it was a long and very difficult road to healing. Now, all these years later, it still haunts me. My stepdaughter, who was 14 at the time, was damaged by it and every time she has a failure in her life, I see it as a direct result of my actions. I live in fear that she will tell my daughter, who was born a few years after the reconciliation. I have read studies that say that many marriages are destroyed by affairs, and I often think: “If people only knew that it’s possible for God to take those broken, smashed pieces and craft something beautiful with them.” Lysa, your writing has helped me so much to move past it, and to understand that I am not defined by my past. But I know the only way I could ever share that would have to be orchestrated by the hand of God. I can’t believe I am writing it down here — but I felt like I needed to, just in case there’s anybody out there facing the same situation.
I don’t look at myself as one who had “wisdom” to share. I am always shocked when it comes out of my mouth. I know that God wants me to comfort and encourage the brokenhearted. I try to make the most of every opportunity.
I feel god leasing me to share my struggle with depression and the feeling of low self worth. I have struggled with depression since th birth of my second child. After three misscarriages between my first two children, I couldn’t understand the feeling of depression. Especially since God finally blessed my hisbad & me with a second child that we so desperately wanted. That seem to have make the depression worse, because I thought I surely would feel so much joy instead of what I was feeling. The depression has worsened over the past 6 years since the birth of my third child. I simply don’t understand why I feel this way. I have a husband who loves me & our children more than anything, and I have a job, a home, and most of all my kids are healthy. What more could I ask for, right???? I need God to show me the way!! Why am I going through these feelings??
Thank you for sharing your ‘sneak peek’ of the devotional. I have a really hard time putting into words my deep feelings. I wish I could completely express how this devotional touched me. I have felt blessed by your words. You are such an encourager to everyone! I praise God for bringing you into my life. You have open my eyes to my life circumstances. I am seeing things clearer than ever before. I need to keep my eyes on God even during the hard times in my life. He will take the bad and turn it into good. I think what God wants me to share with others is not necessarily speaking to others, but to do for others in service. I have this strong sense of helping others right now. Being a servant has been my Spiritual gift for several years, but now I am feeling more of a stronger sense in helping people than ever before. I want God to use me to bless others. Thank you for saying yes to God!
God actually placed on my heart to share something I read in your Encouragement for the Day today, which is: “The more I say yes to remaining in God’s secret place, the more I will live in expectation of seeing Him. The more I expect to see God, the more I will experience Him. The more I experience Him, the more I’ll trust Him.” When God places it on my heart to share, I post it on Facebook to bless others with His Word. It’s so wonderful to see others “like” the post or comment on it because I know God touched them in some way, shape or form and I’m so grateful when that happens.
That no matter what your circumstance is God can use you for his glory.
I loved the title of the devotion the first time I heard you mention it. I ask myself, “Are you ready to say ‘yes’?”
First of all,God is telling me to not rush ahead and work where he has me. Second he is telling me to give my testimony. After I shared with a small group last week, a woman quickly came to the podium to address me. In a heavy accent she told me she was Muslim. She seemed amazed by my testimony. I don’t believe she had ever listened to a Christian speak before, she said I helped her.
The crazy thing is-if I knew I would be speaking to a Muslim woman, I would of boned up on her culture and religion to be “effective’. But God used me as I am. Exciting!
The lesson I have learned over the years (very painfully) but now very, very clearly, which has given me a boldness to speak is simply this: (and it is written in the inside cover of my Bible): I am accepted by the One who matter most. It is that lesson, which is the pouring out of His Grace on me – unmerited & underserved – that makes me get up when I fall and continue on in spite of events surrounding me. Our God loves us beyond what we can possibly imagine! He truly is a God of miracles!
Lysa- I appreciate you so much…you are so real and easy to relate to…Thank You.
God has asked me take time to listen…be patient…people are needing for someone to just listen to them..everyone is in such a hurry that no one listens or takes time to really build relationships. So I pray God can use me today working with the public may I by his strength brighten at least one persons day today.
God wants me to share something that I read this morning – We are engraved in the palms of his hands. I have never thought about it in such a way. It overwhelmed me. God will never leave me, I am his and I know that when I don’t feel close to him it is because I have moved from HIs.
God wants me to share my journey through weight loss and how He has shown me to find my worth in Him and not in my looks and that as I am obedient to him in this journey that He called me to, He will do what He has promised to do in my life.
We hold things deep down buried inside and need to release them. Releasing us frees us from the bondage. I am so glad you shared. This really helped me in some areas where I have held things inside and need to share as well. I would love to have a copy of your book.
Our women’s’ Bible study recently finished your study, When Women Say Yes to God. When we decided on this study months before, God knew I was going to need this study to know he was calling me to a mission trip to Liberia with our church conference. When I was reading the book along with the study, I came to the part where you said you had adopted two boys from, where else, but Liberia. There were other confirmations as well. During the trip, we will be delivering birthing kits to the women there. I, like you, had an abortion before I was married. Very few people know about it because I cannot bring myself to say it out loud. I did tell my Bible study girl friends and they were so supportive. I feel delivering the birthing kits will help me to heal and come to peace with that decision I made so many years ago. Please pray for me next Sunday (11th) when I speak in church about how your study led to me to know that God was calling me to this trip. I am not sure I can bring myself to tell my church family what I did. I am so ashamed of this selfish act and have pushed it so deep in the depths of my soul that I am not sure I can do it. I thank God for your gift of this book and your study.
I am learning to share about Jesus and His love for us.
What a truth heard mant times before, but now hit the target. Count me in ! I want to be a part of a healthy vine. God is so great !
Weight! I’ve been over weight my entire adult life. When my father died suddenly, I lost weight, only to get married, have children and gain it back…plus some. When my marriage was threatened by adultery, I lost weight, only to put it back on when things got better…plus some. Now at age 54, I am considered morbidly obese at 100 pounds above “my” ideal weight. The most I have ever weighed. When my pastor preached about eating and weight control God’s way, I stepped up and made myself accountable to my pastor. Then, he asked me to lead an excersise group three days a week. We begin “Get Fit” classes next week and I am panicking over the commitment I have made. But God has challenged me to share my story and struggle with others who may need this jump start in their lives to get fit God’s way along with me.
Thank you for sharing, I needed to hear these words in my heart. Eleven years ago I lost my daughter on her 29th birthday. The Lord has used me to Help other moms in their hurt and to love them them through their journey. I need to say yes to speaking out to women’s groups on loss and hope. Will He use me this way? I don’t know. That is not the question. He only wants my answer.
You are worth so much more than you think you are….lay down your worries and concerns at the feet of the Lord and he will manage the rest. Trust that the Lord has a plan for you and your family that is the right plan. Don’t settle out of fear.
I don’t know where to begin! Our stories intersect, but I don’t know if God wants me to share mine! I’m pretty good at convincing myself He doesn’t!! People think I’m such a goody-two-shoes… I’m not, but I admit that I like for them to think that! That’s awful, I know, I really do… Yet I “allow” others to think better of me than they ought!! Sad, but true way too often! Amazing how deceitful the heart is, how easy it is to “hide” the real me! I’m sure that’s why I am so drawn to you, Lysa, and to your devos… You are SO real and SO transparent… I love all your WARTS!! :). Thanks for sharing straight from the hip and the heart, obeying God’s call on your life! I am blessed every time I read something of yours!!
I was reading Ephesians 2:10 with my boys yesterday, about how we are God’s masterpiece and we were created to do the good things He planned for us long ago. That is such a powerful vision of who we are in Him! The pinnacle of His creation, and He made us to do good! That good was already planned, as were we. It overwhelms me (in a good way) and I want everyone to understand that! We really have our work cut out for us. 🙂
God dropped it in my heart to share my past with young girls, teenagers. To show them a way to make smart choices and not one night stands. His Holy Spirit and not alcohol to numb past hurts. What a bad combo it was. I want to share it so others deal with daddy issues by running to the one true Daddy!!!
God wants me to share that my diagnosis of breast cancer is not the end! It is only the beginning of re-evaluating and letting God back into my life. He strengthens me and I find I can go to him even when I feel and look just awful. He is always there for me and that makes me feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my chest. I know I am not alone in my fight.
I’ve been working through an abusive relationship in college that left me battered for years. However, I’m still ashamed to admit how my weakness led to the abuse. Thank you for your testimony…….
I need to be more willing to lay it out there so people can see God work on my life. I have a tendency to only show the highlights of my life. I need to remember that God is on my side, who can be against me. Live for Jesus without fear and limitations. He certainly didn’t hold anything back for me. Thank you for the reminder today. God bless, Cindy
Simply said; God wants me to share my life. Not so simple to do at times. I love blogging and sharing my life and have had a response like nothing I ever thought could happen. But the insecurities that lie within me take over quickly. I haven’t blogged in a few months; once again afraid I’m not enough. My story isn’t helping. My words don’t affect anyone. Satans attacks on my soul have been heavy hitting lately. However, my God is so much bigger and I need to breathe that day in and day out. I am a child if God. I have and can make a difference. No matter how small… He’s pushing me. And I need to answer His call.
I feel as though God has been chasing me for quite some time trying to get me to tell my story. But, those voices of doubt, shame and inadequacy have kept me doubting myself, my abilities and made me doubt that it is truly God’s call at all. It is in reading your devotional today that I can begin to face those fears and step into whatever it is that God has in store. I pray that today is the day I finally leave the baggage I have been carried all these years behind and whole-heartedly accept God grace and His call on my life. Thank you for reminding me that God’s call must be followed no matter what the voices tell me is not possible.
THANK YOU, Lisa! It may not be an abortion, but if we are honest with ourselves and others, we ALL have some pretty major stuff in our past that God can forgive and once we ask him to the Prince of Peace will heal and restore. God bless you, Lisa!
My heart ached when I read this and I cried. I have experienced the prompting from God to share, and have experienced the reward of sharing and watched it help others. I am sad to say that because of circumstances, the state of my marriage, I have allowed that shame to prevail. I am learning to be more consistant and confident and am walking in that journey right now. It is truly a blessing and encouraging to be able to read blogs and comments on this site from christian women who can relate and know that I am not alone. It serves as a constant reminder, to keep pressing on, God is not done with me yet!
Me too, my friend. Me too.
Thank you so much for being courageous enough to shine the light on the dark and dusty corners we all have in our lives. You bring so much to so many.
There is always something that we keep hidden from God even though deep down we know that He knows and has always known. At this point in my life I don’t know where God is leading me, but I can already tell that this Bible study is going to open up my heart in a way that it’s never been done before. Thank you!!!
We are valuable because we are children of God. We are not valuable because we have a husband who loves us; because we are thin,;because we are smart; because we are pretty. Simply because as a child of God – we are His and He is mine – and that is why we are valuable. When we understand that one simply fact, we become so much more valuable because then we can truly serve other as God wants us to.
Lysa, thank you a million times for your devotional today. Oh how God uses you to inspire so many of us on the tough days. Days when I feel unqualified for what He has called me to do. Days when I feel far from His inspiration, His peace, His comfort. Thank you for reconnecting me this morning with my Lord. I am drinking up this encouragement with a thirst like nothing else. With increasing frequency I feel God asking me to share a story I’ve never had the courage to put into words.I’ve tried to shut it down. It’s a tale I’ve spent much of my life running from. One of a man who posed as a grandfather and found an opportunity within our family to sexually abuse several of us. It’s a story that tore our family apart, drawing lines in the sand when others beside myself had the courage to share it. Even all these years later with the key players gone the details leave me feeling vulnerable. Scared. Alone. And yet I know this story is powerful. That so many of those friends surrounding my days have unfortunately some way to relate. How powerful would it be to let God use the best and worst parts of my life to free others? To protect those who may be put in the path of a predator? I ask for courage. For prayer. For God’s words.Bless you and your P31 sisters for all you do! I pray I’ll be back to join you at She Speaks next year!
I need to learn to share my struggles instead of appearing like I have it all together. I need to learn to let people in instead of keeping them at arms length always afraid I’m going to be judged. I’m excited about starting the “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” bible study with Melissa Taylor next week!
God has placed on my heart to teach people how to be content no matter their circumstances. He is still preparing me for this.
Christ died for me. This is what God my father whispered to me this morning. He has washed away my sin and taken away the shame. . Those secret past sins can be most entangling but Jesus died for those too. I am free to dream and trust in His plan for me even at 52
I srtuggled with drug addiction my whole life and abusive relationships, among many other things, god has delivered me from addiction and I have been given a new life 🙂 Thank you lysa for your obedience to God you have helped me so much so I must give back as well I know that god has put me on a path to help women just like me I believe God put these things in my heart to share with others.
In answer to the discussion question— What has God placed on my heart to share with others? —- I believe God has placed a few things on my heart… Grace and Redemption, Adoption and depression. I am passionate about these three things and whenever I have had the opportunity to share on these subjects I am surprised at who it reaches.
Time and time again, the Lord has placed it on my heart to share my experience with postpartum depression. I could not have gotten through it without the love and grace of God, as well as help and support from my husband and other family members. Any form of depression can be such a difficult topic of discussion, especially for a Christian. But it shouldn’t be. If you are struggling with depression of any kind, please talk to someone and ready out to the Lord in prayer. You do not need to face this alone.
The greatest thing I want my listeners to hear through my music ministry and testimony is to NEVER lose focus — always keeping their eye on the prize. There was a time when I took my eyes off God (not backslid — but gave my attention/focus to someone else), and it caused my world to completely crumble. He’s a jealous God, and He has such a perfect plan for us — if we’ll keep our eyes on Him and trust Him. <3
Thank you, Lysa, for your incredible ministry! I learn so much from it!
“What has Placed on your heart to share with others?” I’m not sure exactly, but He currently has me in a season of trial, and I feel like if I can hang on long enough to see what he’s bringing through this, I’ll have a story to tell.
I have a cousin that has been coming to me lately in little ways (I believe she is reaching out for help). She is struggling with her marriage and family and placed on my heart is the need to help her. Not only to help support her in the decisions she will need to make but also to help her find the Lord!! I gave her Jesus Calling daily devotional last night and I felt the Lord’s presence as I visited with her about relying on God. I pray that she can find the Lord and use him to make the right decision for the plan he has for her. Thank you Lisa!!
The Lord wants me to Lean on Him… Which means letting go of a few key working relationships…
I don’t know that He is calling me to share anything right now, but I feel Him calling me to surrender….to LET GO of the doubt, believe in His goodness and TRUST Him. I’ve let broken dreams, loss, grief, and anger to harden my heart and the enemy has taken it and run with it. My husband and I are facing some hard decisions right now and I just want to surrender to what God has for us and our family….to accept and follow His will and not my own! Ugg!!!…it’s so hard sometimes. Thank you for always sharing your heart Lisa….your devotionals always touch me and make me laugh, but mostly they point me to my desperate need for God. Bless you!
After going through a miserable divorce and raising 3 children by myself, I can finally look back and see how all the anger and pain affected my children. I think God would want me to share the importance of forgiveness. Thats a legacy we want to leave our children, not one of bitterness. Inspite of the bad marriage, God had blessed me with 3 incredible gifts that brought so much joy to my life and yet the anger was always there. My exhusband was never hurt but my children were. Thats what I would share.
Right there with you, Susan.
Thank you Lisa. I have had to share with my brethren how i have been told to read and give the Lord thanks at the midnight hour and it has not been easy to get out of bed to do this but so far it is becoming easy.
Just want to give the Lord praise and in spite of my being in a situation where family members are Jehovah;s witness I continue to firmly believe in mt ‘pentecostal’ beliefs and ignore their comments.
Sorry Lysa, I just realized I spelled your name wrong!! 🙂
I believe right now, that my call is sharing how we are loved by Almighty GOD, a deep, unmoving love a perfect love that I don’t think we can fully grasp. That there is NOTHING that can keep you from Christ if you just seek Him. I myself have been on a Journey for over 7 months now, I think it is the transition of becoming spiritually mature? I’m not 100% sure…yet, I just know I yurn to know Jesus better, a true relationship, friendship with Him, and in that, I am finding out just how much I am worth to GOD, how loved I am, charished, how compassionate He is, its mind blowing right now. And I just can’t help but speak of it whenever given the chance. Which is ironic, since I was always the wall flower & trying to not be noticed or just be ‘one of the croud’ and here I am now. I’m excited about where GOD is taking me but fighting fear of not being able (in my own mind) to do what is asked of me.
Quiet, rest, peace….almost impossible to find here in the Bay Area. The lure of technology, material wealth & possessions, a prestigious job, higher education, all these are valued above all else here. Life is fleeting, and all the worldly goods & accomplishments will pass away. God is calling us to Himself and to revealing His love and care to those around us. As Christians, we need to be ready to give a reason for the hope & joy we have when the world fails even “successful” people and leaves them empty, unsatisfied, & hurting.
God wants me to tell children about Him. I have. I do. And I will continue to do so with His help and direction. I love Him so.
This imperfect mom drinks too much at night behind her facade of perfection and I’m so ashamed. Praying for courage…
I pondered so many clever things to put in here, humorous antidotes, heart-felt quotes, a favorite passage. But then I heard a gentle voice reminding me that I might actually want to ponder what God might truly have put on my heart to share. It was simple, it was beautiful, as truth when stripped of human manipulation usually is. God’s love is unfailing, it is unending, and obviously is patient beyond belief. I am a living, breathing, mistake-making reminder of that blessed promise.
It’s the fear that keeps a testomony locked inside. Thanks for letting
Jesus help you get through that fear.
To remember that our Lord Jesus Christ is living right now waiting for your response to seek him with all your being and will fill you with his joy that this world cannot offer. It will be a taste of the peace and joy we will receive in heaven. You can only receive if you seek him and you will find him. He is waiting for you. God bless you!!!
The Lord has had me share my testimony and what He did in my life repeatedly. I committed adultery on my husband, before knowing the Lord. We have two children. We ended up getting divorced, one month after I gave my life to Christ. The Lord had me end that adulterous relationship completely close to 9 years ago. I confessed this sin to my husband two years after being divorced. Since then the Lord has restored us to a great friendship. Over 6 years ago the Lord gave me a promise through His word that He would restore my marriage. I have been waiting and praying since then. Praying salvation for my husband (ex-husband) and restoration of our marriage and family. This testimony has been shared over the years to individuals who are in the same position and called to wait on the Lord. However, I believe in my heart the Lord wants to use this at a greater level through me and have me speak and share with ladies to give them a hope of HIs great faithfulness and how His promises are yes and amen to the glory of God! praise You alone Jesus.
“What Happens . .. ” reminds me of Evelyn Christianson’s books; a blast from the past that we all need.
I really wanted a big happy family. Eventually, even after the doctors said we couldn’t conceive without God’s intervention, He gave us 5 beautiful, healthy bundles of joy. The most difficult thing about that time in my life was the realization that there was absolutely nothing I could say or do to get God to change his “no” to a “yes.” When God says, “No,” who else can you go to? He grew me up quite abit over those first 10 years of marriage. In the business of life, with those 5 beautiful children, I mentally and spiritually feel like such a failure. I don’t know how to get back into the Bible- I’m overwhelmed with where to start. I can’t focus and before I know it, someone needs me.
I live for an audience of ONE! Only He has the power to forgive. In Him I am made new! Praise Jesus!
I have been feeling the Holy Spirit tug at my heart to raise money to build a water well in Africa, especially for children to have clean water. It seems crazy, and I don’t really know anything about water wells, but I am trusting God to hook me up with the right people and to lead and guide me every step of the way.
“Me too.” And I suppose that is what God is wanting me to share.
Lysa you are truly a blessing to me and so many women.
Thank you for having the courage to share your story with us.
God has placed on my heart my long walk of obedience with my weight loss journey of 130 lbs!. He asked me several years ago to start writing things down. I have wrestled with God on this, feeling like my words had no value. But the more I sought the Story-teller, the more words I have been able to record, the more obedient I have become in telling His glory story. Praising Him all the way!
Thanks Lisa for your words of encouragement. I feel that God wants me to share my struggles with honoring him in all my relationships and my struggle with unforgiveness.
Him….The Lord wants me to share Him with ALL those I know.
Hello,
I have been looking forward to reading this book. But I have a draw back to this, that all the bookstores in my area are out. I had a best friend in high school that went through the same thing. So I was their for her if she needed me. I went through a divorce, fortunate that we did not have any children together. I am remarried now, to the most wonderful man ever. I have 2 step kids, which both are wonderful kids too. I had to experience his emotions with him missing his kids and not having them around, when we wanted them. God has blessed me with them all and would not change it.
I’ve been wanting to share Jesus with 2 co-workers. One recently retired and the other is having serious issues with her adult son. God has been prompting me to do little special things for each of them as preparatory to sharing Christ with them. It has been so much fun thinking of ways to bless them i.e., flowers, cookies, hugs, telling them I’m praying for their situation. Even though I know I’m encouraging them along their separate journeys, I’m also being truly blessed for listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. May there be two more women in heaven because of sharing Jesus’ love with them. I was able to have a really good private conversation with the mother struggling with her adult son, sharing bible verses and praying with her. THANK YOU for being real about your struggles and your victories. It gives me HOPE to keep on keeping on with the Lord. P.S. This summer I’ve been working through UNGLUED with a dear Christian friend. We’re having the time of our lives watching God work in our lives. This fall I will lead this UNGLUED study in my home with four other adult women and I pray that God will speak to them like He has to me this summer. THANK YOU!!!
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis nine years ago. I’ve had my sharevof struggles. My mothervand brother has it as well. I tried for years to keep the diagnosis secret. God led me to share my storybwith others and now I do.
God wants me to share His love and his forgiveness. I heard it said that we want mercy and grace for our lives and justice for everyone else. That hit me hard because frankly, it’s true. Forgiveness, at times, is very hard, but necessary.
Thank you, Lysa for laying down your life to please God and not others! You have fulfilled His purpose and are helping to encourage others to do the same! I struggle everyday to be the one He wants me to be because I am such a “people pleaser”. I spend too much time worrying about pleasing others instead of doing what God calls me to do. I pray that one day I will be all that God calls me to be!
While listening to KLOVE, I heard about a ministry to women that I have never thought about before. While listening to the details of the ministry, my spirit jumped and I began to cry. I felt a tug to talk to my pastor about this and to begin to make preparations to start this ministry in my local body even though I have not talked to him about it. What’s odd, is that I cannot relate to this group of ladies. I have not walked through the trials that they face each day. As I was praying about it last night, I felt the the Lord say to me, “Even though you cannot relate to them, you can still love on them.” Again, I began to cry, realizing we may not all be qualified, but we are all called.
Anger is so ugly and we have a lot of it in our household. It’s always been hard for me to accept that some of my children’s anger is because I have spewed it out. And now He seems to be highlighting my “sarcasm” which is extremely ugly. I want to be funny but when I hear it in my teen agers, it can be so disheartening.
I would love to win your new book.
J
In 1979 the tourism slogan in Michigan was “Say Yes to Michigan”. So while I stood in the corner of my living room in Chicago I whispered to God “I will say YES to Michigan.” having no idea what that would mean for my life down the road. Three years later I married my wonderful husband, who just happened to live in Michigan. (Go figure!) So for the past 31 years I’ve been living in this beautiful state with my hubby, raising our two boys, working in the small group ministry at our church and having an impact on those God continues to bring across my path. Now in 2013 I’m saying “Yes” to God again as I begin a new stage in life as the mother-of-the-groom next year. In preparation for the wedding I’ve been watching the TV show “Say Yes To The Dress” and can now predict which dress each bride will pick and how the family and friends will respond. Saying “Yes” to something can be harder than we anticipate, but I know God is faithful once we surrender to Him. I have seen His faithfulness throughout my life and I want to share that with others, including my future daughter-in-law and those I will come in contact with during the planning stages. There are going to be many things in the year ahead that I’m not going to want to say YES to, but I’m mindful that my responses and reactions to the events in my future hinge on my walk with the Lord. So I’m trusting God will use this study to grow me so I can share new ways of His faithfulness as I walk through this next year. I’m ready …..and I’ve said “Yes” to God and this study… and I can’t wait to get started.
I too have learned to share a lot of the hard stuff for God’s glory. The devil wants us to stay in shame and darkness but the chains fall off us and others when we share the truth. Thank you so much for this message today! I know God is asking me to step out of my comfort zone and you have encouraged me to do that even more! Bless you!
I have felt the Lord calling me to speak, which is why I was at She Speaks this past weekend. Yes, I argued with Him that He must have the wrong person since I don’t like to talk even sitting around a table with other women. I have many dark places and trials that I have walked through and if He wants to use me to help others – I say yes to Him! As difficult as it was to speak in our group, I think I felt more at peace than I ever have!
I love how real you are Lysa. I’ve been sharing your FB posts all week with a single mother that I have the privilege of being a friend too. She’s struggling with not being enough, not being a good enough Mother, Satan is reminding her of all her failures. Your FB posts are perfect! They remind me that I have a story to tell to about being a single mother and setting the bar high for the future and sticking to it, even when times get tough and the ‘world’ tells you there’s an easier and more fun way. I would love your new devotional and will share it with others, you can be sure. 🙂
To share my story of being raped and held at knifepoint at seventeen.
To listen to His Spirit, a Christ centered marriage and the joy of motherhood.
I feel a need to share my failures as a mother (that I was always too prideful to admit – had to have the “perfect little family” facade!!) I am now facing three rebellious teenagers and I think, now that God has brought me to a place of complete brokeness that has put me to my knees and to His Word, I could help other mothers avoid some of the same mistakes. I would love the Devotional!!!
This morning I shared with an employee to not be burdened with his hard choice to move out of state to take care of his family. He loves his job and the people he works with. I reassured him he was leaving for the right reasons and accepting a lifetime legacy to take care of his parents and to be closer to his widowed sister’s kids, who need an uncle to be a positive influence in the middle school and teenage years and the years beyond.
I’ve struggled with the same thing. Especially since I grew up a PK and people that knew me as a child couldn’t comprehend what the me of my 20s went through. But it was as I shared the struggles with insecurity, men, drinking, spending, etc., that God really found a way for my story to connect with others and also for me to become more approachable. The biggest gift of my wayward years was the elimination of judgment from the me of old. I’d love the devotional to share with friends in a new study.
I have recently finally been obedient as I have felt for years God wanted me to start a Women’s Ministry at our small little church. Even though most were just so so about it. But we need it! BUT ….I felt like as a divorced woman, God how in the world will these ladies listen to me??? As I began to open my heart, God has shown me the way and we are starting! I have been overwhelmed at how receptive the women have been. Thank you Lord!
This touched me so much. I lost a baby years ago and even though I had no control over it, they listed it on my chart as a missed ‘abortion’ and I wanted to tell them to take that off of my chart. I have been divorced twice and I just want to encourage other women that have been in the same situation because I know God still loves me. Neither of my ex-husbands were Christians even though I met one of them at church. I would struggle with staying home with them and going to do things with them instead of attending church, but as I got closer to God, I told them if they wanted me to go, they would have to wait until I got home from church. That was a big turn for me and I am so glad I did. God has blessed me in so many ways. No one in my family had ever been divorced and I felt so ashamed but God showed me that He would never leave me.
I’m not sure what God wants me to share. I know He has me on a journey that is going to take me to minister to people on a grand scale. Right now, I’m in the trenches learning.
God has placed it on my heart to share his unfailing, unearned, and unlimited grace. He has reconciled us of our past mistakes and is here to sustain us fully! God bless!
Good Morning!
I have often struggled with my Faith…
I ate my way through it ( I was 245 pounds at one point.) I have lost abuot 80 pounds and done so through an injury ( a total knee replacement that has had complications–I have helped many with this, because if I can do it, anyone can.) 🙂
But the story that I’d share is this…
My brother committed suicide and it was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. The reason it was is because he’d been arrested for indecently touching a minor. He’d gotten out of jail, been on probation, trying to put the pieces back together but could never forgive himself–sadly, I didn’t either.
I would get letters and stories from him, he’d reach out to me and I’d slam the door–I just couldn’t get past what had happened, like somehow it made ME dirty!
When he went missing, my husband told me he’d welcome him in our home with my step daughter and he’d be ok with it, he’d forgiven, he was humble. I was angry, I was scared, I was a terrible person!
When my Mom was diagnoised with lung cancer, I had the chance to see him–he left the same day I got there ( we live in different states.) Sadly, that was the last time, he took his life shortly after. He could not forgive himself, not let it go, not live his life!
Since this time, I have regretted this, tried to live with this and had a broken heart that has not mended.
Then I had to know, was he in Heaven, DID I believe in that, was it possible??
I finally had to surrender my pride and ask the Lord for forgiveness–for me, for him, for the destruction it brought to my family and for the hurt it caused everyone. But mainly because he’s my brother and it’s ok to love him and ok for me to believe he’s in Heaven and God has forgiven him.
This was and is a powerful lesson I have learned and have to continue learning–we are all humble and we are all human!
God Bless!
Traci
“What has God placed on your heart to share with others?”
Well, first of all, even as I type this, I’m wondering: Will someone I know be able to find this and read it? Will my secret become known?
I’ve been hearing God saying that it’s safe, and it’s time, to come clean and quit hiding the truth. I don’t necessarily lie, or try to completely cover the facts; I keep it general when discussing it with others, but I certainly haven’t admitted to the depths of troubling truths about… my marriage.
I’ve casually said, to a few, that I could use prayer in that area, or that we are having some struggles, but I’ve in no way been real about the problems my husband and I face. Even now, I still don’t want to be specific or explain the genuine detriment of what is going on. It’s hard. The Lord has placed me in some positions of prominence in my church, through serving in a number of important areas, and the outward appearance, is that my life is going smoothly.
By no mere chance, there always seems to be some easy way to hide or cover the truth that negates that “outward appearance,” but I fear that others are catching on. We haven’t been to church, together, in months. And before that, it was always sporadic, and never consistent. Basically, we haven’t done church as a family, in over a year.
I know I shouldn’t “feel” as though I have to hide this heavy burden, but from what I’ve learned, marriage issues are very private in the church. Even on our church’s Facebook page, where prayer requests are constantly being posted, no one ever asks for the prayer warriors to go to God on their marriages behalf. It’s this health issue, or that surgery, or this person’s job loss, but I’ve never seen anyone openly admit that their marriage is in trouble, and that prayer is needed – ever! And what a juxtaposition! Christian marriages are falling apart at the same statistical rate as non-believers.
It’s just not talked about!
And the few people that do know about the dangers looming over my marriage, don’t seem to understand the real darkness of it all, and I feel that if I started to uncover this beast of a mess, most won’t believe me. Worse than that is their impending judgment or contemplation of “why” the marriage is failing. What will people think of me if they know that my marriage is in complete shambles? Will they question me as being a woman who is incapable of submission to my husband, because I am such a strong leader in the church? Will they assume things about fidelity? What kinds of negative things might they start thinking about my husband, and won’t that make things worse if I start admitting to some of the facts? It would certainly cast a shadow over my husband that could bring about more hostility and anger if others started spreading the word.
It’s complex, and in the world of faith, it’s unfair. We should be able to open that can of worms and feel welcomed – loved.
So here I am, totally rationalizing every reason why I can’t share the very burden that God tells me I don’t need to carry. And here I am, in complete fear of telling others the junk that God is saying I need to share.
Conundrum…
But your article has pushed me into a closer examination of the reality that is present in me and my fears, as well as a deeper understanding of why I need to take this step. For me, I think I’ve done both, with this post. It may be a baby step in coming clean, but at least it’s a start.
Oh goodness, God has been tugging at my heart so much lately with so many things. I listened to the first to home school my daughter and the second is to share our story. I don’t know how that’s going to be done but I do trust that God has a place, time and situation for me to do this.
I have a hard time believing that God forgives my past mistakes. I have a hard time believing that He finds me worthy. I have a hard time believing that He loves me. I have had a rough childhood with abuse, alcohol, death, promiscuity, guilt, guilt and more guilt. I have such a wonderful husband and kids that God has blessed me with. I feel God has been calling me to tell someone this: I haven’t even told a therapist in trying to save face. My husband is pretty much impotent. He has been to see Dr.’s, and even was told his problem is emotional. He will not deal with it. So I deal with the consequences too. I have taken this so personally, that I feel God is punishing me for my past promiscuity by not allowing me to enjoy an active relationship with my husband. Every time we “try” I end up in tears, and my husband feels terrible. So he won’t even try anymore. I have turned to food, and gained 100 lbs. and am now very obese, which does not help matters I’m sure. Our relationship has become that of roommates. We have no intimacy, and I feel our facade to our friends, family and church is fake. If they knew the real us, they would laugh at us and think less of us. I read all these blogs from wonderful Christian women who talk about “never” saying no to their husbands, and that a husbands appetite for sex is normal, etc. While I love these blogs and the hearts of these women, I just get more depressed reading about sex and how good it can be in a committed relationship. I’ve often thought of starting a blog myself. I can’t be the only woman going through this, but that would mean admitting our marriage/relationship is not perfect.
“What has God placed on your heart to share with others?” There is no shame in going to God as you are. In the past I let go of God when I was extremely angry, frustrated, or just so confused that I did not know if I could take another step. Recently God revealed to me a nasty sinful pattern that arose every time I did not work through my thoughts and emotions WITH him. These dark times help us learn where we lack faith and understanding, but when we hold on despite the pain, when it’s over there is less regret and a more intimate relationship with the Father.
God wants me to share this book in a Bible study at school with my teacher friends. We did unglued that semester and it was so good! Thank you for letting God use you to bless us!
Even in the most challenging of trials, we can move from fear to faith on a path of praise. Instead of “Woe is me,” I can declare with confidence, “Great is God.” Instead of a pity party, I can have a praise party! Instead of being a victim, I can be a victor. Oh magnify the Lord with me! (Instead of the dust mites of life!) What will I make big? God? or…?
Thank you for being willing to share and speak what God has on your heart! You are an encouragement to me and so many others!
God is working on me and allowing me to share my struggle with self control and anger when things don’t go my way. It isn’t pretty but I know that He will and can provide the strength I need.
We live in a world where people feel so hopeless, in their marriages, careers, relationships. God wants me to share hope for the hopeless. He wants me to proclaim that His precious Son Jesus is the only real Hope. He wants me to share His Word which is filled with Hope and promises of Joy and Peace.
To be real person witn real feelings,it sometimes hard. Because sometimes some people don’t how to reponse to me. I need help in this area, that the Lord give wisdom,strength,power. Can you please pray for me, I want to be okay with God and myself again, than I know I will be okay with others. Thank you,Julie
The question itself is so powerful. “What has God placed on your heart to share with others?” It makes me step back and think “Have I been sharing God?” In the last few months God has showed me that I must return to him and his will before I can help others. I have been trying to do things on my own without him for far to long. He’s been telling me that I can’t do his will and what I feel called to do without him.
I have struggled with being my own worst enemy for as long as I can remember. I have never measured up in my own eyes and some relationships have reinforced my ‘not good enough’ self-perception. Keeping my heart focused on God and on my audience of One has helped me take my eyes off of me and turned toward the needs of others. I feel so much better when I am not in my own spotlight!
God has placed on my heart a desire to write a book about the lessons our family learned from God’s Word during our daughter’s journey with leukemia and a bone marrow transplant nearly 10 years ago. I’ve allowed busyness, homeschooling, and the feeling that no one would want to read our story stop me from writing. I want to step out in faith and trust that God will use what’s He’s allowed in our lives to bless and encourage others.
God has put on my heart to put others first, and myself last. There are so many hurting people that I come into contact with, and I want them to know that God loves them no matter their circumstances, and He will be there for them if they will call His name.
Oh Lysa, I am sobbing uncontrollably. I cry every time I read your story. I love how you are so vulnerable with us, and let us know we are not alone. I feel God has placed on my heart to share the story of self worth. My father left my mother for another woman when I was six weeks. He had a child with the other woman while my mother was dying from cancer when I was 11. Even though I lived with him after my mother died, he was never there. As I got older, I tried to find affection from men. For a while I thought sex equated loved. At 19 I was raped which caused me to contract a STD. I felt nasty and worthless. But God never gave up on me! He changed me heart and repeatedly showed His love for me. He also blessed me with an amazing husband that loves me through all, even my past! I want to let young women know that if they started down the wrong road like I did, God can surely turn it around!
God has placed on my heart to share with my sweet sisters in Christ that we are never too far from His grace. His grace reaches out to us in the farthest place. Besides, He loved us first. There is nothing we could do to ever earn His love. He loves us just as we are. We are to just receive His love in simple faith and allow Him to walk through life with us. We need to just trust Him and obey Him. God bless you all.
I have decided to come back to my First Love after years of chasing dreams that offer empty promises. Bigger home, newer car, designer clothes,shoes and purses. What a shame! I looked so rich on the outside (at least that’s what I thought) but I was lacking so much in the inside. I am thankful that God us always forgiving and compassionate,always willing to take us back! Now I can say that I am truly rich not because of material possessions but because I know I have Jesus and I pray everyday… Lord, please don’t let go, my grip is weak but you are strong, so hold me tight…
I am working with a team of teachers and we are encouraging to each other how God leads and directs each of us every inch of the way. To help each other and the students (high school) that the Lord has chosen for our classrooms. Each day is a journey for us to choose the Lord’s way not our way. Sometimes we get confused and mixed up. It is important for teens to have real life stories to learn from. I would love a copy of your new book to read and share.
I need to share my challenges of a blended family and how to navigate those trying days. It is so difficult to stay connected to your spouse when their kids/your kids are all causing struggles for the other person. Seeing things from their perspective is very difficult so we must both view things from God’s perspective to find a middle ground.
“Are you struggling to hear God’s voice or discern what He’s asking of you?
I know what it’s like to want that so desperately. In my experiences as a wife, mom, and ministry leader I’ve had many moments where I felt stretched way too thin and spiritually malnourished.” That sums up the 6 paragraph novel of an email that I sent my sweet blessing of a friend who I lead a cancer ministry with. We are both cancer survivors whom God brought together to jump start His beautiful dream of loving and encouraging families as they face cancer. Then I got in the way. I allowed myself to get sucked into striving, striving that led me to be stretched way too thin and into the depths of being spiritually malnourished, to the point that I was begging people to take the yukky moldy crumbs I was throwing at them, the leftovers I had to offer…not my best. I was not giving Him my best, or my family, or the ministry, or the Bible study I was leading, or my discipleship triad, or my sweet Sisters. And it all became so very heavy and hard, and I claimed He was giving me zero clarity. But I had muddled it with all the muck of striving and stretching past thin and not taking in His nourishment. So today I got to write that email. I got to tell my friend that He has put me in a season of resting and waiting. And I cannot jump in with guns a’blazing. I cannot move unless it is Him moving. I cannot bless unless it is OF HIM because otherwise I am attempting to play God and it will not be blessed.
What interesting timing for todays topic. I stepped out of my comfort zone and entered a contest a few months ago. It was for free publishing of a Christian book. I had alot of stories on slips of paper and in folders but had never organized them in any order up until this point. The contest did not require a complete edited finished product, only the best version of the work…so I went for it. Even the perfect title seemed to drop into my mind only a few days before the deadline. Was that a sign from God that I was being obedient to what he had placed on my heart to share? I did think so and it gave me the courage to submit my entry. Yesterday was the day they posted the winners of the contest online. I was not one of them. So today I begin again with your question in your blog: What has God placed on my heart to share with others? I will say a prayer and know that he will answer. Thank you for allowing me to share today.
God has put on my heart to help others tell their stories of His work by being an editor. While attending She speaks last weekend, it was also confirmed to me that I must also tell my own story and not just hide behind others. I have shared my testimony previously about looking for approval through success in my career and a large bank account. Now, I feel pressed to share my experience of being a mom to a troubled teenager diagnosed with a serious mental illness. I want to help the Christian Community understand mental illness so that the families affected don’t have to live in shame, experience judgment and gossip, and can instead find safe place to find acceptance and support.
As I sit here in the hospital waiting room, now a veteran at placing the safety of my child in the hands of others, I know that God has given me the opportunity to encourage other parents of children with health issues. It has been a rough road for us, but God has been by our side and shown His love for us throughout and will continue to provide. What hope we have in God, and what a joy to share that hope with others!
Having a child with autism and a job that requires us to move every four years has shown me how important it is for churches to have programs for children with special needs. I have met too many mothers that have given up on attending church or attending separate services. I want to offer a safe place and an understanding staff to help them be ministered to each week.
I used to be so hopeless about my life that several times I tried to take it. I grew up, listening to everyone around me and following what they thought I should be. Instead of reaching out to God, I succumbed to the pull of the world and ignored God. That also happened to be the absolute worst times of my life. I was in abusive (in every sense of the word) after abusive relationship, each one increasingly traumatic. I suffered from severe depression and was very self destructive, which lead to several suicide attempts and hospitalizations. Everyone around me wrote me off as crazy and that I would amount to nothing. Now I realize that even if I wasn’t conscious of it at the time, it was God who carried me through it all and I know it pained him greatly to see me that way. I am currently working on creating a deep bond, deeper than I’ve ever had in my life to God. Without a shadow of doubt, God forgave me before I even asked him to. I am so grateful for his unconditional love.
That joy is an achievable choice. It is an action, a lifestye. It can be hard and difficult and when it is done beside Christ, joy is life changing every day. we do not have to be sucked down and devoured by the world and all it throws at us we can rise up. Just as we have learned that God’s love comes with depth so we need to learn about joy. We can dread everyday or we can rise from our pillow choosing a new way, a way of hope, a way of joy which brings life. This has been such a hard lesson over these past few years. Just as healing comes with steps and daily choices it needs to be replaced and filed and joy does just that. at 41 I have learned to live past the pain, the abuse the disappointment and rejection because i have allowed Christ to show me, teach me and show me joy. Grow me like a beautiful flower in His garden surrounded by other sisters shining their new found beauty and life nurtured and grown by the hands of God Himself. when we stop being scared and start scary the scars we find ourselves all in His garden filled with beauty ourselves and seeing it reflected all around.
God led me to write a bible study a couple of years ago on Phil 4:8, but I’ve been holding back from actually getting it published. “Thinking who would be interested in hearing from me, I’m know one special”. I know I am through God, and I need to push forward and just do it.
I am in the midst of healing from a very bad depressive episode. In June, I tried to take my life. I wouldn’t wish this horrible event in my life on anyone. However, my healing as been nothing short of a miracle! Through this, though I felt God had abondoned me…. He was there all along. He made interventions happen that no man could ever have done. He brought Godly women in my life that were able to put their arm around me and tell me they’ve been there too. I questioned everything about God, especially my salvation. I was working so hard to please Him, and just could quit hit the mark.
A good friend gave me Unglued and Grace for the Good Girl a few days before my suicide attempt. Both books, along with many prayers and lots of support, have saved my life. I am an Overcomer as Mandisa sings. More importantly, if God can use David after having an affair and commiting murder, He can use me. I can tell women that they don’t have to stay in the pit. Choose life!! I learned mostly “What thoughts we practice tend to become the truths we live.” I even have this taped to my computer at work. I’ve made myself scripture flashcards and teaching my mind that I don’t want to only believe “in Jesus” I want to “believe Jesus.” What he says is true. I just needed to grasp it.
I share God’s love for the unlovable and how that making wrong choices will effect your future But,God will never leave or forsake you!! I love my son so much, he is my life, but if I could go back and redo my past, I wouldn’t of married my ex to begin with. It is a struggle to raise him alone and I now am labeled a divorced woman. Pray and wait for an answer, don’t get impatient with God…He know’s best!!
Hope. There is total freedom in Christ becase He loves you, accepts you as you are and says we are GOOD ENOUGH for Him … who am I to say otherwise?
Not sure what God wants me to do on a global scale. Right now, I think he wants me to minister to my two elementary aged kids. We haven’t found a church since moving to the Triangle 3 years ago (although we’ve tried several), and the only Christian education my kids are getting is from my husband and me. We both work full time and stress has become my middle name. However, I find my rest and peace in Him, and how can I not share that with my precious babies???
Lysa, our stories are so similar. I thank you for your obedience to God. Because of you I have been able to do the same. In August 2011, with my face to the ground sobbing from my burdens, I repented of my sins…my abortion. I asked for forgiveness for this everyday, numerous times a day, for 16 years. God asked me to “share my story.” I have since shared my story of being a daddyless daughter, my abortion, the pain I have experienced beneath the mask of perfection, and most importantly- God’s gift of grace in my life and for all who accept His Son. I would be lying if I said it was easy to stand before a room full of people sharing my story with them, but the Holy Spirit inside of me compels me to keep going even if my flesh is afraid. I definitely rely on His strength to help me. We are all broken people and have a story to tell and no matter what the differences of our stories are how we are in need of Jesus is the same. When we share our stories and bring the darkness into light God receives all the glory.
I have felt called for so long to share my story, but I always resist out of fear. Sometimes i feel like i let fear rule my life, instead of God. Most recently, I have felt led to share about my struggles with depression and my history of childhood abuse. Even writing about these in this semi-anonymous forum terrifies me. I am so excited about the upcoming study. I know that this is a message that I really need to hear and i am looking forward to how He can work in my life through this book. I can’t wait to read it!
God placed on my heart to share today that we should strive to enter into
“His rest” and not be stressed about problems and situations. Give eveything to God and let him handle it and learn to wait on Him because His time is not our time. We do not like to wait, we want answers right now, however, if we would just rest in the Lord we would avoid unecessary headaches and heartaches. Rest in God and watch what he will do for you. Reference Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-11
Thank you so much for this website. I just orderd the book, “Say Yes to God”, yet there are several friends and family with whom I could share an extra copy.
I really want to share this Bible Study and hope to gain more courage to do all of the things GOD wants me too.
Last night my husband and I got into a fight about our finances. My husband is an unbeliever and its hard to help him to understand that everything is going to be okay as long as we have faith. It’s a struggle I deal with everyday, but I know the stronger my faith is, things will get better and maybe my husband can open up his heart to our glorious God, and understand that He will never let us down. Thank you soo much for all of your encouraging words! You bless soo many people just by your worlds : )
I think God wants me to share the burden I feel as a 45 year old mom to two teenagers and an eighteen month old. Some days I am overwhelmed trying to balance it all! I am often overcome by guilt for not being able to participate in so many of my older children’s events and activities. It feels like a lonely place at this moment as my friends seem to be so free. Yet, when I take the time to meet with God, He puts it all in perspective and overflows me with thankfulness for all He has given me!
I was the other woman. My husband was previously married and I took part in the destruction of that marriage. It was wrong, hurtful and it haunts me still to this day. I’ve have asked God to forgive me, and asked my husband to forgive me. As for his ex-wife, I have never been able to apologize to her and am not able to find her now. All I know is that she’s re-married with children now. I understand now what I never understood then. I was wrong to break up something that God designed to be a reflection of his love. But here I am, married to my husband whom I love. I don’t know how God intends to use me, an adulterer, for His purpose- but I do know that for the first time in my entire life, I am ready to be used by Him. I know that He forgives me. I still struggle to forgive myself. I am learning, slowly, about God’s unconditional love, and that I am worthy of it.
The Lord has put on my heart to share the power of His grace to redeem all circumstances and the importance of sharing the story He is scripting in their lives–as a catalyst to healing and to empower others in healing as well.
I appreciate the sneak peak into your new devotional and your willingness to be so vulnerable.
Being divorced twice and married three times. It’s a burden I carry and which I’ve shared a few times when I’ve felt it has been needed.
Most people think I’m very open about my life because I share my story of God helping me overcome an addiction to pornography and a self-esteem issue. But the reality is that I have conversations with God and write letters to Him that express the deepest places of my heart, and I don’t share those. God has recently been telling me that it is out of fear of rejection and hurt that I won’t share those things and that I need start sharing with more people–even with those whom I haven’t yet determined as “safe” people, meaning I know they won’t judge me. In particular, I know I need to share my testimony and my ongoing struggles with the after-effects of pornography with my Bible Study Fellowship group this next year, and I know there will be those who will be judgmental and/or hurt my feelings. Trusting God to be my refuge in times of trouble will be hard, but I know He won’t leave me!
He just simply asked me to share my story with young pregnant girls. To share my story of being married and having my dream then God shows up with His plan and trumps my plan. Through 12 years of marriage and 3 types of birth control I found myself pregnant ~ hunh?. Yeah ~ He is the author and finisher of our lives and He is the Creator who opens and closes the womb (and birth control does not trump His power).
God had just showed up in the middle of my life, my marriage, and showed Himself like I had never thought of Him to be.
Jesus loves us and has a plan greater than the one we have. We just need to yield and follow.
God’s placed sharing my story- My Testimony – with others.
It’s hard, as there are things I’d rather not tell. But I’m just asking God for the strength!
Lysa, I LOVE your writings and Proverbs31 ministries. Thank you so much for your ministry and for those who help write your daily devotionals.
What I have to share is Our Wonderful Creator, Redeemer, Best Friend Jesus and how He brought me out of darkness into light. I met Jesus for the first time at age 21. Raised in a disfunctional family with a dad who was an atheist, who rejected me all my life. And a sick, depressed mother. God’s merciful gift of forgiveness! God’s awesome creation! God’s incredible tomorrow when we shall see Him face-to-face.
Because He lives, I can face all my tomorrows!
I took this Bible Study years ago, and my desire to study God’s Word has never been stronger. I can’t believe what saying yes to God does in my own heart and mind. I have peace that I cannot explain, joy that is contagious, and a desire to be a blessing every single day to every single person I meet. My prayer each day is what you pray, Lysa. Lord, today I want to see you, know you, hear from you, and follow hard after you. You cannot pray that without becoming an effective Christian woman. I have shared your website, books, conferences, and ministry with every single woman I know. I would love to win this devotional and then pass it on to another friend or relative. You are the best, and God has used you and your ministry to minister daily to me an to thousands of others. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your writings.
lately it looks like share with others and saturate myself in the truth of Phil. 4:6-7 (6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.) God led me to this verse the other day and then last night our church service was on exact same verse (I thought it was soo strange 🙂 )…and it is very relevant for the period of my life at the moment.
Also, the role and importance of secret sacred places to nourish our souls seems to be the theme as well, including today’s devotion from you 🙂
I am studying the bible and learning so much about the life of Jesus… and about myself. One thing I am learning is that I CAN share, and I need to share. We can’t go back and change what has been done or said. We learn from what we have been through, that everything that has happened and what we’ve endured has shaped us and made us who we are today. We can’t go forward if we are looking back. God’s love for us never fails.
Just this past Sunday, I watched a father struggle with his child during church. The boy almost knocked all the money and checks out of the offering plate as he passed it along to me. Afterwards, the father put his hands in his face in frustration. I could relate as I have three high spirited children and have been where he is. Then it hit me that so many people in our church have children who follow the traditional path of becoming an adult. Then there are those of us whose children have alternate paths. I want to start a support group for those parents who feel isolated because of “difficult” children. I asked God to open doors for me to do so. Your blog was perfect timing to continue praying!
I teach in a public school and even though I have to be careful what I say, I tried to express the love of Jesus with the students. So many of them are drug babies, living very hard lives. Some days before I can even teach, I am drying tears and giving hugs along with encouraging words. Things that I took for granted when I went to school is so different at my school now. For some of my students, the only meals they get are when they are at school. Many will come without school supplies in the next few weeks. For most, being at school is the happiest time for them. Many don’t like to have holidays or days off and when I ask them, they tell me they feel safer and loved at school than at home. I get up early every morning to make sure I have time to be with the Lord and read His word. I never know what awaits me at school each day.
The Lord has put on my heart to share with a friend my perpetual insecurity in one area of my life. In college, I felt a deep insecurity both academically and romantically when compared with a particular female classmate. That classmate and I have long gone our separate ways, but what she represented was a perpetual “gold standard” that I could never live up to. Since her, I have felt that deep inadequacy around a couple of other women as well. I’m working through this and praying hard. I’m recognizing that it’s not the women themselves that are the problem, but my own confidence in God.
I am not really sure what God wants me to share. I have been feeling lost and alone. I have been reading ‘a confident heart’ by Renee Swope. It has been changing my heart to looking to Him to love me unconditionally instead if others and stuff.
The biggest thing that God wants me to share is that He loves each and every one of us and that we can come to Him about anything….abortion, promiscuity, anger, hatred….everything; because no matter what He loves us. To share this He has urged me to create a network of sorts for Women of all ages and stages with the first thing to be a weekly prayer call….and let me tell you…He has urged me for some time, but I’m starting to put some things in action. Women U.P. Network (Women Unite in Prayer) will begin full force or slow force starting this month!
I try to share that I am not a religious person, just a sinner saved by God. It is the relationship I have with the Lord, not what I do that matters – most folks are caught off guard by this idea.
Lately, I’ve been stuck…not wanting to make decisions or choices because I fear that I’ll make the wrong ones. If I make the wrong choice or decision – God WILL turn it into something good. I just have to learn how to listen to God – that’s what I struggle with continuously…and asking for His guidance to begin with. I keep hearing “If you would have asked me, I would have pointed you in the right direction”. I’m still learning and grateful that He grants me grace each and every time I mess up.
I have made some big, BIG mistakes in my past. At first, I was so ashamed of them, embarrassed by them and did whatever I could to hide them.
But as I’ve grown in my faith and in my love for God, I accept that HE IS A FORGIVING GOD! And how beautiful is that?!?!
I no longer hide my past mistakes – now, I want nothing more than to share them with others and help them to grow as well!
God is faithful! I look at my life and see His faithful care of me and my family throughout- good times and bad, He is there, He loves me, He is trustworthy!
The Lord has been calling me to write a book but about what I am not sure. I have gone through things that could not compare with the struggles that some have gone through. My biggest battle have been in the form of bondage to food and books with heavy sexual references and descriptions. I believe them to be wrong because when I eat the food or I read the books, I try to hide the fact that I have done it. This is a form of bondage that I don’t believe that I am alone in dealing with. I know that I can be at free from it too.
I was an unsaved Jewish girl who had no knowledge of Jesus. At age 26, after having 2 children in 1 1/2 years, I had an abortion with #3. That made me into an emotional cripple. The Lord, in His Mercy, led me to see the show “Jesus Christ Superstar.” I found a Bible study near my home and after 6 months Jesus saved a wretch like me. It took me several years to forgive myself, but I have, and I find myself sharing my testimony with women and young girls who’ve gone through the trauma of an abortion. I am so excited to let them know there is forgiveness and cleansing in Jesus.
God has put in my life to becareful of how I look at others. Do not judge, because who am I to do so. Let God take care of it and go on trusting him each day. It is easy for us as christians to judge others especially other christians. When facing this in your life remember to trust God, keep the faith and love others even when it is hard.
I had the same experience five years ago. After 20 years of The Lord leading with me, I finally “came clean” about my divorce in my early twenties (before The Lord saved me in 1994).
I knew that The Lord was calling me to “speak out” what he wanted instead of what I wanted. So after years of struggle I finally shared my story the first day my Sunday school class. It was amazing the response of the ladies. I felt a burden left my soul and finally realize the word of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
Got has really impressed it upon my heart this summer to share with ladies the difficulties of motherhood with three young kids. To not put on a pretty face and say its easy – but to be real about the challenges and the rewards!
I am being led to share my story…I have always wanted to be a Marketing Director. I felt that was my calling. After completing my Masters degree with student loans to be repaid I was introduced to a gift. That gift is Thirty One, a faith based direct sales company. Now rather than a why of paying student loans, I am called to spread gods word through this ministry and to help empire women. I am so blessed to have this call and I am so excited to know I am one of gods girls making a difference in the lives of others.
I didn’t want to share. I thought I could do the Bible Study and be fulfilled. God told me otherwise this morning as I read this email. I have been struggling with The Lord since before my first marriage. My first husband is not a born again believer (as far as I know), and while married to him I fell far from God and into sin. My reasoning was that I wanted to be loved by him so badly, I was willing to do what he wanted. After he left me for another woman, I felt ugly, unlovable and lost. I tried to fill the empty void with other men and broke a few hearts the way mine had been broken. My mother finally convinced me to move and come live with her, which I believe was all God’s doing. A year after my move, I met my current husband. He is a wonderful man, who loves The Lord. Through this marriage, God has had to humble and break me. I found myself struggling to believe my husband could love me, so I pushed him away. He just kept loving me and showing me stability. God knew I needed a man just as stubborn as myself. There is a lot more to my story, but the point I need to make is God has been faithful to me and showed me more mercy than I could ever possibly deserve, but by His Grace. He has shown me that even though I am a born again believer, I still need to pursue Him daily as He is the only One who can fill the void in me. He does love me and He is the only One I need to please and crave. Everything else good in my life is a blessing and gift from Him.
Thank you Jesus for loving me and teaching me how to finally love myself.
Working in the world sometimes and more often I don’t want other women on the train that I ride with know what I do at times, or I escape an opening of sharing the my Savior, which leaves me feeling devasted after a missed opportunity. Well, I heard Him say, “Acknowledge me before men” because I knew that’s what I wasn’t doing, so I purposed it my heart to do that. I facilitate a women’s bible study on Tuesday evenings, so on Wednesday 7/31 when I got on the Metra and met my friend, we started talking and I told her why I was feeling a little tired because after leading this women’s bible study on Tuesday evenings I’m wired up and it’s hard to relax when I get home at 9:30 at night – she just stared at me and didn’t make any comment at all – and she continued on with her conversation. I was surprised and didn’t push her into asking me more questions, but the door is open and I knew she knew that I was “religious” but I’ve never before told her how involved in my church that I am.
I believe God is asking me to be vulnerable and share the struggles I’m going thru w my teens. Painful trials I’d much rather stay hidden because I feel such a sense of failure, but I know God is bigger and that His grace is enough.
My mother was tragically killed when I was 10 (she was only 30…and 7 months pregnant at the time). I felt abandonment, and fear has gripped my life until just recently. The journey from that time until now (50 years) has been filled with many stories…some with good choices, and some not so good! There are many ‘messes’ that have been turned into ‘Messages!’ And…they continue every day!
The Lord has asked me to share my problem I had with pornography.
Girl Rising and Half the Sky are two documentaries every American should watch. God has placed on my heart the desire to be a voice for women around the world who are stuck in hold of oppression, inequality and poverty. I want to share ways to help and rally others to join me to empower women. These precious women need a voice!
God has placed on my heart that I need to share that WHATever, WHENever, HOWever He chooses to work in my life, to HIM must all glory given! In the GREAT moments, in the TERRIBLE moments, through the TOTALLY UNEXPECTED and the PRAYERS ANSWERED, He gets the glory. I have learned that life “We are all just one phone call from our knees” – or in my case one police officer visit . . . my husband was taken from us suddenly and unexpectedly on 11/5/11, yet through it ALL, GOD has remained FAITHFUL and all He asks of me is to TRUST . . . even when I can’t see past the next tear drop. HE will restore, HE will sustain, HE will bless . . . I just must give Him all the glory, even when I don’t feel like it!
I’m still “listening” very, very hard – trying to determine what God wants me to do. I just can’t figure it out. Please help me pray.
Thank you very much for those words of truth and encouragement. This year, the Lord has been showing me how to bless and love women going through pain and suffering even as He works in my heart to heal and renew me from a broken engagement last fall. This area of suffering is one that many Christians shy away from, since physical and emotional pain is often associated with lack of faith and trust in God, but no, sharing our own hurts and how Jesus is all sufficient for us is part of how we can show love the most. After all, Love Himself met us by taking upon Himself our own frail humanity and makes us strong in Himself, praise His name!
God has called me to share. Not just one specific thing, but all things. He wants me to open my mouth and allow Him to use me as His vessel. Many times in bible studies or just in conversation, I connect with others’ stories, experiences, and trials. But I don’t share enough of my own experiences. I stay upon the surface of my life. God is telling me to be more open, more vulnerable. My story could set someone free; and here I am being too scared and selfish to share my testimony and glorify God. Letting Him use you shouldn’t result in fear, but faith.
I had an affair several years back and God used that negative and embarrassing thing and he put our marriage back together and made it stronger than I could have ever imagined. We too did the Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby as a couple (thanks to our counselor) and it was amazing to see how God changed both of us. Our kids are seeing what it can be like to be raised in a home full of unconditional love, the kind God gives us every day. It is seven years later and we are still reaping the benefits of God’s love and I know it will continue for the rest of our lives.
Having a relationship with Christ is the most awesome place to be, I just want to share Him with people. I have really been seeking God and asking Him how does He want me to share His word with others? I think He just wants me to live by His word, and to keep close to Him, and be in prayer at all times, being ready and instant at all times to hear His voice so if He says go here or drop what your doing and do this other thing instead. He is saying just be available, to be ready to speak a word or whatever He wants me to do, in order to touch someone else’s life.
For a while I was starting to think that I had wasted so much of my life, going down the wrong path maybe looking for love in the wrong places, thinking I needed to be accepted by my friends who are not so committed to God, I let the devil get a foothold, I actually was serving idols and didn’t realize it. My Pastor said one Sunday if there are people or things in your life that are more important than God, they are idols. I really had to examine my heart and ask for forgiveness. And since then the Lord had given me a word that I like to share with people that its
Never too late to live for Gods purpose in your life, to give up your rights and live for God. To be a living sacrifice and to be filled with the Holy Spirit where rivers of living Water flow through you. And God has still a work to do through us the best is yet to come in this life. We still go through trials and tribulations but The Lord said that this is His battle, the battle belongs to The Lord. The Lord gives us so much encouragement through His word and using people like you Lysa, one thing The Lord often reminds me of from Ps 27, the palmist says “I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of The Lord in the land of the living. So I feel like the best is yet to come not just when we get to heaven but here on earth as well as in heaven
So many times I felt that others were not doing, acting as Jesus wanted. I did not go to those ladies but instead would respond openly with what I thought they should be doing. I did not take the time to go to them privately and meet them with the love of the Lord. No , I so regret that I was not the peacemaker that Jesus calls us to be. I was judging AND was feeling really righteous about! Somehow for years I deceived myself of that truth. I am so sorry that I have hurt some, been a stumbling block to others, and have hurt the witness for our Lord.
I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive myself for doing this even though I know that God has forgiven me……after years of infertility, my husband and I were blessed with triplets conceived via in vitro fertilization. One of my sons passed away in utero at 30 weeks. While in the hospital we were given the decision to have an autopsy performed. Our other option was to have a funeral, burial, etc. I was too weak emotionally to handle a funeral. My son had an autopsy and then, I do not know what happened to his sweet little broken body. I know where his soul is, and I anxiously await the day to be reunited with him, but in the meantime, I torture myself with the unknown of what happened to his earthly body. It literally makes me sick to think about. I am so ashamed.
I want to be a Godly wife and mother and also be an example unto others in my work environment
I belong to a small book club. We come together each week to discuss a great book that will help us grow in our faith. In this small group that I can trust, I have been able to open up and share from my heart the struggles I have with growing closer to God, struggles in relationships, health, and other things. We all pray together and hold each other accountable. Thank you for the chance to win one of your devotionals, this would sure help me in my struggle of growing closer to God.
Lysa,
God often speaks to me through music and the song “Heal the Wounds But Leave the Scars” came to mind after reading this devotional. It goes on to say “…to remind me of how merciful You are.” So often I have wanted to go back and start over so the pain of bad choices would be gone but I am reminded it was in my pain and bad choices that God found me and it was where He brought healing through His mercy and grace and the shed blood of His Son, Jesus. Thomas knew it was Christ only after he saw the scars, may my scars serve to lead others to know Christ.
I cover my scars with being outspoken and sometimes “tell it like it is” to a fault, but that is to cover up my insecurities and to keep people at a distance. God has been working in this area and together with Him I am getting better at letting the scars show.
I believe God wants me to share that I hear those mean voices and have doubts and fears at times and I am not as secure and strong as many falsely believe that I am. Another song comes to mind here that says it all pretty much. “The Warrior is a Child”
Thank you and God bless you for not hiding your scars. They are promoting healing in others!
Wow! Where to start…God has been calling me to speak up for Him in so many ways. I think the overall message that He is sending me is that I, as a women, am just as important to His kingdom as any man. I grew up being told that women need to sit down and be quiet, so I have done just that. However, after battleing depression, God has been showing me that He created me for so much more! He has given me special talents that He wants me to use boldly for Him! His spirit is alive and active in me! He has placed me on a path with many opportunities to share His truth to other young women at our non profit coffee house, as well as speaking up for the poor and oppressed. The next step that He had placed before me is to be part of a team that plants churches around the world! I battle everyday with not feeling Adequate and worthy. I battle those voices telling me that I’m not wanted, needed or good enough. But, I am diligently seeking God and I know that HIS power is made great in my weakness! God placed a desire on my heart as a young girl to be a speaker, a leader that motivates others to take action and live a life worthy of their calling…I’m excited to see what He is going to do with that!
I so agree with you Shelley
I need to share the peace that comes with saying yes to God with my daughter who is fighting against letting go.
This has been my heart’s desire — oh so much stronger within the last few months! Passion comes at a price I know. I need to say YES to God EVERYDAY!!
Thank you for writing this story Lysa! You are always a blessing! This is coming at the perfect time for me and I am so encouraged to say a louder YES to God!
I have felt God calling me to write nonfiction books to encourage women and call his ladies to live the full life; but I have been hesitant because the process seems daunting and overwhelming! However, I finally said Yes to God and submitted query letters for my first book yesterday. I am excited about what God is about to do and I am going all the way with God.
I like to plan next steps, next project, etc… However, I am learning to totally rely on God for everything and for every step. I am getting comfortable not knowing! There is so much joy in my heart because I said YES to God and I am that excited girl going on a ride with my Jesus. I don’t know where He is taking me, but I am so excited because He is leading me! I know I will win with Him. Where He leads, I will go! Yes Lord!
Severe depression and a suicide attempt. No matter how deep your personal Pit, the arm of the Lord is long enough to pull you out of it and into His marvelous light (which frankly is quite disorienting after being in the dark so long)… but once your soul adjusts to the light, it’s GREAT!
I know the Lord wants me to share who He is with others and what amazing work He can do in their lives. I know He also wants me uplift the young people which is a great passion fo mine. But…the Devil makes feel otherwise. He whipers in my head that i have no words to share, that I am incompetent, etc… I know God needs me for His work. I am surrounded with people who needs Him desprately. I need to be used a vessel and share the good news. I need the Lord to help shut the Devil out of my head and for Him to take over completely. I I love to counseled and loved be counseled. Lysa, I love the way God is using you for His glory. Please pray for me and I will do the same.
I have loved the Book and I would love to get the devotional to share with friends. I feel the Lord is asking me to share with others to stop looking to the world for our identity but to look to Him for who we truly are.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5 & 6
The core to our strengh to carry on. Lots of times there are things we don’t understand or can’t figure out but we must TRUST in God.
This excerpt was so powerful! Thank you so much for sharing this. I needed it today as I am struggling to trust God and have Him be my audience of One. I always worry too much about what others think and what God is calling me to do. Truly believing it is God calling me to do this big thing that I know I can not do under my own power so it must be God! Thank you again it is so important for us to encourage one another!
I became a mom at a pretty young age, so I never quite “found” my calling. I spent those years that people normally are figuring out who they are being a mom, which is really awesome and what I wanted to do, but as they are beginning to leave the nest, I am feeling left with this terrible and overwhelming emptiness. I am trying to find that place where The Lord would have me serve him, what He created me to do as a “second calling”. Perhaps this devo is a piece to solving this puzzle for me.
I’m experiencing a pulling form God to get reconnected. Not only with Him but with other christian women. I was raised in a strong and devote christian home with a father who was a pastor. My older brother also became a pastor and author. I always felt the pressure to appear in control, put together and problem free. This wasn’t pushed on me so much by my family (intentionally at least) as it came as an expectation from the church. I married a good man who was very different from what my family expected and was used to. Long story short I’ve found myself after 25 years of marriage, two children and a career (I’m the sole provider by necessity) in a place of isolation and need. I’ve spent so long providing and caring for others ( I’m a nurse) that I have not maintained the relationships with other christian women that I need for my own well being. I feel God’s tug to reconnect with christian women and am having difficulty remembering how. I know it sounds crazy but it’s a challenge.
Im so lost right now…my husband and I are separated due to the fact he cheated, he says that he didn’t…hes also in to some other stuff…ive just discovered that there are so many women like me thst put with this on a daily basis…we as women haveput up with so much crap…..I would like to have support without all the “what did you do to make him do what that”….
All I really want to be to be a positive influence on those around me. This includes my husband, children, the students who work for me and my colleagues. I have been working on my leadership skills over the last several months as God continues to lead me in this direction. I am hesitant as I have never felt like a leader, but know that with Christ I can do all things. Thank you for your leadership, Lysa!
I confess I don’t spend enough time in the secret place. I got a devotion from Lisa Whittle about procrastination and it really told me my truth. I have lived with feeling empty or dead inside for years . I know who and heal my wounds. Thank you so much for sharing so honestly.
Each time that I hear something that I needed to hear at that moment, I’m amazed at God’s wisdom and power! I heard you speak at a woman’s conference [Cedar Creek] and you were amazing. Although the conference was a few months ago, I felt nudged today to go to your site. And, I’m so glad that I did. I heard a whisper that I needed to check it out so that I could share your site with other women! Your story is inspiring. Thank you, Lisa.
I believe The Lord has really put on my heart to share with others contentment. The world is caught up in wanting more, doing more, needing this and that. We are so blessed as Americans and I feel people need to stop taking things for granted and start being thankful for what they have. I was reading Proverbs the other day and I loved what it had to say: Proverbs 30:8-9 “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” That seriously touched me so deep. I need to practice better habits of this so I can share with others contentment.
God ‘s unconditional love is life changing and over whelming!! I lead a women’s prayer group and realize women are craving for more and more of their heavenly Father’s unconditional love. Help me Lord to continue sharing your message of acceptance and forgiveness to those who feel unloved.
For the past couple of years I have been teaching at a low socio-economic school where we probably have 95% of our kiddos on free and reduced lunch. God keeps placing me in schools close to this scenario and I have loved every minute of it.
God has laid it on my heart that just seeing these kids Monday through Friday for eight hours a day is not enough. I have learned with this particular school that you have to build relationships with these kids outside of school because there are major trust issues with the children.
I brought this up to my small group a few months ago and we were tossing around different ideas that we could do with the kids to teach them about Christ while just getting to know them. So we decided on a Vacation Bible School – which our church has not done in years!
Me (the pessimist) knew that nobody would help, it was going to be a disaster, and that none of the kids would come! Boy, was I wrong! After that first small group meeting I had a family contact me telling me that they would teach, help in the nursery, and drive the church van to pick up kids in the apartment complex where my school kids live. After that I had a total of 20 volunteers.
I was shocked! Anyways, after two months of preparation and going out to this apartment complex near my school we had our first night of VBS last night:) We had 31 kids in attendance and 8 of those attend the school where I teach. They were all giving me hugs and they were excited to see that some of the teachers who were there last night were at their apartments the last couple of weeks.
God showed me how when He lays something on your heart, you just need to prepare for a great feast! It was great hearing the conversations going on around the rooms and listening to the kids sing, ask questions, and just learn about God. God is truly good!
I am scared to death of giving my actual testimony. Even though I was saved as a young child, a broken home, abandonment, abuse, and being surrounded by the wrong people led me so far away from God that I still can hardly believe that He cared enough to change my situations over the years to bring me back to Him. I believed every lie you can imagine that Satan uses to confront the weak and hurting. I know that my testimony would help a lot of women to finally believe that God can and does forgive us our past, no matter how bad it is. Lisa, unlike you, I’m not as afraid of what those who don’t know me will think, but what those good, Godly people that God has blessed me with since He changed my situations and heart. Is it really possible for them to love me the same as they do now if I were to reveal my “real” self? My heart knows that anything is possible with God and He wants us to share our testimony, but my head just cannot let go of those lies whispered in my ear by Satan…Please, God help me to say yes to you!!!
I feel God is asking me to share with hurting women that there is hope after your husband has an affair. My husband has had 7 affairs and lots of trouble with pornography. I have been devastated many times in my marriage but oh, my goodness, I have truly seen how God takes something so destructive and turn it around for good. I now work with a company that I get to help women and couples heal, restore, reconcile and rebuild their lives after infidelity. I never would of asked to be here but I am saying “yes” to God!! If any of you know of where I could speak or share the good news of Jesus with this, please let me know. I have been in Toastmasters(a speaking club) for a year now polishing up my ability to speak to large groups. I now feel ready to step out for God! He is asking me to do that, as well. Yikes, I am scared but so willing!!!
I am an artist. I haven’t created anything in so long, I feel like it’s a lie to say it. But I know that God has given me artistic talent and wants me to use it to share his love. I also know that I can’t do it without Jesus. I have a terrible time getting started with any project and have a tendency to allow myself to get caught up in comparison, and this seems so daunting. (Thank you for the Imperfect Progress devotional, by the way!) I am working on saying Yes, getting past all of these fears inside and getting on with what God has in plan for me. Thank you for the encouragement and insight along the journey, Lysa!
I have written a syndicated newspaper column for years and always chose humor and life stories to encourage and entertain my audience…but lately, more than ever, I have been led to write more faith related material, and so I am going to start sharing a faith blog along with my regular blog/column. I have felt insecure for years about going this route, but now feel its God leading me to do this. I will continue my secular writing, but will designate this part of my life to not only encourage, but to share insights and devotional thoughts. So, now its time to obey.
Right now I believe that Lord wants me to share the importance of letting people into your life! Since having my first child 5 years ago I have isolated myself from my friends and have stopped trying to find anyone that I could possibly relate to. It was like I felt that I was the only one going through everything that I was. I completely shut down trying to communicate with anyone. My husband and I bought our first house 2 yeas ago and a year later we got new neighbours. Over the last year and a bit we have become very good friends. We relate as mothers, wives and women of God! If I were to have stuck to my rut I would not have met this wonderful women. My life has completely changed by being able to finally talk to someone. My marriage has changed (for the better) because I come home from coffee dates refreshed and feeling renewed! I give so much thanks to The Lord for placing this women in my life 🙂
Every person has the right to know that there is hope, and truth, and that love has come for them. It is a basic human right (like clean drinking water). They should know with Jesus Christ they will never go thirsty again.
I want to let every women know that God will meet you where you are. You do not have to try and perfect things before he will accept you. He will love you and accept you no matter your past. We are all a work in progress and all sin and make mistakes. Talk with him and believe in his word.
God has placed it on my heart to share my struggle with self esteem and weight issues with women. I have started a blog to encourage women and lead them closer to God during the times we doubt our worth.
God has placed on my heart to share my talents of singing and playing the paino with others in worship. Also to share my story of how God brought me out of an abusive childhood and has restored me and freed me from the bondages of sin and bitterness. I want others to know that freedom that comes from knowing God!!! I am starting my own little ministry where there is a worship time and a time where I share my story!! I can’t waito to see how God is going to use this all to His complete glory!!!
God has really been pressing on my heart to Step out in FAITH and encourage women. I know my ministry is to Lift Up Women especially in these days. Thank you for your words of encouragement!! I can’t wait to see what happens know that I am Saying YES to GOD!!
Blessings to you and your family, Charlotte
God forgives you, so forgive YOURSELF! =)
God wants me to let high schoolers know just how loved and accepted they are!
God has placed on my heart to share that it is okay to be broken. It is okay to show your brokenness because God puts us back together. The same God that knit us together in our mothers womb knits is back together when we become broken down by this world. Good loves us unconditionally and wants what is best for us and wants to heal us if we will only come to him just as we are.
I believe He wants me to be on the lookout for the next opportunity to encourage and uplift others. I need to stop being so absorbed in me me me and pay attention to others. Sometimes our life maybe the only Jesus people get to see. So many people are hurting and alone and I want to share God’s Grace and Mercy with others. We were created to share the Good News. HE LIVES… MY JESUS LIVES!
To forgive. I struggle with it a lot but know in my head it needs to be done but my heart resists. Being judges by others and treated poorly by those that don’t know what I’ve been through is hard. Thank you for all the encouragement you provide.
Encouragement! Even though I am going through a rough period in my life, I want to share the blessing of love and encouragement that so many have shared with me!
My heart has been broken for marriages all around me…watching people just throw it away because it gets hard. “What God has brought together let no man put asunder”. I’m praying over and speaking LIFE into broken, hurting, dead marriages today. If Jesus was hung on a cross and raised from the dead..then can’t that same power save our marriages?
The Genesis Scripture fits well. The unbearable anger is what God wants me to share. I have had other attempts at therapy, but in 28 years, as odd as it sounds, I haven’t addressed how painfully angry I am. I say painfully because it has been so painful trying to hold it in. And somehow, painful when I let it out also, as I then go through the guilt of having a fit. And I say “am” because I am just realizing lately how full of anger I still am. Which has lead to fear and anxiety and exhaustion as I try to control so many things. I realize now, just in the past few days, after all these years, that its ok to let that anger out. God has brought me to a therapist that I feel safe to do so with. I have thought all this time that stuffing that hurt was protecting my family, protecting myself, maybe even protecting my relationship with God. Oh, the things we somehow convince ourselves of! I know now, it’s time to share it, and I know somehow, this is His timing, finally. I’m not scared to do it now. I’m looking so very forward to the relief, the healing, the peace.
Just to be the Christian wife and mother and friend I should be. To be able to handle losing a friend because I am not good enough anymore to being able to sit through games when my daughter can play and is sitting on the bench. To trust God through all kinds of situations and not act unChristian, but to let others see Christ in me.
God has placed on my heart to share my story of raising a child alone and how what Satan intended for bad God has made good. I was avictim of rape and became pregnant with my daughter. I will say by the Grace of God and him whispering in my ear ” you can do this” I have raised a beautiful, smart and funny sweet girl who is now 8. She loves Jesus and I could not be more thankful of having the chance to share this story to possibly change someone elses life . I now am happily married to a wonderful Godly man with another sweet daughter joining us 2 years ago. God is so good and I choose to say YES!
God has asked me to share with women about marriage…what God showed me when I was being an ungodly wife. He taught me about what godly submission really looked like…and how I was to love my husband and honor him even when he wasn’t getting it right. I just finished writing a book…but am trying to get it published. As a first time author I am trying to figure out how to do this since self publishing is so expensive. In the meantime, I am trying to share with others in my sphere of influence. 🙂
I believe that God has put on my heart that it is never too late to re-establish a relationship with Him. I am excited to be a part of the upcoming On-line Bible Study to draw closer to God and let Him direct me.
The Lord has walkes me thru a period of beinf completly lost and hopeless feeling like life didn’t matter any more. You see I was a daddy’s girl and in my sophomore year of college my dad went to prison. Up until this point my dad was my best friend, the one I could tell anything, the one I always tried to please and had always shown me uncondition love. When he went to prison, i gave up. I had no one to please and if my own father could do these things to me and leave me abandon then what did the world have to offer me. Well, thru my 12 step study at celebrate recovery I was able to forgive my dad and realize what true uncondtional love from my abba father feels like. The lord has placed it on my heart to share thise with young women who are seeking to be loved like the world says it should look or for girls who are lacking unconditional love from their earthly father to seek that love from the Lord instead of other avenues. 🙂
That God wants us to stay in the boundaries of His protection (in our marriage, with eating, and spending $)
I believe God is doing many changes in me right now, but first and foremost to make sure I and those in my life understand the importance of making sure God is first in all areas of life. Also the importance of being yourself, the person God designed you to be. To not feel like you have to fit a mold or be like those in your life. God can’t use you if you won’t be who He created you to be, He only designed one you, be the best you can be and be obedient to His works for you!
God has given me many testimonies to share so that others can come to know him through me. I have had many trials that I have only been able to come through because of the Grace of God. Glory to The Lord Forever!
God has impressed upon me to see and love other women the way He does. Is this ever difficult! He keeps putting the seemingly unloveable in my path. This exercise is forcing me more and more in communion with Him. He has yet to have me display this love with material things, but with prayers for them, a smile and a bridled tongue.
The importance of marriage, to be a submissive,(not a doormat)wife, to love honor and cherish your Husband. To keep your marriage pure.
Simply, as complicated as it can be, that God loves more fully & deeply than we could ever imagine…and it takes us surrendering fully to feel it completely.
Congrats on the new book…I know it will touch many hearts!!
Follow the Peace…you will find God’s Will for your life there.
Don’t close the door to what you believe The Lord has for you and your family!
God wants me to share the importance of letting go of the past so that you can freely live your future in Him.
We all made mistakes and bad choices – or simply poor or misguided decisions. From pastors to priests, moms to executives…we are all the same. But we ALL have a forgiving and loving God who made us and allowed us to face these challenges – He only asks that we come to Him with a repentant heart when we realize we have done wrong, and He wipes the slate clean! How amazing is that?
God has placed on my heart the desire to admit to others my shortcomings, share my falls, take away the veil which distorts the truth of imperfections, trials, and errors. Instead I am to share these truths and express my trust and belief that I am still loved, still ok, still have hope, still His child, and yes, still will make mistakes.
I want ladies to know just how loved they really are in Christ and the lies of the world are just that, lies!
God has placed on my heart the call to adoption. We are excited on this wonderful journey and ministry to a lovely child and birth mother
The importance of taking time to do a self-evaluation based in God’s view of how forthright to be about challenges in my life, especially those having to do with my child. Looking inward and to Him to find the right path and how to balance sharing about my family struggles to help myself cope while at the same time respecting my child’s right to privacy. Finding the balance in the truth will set you free. And really just believing that if I continue to search, ask for guidance, and listen that He will come through and help me know what to do.
I feel that someone needs to know to keep praying for your children, regardless of their age. I have 2 sons (25 & 27). Their father passed away in 2000, when they were teenagers. Both have rejected God in their lives, contrary to what they were taught. Many times I have had to remind myself to pray that God get their attention, WHATEVER IT TAKES. That is a hard prayer to pray as a mother. Proverbs 22:6 tells us “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This doesn’t tell us how old. Don’t give up. God doesn’t.
God wants me to speak truth in love to a friend who is really making some bad choices! Thankful for a God of grace and forgiveness!
I struggle in this area big time. I have a desire to minister to elderly who may have no family but because of my insecurities and feeling like I can’t head from God it has kept me from moving forward with this ministry.
God will always love us. We need to stay focused on him. We also need to change the way we pray. Go to him in conversation as you would with an old friend.
I feel like God wants me to share with others that they can obey his will for life despite what others think or feel. Sometimes staying in His will means not doing what others are doing or want you to do.
Life isn’t always easy, but God is always there.
We are not alone in our spiritual victories and struggles. Community of believers.
That my daughter is on the Autism spectrum. But I am having a very hard time opening up.
Today I shared at my blog how God showed me that doing the mundane, day-to-day tasks around my house (especially picking up messes others leave behind) is actually serving Him. We receive no glory for doing these chores, but our treasure is stored up in heaven.
By reflecting on God’s great love for Israel, I am compelled to share how much he loves each of us….even when we sin and rebel, His love is everlasting!
God loves each of us even if we’re not perfect and it’s obvious! He cares even if your house is messy, your kids (or grandkids) throw fits in public, you say stupid things. I need daily leaning on Him and sometimes I lean in the wrong direction. But He’s always there when I turn around and look for His strong shoulder.
God is a God of grace and do-overs. We should show the world his grace through granting as much grace in a day as we require in a lifetime.
Living God’s way isn’t easy…but I know every morning that whether life is easy or not my God will ALWAYS be with me leading others to Him. Praising Him in the Storm!
What has God placed on your heart to share with others? Right now I’m looking at past filled with hurt, anger, frustration. I come from a broken home (and I’ve forgiven those involved) but I still have 1 thing that has yet to be cleared up and I’m working on this now so that I can express to others about food addiction brought up by emotions, habits, etc. I don’t want to see my children wither away like I did and feel hopeless as I do on occasion … but knowing that God will provide and lift me up. This is my challenge and I’ve accepted… He’ll purify me and I’ll be able to help others…
As a pastor’s wife I have found it to be very important for people to understand their purpose. Women in particular seem to not realize they have gifts and callings on their lives too. I believe we are all ordained and called by God to do particular jobs and giftings while sharing how mighty our God is. My purpose and vision is to help people understand that every circumstance and situation in their life is to help build that person and calling. To help them understand they do have a purpose and are a very important part of the body of christ. God loves all of us and wants his children to live in freedom and power.
What’s heavy on my heart right now is the importance of forgiving others. God forgives us of our sins daily yet so many people find it impossible to forgive others for their wrongs and go around carrying hatred on their hearts that could easily be taken away by simply forgiving and letting go. I was on a very bad path in life and it took me changing my life to be able to see why its so important to forgive others. I pray everyone would learn forgiveness and always remember: Forgive others as you have been forgiven.
I want to share He is redemptive
I honestly don’t know yet! But your question has me thinking and I will be praying about it. 🙂
I believe that God has put on my heart that I just need to let go of things and fully trust him. And focus on him.
God has spoken to me in my life about His sovereignty.
“What has God placed on your heart to share with others?”
God has placed in on my heart to share about my experience with my daughter. She is not my husbands – he knows this but has always claimed her as his own. She just turned 7. I have shared with some people and always tell them that she picked him, and I truly believe that. When I was pregnant she would respond to his voice. He was always there for me at all my doctor appointments and there when I gave birth. We weren’t married but he put his name on the birth certificate. He is her father in every aspect. I feel there are people that need to know this to help them thru what they are currently facing – but telling them sometimes changes their view of our family. Plus my husband isn’t ready for our daughter to find out – and he fears my sharing with too many people will cause her to find out before she is really ready to except it all. I want women to know that God really does use the bad for his good. I want women to know that they are loved no matter the “mistake” they may have made.
As a new month is beginning, the God has placed the word FEARLESS on my heart. He is challenging me to go out and face the things I FEAR with no Fear and succeed as he made me to do. He has given me all tools to walk in FAITH and face each challenge with the knowledge of knowing that he has full control and everything will be fine. 🙂
God has been speaking to me about talking less and doing more. How we can Pray about it, talk about it, and tweet about it. But until we step out and do something about it, we are nothing but noise. I am guilty of this just as much as the next gal and I feel that I am being led to take the next step. Now with all of the days hustle and bustle and financial bruisings, I am trying to hear what he has for me to go out and do in faith.
give grace extravagantly! There is different seasons, walk close to God and be flexible. I have homeschooled for 9 years. My oldest just graduated and we are putting our kids in public school, my daughter ifs going on a 6 month mission Trip, my husband is retiring from the Air Force. I’m learning to walk by faith, not by sight. Thanks for all you do!
Love everyone that crosses your path, the ones who are the most hateful are the ones who need your love the most, so let Gods love pour out of you on to them. You may never see the result, but God will use you to help them find Him.
That we are no less worthy to honor Him in our ministries because we are women.
Sometimes women are seen by some as weaker leaders within certain faith communities. But I am here to tell you that God has recently opened doors for me to be in church leadership at my church though I have no ministry degree or previous ministry experience. I didn’t even realize this was a desire of my heart until He made it possible!
God uses ANYONE who will take leaps of faith for His glory.
We, as women, have lots of love to share and talents to give in service of our Heavenly Father!!!
Be blessed and know your worth in Him,
Andrea
God has placed on my heart to share the importance of being a Godly wife & mother as well as finding your satisfaction & sense of beauty in the Lord. I grew up in a non-Christian home with divorced parents & I love how marriage can be used to glorify God more now than ever because so many marriages are failing daily!
Just began reading What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. Would be awesome to have the devotional as well 🙂
Make a difference for eternity today in someone’s life!
The Holy Spirit gives guidance and peace.
That our whole purpose in life is to please Him and bring others to Jesus. If our actions are not pleasing to God than how can our words bring others to Him?
God is wanting me to begin a missions ministry specifically geared towards raising an Esther generation, as Ann Voskamp calls it. I’m just waiting on the how and when but God has specifically given me the “what” and I am ready; saying yes to Him each day.
God has been working on my heart about adoption. Instead of wearing the label of infertility, I’m learning to share about our heart for adoption.
I feel like God has placed it on my heart to tell others that failure doesn’t mean to stop trying. That God uses us even when we are weak to reach people. If we never fall we can never tell others how to get back up. God uses every failure for His Glory. And through those failures we gain a deeper understanding of who God really is.
That He loves even those who have a past. Its not our future. He loves us not in spite of but because of our inperfections. Don’t let your past define your future be all that God wants you to be. Stretch your comfort zone.
My entire life story…from physical abuse, healed of a brain tumor and aneurysm, 2 rapes, an abortion, raising 4 kids on my own, etc. I welcome any platform to give my testimony, I serve an AWESOME God of TOTAL restoration!
I have been through many trials in my life (ranging from sexual abuse, drugs, and loss of a baby – to name a few). At a recent prayer meeting I felt God was telling me I did not go through those trials for mere punishment but rather to help others. So I am starting a young adult ladies bible study at my church on 8/15 and we are starting off with Unglued. I think it is time to share my experiences and help others know that God is the only true answer…..
I have been very blessed. I believe my blessings come from the giving I have done over the years. I can not express enough how important it is to sow good seeds. Sowing those good seeds has led to a beautiful/bountiful harvest for me and my family. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says; “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” I live by this verse. I love to give, and to see others smile and to make others’ day is so wonderful to me. There is nothing better than to help others, even if they don’t appear to need it. You never know what kind of impact you have made on anothers life until you reach out and become a true disciple. <3
… I need to share and be crazy open and honest that I’m an approval addict. I constantly seek others’ approval of what I’m doing, who I am, how I raise my kids …. when I only truly need One’s approval. I keep finding myself in the same pit over and over again …. I’d love to finally have victory over some of these challenges … but I think being transparent and honest is where I need to begin.
I am walking through a journey of infertility. For the past 4 years. Until recently it has been a depressing journey to say the least. However, God is beginning to show me purpose in my journey. To uplift others that are going through the same feelings and to help them see that He is with you, even when you are screaming and crying every day. He has already used me talking to a few women, and I can’t wait to see what He has in store. He has definitely turned my mess into a message.
Cultivate Thankfulness 🙂
I believe God wants women to be reminded that he sees your true heart and nows your fullest potential; that He loves you and is waiting to hear from you so he can direct you to the path He has intented for you.
For the past few years, God has been instilling a message of the power of faith in my life. I have been through very stressful times and I completely gave it up to God and put it in his hands. He has remarkably brought me through it all. I was most stressed about my mother and her health issues. I encouraged her when she was completely down and told her that God would take care of it all and in His own time and way, He did. I continue to share the importance of faith with my mother and any other person that needs encouraging. God takes care of us like know other and I want everyone to know that and trust in Him.
I definitely feel a burden to share how God delivered me from the pit of despair, heartache, and grief after my Daddy’s untimely death when I was 14 years old.
I just read a few of the posts from fellow family members in our Great God… I am picking up a similar theme on hearing “voices” ~ voices from the devil, that make us feel like nothing, that beat us up and put us down and leave us feeling shaken all over the place. It was encouraging to read (not that I am happy other people are going through it! by no means!).. it was just encouraging to me that I am not the only one out there who struggles so much with hearing those things… It drives me crazy! I have a hard time sleeping at night, I have a hard time focusing on doing one thing at a time, I feel guilty CONSTANTLY, and I am terrified of God’s anger. I am having a hard time knowing and believing with every single thing in me that God’s voice is speaking (if/when He does). I am constantly nervous and feeling like I am on a life-or-death race with time.. I have a lot to let go of and a lot to love… my heart feels so hard at the sounds of all these hurtful, mean, scary voices and everything I believe about not being good enough, and how great REALLY is our God? (Oh! my doubt list is so long!!!) I want to love Him without fear.. and I am really, really struggling. Please pray for me. For my sisters out there struggling with these things…. I got your back, girl. I know exactly how you feel… Thanks for being brave soldiers and sharing with us… Prayers and Love to you all. Thanks Lysa, for not backing down. Your sisters love you.
The importance of marriage, to be a submissive,(not a doormat)wife, to love honor and cherish your Husband. To keep your marriage pure. Because there are so many troubled, hurting marriages in this world today. I have a great marriage and am Thankful for that, but it takes work, anything worth much value takes work. I believe others can have a great marriage if they follow Biblical guides for Marriage.
Be still and know that HE is!
For now, my time. But when the time is right & my husband is ready, I’ll be able to share some of our story.
I’ve learned that God’s plans are so much better for me than my own. I’m so thankful that He didn’t give me what I wanted, but made me wait for His best. His plans for me are so much bigger and better than my plans for myself! Jeremiah 29:11
That God’s plan is perfect – we don’t need to be. In the struggles and the mess of our lives He is drawing us closer to Him.c
I know God wants me to minister with music in any capacity He sees fit. Right now it’s singing in a trio with two others ladies at church, singing on a praise team, singing/ teaching my girls to sing with me and leading a concert choir at our homeschool co-op. I’ve had some formal training, but Satan loves to jump in and feed me lies that I’m not qualified, not good enough, etc. I’m slowly letting God’s truth ring in my heart that He’s placed me in this moment for a purpose. He knows what qualities/certifications I have, and He still has chosen me to fulfill those positions. So I need to stop listening to Satan and start listening to my Savior. I so want to be used for His glory!
Praise God that He always gives us second chances!
God has been using me to encourage both guys and ladies, through your book “Unglued”, to remember that there is hope and grace for each day as we imperfectly “make space for grace” for all those “unglued” moments, both ours and others we ‘bump’ against. Can’t tell you enough how much impact your God-led words have made in my life and in the friends I’ve shared the wisdom gained by reading your book!
God has put it on my heart to share the story of how God brought my husband into my life. Just shy of being married for 1 year I love reflecting on the story of answered prayer (including a mother fasting from chocolate!) and the incredibly clear direction from God in bringing us together.
I believe that I need to be sharing with people that there is Hope for this world to be a better place. There is so much negativity in our world today that we need to be positive thinkers and always looking to God for the answers instead of trying to do things on our own.
I thought when I first was divorced it was the hardest thing. Then came being a single mom of three boys, even harder, then came bills with a single income, then came new man in life with children of his own and many issues I was unaware of. So first I have gotten rid of the man, now I am sitting down with the bills, later I am going to play with my boys and tonight I will pray for forgiveness of the divorce. No matter what God still has allowed me to overcome all the obstacles in which I feel have been the hardest, he continues to hold my hand. You have to believe he is here for us and will take care of us. I believe he puts things in our lives to just show us just enough what he went through. We will never feel his pain. I know when I keep my communication open and I am honest with myself no matter how much it hurts, God leads me and he will you. Sit down and listen never question, he has us and is always on time.
I believe right now God wants ME to know that He has never left my side. I have really been struggling here lately and need a word from Him. I believe He has placed this on my heart to share with you because HE knows my heart’s desire is to be closer to Him and to have a better relationship with Him. I am sinking right now and need my Savior to save me! I am certain your devotional book is exactly what I need as you have been in a place like this before as well. God bless you and your ministry!
These have been tough times in my life. My husband has been so sick the last few months I really thought I was going to be a widow. I would like people to remember if you live in a church family they are there for you. With out the prayers, meals, and kind supportive words over the last months I don’t think I would have made it. I am still dealing with depression but with God and the people he has given me it will be ok. So the importance of having a good church family is what He needs shared. They will be your rock when you have trouble on the sand.
All is grace
I think he wants us to return to the basics;to love others and be loved. Be a good friend; there is a world of hurting women out there needing to know that they are loved and accepted just as they are. As wonderful as technology is, nothing replaces the personal touch; a phone call, a card in the mail or better yet an actual girl’s day. Life can be hard and it’s nice to know there is a physical person on earth to show God’s spiritual love. God forgives us but sometimes it’s so hard to forgive ourselves and it’s nice to have that reassurance from a friend.
I feel like God has placed on my heart to share with others don’t be afraid to love the unlovable. If He has called you to it He will show you how. Reach out and help one struggling person that’s in your path, share His love and grace, for these are the only true lifechangers that people are looking for.
God has placed it on my heart to share with other women that they must first have a relationship with Him before any other relationship in their life can prosper. This includes their relationship with their spouse! When God is first, everything else will work out to your good. He will guide your paths and provide you with answers. My marriage has been saved by this, and I am proud to say that our home is a much happier, stronger, GODLY place to be!
I am not perfect by ANY means but with God’s help I believe I am getting better and strive to keep making myself a bit better each day!
Everyday, I pray for God to help me say the right words to help others. Everyday, I pray to God to give me the patience and help me change in the ways He needs me to change. Everyday, I pray to the Lord to direct my actions to make me a better person and help others find answers to their problems. And…everyday…God is there to give me what I need and help others in their path and plans that God has placed on them. I thank the Lord everyday for his wisdom and guidance! It is He that steps up and helps us get through every day!
I often joke that my life is one big object lesson. I’ve gone through trials and hardships, and the Lord has told me its so that I can encourage others who are in the midst of it. One of the most important stories that He has for me to share is that of forgiveness. Years ago, the Lord kept telling me that it was time to forgive my dad. I was hesitant, plus.. I just didn’t know where to start. So with the help of a trusted Christian friend, I went through a process of Biblical forgiveness. Oh what freedom! But then God told me to go home and talk to my dad. That was harder. But eventually I did it… and I finally got to hear my dad tell me that he loved me and was proud of me. I was 25 when I heard those words. Then a year and a half later, on my 27th birthday, my dad had a massive stroke, and we had to make the decision to take him off of life support. If I had not been obedient to forgive and reconcile with my dad, I never would have heard those words, never would have had a year and a half of reconciled time with him, and probably would still be carrying around some of the bitterness in my heart. It is SO important to forgive! There is so much freedom in that act of obedience!
What God has placed in my heart to share with others is this: You don’t need to go thru life grieving the fact that you grew up without a father, or grew up with an abusive father, or for whatever reason didn’t get the love and acceptance that you need and crave your earthly father. God is waiting with open arms to be the father you need. I scoffed at this until I opened my arms to God and he filled and healed all of the broken places in me and lavished his love on me. I am the daughter of the King of Kings and I am blessed!
That God loves us all, all the time. our actions may disappoint Him, but He is always there for us. It sounds simple, but if everybody truly knew this, think of all the hope that would grow from seeds of loneliness.
I have felt that God has wanted to work on me with my tendencies to gossip with friends. I also feel that he wants me to radiate more positivity to other not only about how I feel about myself, but to hold my tongue when I want to say negative things about situations. I’m a teacher, and I have spent my summer looking at scripture to guide me with these issues. It’s hard sometimes when you feel you can’t understand the word the way it was intended. I think this devotional would be great. Liking your page on Facebook has definitely helped me through hard times, and seems to speak to me directly. Thank you for what you do.
This week has been one where God has me reflecting on the past years and really opening my eyes to the ways he has been weaving my story behind the scenes. I know that he has something in store for me because I am so unsettled and uncomfortable in my own skin. I feel like God wants me to slow down and close my mouth & my constant internal conversations and just listen to HIM. Maybe others need to hear that as well…
For a long time I’ve felt called to share the story of my past as well, but have been so afraid (that’s Satan…I know!). My story also involves sexual sin and a time in my life when I deliberately walked away from the path The Lord had shown me. The way He picked me up, right from rock bottom, and brought such restoration to my life is an amazing story. I know it could reach others, especially young girls. I always fear what people will think when they find out I haven’t always been who people might have thought I was. But I know people and their thoughts are not my standard…Christ is my only standard. And he wants to use me! Lord, give me strength!
God has placed on my heart a desire to share that marriage is a reflection of His perfect love for us. We have such a wonderful opportunity to use our marriages as a living example to the world. Love and honor your spouse, keep the passion alive!
Oh my…does this hit home. For the last few months I have been praying for God to help me be more VULNERABLE. To share my story, despite the shame I associate with it and the judgement I expect from others. He has already opened doors for me to step out, and by faith I have said YES and shared. His grace is amazing. He truly does work all things for good. I am excited to see what He has in store for me as He continues to write my story and lead me to new ministry opportunities.
God wants people to develop confidence in simple, believing prayer. We need the confidence that even if we simply say, “God, help me,” He hears and will answer.
EVERYTHING! God has been leading me to share my testimony with woman but wanting me to start small (but for me is a huge step) to journal daily. I grew up loving to write, the only thing I ever wanted to be was a writer but then I was attacked in college, months before graduation – I went through that time on autopilot after being so passionate and that was ten years ago and while I have had moments of obedience I still hide from writing, no I cower. I know that in writing God has healing in store, I know that He not only wants me to share how He has changed my life the last 4.5 years since I became a Christ follower but also how He was clearly in my life before that.
I would share this verse with people.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
As a Christian I feel that this an important way to live by. Having faith in God allows us to trust in him knowing he will take care of all our needs even if it seems impossible. Having hope gives us the strength to live each day to the fullest and be thankful for everything he gives us. And last love which is most important. We known its hard to love everyone but the bible tells us Jesus loves us unconditionally and so should we. Thank you God bless!
What has God placed on my heart to share with others? I think the message from my lifetime of insecurities and feeling unworthy would be to sit/marinate in the truth that He is your hope and that He loves you and He is a God of mercy.
God has placed in my heart to share with other women, that He is healer!! No matter what has happened in our past He tells us in the Book of Isaiah to leave it all behind. God makes us new and all that was will never have power over us after we let Christ have complete control! He’s a MIGHTY, POWERFUL , and HOLY God who still performs all the great miracles in our lives today!
A sermon a few years ago struck a chord with me, and to this day I share it with many people. My pastor said, “sometimes bad things happen to you so you can glorify God to others.” Up until I heard that sermon, I really questioned why about some things in my life, including why my son had been born with two rare conditions. Hearing that sermon completely changed my outlook on life. I also feel right now I have to share with people how important it is to me that, even though I am imperfect, broken, and a sinner, Gods unconditional love for me never falters. And that makes my heart sing!!
It doesn’t matter where you are, what is going on in your life or what your struggle is, God loves you! He is waiting with open arms to receive you! We serve an amazing God, who wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him! When we start to say” Yes” to Him, things start to change in our lives.
God placed it on my heart to start a Dorcas ministry at our congregation this month. My hope is to bond as sisters in Christ, lead our younger women and reach our community. I am on the younger side (if I do say so myself) and was a bit intimidated at leading a group of ladies. We had 25 women show up to our first meeting and already have our first service activity scheduled. I am glad that I said yes to God!
Today I want to just say that no matter what the circumstances in your life God loves you more than you could ever know. He is a good and faithful God who will not leave you in the depths of despair. To despair is to not trust God. I can tell you this because I came out of the pit if despair, depression and attempted suicide after a lifetime of physical, sexual and verbal abuse. With Man it is impossible but with God all things are possible. Look to God today! He can and he will restore what the locusts have eaten!! Wherever you are in your life today believe Him and trust in Him today!
The Lord has walked me through depression, hurt, betrayal, bitterness…I am made whole and full of joy and that is what He has called me to share. There is always Hope and that Hope is Jesus. Thus the name, “Hope & Joy Women’s Ministry” at our church! 🙂
I have a very similar story. I have walked with shame and guilt heavy on my back because of things that have happened to me as well as things I have done. The unforgiveness for myself almost ruined my marriage and ended my life. I went through a bible study called Forgiven and Set Free for post-abortive women and it changed my life. I am now training to be a facilitator to help other women free themselves of that bondage
I’m feeling the draw to mothering this young adult generation- lacking in mentorship and mothers/fathers to speak of His faithfulness and experience. My heart is for them as they take up the yoke of leadership both in and out of the church.
I have been saves for almost three years. Through my faith journey, I gained the strength through Christ to deal with my past demons. I am a post abortive woman. Without the saving grace of God through his Son, I would still be living in the darkness from my past. I went through a wonderful bible study and understand the love of our Father. Later this year I will be giving my testimony at my local Pregnancy Care Center to bring awareness to options beyond abortion and the the love and forgiveness of Christ.
My hubby and I have both lost over 100 lbs, God is using us to encourage others who are trying to lose weight and be more healthy. That our hope is in Christ and he will give you the strength you need to keep working at it.
I feel like that God wants me to share with others that even if you are a work in progress, He can still use you to facilitate His will in your life and other people’s lives.
I believe God has placed on my hearts to share with women that they are not alone in this world and that we were not called to walk this life alone in isolation.
God has called me to share the abandonment and abusive childhood I had and along with dealing the murder of my fiancé at 16 while i was 4mths pregnant. For a long time i struggled to break free from the hurt and chains, to become educated and now hea called me to share my testimony and find ways to minister his word to all those I come in contact with.
I feel like God wants me to share the message of his love as a faith instead of religion. Religion has gotten such a bad rep with young people that you need to emphasize his love!
Lately, I’ve felt God asking me to share my talents with others. I took piano lessons since I was six years old and have been playing since. My husband and I have been in ministry over 12 years, and during those years, I have been asked several times if I taught piano lessons. Each time, my answer has been “not at this time.” I believe God is asking me, now, to step up and use the talent He has given me to help others by teaching them how to play so that they may glorify Him and that future generations can also serve Him through playing.
Can’t wait to start… this would be a great companion.
I feel like the Lord is telling me to share my nursing skills to help others. I have a heart to help those who are in need, whether they are homeless or just can’t afford health care. I also have been involved in mission trips to Honduras, and see a huge need for even more medical mission trips to assist those in need there. So, at the wonderful age of 42, with 4 kids, I am going back to school to be a nurse practitioner. I just feel like God wants me to do this so He can do even more through me.
Even when you feel far away from Him, He is still in pursuit of you.
For a long time, I have struggled to speak up about the way that I was raised. My parents were very abusive and I grew up in an angry & hostile environment. Now I have 3 beautiful boys & I want the world to know that I struggle as a parent! I was never taught how to react properly to disobedience. I still struggle with feeling angry, even about very small things. I am so thankful for the grace of God and that He continually lays it on my heart to love my boys in every way possible, and I am thankful I have never resorted to acting out in anger toward my kids.
Anyway, I never shared my struggle with anger and my past until recently. It has weighed heavily on my heart but it is so great to have a body of believers who will pray for you in your time of need!
Last week, I shared my story with a woman in my church and learned that she was also abused as a child and was feeling alone in her struggle. I am so thankful that it was laid on my heart to share! She and I have been praying for each other since!
I believe that God has placed on my heart that we need to FULLY rely on HIM in all areas of our life! This past year has been VERY difficult for me, I have been going thru a divorce since last July, and it’s still not over! i have 3 kids, and my oldest who just turned 19 got into drugs and such and in January I had to have him taken into protective Custody, and went over 2 months not knowing where he was or what he was doing and if he was going to graduate from High School. Then last week I lost my job. BUT, through all of this I have relied on HIM, praying and reading my Bible have brought me to have a better relationship with Him! I can’t do it alone, and I have to let him have control! I am enrolled to go back to college, and I start Monday! Have a date to hopefully get my divorce final in september, the longest year+ of my life, and I am starting to have some type of relationship again with my son! With GOD ALL things are possible! And with a great Church and Friend and Family Supporting us GOD IS GOOD!!! 🙂
I believe that God wants me to share my story on loving and viewing myself the exact same way God sees me. I see and have seen nothing but an unworthy mess for years. No matter what I do or say or how I act, I never feel worthy or good enough. I believe this is something every woman (and everyone in general) struggles with. We compare ourselves and our walks with God to others, just as society has taught us to. If we don’t measure up to society’s standards then we aren’t good enough or of worth. But what about God’s standards? Our righteousness alone may be filthy rags but because of the blood and grace of Jesus Christ we are made righteous. We are beautiful creations in the image of God. It doesn’t matter what our physical appearance is we are beautiful. This is something that God has been dealing with me on a lot in the last months. I am beautiful and I am worthy of love. I need to love myself as He loves me so that I can love others. I can’t give away what I don’t have.
My marriage journey
I guess God has placed on my heart that the struggles I face everyday are part of my story. I sometime feel that just because I still struggle with certain issues in my life it must mean that I am a failure. God is showing me that the struggle proves that I am trying to do what’s right and one of these sweet days – I will have the victory. Till then – someone else is struggling and my story of struggle may help them through theirs.
I teach kindergarten in the public schools. God wants me to share his love with my students and parents.
I believe God has placed the message beauty from brokenness. I saw God saw intimately through that season. I was so broken and needed to be out back together. I would always seek out others to help me do that. It was the first time I allowed God the sole right to my broken pieces. The results were a relationship with Him that was pure and beautiful. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, even what caused it.
We all have a different story and I think that that is what makes part of us unique. I also think that we can use those stories to help others who may come across some of the obstacles that we have faced. I can say for certain that life has not always been perfect and I know it will never be. I had things that I faced in my life such as the loss of my parents at a young age and not knowing where my next meal was going to come from but somehow I was always well kept. If there is one thing that God has placed in my heart to share with others is that no matter what life throws at us, He is always there. We do not need to rely on the things of this world but we need to rely on Him because with God we can do all things. God is a pretty amazing God and I know if not for Him I would not be who I am today.
For ten years God dealt with me and prepared me to tell my story. In January 2013 the door was opened and I began God’s work out our local pregnancy center. I am the Community Education Director for the center and get to speak to youth about Sexual Integrity. I also have the privilege of telling young girls that they are enough and encourage them to spend less time worrying about what the world tells them and focus on what the WORD tells them.
I want to share with hurting people that there is HOPE and it is still alive! Hope can be the anchor in their hurting places thru Jesus Christ!!
You are a wonderful writer! You inspire me!!
That God is not mad at them. He loves us unconditionally 🙂
I feel right now what God has placed on my heart to share is my journey of being raised in a non Christian household and how I was able to find Him and grow in my faith walk with Him and my amazing spiritual influences. I have been tested and failed many times, but He has always brought me back to the light that is His way and word. I recently got baptized and it has solidified my decision to follow Him and to show others the amazing works He has done in my life.
As Women We Can Be So Hard On Ourselves, Even The Little Comments “I Can Be Such A Klutz”. We Need To See Us As God Sees Us, Fearfully And Wonderfully Made 🙂
God has placed a burden on me for the women of my small church. Satan keeps creeping in telling me that I’m not good enough, not strong enough, not spiritual enough for the task at hand! I want to start a women’s ministry with this group of ladies! I am the girl that never even WENT to church until I was 27 years old! I’m terrified to even share these THOUGHTS with anyone! Who am I to think that I can do this? Today, you’ve reminded me exactly who I am to do this! I am a woman who says YES to God! I will share my love with these women and we will be stronger together!
Lysa! I’m “Weave” in the photo you took at Camp of the Woods two weeks ago. I didn’t make it this year, but perhaps next. God is teaching me – most profoundly – that trusting people doesn’t always work. But trusting HIM completely; that’s where I can find joy and strength. And through these struggles, I’m trying to be obedient by teaching other women the same thing I’m learning. To let Him be my all in all.
Bless you for your ministry. I love it!!
God wants me to overcome my shyness and insecurity and glorify Him through my artwork. I truly believe He gave me my gift to do this. What I seek is the wisdom and confidence to know how to to do this.
I would want women to know that they don’t have to earn God’s love. We accept His grace for salvation, but so many women then live the Christian life under the law, thinking they have to be good enough to earn God’s acceptance and approval. His grace extends from the moment of conception, to our rebirth, to every step of our walk with Him until we see Him face to face.
My number 1 thing is that our kids and all kids would grow up to be followers of Jesus. No matter what obstacles they face they will have God as their foundation. The most important decision your kids will make in life is to follow Jesus. The next thing would be my husband and I are already praying for our children’s spouses. Our hope is our kids would marry followers of Jesus and they would always want the relationship Jesus and want that relationship with a church family.
That God’s mercies truly are new everyday. I blow it so often but God forgives me when I confess. Jesus said go and sin no more and oh, how I wish I could say I have done that but I rest in the fact that although my flesh is weak, I serve a mighty, forgiving God. *blessed!
God laid on my heart to share my testimony with others who are having marriage problems. I believe marriages can be restored even in a world that says marriage is disposable. <3
God has called me to share my healing testimony of my abortion, and my past. I too fought him because when I first shared my story I was so attacked my shame and fear that I hid my story and put on my “perfect” act. This last year or so God has moved me out of that and I’ve spoken twice now and am planning on leading a post-abortion Bible study this fall, plus am open to speaking more. God told me last year in a worship time that He will use all my pain for His glory and to not shrink back anymore. With His grace and strength I will keep pressing on and do that.
After spending hundreds of days at a nursing home to be with my dad & not always with a good attitude, the Lord has spoken, through my daughter, that instead of complaining, I should be looking for ways serve the Lord at the nursing home. So many hurting and sad people there, maybe, I just need to share a smile and Jesus!
The thing that God presently wants me to share with others is that He will be faithful to them if they will wait for His best, especially when they are waiting for a husband. I didn’t get married until I was 35 years old, and just had my first child at 38. For years I thought that something must be wrong with me and sometimes was wondering if I would have no choice but to end up with someone who was divorced, since a lot of people have been married and divorced by that age, and are single again. Did I feel alone? Yes. Did I feel discouraged? Yes. Did I feel like the Israelites walking around in circles for 40 years? Yes. Was I ready to move on to the next chapter in my life and have a new challenge to face? Yes! Did I get frustrated with God and ask Him a thousand times… why me? Yes. But something in me believed that there could be a godly man out there who was in the same boat as me… single and saving everything for that one special person. Well, God did bring him into my life in a way that had God’s fingerprints all over it, and he was so worth the wait, and then some! He shared the same struggle as he waited many years for me, and so we now have something to share hope with other singles, as a couple. That’s what happened when I said “Yes” to God’s timing, and never gave up hope that someday I would find (or be found by) the one He had chosen for me.
I truly enjoy those days when I am home alone & it is just me & my Heavenly Father. We talk. And I sing songs of worship to Him!! When I can’t have those days I feel at a loss, but then the Father will speak to my spirit and let me know He is still right here. I am so thankful to Jesus for all He has done in my life….I just can’t thank Him enough!!
That God is real. He is real in His love for us no matter what we have done or may be doing. He is real in His faithfulness even when we tend to wonder.
I believe that it is forgiveness. I’ve been through a lot in my life and I believe that until you forgive others and even yourself you can’t really move on with your own life.
I’m still working on unraveling this. It certainly has to do with seeing God working in and with mothers as we struggle to raise godly children though the chaos of the little years. It also has to do with raising them to be mission minded caring disciples and working on letting the fruits of the spirit flow out and touch others.
Don’t give up! Whether it be hope or, God forbid, faith just hold on. We tend to give up right before a miracle happens. God put that on my heart to share with all of you, and I hope whoever needs it finds solace in that message. God has made many promises to us, all we need is to claim them♥
That God has placed a burden on me to minister to the widows in my church. To help and encourage them, to listen and love on them, and let them know that they are oh so important to God.
I am feeling lead to share truth, to be open, while sharing my life experiences and relationship with the Lord. As a mom to 6 kiddos (3 biological and 3 that needed a safe home)…I am full of experiences. LOL
Thank you for this opportunity! And thank you for writing Unglued…I just finished the study with some women at church! 🙂 Have a blessed day!
as my daughter’s grow up rapidly and bring home friends both boys and girls I find I need to show by example true love, affection, and acceptance of them no matter who they are pregnant, gay, depressed, young with babies, ect. These kids have to see God in someone and I hope I can be a good witness for God.
That it’s okay to ask for help when you feel like you can’t do it alone anymore. That’s it’s not God’s design for us to think we have to be super woman/ super mama. It’s okay to admit, I just can’t do it alone…
My Dad was killed by a drunk driver 22 years ago & I cursed God for it. I was so angry! But God used my Dad’s death for good & if it wasn’t for his death, I may have never come to Christ. I now use my testimony of forgiveness & how God can use a tragedy for good. I also struggled with drugs, alcohol, & etc. & God brang me out of that & depression to help others.
In my current season, I feel I am supposed to show love and proclaim freedom. I work in an all “non-Christian” enviromnent. I stick out to say the least. I just want them to see the love of Jesus and the freedom His forgiveness brings.
My childhood was great. I was surrounded by parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who loved me. When I was 11, my parents’ marriage started falling apart due to my Dad’s infidelity. There were lots of cruel words spoken, and I tried to shield my three younger siblings from what was happening. My dad left and I became the second parent. I developed ulcers because I was so full of hurt and anger. It took several years, but I was able by God’s help to build a relationship with my dad. Unfortunately, he died before I could tell him all that I wanted to say to him. I would like to share with others the importance of forgiveness. God loves us and forgives our many sins. We should be willing to do the same with others. Also, I try to use the bad experiences in my life to help the kids I teach. A little compassion and empathy go a long way.
Today I am reminded that God knows my worries and fears. He is big enough to take and wants me to lay them down. I need to step out in my faith and trust the One who knows every hair on my head.
I believe God wants me to share the struggle that my husband whom is a preacher and I had for five yrs, when the struggle of addiction grabbed ahold of him. I have such a burden pulling me to be active in sharing this message of the struggles and pain that we pushed through. I know God wants to use this to touch livez and keep marriages together but fear like you grips me. I’d love to have a tool to help me fulfillGods will
I believe that Jesus is The Christ, The Holy & Triune Son of The Living God. I know that when I followed my own way into internet chats, fell hard and was almost destroyed, along with my family, that surely others are not immune. If I can speak out about my own fall, then perhaps others can be saved from the same mistakes. God is gracious and merciful and I believe He works within us to shed light in the darkness.
I believe the Lord is leading me to share the truth that our identity of who we are is ONLY found in a covenant relationship with Him. Nothing else in this world will satisfy our deepest longing for connection and acceptance. He created us in His image and there is an open imprint in each one of us that only God can fill. Nothing else will satisfy! His love is unfailing, His love is true and His love trustworthy! Thanks for letting me share!
“What has God placed on your heart to share with others?”- I feel that first and foremost God is calling me to love people..to share His love with others in special and creative ways that reflect Him! Secondly- I feel that God is calling me to share my story. Our stories are what shapes us and God gives each of us a story to relfect His glory! I have had a journey for sure filled with sadness, joy, loss, blessings and having faith through those ups and downs brings you closer to God. I could not be where I am today had it not have been for my saviour rescuing me! Amazing and I feel that would help many others who may be where I have been…..
My struggle with seeing myself as God sees me. I’m obese, and there are times I do not feel beautiful. I certainly don’t feel as beautiful as God says I am. Even though I don’t have a complete positive self-image, I still encourage others, but what good is that when I don’t believe it to be totally true of myself.
Love and compassion for others has been placed on my heart.
No matter how deep into the darkness you fade God’s hand is never to short to reach in and pull you out and redeem all you feel is lost. Don’t lose hope, don’t lose heart, press on through the doubt…He is faithful!
Right now where I am in life I believe the Lord is teaching me to be quiet and pray before I say or do anything. I want to be a yes woman for the Lord but I have to learn to be quiet first…
THIS week the very most prominent thing God has placed on my heart to share with others is UNGLUED by Lysa TerKeurst!
God has put it on my heart to share that He can be trusted. I am a certified Life Purpose Coach and it took my own experience through near burn-out and permission by my Life Coach to slow down, for God’s message to become clear to me. I encourage women to discover how God has wired them–to consider their life experience, education, passion, skills, talents & abilities to discover the work God has for them. Over and over I have learned that if I am faithful with little, the mundane, the every day, that God will give me opportunities to be faithful in larger things, such as moving away from my home town to be in full time ministry with my husband. It wasn’t until we said, “Yes” to God that He showed us our next step of faith. But I think that before we can take these steps, we need to have a basic grasp of who we are in Christ, that we are dearly loved, that there is nothing we can do or not do to make Him love us less, that we have great worth just because He created us. This is the message I share and it gives me great joy to do so!
After going thru a divorce and being a single mom God has put others in my path to minister to in these areas. I also like to be an encourager to others and have been able to reach out in His name to do so.
I’m reading “When Women Say Yes to God” and I would love to have the devotional. I’ve made a new commitment to study, absorb, and live God’s Word more than I ever have before.
For me to bring light into the darkness. To let people know the Grace God offers us even though we are undeserving. We are his children and he will never forsake us or leave us in our time of need.
My daughter is getting ready to go to college in a few weeks on a softball scholarship. We have started telling her story of how she was born with 2 holes in her heart and were told that she wouldn’t grow very tall. Well, with lots of prayers, anointing, and God’s grace, she’s 6 ft tall, played varsity in 3 sports all throughout high school, and has been nominated for SIAC (our conference) athlete of the year. We find out this Sunday evening. God has blessed her life and we give God all of the glory. We want others to have hope and to trust Him, no matter what they’re going through and to remember Romans 8:28. God bless!!
I feel got has laid on my heart to share and mentor younger women in marriage and parenting.
I know you probably will not believe this, but that is exactly the same path I am on right now. Seeking God and letting Him open the doors in some areas of my life I never dreamed of doing. I am speaking at small churches when He opens the door. I am in the process of writing a book which my son is helping me with the computer set-up. This is so crazy. I thought I was just a Sunday School teacher, never dreamed I would be trying to venture out like this. It is baby steps for me right now. Would appreciate your prayers during this journey.
Right at this moment I believe God is asking me to share the wisdom and knowledge He has given me about being a Godly wife. Now, before it sounds like I have it all together let me say I DON’T! God has done a great work in me and He isn’t finished yet! God has given my husband and I’s marriage a mighty testimony! I love God’s word in Rev 21:11 And they overcame the dragon by the blood of the Lamb and the word of there testimony! Praise God! As we walk in His perfect will, and say YES to Him we can’t even imagine all that He is going to do for us, and through us! We didn’t walk through those dark places for no reason! God will turn it around for our good! Amen!
God has been working on me for a while and I’m stubborn and seem to keep wrestling with Him. He keeps telling me in various eyes that I am loved and accepted no matter what my past was. I am forgiven! We need to move past our past and live the new lives that He has created in us!
I am learning to say “Yes” at this time too…I just quit my job to be home with my kids more.
I feel led to share that whatever you are struggling with today… whether it be a new struggle or and old, ongoing battle… God wants us to rely on HIS strength alone to have victory, and not our own; not to rely on our plan