Tag: christianity

  • Living with Purpose

    “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

    We live in a culture driven by goals. We’re encouraged to dream big, plan carefully, and measure success by achievements—careers, finances, influence, and recognition.

    These are often called worldly goals, and while they are not inherently wrong, they are incomplete on their own. Proverbs 19:21 gently re-centers our focus: no matter how many plans we make, it is the Lord’s purpose that ultimately prevails.

    Worldly goals focus primarily on what we want to do or accomplish:

    • Get the promotion
    • Build the business
    • Reach a certain income level
    • Achieve recognition or success

    Life goals, on the other hand, focus on who we are becoming:

    • Becoming more Christlike
    • Growing in patience, humility, and love
    • Learning to trust God more deeply
    • Living with integrity and faithfulness

    The danger comes when our plans prioritize success over surrender, achievement over alignment, and outcomes over obedience. God’s purpose always goes deeper than accomplishments—it shapes our character.

    Purpose Is About Formation, Not Just Direction.

    God is far more concerned with who you are becoming than with the titles you hold or the boxes you check off. While we often ask God to bless our plans, He is inviting us to be formed by His purpose.

    You may reach every goal on your list and still feel unfulfilled if your heart is not aligned with God. True purpose is not found in doing more, but in becoming more rooted in Him.

    Ask yourself:

    • Who am I becoming as I pursue my goals?
    • Do my plans draw me closer to God or further into self-reliance?
    • Am I growing in love, faith, and obedience?

    There are moments when God allows our plans to be disrupted—not to punish us, but to refine us. A closed door may protect your character. A delay may develop your patience. A change in direction may deepen your faith.

    God’s purpose prevails because He sees beyond the moment. He knows what kind of heart is needed for the future He’s preparing you for.

    Living with purpose doesn’t always look impressive by the world’s standards. Often, it looks like daily faithfulness:

    • Choosing obedience when it’s inconvenient
    • Loving people when it costs something
    • Trusting God when the outcome is uncertain
    • Showing up with joy and integrity right where you are

    Purpose is lived out in the ordinary moments when no one is watching but God.

    Surrender the Plan, Embrace the Purpose.

    Proverbs 19:21 invites us to hold our plans loosely and our faith firmly. God’s purpose is not just about where you are going—it’s about who you are becoming along the way.

    So as you set goals and make plans, consider this shift:
    Not just What do I want to do with my life?
    But Who is God calling me to be?

    When we surrender our worldly goals to God’s greater purpose, we discover a life marked not just by success, but by significance, peace, and lasting joy.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

    P.S. Join my online study to find your hope and purpose! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChooseJoyStudy

  • Persevering in Faith

    “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

    There are seasons in life when faith feels effortless—when prayers seem answered quickly, and hope feels strong. However, there are also seasons when obedience feels burdensome, prayers seem unanswered, and discouragement whispers that our efforts don’t matter.

    It’s in those moments that Galatians 6:9 speaks most powerfully to our hearts.

    Paul reminds us that weariness is a real thing. He doesn’t deny the struggle. Instead, he gently urges believers not to quit—to keep going, even when the fruit of faith isn’t immediately visible.

    Persevering in faith doesn’t mean we never feel tired. It means we choose faithfulness even when we are tired. Whether you’re serving faithfully, praying for a prodigal child, loving difficult people, or trusting God through prolonged hardship, weariness can quietly creep in.

    The enemy often uses exhaustion to plant seeds of doubt:

    • Is this worth it?
    • Is God really working?
    • Does anyone see my faithfulness?

    God’s Word answers clearly: Yes.

    Galatians 6:9 points us to a powerful promise—“at the proper time.” God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels painfully slow. The harvest doesn’t come immediately after planting; it comes after seasons of nurturing, waiting, and trusting.

    Perseverance requires faith that God is working behind the scenes. Every prayer prayed in faith, every act of obedience, every choice to love and forgive is a seed sown into God’s Kingdom. Nothing is wasted in His hands.

    So, how do we keep going when our strength runs low?

    • Return to God daily. Time in His Word and prayer renews our weary hearts.
    • Lean on community. God never intended us to walk alone—encouragement fuels perseverance.
    • Fix your eyes on eternity. Temporary struggles pale in comparison to eternal reward.
    • Remember God’s faithfulness. Reflect on how He has carried you before.

    Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Perseverance isn’t powered by our own effort—it’s sustained by God’s grace.

    If you’re feeling weary today, take heart. God sees your faithfulness. He sees the quiet obedience, the unseen sacrifices, the prayers whispered through tears. The harvest will come—just not always on our timetable.

    So keep showing up. Keep loving. Keep trusting. Keep choosing faith.

    Don’t give up—God is not finished yet.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Peace Over Pressure: Holding Onto the Gift Jesus Left Us

    “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”   John 14:27

    Pressure is something we all understand. It shows up in deadlines, expectations, responsibilities, relationships, and the relentless noise of life. Pressure pushes. Pressure weighs. Pressure demands.

    But in the middle of a world full of pressure, Jesus speaks a completely different word:

    “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you.”

    Not a temporary escape.
    Not a shallow calm.
    Not a peace that depends on everything working out.

    His peace. A gift. A promise. A presence.

    A Peace That the World Cannot Give.

    The world offers relief through distraction, achievement, or control—but these only soothe for moments and then disappear. Jesus makes it clear:

    “I do not give to you as the world gives.”

    The peace of Jesus is:

    • Steady
    • Deep
    • Unshakable
    • Available even in chaos
    • Rooted not in circumstances but in Him

    It is peace that holds us together when everything around us feels like it’s falling apart.

    Pressure Wants to Control You — Peace Wants to Keep You

    Pressure says:

    • “Do more.”
    • “Fix it yourself.”
    • “You’re running out of time.”
    • “It’s all up to you.”

    But peace says:

    • “I am with you.”
    • “You can rest in Me.”
    • “My grace is enough.”
    • “You’re not alone.”

    Pressure pushes from the outside.
    Peace flows from the inside—from the very presence of Jesus dwelling in your heart.

    Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.

    Jesus gives a command and an invitation in one breath:

    “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

    He wouldn’t ask us to do something impossible.
    He empowers what He commands.
    He gives the peace first—then teaches us how to walk in it.

    We “let not” our hearts be troubled by:

    • Bringing our worries to Him
    • Breathing deeply in His presence
    • Fixing our thoughts on His promises
    • Surrendering control we were never meant to carry
    • Trusting that He is working even when we cannot see

    Peace isn’t found in knowing the future.
    Peace is found in knowing the One who holds it.

    Choosing peace over pressure is a daily decision—sometimes a moment-by-moment one. But it’s possible because His peace is already yours. It’s His gift. His offering. His legacy.

    What would today look like if you chose peace instead of pressure?

    Maybe it means slowing down.
    Maybe it means saying no.
    Maybe it means praying before reacting.
    Maybe it means resting instead of striving.
    Maybe it means remembering Jesus is already carrying what you’re trying so hard to hold.

    His peace doesn’t remove every problem, but it changes how we walk through them.

    Peace is not the absence of trouble—peace is the presence of Christ.

    Where are you feeling the most pressure right now?

    What would it look like to invite Jesus’ peace into that place?

    Which truth from John 14:27 do you need to cling to today?

    Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your peace—real, deep, lasting peace. Teach me to choose Your peace over the pressures that push on my heart. Remind me that You are near, You are faithful, and You are in control. Fill my heart, calm my thoughts, and steady my steps. Help me walk today in Your unshakable peace. Amen.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • The Joy that Strengthens

    “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
    Nehemiah 8:10

    There are moments in our walk with God when His Word meets us right where we are—sometimes in our joy, sometimes in our sorrow, and often in the places in between. Nehemiah 8:10 is one of those verses that speaks powerfully into both our weariness and our worship:

    “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

    This wasn’t spoken during a festival, nor at a moment of personal triumph. It was spoken when the people of Israel were weeping. As the Word of God was read aloud for the first time in years, the people realized how far they had drifted. Their tears were honest. Their hearts were touched. Yet God’s response was surprising:

    This is not a moment for mourning—this is a moment for joy.

    Why?

    Because conviction is not condemnation.
    Because restoration is God’s heart.
    Because when God’s Word brings clarity, it also brings comfort.

    The joy Nehemiah speaks of isn’t the fleeting kind. It isn’t based on everything going right. It isn’t built on your performance, your perfection, or your current peace level.

    This joy comes from the Lord Himself.
    It is rooted in who He is, not how we feel.

    His joy strengthens us because it anchors us to a God who never changes.

    When life overwhelms, His joy steadies us.
    When disappointments come, His joy lifts us.
    When strength fails, His joy renews us.

    Sometimes we look within for strength and find we are empty. But Nehemiah 8:10 turns our eyes upward, away from striving and toward receiving.

    God is not asking us to muster up joy.
    He invites us to receive it.

    His joy is:

    • A gift
    • A promise
    • A well that never runs dry
    • A force that strengthens our soul

    No wonder Scripture calls it strength. Joy rooted in God becomes spiritual resilience. It becomes endurance. It becomes hope with backbone.

    Nehemiah instructed the people to celebrate—to eat, drink, and share with those who had nothing prepared. Their celebration wasn’t trivial; it was an act of obedience. It was a declaration:

    God has restored us. God is with us. God is faithful.

    Sometimes choosing joy is an act of faith.
    Sometimes celebration is warfare.
    Sometimes rejoicing is how we remind our hearts that God is still good.

    When you feel week, remember this:

    You do not have to be strong in yourself.
    Your strength does not come from having it all together.
    It comes from being held together by God.

    The joy He gives:

    • Revives what feels worn
    • Calms what feels chaotic
    • Strengthens what feels shaky
    • Rebuilds what feels broken

    His joy is not fragile—therefore, neither are you.

    Reflection Questions

    1. Where in your life do you need the strength that only God’s joy can give?
    2. What is one sorrow, worry, or burden you can lay before Him today?
    3. How can you practice joy in small, intentional ways this week?

    A Prayer

    Lord, thank You that Your joy is not dependent on my circumstances, feelings, or strength. Thank You that Your joy becomes my strength when I feel weak. Help me receive the joy that comes from Your presence, Your promises, and Your faithfulness. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and help me walk in it daily. Amen.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Gratitude over Grumbling

    “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

    It’s easy to grumble. Life gives us plenty of things to complain about—unexpected bills, long lines, family frustrations, inconvenient interruptions, or seasons that simply feel heavy.

    Grumbling often slips out before we even notice. But Scripture offers a radically different way of living: gratitude in all circumstances.

    Not for all circumstances—but in them.

    There’s a big difference.

    Grumbling focuses on what’s wrong, what’s missing, or what feels unfair. Gratitude, however, shifts our eyes upward. It anchors our hearts in the goodness of God, even when our surroundings are anything but good. It’s a spiritual posture—a choice to recognize God’s fingerprints in the middle of the mess.

    Gratitude Is Not a Feeling — It’s a Practice.

    Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 are not a gentle suggestion but a divine invitation. God knows that gratitude reshapes us:

    • It softens a hardening heart.
    • It calms an anxious mind.
    • It lifts our perspective from the earthly to the eternal.
    • It restores joy where discouragement once lived.

    When we practice gratitude, we open the door for God’s peace to steady us.

    Why do we grumble?

    Grumbling usually flows from:

    • Discontentment — We wish life looked different.
    • Comparison — Someone else seems to have more, better, easier.
    • Impatience — God’s timing doesn’t match our timeline.
    • Focus on the problem rather than on the Provider.

    But grumbling never changes our circumstances—it only changes us, and not for the better. It drains hope, dims faith, and disconnects us from joy.

    Gratitude on the other hand, shifts everything!

    When we choose gratitude:

    • Our eyes open to God’s activity.
    • Our hearts become more flexible and less frustrated.
    • Our tongues become instruments of praise instead of complaint.
    • Our spirits grow stronger in resilience and hope.

    Gratitude isn’t pretending everything is perfect. It’s declaring that God is faithful, even here.

    So, what does gratitude sounds like? It sounds like…

    “Lord, this situation is hard…
    but thank You that You are with me.”

    “God, I don’t understand…
    but thank You that You’re working behind the scenes.”

    “Heavenly Father, this is not what I expected…
    but thank You that Your plans are good.”

    Gratitude doesn’t deny reality—it invites God into it.

    Here are a few simple tips to help you Choose Gratitude Over Grumbling.

    1. Pause and Notice

    Every time you feel a complaint rising, stop and ask:
    Is this moment an opportunity to give thanks instead?

    2. Name One Good Thing

    Look for the blessing hidden in plain sight—big or small.

    3. Thank God Out Loud

    There’s power in spoken gratitude.
    It strengthens faith and silences negativity.

    4. Replace the Grumble

    Turn every complaint into a praise:
    “I’m tired… but thank You for strength.”
    “This is stressful… but thank You for guiding me.”

    5. Make Gratitude a Daily Habit

    A gratitude list, prayer journal, or end-of-day reflection can transform your heart over time.

    When we choose gratitude, we reflect Christ.
    We shine differently.
    We walk differently.
    We live in God’s will.

    Gratitude doesn’t change what we face—but it changes how we face it.

    Today, may you choose gratitude over grumbling.

    May you discover God’s goodness in the ordinary, the difficult, and the unexpected.

    And may your heart overflow with thanksgiving, just as Scripture encourages.

    With love and joy,

    Laura