Living It Out By His Grace and Help Alone

I am a firm believer in, if I am going to talk about it and encourage it, then I should be living it.

If I am going to encourage you to strengthen and deepen your relationship with Christ, then I must also be daily strengthening and deepening my relationship.

If I am going to encourage you to be obedient to Him and His Word, then I must also be obedient.

In teaching and writing, the biggest impact that can be made, is when the writer or teacher is actually living out what they are teaching and writing.

Have you ever met someone who talked as though they were such and such, maybe they were a follower of Christ, and they really could be, but their actions never matched their words?

Maybe they spoke on having a godly marriage, yet theirs was completely falling apart.

Maybe they always talked about being healthy, yet their body showed their secret eating habits.

Brethren, it is very easy to fall into the temptation of saying what we "want" to be, to do, or live, yet our actions speak something completely different.

I never want to fall into that trap.

As I always say, I never want anyone to see more of me than what I really am, which is a sinner.

As we continue this process of cleaning out the excess I wanted to share and show you that I am daily doing this. That though you can't see me, you can trust that I am doing the very thing I am encouraging you to do, and that I too struggle.

So, as far as cleaning out the excess in my heart.

This is what I try, always Lord-willing, to do.

1. I cover myself in the Word and always try to memorize a passage a day.
2. I stay fessed' up! This is huge for me, because I fail often.
3. I try to be mindful of my actions, thoughts, and words. This is another hard area for me, especially when things become chaotic or messy.
4. I pray and pray and pray and pray.
5. I take God's grace that He lays out for me daily!!

Cleaning out the excess in my thoughts

This is HARD!

1. I always ask myself, is this a God filled thought or a self focused thought. (This helps me tremendously)
2. I am always grabbing Scripture the Lord has stored within me and saying it over and over.
3. I surround myself with people and things that encourage Godly thinking, and push me closer to the things above and the Cross than the things here on earth.
4. I claim Philippians 4:8-9, like crazy!
5. I take every thought captive and place them under the microscope and light of God's Word and promises.

-Please understand, these are daily choices I choose. Whatever works best for you and the Lord, stick to it!

Cleaning out the excess in my body.

I have never really struggled with junk food, to much caffeine, etc. All due to the problems I have with my tummy. But I do have occasions when I eat more junk than I do healthy. So here are a few of the things that work for me.

1. I pray to have a distaste for things that are not pleasing to the Lord
2. I stick to a pretty regular diet for my GERD (It's VERY BLAND!)
3. I exercise 3 to 4 days a week. Whether running or circuit training. (I literally prayed that God would give me a desire and the ability to run and get stronger. I pray through every workout-NOT KIDDING.)
4. I constantly speak Matthew 4:4 "People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on the very word of God." This is my power verse, my daily snack, and one that I firmly believe in. So I feed myself the Word as much as I can, and still fulfill the other God given roles He has given me.
5. I firmly believe in being the best I can be for the Lord, so I know that taking care of my Temple is extremely important. If I don't, I will be of little use, and I want God to use me to the fullest, so that when He takes me home I will have fulfilled His purpose to the fullest. (This is a daily work in progress, but one I truly desire)

I would love to hear what you do, have done or are doing. What is the Lord teaching you as you clean out the excess in your thoughts, hearts, and bodies?

Be blessed sweet ones! You are loved and adored beyond measure.