braveenoughblog

[braveenoughblog]

UNMOTIVATED

Danni Synot

July, 2017

I have a confession to make.

Sometimes I have days when I just can’t be bothered. I mean really can’t be bothered. I can’t be bothered with the dishes in the sink, or a trip to the shop.

At times, a conversation with another human being just seems beyond me, I’m not talking about depression, or feeling hopeless or sad, just totally unmotivated. 

Yep, I said it. 

And what’s more, sometimes I actually like it! Some days just I crank up the heater and flop on the couch, snuggled up with my dog princess, devouring vanilla flavoured coconut ice cream while watching re-runs of “Everybody Loves Raymond” and laughing ’til my cheeks hurt.

Chances are some of you are thinking that I need to get a life or make better use of my time. Others who get where I’m going with this will be thinking “Good for you!”  …But then there are others who are thinking “Man I wish I could just chill out like that”.  

If I were having days like this on a regular basis, there might be something to be concerned about. But those few days a year when I get to that place of feeling so unmotivated, I know that my body is telling me to stop and take a breath, and just be.

Sometimes the scene is different to the couch. Sometimes it’s just laying on the grass, bathing in the warmth of the sunshine, listening to the birds and feeling the gentle breeze dance across my face. Sometimes it’s standing on the shoreline of the ocean talking to God with my feet in the water, while the waves wash over them and then rush back out to sea, because I like that weird sensation it creates of sliding backwards really fast.

The truth is that feeling a lack of motivation or boredom can actually be very restful and therapeutic, in the right measure for the right reasons. Rest and relaxation is often followed by a burst of creative ideas and energy, and in that sense, it's actually very productive. In fact not taking the time to stop when you need to can lead to burnout and even anxiety and depression.

Been there, done that -more than once, and I can tell you, I’d rather opt for a day on the couch with with my dog and tub of ice cream.

But, I’ve discovered that unmotivated has an evil twin, and here’s the thing. It isn’t driven by an underlying need to rest, it’s driven by that gut wrenching knot in the pit of your stomach, the one that gets you all churned up. The one that filters into your mind with every reason not to do something. Within seconds “What if’s” start marching right in, and pretty soon you’re left completely stripped of any motivation, by a false prophetic failure spoken over your life and sense of impending defeat. It captivates your attention, drawing you around and around in circles, then as brazen as a seagull with a fetish for hot chips, steals your bravery and your joy, and finally demotivation unmasks itself… as fear.

I saw this principal unmask itself recently with one of my sons. We were at an indoor water park with our two boys and their friends, who also happen to be brothers. They were having such a great time running around and squirting each other, jumping in and out of the pool and just generally going crazy, until my younger son Logan asked to go on the giant waterslides.

After quick a chat, we decided to buy all the boys a ticket for the afternoon, so that they could double the fun with their friends. They all ran off super excited, but just as we turned to go and buy the tickets, our older son Adam suddenly decided that he didn’t want one.

When we asked him why not, he gave us every excuse under the sun.

He said “It’s dangerous and I could fall off…”

I responded quickly “It’s safe buddy ..it’s a tunnel slide remember, you can’t fall off”.

“But it’s big…how big is it?” He quizzed

“Adam it’s way smaller than the Aqua Racer at Adventure Park and you’ve been down that by yourself and had lots of fun remember!”

Fear was working overtime to kill his joy and hold him back from connecting with his friends, so I changed tact. 

Having my own battles with anxiety and panic attacks in the past, I know that to conquer we must confront. The price of our bravery needs to be worth more than the price of our fear. 

I also know that the right reward with a dash of positive motivation often works, so I continued:

“Adam I’ll give you 5 bucks if you go on it”

“Mummm…No it’s too high.”

It was time for the big guns, no more cheap talk. Seeing as I already knew that his birthday was coming up, and the whole family was contributing, I could afford this next one.

“Ok Adam, if you go on the slide, you can have an XBOX for your birthday”

He stopped in his tracks. His whole countenance changed. He looked back over at the slide overwhelmed and then back at me

“You’re joking …aren’t you!” he retorted in disbelief.

“I’m so not joking. If you go on the slide you can have an XBOX for your birthday. Why don’t you go down it together with Levi and share a double tube”.

“Ok” he said, as he cautiously walked over to the tubes where his faithful friend was waiting.

And so he did. Once, twice, third time -now on a single tube on his own. Over and over, grinning from ear to ear and not looking back.  He confronted and conquered. 

Is there something in your life that is God calling you to do, but fear is demotivating you? Fear dishes out the opposite to what God is longing to bless us with, bitterness, weakness and and poor mental health, anxiety, depression, and distorted thinking.

Where is that fear coming from? Because God says that kind of fear is not from him:

“I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind”. 

2 Timothy 1:7

Did you take that in? The God of the universe, who so powerfully spoke the world into existence gave you a spirit of love, power and a sound mind! You already have it in your possession! But fear attempts to hoodwink you and steal it, often successfully. 

But you, Princess Warrior, have the power and the right at any given moment to be brazen and snatch right it right back!

You might have noticed that some translations of this verse use the term self discipline rather than sound mind. However both are equally as relevant and connected, because God has given us a spirit of love power and a sound mind, which requires self discipline to live out.

Who are you allowing to speak over your life? What are you speaking over your own life?

You see, what you choose to think, or continue thinking at any given time matters! And, you always have the right to change your mind and adjust your thinking. 

Here’s how: 

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.[c]

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:4-9

Are you unmotivated? Take a little rest, have some time with God, eat some ice cream and cuddle up on the couch and laugh at Deborah and Raymond.

Are you demotivated? Consider this:

Is the price of God’s calling worth more the the price of your fear?

Name your price, and take it back! Feel the fear and do it anyway!

Confront and conquer!

-Danni

KEY SCRIPTURES: 2 Timothy 1:7

Philippians 4:4-9

REFLECT AND RESPOND: Is there something in your life that is God calling you to do? 

What fears are demotivating you? 

What are you going to choose to speak over your own life?

How is the price of God’s calling worth more than the price of your fear?

CONNECT:

If you would like to connect with Danni you can send her a message or subscribe here

or visit www.braveenough.org

© 2017 by Danni Synot. All rights reserved.

[braveenoughblog]

PATIENT IN AFFLICTION

Loss and grief, whether it be death or another form of loss, changes people, how can it not?

We all have our own ways of processing pain, some of us withdraw, some cling, some get stuck for a while, not wanting to let go, or not wanting their loved one to be forgotten, some are angry or bewildered. Some feel guilt or shame ...some want someone to blame. Some keep on going as if nothing happened. Some are anxious, Some are sad but at peace. Some even go through stages of all of these things and more.

Grief is an individual journey,that comes with all sorts of physical, emotional and relational complications, gains and losses. It's a journey best not to be judged, but prayed and processed through.

So often we associate grief and loss with death of a person, but the truth is that we can be thrown into a state of grief with any loss. Loss is the death or end of something of value. It might be grief over the loss of a loved one or a pet, relationship like a marriage or friendship, your health, a career, finances, in the case of abuse or trauma victims, it may be loss of innocence and safety, for someone who has done something wrong it may be a loss of freedom or integrity.

Regardless of the grief, we all do it differently, and it takes time. Grief is in individual process and there is no right or wrong way to do it. I know for me, I’ve had different grief reactions to different losses. The way I grieved the loss of my son Jackson was different to how I grieved the loss of my grandmother, and different again when I grieved the loss of my health at one point.

During my last grief experience healing for me meant pulling back a lot from life, ministry engagements, and people I love, to do what I needed to with God on my own to survive and process with Him. To reflect on life and death, make positive changes, and let God alone fix stuff in my character and to show me lots of my weaknesses and mistakes; my hypocrisy in some areas and my need for an attitude change or two. The need for repentance, forgiveness and letting go of some toxic stuff.

I won't lie. It was extremely hard. There were days that I thought the process would never end. It was not something I could explain or even make sense of at times. It was something that not everyone else understood either, and there were further losses because of that, but nevertheless it was absolutely necessary. Just like a caterpillar in a cocoon, seems to be broken down to mush during metamorphosis, the process often results is something beautiful.

I am still learning, doing life is a sanctifying process, but I am thankful especially for the losses and trials, and learning to be patient in affliction.

During my metamorphosis He showed me the importance of healthy thinking, joy and gentleness. Which things weren't mine to be concerned with, and which circus' and monkeys didn't actually belong to me. It was then that I began to emerge...braver and stronger, only by the tender grace and compassion of God and others, was He able to show me power of a positive thought life and prayer, fighting spiritually with the Word of God. The value of Patience.

But the biggest lesson I learned was relying on God’s Love and being truly grateful for the experiences of grief and affliction.

Really? Yep, really!

The bible speaks of trials as a pathway of growth in strength and character, leading to our ultimate hope:

“1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:1-7

The buck stops with Jesus ...He loved us at our darkest. At our weakest. In our disgraceful mess. Our true hope and strength is found in His love, grace and power, and He makes something beautiful out of all the broken pieces. Like a stunning mosaic artwork, each broken piece telling a small part of a much greater, beautiful and powerful story.

"All things work together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His good purpose". -Romans 8:28

So yes, I am thankful for it all. Thankful for all the memories I will cherish of my Grandmother and her example as a moral woman, and what it means to serve family and take pride in what you do, and to turn up on time (I'm still working on this one) I am thankful for who she was in my life, and who she is in my heart.

For anxiety ...it taught me to trust God and to feel the fear and to it anyway. To discern what to work through and what to let go of. To enjoy the moments of life and not engage in the what if's. To get enough sleep, to eat well, excercise and get enough sunshine. To live in the present and breathe it all in!

I am thankful for the burnout, which taught me to manage my time and relationships better. For understanding the importance of stopping to reflect and process. To pay attention to simple pleasures, nature, rest, artwork and quiet time ...to be still and know God.

I am grateful for people who understood and were incredibly patient and did not judge, but showed grace and compassion. For those who gave me a safe place to fall, to hold me while I cried and most importantly listened and led me in prayer, when I was too weak to pray for myself.

I am thankful for all the lessons learned and changes made. For the testimonies and experiences gained that make me a more effective evangelist and tv host, as well as a compassionate person in doing life with others.

I am thankful for the chrysalis of rest and recreation, and the process of emerging. But mostly, I am thankful for my God, my fortress in whom I love and trust:)

What about you? Are you willing to do what it takes to heal, and to choose life? What are the broken pieces of your heart? Will you choose to give them to Jesus, and be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer? Can you reframe and be grateful? Trust His love, He is creating something amazing in you :)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”. -Romans 12:12

[braveenoughblog]

SAVED WITH SCARS

Every scar has a story....I’ve got a heap of them, one from having my appendix out, three from my gall bladder surgery, one from a swing set, another from a can of dog food, one from a kitchen sink, and a ton of stretch marks from having 4 kids! ...not exactly model material I can tell you!.

Some of them came as total accidents, some from stupidity, some were inflicted on me others were welcomed and necessary for healing.

Funny, how we feel like we should hide them isn’t it?

Then there are the really deep scars, those ones that no-one can see physically, the scars on the inside, those scars have stories too. Stories of love lost, trust betrayed, hearts broken and dreams shattered.

How do you see your scars? Repulsive? Shameful? Embarrassing? Are you afraid that like a leper you would be rejected and cast out if people saw them?

Jesus isn’t afraid to touch our scars He is able to heal them...and He is willing! 

40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. 41 Moved with compassion,[a] Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” Mark 1:40-42

But Jesus loved him so much that he didn’t just heal his superficial scars, No, He knew that this man had deeper scars that that. When the leper asked Jesus to heal him he didn’t say “Can you heal me” he said “Are you willing to heal me?” It was not a question of whether he thought Jesus was capable but whether he was willing to “go there” To see the damage, to touch it and to heal it.

How many of us are willing to “go there” with other people’s scars?

As far as Jesus, he didn’t just look at the superficial leporous scars, but what they represented, the man’s most vulnerable places, and his deepest pains. Jesus knew, that not only did his leprosy need healing, but also the deeper scars that no one could see. His rejection issues from being an outcast, sense of feeling lonely, isolated and unloved, the loss of relationships, the pain of dealing with his condition on his own, the stigma of his condition and what was perceived by others as his sinful condition. The scar of a lost identity –No longer having a place in society ...and the list goes on. Jesus saw his scars and his pain...All of it, nothing was hidden.

Two things took place in order for his healing to happen. Firstly the man had to be brave enough to trust Jesus by showing him the scars, but he also had to allow him to touch them, and to bring full healing.

The bible tells us that after the healing Jesus, told the man to show himself to the priest that he was healed, but not to tell anyone who had healed him.

But, of course the leper in his excitement couldn’t keep his mouth shut and with gratitude ran round telling everyone Jesus, the man who had compassion on him and who was able heal his condition. As a result, Jesus was so inundated with people needing healing that he couldn’t even enter local towns, and people would go looking out for him.

So all because of one brave man, who was vulnerable enough to allow his scars to be seen, touched and healed, AND courageous enough to tell others about it ...meant that thousands of others were able to find healing too.

What about you? Will you choose to let your scars be seen? Will you let Jesus touch them and turn them into something beautiful? Are you willing to use you scars to tell powerful stories to help others to heal?

After all Romans 8:28 “All things work together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to His good purpose”.

You know, maybe our scars are not really scars at all. Maybe we should look at them as a treasure trove of precious jewels ...reminders of our redemption ...that we lived to heal and tell the tale, and helped others to do the same?

[braveenoughblog]

WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?

I don’t know about you, but I love a good milkshake. Anything from plain vanilla, strawberry or chocolate, to a berry milkshake with all the lashings of cream, ice cream, and butterscotch brittle.

But recently I was diagnosed with a heap of food allergies and intolerances, which means I had find some new alternatives, seeing as dairy, soy, corn and what and banana –just to name few ...are off the list. I jumped on google and Pintrest and couldn’t believe my eyes! Apparently there’s a craze on called Freak Shakes!....Huge milkshakes, laden with, cakes and donuts, chocolate and pretzels... It’s gone crazy viral, some people even adding stuff like roast chicken to make their freak shake special. And people are willing to pay big bucks ...upwards of $12! For just one shake. I guess people are willing to pay a lot for something they think is special.

But what about you? What are you worth?

Lots of people have spent a great deal of human and financial resources calculating the composition, and the worth, or worthlessness of, the human body.

When we total the monetary value of the elements in our bodies and the value of the average person's skin, we arrive at a net worth of $4.50 –That means you’re cheaper than the average Freak Shake! I bet you feel special now!

Have you ever even thought about that? ....who you are and what makes you special? It’s funny, whenever I’m out speak and I ask someone who they are, or what is special about them, they often go to stuff like, “I’m Fred, and I’m a Doctor” or “I’m Julie and I can sing” or I’m Jane and my husband says I’m a great cook”.. we go to what we do, what we’ve done, or what people say about us to define who we are what we’re worth, and there’s huge dangers in that.

Have you ever felt like a piece of dirt? I have, as a child I suffered emotional abuse and abandonment, told repeatedly that I was stupid and that I would never amount to anything. I felt like that a lot.

When I first turned to the bible to try to get some encouragement it wasn’t looking too good. I looked at the first book of the bible -which is called the book of genesis, and do you know what it told me? It told me that I AM DIRT! It says that God took the dirt of the earth and He formed a man. He breathed into the man and He became a living soul, a human being. And I thought, well what kind of hope do we have when we cam from dirt, are we just a piece of clay, we really do not have any worth. And I thought, Why would God even do that? Why would He take a piece of dirt that’s worth nothing and make something out of it? 

And then that very thought hit me! He took a piece of dirt, that was worth nothing, and He made it into something amazing. I mean anyone can look at a human body and see how intricate it is. Like How our eyes work, the fact that our heart beats to keep us alive, the fact that every cell contains DNA that determines everything about our personality and how our body looks and functions.

Then I started to read some other things in the bible that really caught my attention. And I started to seek out, well what else does God say?  I came across verse like Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love, with loving kindness I have drawn you to myself” and I thought really? God’s love is forever? He loves me and He draws me with that love and He wants to have a relationship with me? Those verses just started to change my life! I looked verses like Romans 8:28 “All things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose” and I thought, have you called me, do you have a plan for my life?

Then I realised something about the dirt, it wasn’t actually dirt, it was clay. And I thought about a lump of clay and what an artist or a potter can do with a lump of clay. It starts off as this ugly, slimy blob of nothing, and I related to that. I felt like an ugly, slimy blob of nothing that had no purpose. But you know what? An artist or a potter can take that blob, and mould it and shape it into something exquisite something beautiful.

And you know what, God does that with us.

He takes us in our most horrible, vulnerable state and turns it into something beautiful.

As I read all of these verses, I realised that God does have a purpose for me, that the bible is true and that God loved me changed everything. It changed the decisions I made, it changed how I looked at the relationship I have with other people, the selfishness and the self focus started to turn outward. I never knew who I was or what I was worth until I met Jesus.

Some people are willing to pay $12 for a freak shake, but God paid more that what the world says you are worth, He gave everything he had –He gave His own life when he died for you.

He didn’t just pay a big price for you, he gave everything he had, he gave his own life when he died for you! He loves you so much that he wants to be with you forever in heaven, to never ever be apart from you.

You see, the world can't see your value because that's not where it's found. Your value, you're potential in it's true sense can only be found in the heart of God. Your creator of the universe is the only one who can truly set your value.

As for me, who am I? My name is Danni, and I am a precious daughter of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords; walking a journey of faith in joy, with hope of a bright future. I am called and gifted by God, according to His Good purpose to pass the message of freedom in Jesus to others. ...And I am Loved beyond comprehension ...and so are you.

[braveenoughblog]

SWEET REVENGE?

Any other space cadets out there? Creative dreamers? Ally McBeals?

Creative giftings are so fun, and God can use us to produce some really innovative and cool stuff but we have to work really hard sometimes to stay focused!

With me, my imagination was pretty evident early on …My school report cards often expressed the same sentiments, one even said: “Dannielle is easily distracted…If Dannielle only applied herself.” My imagination served me well, surviving math classes, usually by staring out the window at the clouds, just long enough for them to float me right out of my chair past the teacher, above the school and up into the sky, bouncing myself from one soft marshmallow cloud to another.

Escaping a boring math class is one thing, but a good imagination to rehearse payback scenarios is a whole other ball game!

Some people have even been known to actually play out their imaginings. I heard of a story once where the bible verse “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” really came to life. A woman creatively devised a plan to get revenge on her cheating husband, who had left her and moved in with his girlfriend.

After finding out they were away on holidays for a few weeks, she broke into their new house, and sprinkled grass seeds over all the carpet. After she was done with that, she opened the windows, to let the sunlight in while she poked the garden hose through to help the seeds begin germinating in carpet. The cheating husband and his girlfriend came back from their holidays to find that a full on lawn had grown in their house!

I guess that probably isn’t the best use of our creative God–given talents, but let’s be honest, sometimes we just want to hurt those who have hurt us. We want them to feel the pain we’re experiencing, we want to make the pain stop. We want justice.

Unfortunately revenge, while it feels good in a fleeting moment, ultimately leaves us feeling even more empty and angry than before and brings us under guilt for the sin we’ve now committed against the one who hurt us. Revenge only adds fuel to Satan’s fire and evil cannot be overcome with evil. Which is why God tries to keep us safe, as the bible says that vengeance belongs to God.

God gives us some awesome advice the book of Romans, when He says:

18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath.

For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:18-21 (WEB)

Why is this such great advice? Because it keeps us safe and grants us freedom. God is saying to us that He wants us to have peace and be peacemakers, and in order for us to do that He promises us that He will personally deal with those who have wronged us, so we can leave it with him and hold on to our peace. He will fight the battle, and we can stay under His protection.

Let’s face it, God can bring justice in ways we could never imagine, and His nature means that He always does that with love, peace and reconciliation as His goal. If fact, He also gives us the same ministry as Jesus – The ministry of reconciliation. He reminds us to as far as possible live peacefully and do what we can, then leave the rest to Him.

God’s way is always guided by love, and He asks us to do the one thing that seems foreign to our human tendencies, which is to do good to those who harm or mistreat us, practical things that meet their needs. He says that by doing this we “heap coals of fire on his head.” It’s really hard to hate someone who looks after you and does good to you. In fact, if someone you have done wrong by, treats you well continually, you will probably feel guilty and your heart will soften toward them. This is what the bible means when it says:

“Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”. Romans 12:18-21 (WEB)

[braveenoughblog]

GETTING OFF THE RIDE

Sometimes is great just to sit down and chill out…I don’t know about you, but sometimes life gets so full on it can almost make you as dizzy as a ride at the carnival.

I remember back in high school, when a bunch of mates and I decided to go to the show and have some fun on the rides. One of them found two of the dizziest rides next to one another, and challenged herself to go on one, then straight on the other …and then and forth as many times, as fast as she could. By the time she finished, she couldn’t even walk a few metres in a straight line and was chucking up everywhere! But aren’t our thoughts like that sometimes? Going round and round like a merri-go round? Have you ever thought …I don’t like this ride and I wanna get off! …I know I have.

Getting stuck on the merri-go-round of thoughts is not only stressful, it’s so dangerous that it even makes your brain chemistry toxic and causes changes in your brain and body to the point of becoming physically sick, and much sicker that a quick chuck up after a dizzy ride.

You see, when our minds revolve around in the past, thinking about the things we can’t change, the things that hurt us, the things, we regret, the things we’ve lost, we become depressed. On the other hand, our minds can also get stuck revolving around the worries of the future. A future of unknowns and insecurities dictated by our fears and those terrible “What if’ thoughts” and we get stuck in anxiety.

What if I die! What if she leaves me? What if I lose my job and I can’t pay the bills?…. Sometimes it’s both. I can hear some of your thoughts ticking over …but I can’t get off the merri-go-round! I’ve tried hard! It spins too fast, and I don’t know how to get off! So what am I supposed to do?

Here’s the thing.

We can actually house train our mind. Think of your thoughts like a new puppy. It needs to be trained to obey, and not go peeing all around the house, and ripping into the garbage. We have to set good discipline and boundaries …following through with something tangible and positive to enforce the new good behavior. We have to refocus the puppy in the present moment! It’s similar with our thoughts. We can actually set boundaries and re-train them.

It’s healthy to visit the past to process struggles and then harvest the lessons we’ve learned -and the wisdom we’ve gained, reframing them into positive experiences. We can give our thoughts permission to visit the past with boundaries, like for good memories, something or someone of value. We can visit, but we can’t live there. And we certainly can’t afford to get stuck there. If we do that, the puppy in our brain, never grows up, it sniffs it’s way to the garbage and pees all over the place. We end up self focused and into ourselves, focused only on the mess, and the problem grows bigger and stronger.

The same principle applies to forward thinking. We can visit the future to vision and dream, and set goals with God. We can visit and weigh up consequences, to make sensible decisions but we must not be fooled into thinking that we can live there. We can’t use it to worry ourselves sick over what may or may not be. The enemy will have you living in the past or future constantly, to keep you depressed, stressed, distracted and exhausted. He’ll send you on guilt trips, and hurl you into black holes and panic attacks. Anything to keep your eyes off Jesus, and your mind on your mess …anything to steal your peace, and to steal your joy.

Why? Because he knows that Peace is found in the present with your eyes and mind fixed on Jesus. He uses thoughts as a weapon to war against us, to stop us from experiencing the true peace that is only found in Jesus.

But the bible tells us how to combat all of this, are you ready to get of the ride?

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 Casting down imaginations and every high thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. NIV 2 Corinthians 10:4&5

So we need to examine our thoughts, and when the enemy tries to plant seeds of fear, depression or any form of negativity we take captive the ones that are destructive -and reject them in the name of Jesus, trusting ourselves to him by keeping our eyes and minds on Jesus in prayer, praise and worship with thanksgiving. Then replace the thought with a positive affirmation of scripture, of positive thoughts and visions. That’s how we slow everything down in our head, and step off the ride.

The truth is that we have the power for peace at any given moment, when we choose to trust Jesus and who he really is. Jesus is love, He loves you! And he is also the most powerful being of all time! The creator of the universe, who spoke the world into existence. He is Your Fortress and your Deliverer. He is your Prince of Peace. So…

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:6-9

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms Deuteronomy 33:27

[braveenoughblog]

WONDER WOMAN COMPLEX

Anyone else out there feel like they have to hold it all together like some kind of superhero? 

I’m sure I used to have Wonder woman complex. 

The complex works a treat - for a while. It’s all cool while you have the energy, but then, where do you run to when things are falling apart? 

Do you Withdraw into a book, distract yourself on online, or do you wall up with another mask and try to hold yourself together on the outside, pretending to be invincible while inside you’re heart is imploding into a thousand jagged pieces? 

So exhausting! I mean we might be able to do it for while, but eventually we end up like a kettle, the pressure keeps building and something finally blows. 

Back when I thought I was Wonder woman, I battled everything trying to manage a marriage, kids, work, ministry, financial pressures, and a big one…other people’s happiness and expectations, Yet I lost the very thing God created me to be -myself, and my true identity in Jesus. 

I was always so busy trying to do, that I had forgotten how to just be. I was burned out and frustrated.

Are you in that place right now? Maybe you’re scrambling for a solution and reading this thinking something like: “Then what is the answer Danni, coz I’m in way over my head? If Running to other things or people won’t fix my stuff, and trying to hold myself together clearly doesn’t work, then what am I expected to do?”

Do you really want to know? Well then, here it is, profound advice:

Nothing. 

Until you first let go and trust Jesus to hold you together. Here’s why: 

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, 16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. -Colossians 1:15-17 

If he can create and hold the whole universe together, then he can hold you together too. If you’re already broken or loaded up, let Him heal you too, just like he did with me. 

28Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” -Matthew 11:28-80

It’s time to give up the fight and rest. Let go and let Him hold you together. Take time to heal. 

After all, you’re not Wonder Woman and that’s ok.