Prayer

God Is My Strength

LaPorterSeptember 15, 2019Leave a Reply

Keep your head up. God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. – Unknown Author

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Special Thought – Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but you keep going anyway.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Every day I wake up, I thank God for giving me the strength to keep moving forward. How about you? Remember that LIFE is a gift from God. God’s amazing strength gives us power for living each day. Never take your life, the good and the bad, for granted.

AMAZON RESOURCE # 1 – NIV, WOMAN’S STUDY BIBLE

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SCRIPTURES TO PONDER

At my lowest point in life, God is my Hope. At my darkest, God is my Light. At my weakest, God is my Strength. – Unknown Author

As we go through life’s challenges, remember that God’s strength and renewal can be found by reading God’s Word. There are many scriptures that confirms God’s strength and His willingness to strengthen His people. This is a personal spiritual journey. You must be committed to read God’s Word and hide scriptures in your heart.

Here’s a few of my favorite scriptures to ponder:

• Psalm 18:32 KJV– “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”

• Psalm 27:1 KJV– “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

• Psalm 84:5 KJV– “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.”

• Ephesians 3:16 KJV – “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

• Philippians 4:13 KJV – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

AMAZON RESOURCE #2- GOD IS MY STRENGTH BOOK

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SPIRITUAL WAYS TO RENEW YOUR STRENGTH IN GOD

The purpose of being in God’s presence is to make us stronger no matter what the circumstances. Believe it or not, the strength comes to those of us who desire to follow after Jesus Christ. It is important for us to not only walk in FAITH, but also to remove anything out of our lives that would block God’s presence throughout this miraculous process.

Here’s some spiritual ways to renew your strength in God:

• Faith – Increase faith by hearing God’s Word and meditating constantly. Remember, the Word of God strengthens your faith, and builds you up. Saturate your mind and your spirit with the Word of God and God will impart His strength to you.

• Courage – Be very courageous in the face of your challenge. You must have courage and faith when you draw near to God, knowing that it is His will to strengthen you, and to clear a path for you.

• Prayer – Whatever we face in life, may we choose to lift all our moments to God in prayer. Keep praying about your God ordained dream and don’t lose hope.

• Joy – Sometimes joy comes to us in ways not always understood or appreciated by others. Joy can be tailor-made, just for us kind of experience. When you lock into God’s joy, you have locked into your dreams for life.

• Patience – It is important to spend time waiting on God. Give God thanks and honor Him as well as place your situations in His hands. Remember, it is God’s timing, not ours.

• Love – Love is a spiritual force that you can only receive what you have given and helps your faith to work properly.

AMAZON RESOURCE #3 – PRAYER JOURNAL

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At my saddest, God is my comforter. It is important to confess often and turn away from any sin so that the door opens for God’s cleansing grace to wash through you. This process will not only restore the strength of God in our lives, but you will be strengthened to walk in victory, and walk in faith as well.

SELF-REFLECTION & JOURNAL PROMPTS

My strength is greater than any struggle. – Unknown Author

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Now, open your journal or notebook and practice journaling each day by using these helpful journal prompts:

Here’s some journal prompts to help you get closer to God and receive His strength:

• Today, I want to use the strengths God has given me to __________________.

• A Bible verse I want to dwell on today is _________________.

• God gives me strength to overcome __________________.

• In the phase of life, I’m in now, I feel blessed with ____________________.

• God give me the strength to grow in the area of ____________________.

TIME TO SHARE & COMMENT

Let’s talk. Do you depend on God to strengthen you? What is your favorite scripture related to strength? Please share your thoughts in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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Growth Through Grace

LaPorterMay 27, 20195 Replies

When there is no growth, there is no life. – Unknown Author

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Grace is that attribute of God that enables us to break free of our sinful nature and follow God’s lead. Grace gives us strength, protection, and much needed direction. Grace changes everything. Grace has been defined as “the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings”. Simply put, grace is “undeserved favor from God.”

God’s grace is adequate for anything and everything that you experience in this life. Despite what prompted the hurt you’ve experienced throughout your journey, know that God’s grace can bring peace, hope, and healing. One beautiful thing about grace is that God does not withdraw His grace when you stumble or fall. Instead, acting with grace, God gently picks you up and enables you to take the next step. You can always find at God’s throne of grace whatever help you need whenever you need it. You can run to the Lord in times of trouble, when your heart is breaking, at life’s crossroads, and during the darkest and loneliest nights. Remember, God is waiting for you with open arms. Now, give God some praise for His sincere love for us.

By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

God offers us an extravagant gift: His grace. The best thing about that, it cost Him everything, but it costs us nothing. The only payback God asks is that we reach out and take the gift and then rest in it with guilt-free comfort knowing that you are saved through faith. If you find yourself in a small place, God knows you’re there. He’s with you, and He can do something mighty big. Trust his amazing grace.

I don’t know exactly what’s next but I’m stepping forward with grit, anchored in grace. -Julie Graham

One thought I often meditate on is that when you trust in the Lord, you will never be disappointed. Spiritual growth begins with salvation given to us as a gift from God. Our daily spiritual growth is also utterly dependent on this grace of God. There are many ways to increase one’s growth through grace, such as reading God’s Word, allowing God’s Word to dwell in you, and staying in prayer through good and bad times while on your spiritual journey.
It’s important to have a clear and thorough understanding throughout this process. Keeping an open mind and meditating on God’s Word will allow you to apply God’s grace in your life so you can break free of your sinful nature.

BIBLE VERSES

Even though there are many Bible verses that include the word “GRACE”, I won’t list them all, but here’s a few of my favorites:

“Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness” (John 1:16)

“Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand” (Romans 5:2)

“But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God’s grace that was with me” (I Corinthians 15:10)

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness’” (II Corinthians 12:9)

“Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7)

“Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time” (Hebrews 4:16)

Heavenly Father, Master Grace Giver, thank you for giving me grace each and every day. Help me to become an extender of grace to others even when they don’t deserve it. I will never forget the price you paid to set me free, and for this I want to say thank you. Amen

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

A spiritual journal is a great way to track how you are growing spiritually. This type of journal is different from the traditional journal or diary in that it focuses on your spiritual self. A spiritual journal can aid you in becoming who you wish to be and it is a wonderful life-giving spiritual practice. Here’s some journal prompts to help you get started on your journal writing journey:

Growth Journaling Prompts

• What has prevented you from increasing spiritual growth?

• How can I improve my spiritual walk?

• In what area do I need to improve self-discipline?

• What is one thing I can do to improve my prayer life?

• What do I need more of in my life?

• What does God’s grace feel like?

• What do I need to mute in my life in order to hear God’s voice?

Prayer Journaling Prompts

• Heavenly Father, you are…

• Heavenly Father, I thank you for…

• Prayer for peace when it comes to…

• Prayer for moments when I am….

• Heavenly Father, please give me patience to…

• Heavenly Father, I pray healing over…

• Heavenly Father, I love you because…

Without God’s grace, we will not have growth and we would be lost souls. The more grace we have and ask God for, the more mature as Christians we will be. As I sit here typing this blog post, I am thankful God, in His grace, has given us His Son to save us, His Spirit to dwell within us, His Word to instruct us, and His people to encourage us.

TIME TO SHARE & COMMENT

Let’s talk. If you write in a journal, how has this practice brought you closer to God? If you don’t keep a journal, what is your biggest obstacle to writing one?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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Order My Steps

LaPorterNovember 11, 201830 Replies

God's Guidance, Steps, Direction, Footprints, Guide, Woman, Water, Sand — pexels

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. (Psalm 48:14)

Something to Think About – Rest in the assurance that God has everything worked out for you.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! God, please order my steps on today! Give me direction. Guide my mind (thoughts), body (movement) and spirit (soul) each day. Open my spiritual eyes so that I can see the plans you have for me. Open my heart so that I can forgive those who have hurt me in the past. I know that God have an interest in my life. Despite what I may be going through right now, I know that God always have my best interest at heart as He order my steps from day to day. We have to make our requests known to God and build our relationship with Him. As we read and study God’s Word we are reminded of God’s guidance throughout our lives. God is our Heavenly Father and God is our Shepherd who leads us daily. God wants his children to follow the path that leads to joy and contentment. When we pray for God’s guidance and for discernment through the Holy Spirit, we can be rest assured that God will provide wisdom to his children.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. (Psalm 37:23)

Here’s some spiritual ways to find genuine Godly guidance within our lives:

• Cleansing – It is important to examine our own lives. What in my life will hinder me from seeing or receiving God’s guidance?

• Surrendering – You have to surrender your will to God and you must bring your will under submission to His.

• Asking – Understand that you can ask anything according to God’s will and he hears your request(s).

• Meditating on God’s Word – God often times use His word to reveal things to His children.

• Believing – Have faith in God and believe that God will answer your prayer. Then, give you the necessary guidance to make it through your situation.

• Waiting – Be patient and remember that it is not our timing, but God’s timing.

• Receiving – God has our best interest at heart so always be prayerful and listen for His response.

FREEJournal PromptsCLICK HERE

As you can see, there is no need to worry about our next step or about what tomorrow will bring because we know who guides our every step. Remember, don’t rush your day without going into your quiet place to seek guidance from God for every step, every choice, and every decision.

Here’s 5 things to watch for when seeking God’s guidance throughout life:

• Strong fleshly desires – We must ask ourselves, “what’s the will of my Heavenly Father?”

• Wrong counsel – Everyone can offer advice, but they don’t have to suffer the consequences. Go directly to God with your problems asking Him to guide your next step(s).

• Impatience – It’s important to wait patiently for further instructions from God. Don’t rush to move ahead throughout the process.

• Doubt – Don’t never doubt God or think you are not worthy enough to hear from God.

• Pressures of life – There’s external pressures from family and friends. These people don’t know God’s will for your life so be careful not to get trapped. There’s also time pressure. Don’t allow yourself to make quick decisions that may impact your life in negative ways.

Flower, Candle, Reflection, Meditation, Relax, Peace, Guidance, Direction, Praying — pexels

TIME FOR REFLECTION

Now, we know as long as we live, troubles will come. Instead of sinking in the sand, let’s prepare ourselves instead. Follow these steps the next time you face a challenge in life or a difficult decision for which you seek God’s guidance.

• Step 1 – Spend time in a quiet place where you can be alone with no distractions.

• Step 2 – Light a candle to set the mood.

• Step 3 – Quiet yourself before God for a few minutes and then thank God for being present with you.

• Step 4 – Then, thank God for blessings in your life. This practice builds confidence that no matter what challenges you face in life, there are still blessings to celebrate.

• Step 5 – Now, make your request known to God. State your challenge and what you need.

• Step 6 – Ask God how you can honor Him in this situation. Pause. Be still and see what comes to you.

• Step 7 – Don’t try to process the thoughts. Just write them down and reflect on them later.

Repeat these steps over a week or so and see what repeating themes or actions emerge. Ask God to show you the next step. Remember, don’t rush to the end result in your mind, just wait for the next step.

Journaling, Guidance, Direction, Writing, Reflection — pexels

JOURNAL PROMPTS

If you meditate on God’s promises and picture them in your life, you won’t settle for anything less than God’s best. – Leon Fontaine

• Write a letter to God thanking Him for ordering your steps and giving you direction.

• Have you ever felt forsaken by God? If so, write about it and reflect on it.

• When have you felt you deserved something you wanted and couldn’t get it?

• The area where I need to put more trust in God is ___________________.

• One lesson I learned from scripture this week is _____________________.

• An act of obedience God is prompting me to take is __________________.

• The most significant area of my life that is not finding its way into my journal is __________________.

LET’S PRAY

Our Father, I want to thank you for your daily guidance. Forgive me for getting ahead of your plans and trying to figure my life out on my own. Teach me how to slow down, stop and listen for your direction. I understand that your ways are perfect. I need you dear God. Thank you for offering gentle grace and mercy throughout this journey called life. You know every decision I need to make and every challenge I face. I need your Holy Spirit to give me strength, wisdom and direction forever. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS/COMMENTS

God is always ready to listen, to guide, to direct, to protect, and to love His children. How can God order your steps on today? Do you find time to sit in your quiet place to listen for God’s direction and guidance? Do you pray to God often and wait patiently to receive God’s response?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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Shake Off Worry and Anxiety

LaPorterSeptember 12, 201813 Replies

flower, worry, anxiety, renew, inspiration — pexels

Worrying is a waste of time. It doesn’t change anything, it just clouds your mind and steals your happiness. – Unknown

Thought for today – Not once does the Bible say, “Worry about it” or “Stress over it” or “Figure it out.” But over and over the Bible clearly says, “TRUST GOD.”

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. 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. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Lately, I have found it very difficult to shake off worry and anxiety. I have promised myself, that I would write about topics that I personally experience so I can help others who may be going through similar life changing situations. If you live your life constantly worrying about things that are out of your control or have anxiety that cause you to stray away from things you love to do, then it’s time to SHAKE OFF worry and anxiety for good. Are you with me?

What’s my story related to worry and anxiety? I’m going to be honest, I never really worried a lot or felt anxiety to the point where I would not do certain things until my mother passed away in 2015. It was at this point that I felt like a total failure because I could not help my mother fight her Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It was so difficult just watching her breathing get worse and worse. My mother was a small woman with strength of a lion, but COPD broke her body down quickly right before my eyes.

Even writing these words stirred up emotions inside of me, but I continued so I can help someone else who may be experiencing the same thing. The grieving process has been very difficult for me, but I turned to writing as a way to release my pain and emptiness inside. In addition, I found a great therapist as well to help me cope with my emotions, thoughts and feelings. I am glad to say that I no longer blame myself for my mother’s death. I realize I had no control of her chronic illness and God’s timing. This process has shown me that you can learn different ways to handle worry and anxiety, but it’s fair to say that it may never leave your body for good, it’s just resting inside waiting for an opportunity to arise.

Anxiety comes from trying too hard to control the future. – Unknown

Did you know that worry and anxiety often times goes hand in hand? Let’s define both.

Anxiety can be defined as a feeling that lives inside us and blocks us from fully living the life we want to live. Anxiety has various symptoms that can be felt anywhere in the body. Anxiety can happen at any time and it can influence our thoughts, emotions, actions and physical health.

On the other hand, worry can give way to anxiety or unease. Worry allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles surrounding one’s life. Worries are a chain of thoughts based in words. For example, “What will happen if” … “It will be terrible when” … “What if I can’t”.

Experiencing worry and anxiety in our lives are natural, but when they become chronic and trapping your mind in vicious cycles with no resolutions, is when they become a problem.

water, worry, anxiety, renew, inspiration — pexels

Worry Triggers

Let’s face it, we all have issues that we worry about, right? Sometimes we’re not even aware of why we’re worrying, when we’re doing it or what we tend to worry about the most. We just know that we often feel anxious and we find ourselves stuck in a vicious cycle of worry. One of the ways to break this vicious cycle is to be aware of which things trigger our anxiety.

• Is it when we’re in certain places?

• Particular times of the day?

• When we’re around certain people?

Many different things can trigger worry and understanding your particular triggers can help you process and establish ways to respond to your anxious feelings. Keep in mind that anxiety can trick you into believing your thoughts are reality. When you’re feeling anxious, you struggle to distinguish what you’re actually experiencing and what your thoughts are projecting. Begin to divert your attention from the thoughts inside your head to what is real around you. Pay attention to what you’re doing right now in this very moment, not on your worries or anxiety.

Feeling Overwhelmed

• Take slow, deep breaths, as many as you need to in order to feel calm.

• While breathing slowly and deeply, visualize a peaceful, soothing place. Examples may include walking on the beach, taking a hike in the woods, reading a good book, sitting in a meditation pose, doing yoga, etc.

• You can pair deep breathing exercises with aromatherapy using a candle or essential oil diffuser to infuse the air with a calming, relaxing scent such as lavender, rose, bergamot or chamomile.

• Drink a soothing, noncaffeinated tea. Great herbs for reducing anxiety include lavender, chamomile, passionflower, hawthorn, kava, ginseng and lemon balm.

• Ground yourself physically in a way that feels comfortable. For example, you may sit in a chair with your feet firmly planted on the floor or you can stand with your feet planted on the floor and your back pressed against a wall.

• Notice negative thoughts and replace them with simple positive ones. For example, I can’t handle this becomes I am handling this right now and I know this anxiety will soon pass.

Finding What Works for You

It’s impossible for you to completely eliminate anxiety from your life, but you can significantly lessen its hold over your life. Part of this process is learning when it might show up (triggers) and coming up with a plan to deal with it when it does (solutions).

• Understand your specific symptoms. What are your thoughts when your anxiety escalates? In what situations do your symptoms intensify? Lessen?

• Know what works for you. Which strategies are helpful in moments of high anxiety? Examples could be deep breathing exercises, mindfulness exercises, meditation, journaling or talking with a support person.

• Schedule therapy sessions with a mental health professional. Be open and honest.

• Find a support group in your area or online to help you gain another perspective on your anxiety. Don’t be afraid to share your experiences, listen to others and give/receive feedback.

• Visit your local library and check out some books on worry and anxiety.

• Spend some time regularly doing meditation, mindfulness exercises or yoga along with deep breathing exercises.

• Write down your thoughts and feelings in your journal or notebook. Then, reflect on them throughout your journey.

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Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations help to change your current mindset and boost your self-confidence.

• May I live peacefully alongside all of my emotions and worry.

• May I accept what is happening in my life, moment by moment.

• May my acceptance give me courage to face situations and people.

• May I live my life fully and freely, enjoying my life even when I feel anxious.

• May my loved ones enjoy this acceptance and freedom, too.

Time for Reflection – Journal Prompts

Find time for reflection and write answers to the journal prompts in your journal or notebook.

• What positive things will begin to take the place of worry and anxiety?

• What are your biggest challenges that prevent you from overcoming worry and anxiety?

• What are some of your worry triggers?

• When do you find yourself worrying about these triggers?

• Where are you when this worry is at its peak?

• What makes your worry or anxiety worse? What makes it better?

Prayer for Worry and Anxiety

Heavenly Father, I am feeling worried, anxious, and stressed on today. Too many things occupy my mind. Won’t you help me feel calm? Show me Lord, your order and your plans for my life. Teach me to trust in your will alone. Your Word tells me where there is love, there is no fear. Your perfect love drives out all fear from my mind and my life. Let me be filled with your love. The perfect love that tells me I am not condemned, but I am saved through your amazing grace. I can do all things, through you who strengthens me. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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Ways to Better Engage in God’s Word

LaPorterJuly 8, 20188 Replies

Thy word is thy lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! So, how often do you read and study God’s Word? Do you just read your favorite verse, pray, then move on with your day? In order to be engaged in God’s Word throughout our lives, we must schedule quality time to not only read God’s Word, but also to write down our personal thoughts about the verses read, determine how we can apply the verses to our own lives and cross reference the information in the Bible Concordance.

Here’s my suggestions for beginning this spiritual journey:

• Set a time to better engage in God’s Word and stick to your plan.
• Gather your materials, such as Bible, Notebook/Journal, Pens, Highlighters, Sticky Notes, Bible Concordance, Dictionary, etc.
• Designate a quiet space with no distractions, such as cellphones, televisions, people, noise, etc.
• You may want to play some soft music in the background to set a relaxing mood.
• Make sure your study area is free of clutter and well lit.
• Pray and meditate while studying God’s Word to open your mind and heart.
• Speak to God often to strengthen your relationship and ask Him to direct your study time.

Thought for today – Each day I need to let God’s Word interrupt me, rearrange me and redirect me.

Making time to read and study God’s Word is so important. God’s Word can help guide us in the right direction or make us rethink a situation before we pursue it further. In addition, our time spent in Scripture must alter us if it has truly been an encounter with God. God has created us to interact and respond to His Word in multiple ways. We should all endeavor to engage in God’s Word throughout our lives and hold ourselves accountable throughout our journey.

Here’s some ways to better engage in God’s Word:

• Study – When we study God’s Word we are investing focused time in a passage word, character or theme. Study requires you to analyze the Scripture which takes concentration and focus. The primary goal of study is understanding.

• Devotional – The goal for devotional reading is application. Simply put, what the Scripture means to me. However, we must make sure this is not the only way we interact with Scripture or we risk losing the truth.

• Meditation – Meditation is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey His Word. During meditation it is important to fill your mind with Christ. The goal of meditation is reflection.

• Memorization – It is important to understand what Scripture teaches us so have God’s Word hidden in your heart and mind. Memorizing God’s Word helps us achieve the goal of discipline.

• Action – Clearly, we must be focused on doing what Scripture teaches. We must be changed and compelled into action, whether in our thoughts or our actions. Spending time in God’s Word must lead us to obedience.

So, as you can see, there are various ways to better engage in God’s Word. Keep in mind, you may not be able to engage in all of these ways each day but schedule your time to include all the areas of study, so you can have a better understanding of God’s Word. Remember, spending time studying God’s Word is our intentional determination to grow in our understanding and to strengthen our bond with Him. Even if you have not engaged in God’s Word in the past, take a leap of faith and start today.

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Journal Prompts – Time for Reflection

MIND

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

• What takes your mind away from the Lord, thus robbing your peace?
• What is your biggest dream?
• What has prevented you from going after your dream?
• What thoughts have I been repeating in my head lately? Are they true?

BODY

Who is own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripe ye were healed. (I Peter 2:24)

• List 5 ways you’ve become stronger and more courageous this month.
• Lord, please strengthen my heart when it comes to ________________.
• When I’m in pain, physical and emotional, I find strength in ________________.
• How can I make more space in my life for the things I love?

SPIRIT

Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (Proverbs 1:23)

• Where do you see the unmistakable mark of the creator? Thank and praise God for it.
• How is God trying to get your attention to stop, treasure, and ponder how he’s working in your life right now in this very moment?
• When have you seen God use something small to produce a big outcome?
• What can I do to nurture my spirit more?

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
How often do you read God’s Word? When is your favorite time to ready and study God’s Word? Do you have a favorite scripture that is hidden in your heart? Do you keep a written Bible Journal or Notebook to reflect your study time? If so, please share in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!

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Journaling: Get Ready, Set, Write

LaPorterJune 29, 201813 Replies

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Did you know that there are journals for just about everything that goes on in your life? Well, I want to spend some time discussing just a few journal types that helps me cope with the lost of my mother (the grieving process), the emptiness that I feel inside (depression), the various stresses of life that I experience often (looking for part-time work and parenting children with hearing loss) and allowing my creative juices to flow while writing (Renew Inspiration blog and HubGarden articles).

Journaling is my safe place, my time to just write how I feel and scream on paper and no one will ever know. Let’s take a moment to define journal. A journal is a personal reflection of who you are, it’s a repository for all the things that interest and inspire you. A journal provides a safe environment to experiment with your writing style and technique. Simply put, when you write in a journal it becomes your personal journey of creative and heart felt thoughts.

Benefits of Journaling:

• Reduce stress – Expressive writing has been shown to lower stress levels.

• Improve your memory – Regular journal writing can improve your short-term memory.

• Stay organized – Keeping a journal such as a weight loss diary lets you maintain an organized record of your progress and journey.

Journaling Tips:

• Keep a regular writing schedule so journaling becomes a habit.

• Don’t over think your written entries, just write honestly.

• Be creative. Add photos and positive quotes to enhance your written entries.

Types of Journals:

Bible Journal – Bible Journals can provide you with a therapeutic way to better cope with everyday situations, understand your feelings and establish a connection between your life and the biblical content. Include notes, scriptures, life lessons and examples, pictures, quotes, questions, etc.

Bible Journal Prompts:
• What is your favorite scripture and why?
• What values do you want to live by? Find a scripture to support your values.
• In what area of my life do I need to improve self-discipline?

Gratitude Journal – Gratitude Journals allow you to recognize, appreciate and record pleasant occurrences in your life. Also, you can include blessings, special moments of authentic happiness and contentment. Include what you are grateful for, personal thoughts, quotes, stickers, etc.

Gratitude Journal Prompts:
• What are you grateful for?
• What would my ideal day look like?
• What is one thing that I can do to change my attitude?

Prayer Journal – Prayer Journals allow you to deepen your relationship with God by writing down your prayers every day. Learn by reflecting on prayers that have been answered, and others that haven’t. Include prayers, scriptures, personal thoughts, self-reflection notes, quotes, etc.

Prayer Journal Prompts:
• What is one thing I could do this month to improve my prayer life and spiritual walk? Hint – Start a Prayer Journal.
• What is one thing I can do today that would promote a gentle and quiet spirit within me? Hint – Read a scripture, pray or meditate.
• Do you think God will answer your prayers? Why or why not?

Reading Journal – Reading Journals can be a place to store your personal reactions to what you’re reading. Writing down your responses will allow you to discover how you feel about the book itself, the characters, scenery or plot. Include the book(s) you are reading, personal thoughts, emotional responses, connect the book to your own life, questions you may have about the book(s), connect with the characters, etc.

Reading Journal Prompts:
• What is your favorite book and why?
• What is one book you’d like to read before the end of 2018?
• If I was given the opportunity to write a book, I would write about….

Scrapbook Journal – Scrapbook Journals is a cross between scrapbooking, journaling, collaging and sketching pictures to tell a story or to highlight a special memory. Include pictures, personal thoughts, quotes, stickers, etc.

Scrapbook Journal Prompts:
• Do you consider yourself being a creative person?
• How do you like to retell a story or special memory?
• What is one thing that I can do this week to improve my creativity?

Travel Journal – Travel Journals are a place where you can write about trips you have taken, what you learned during and after the trip. Include adventures, stories, memories, pictures, personal thoughts, culture, customs, the people you met/saw, favorite places you visited, quotes, etc.

Travel Journal Prompts:
• What makes this trip special to you?
• What are you planning to do on this trip?
• Take time to reflect on the location, people, the customs and the food.

5 Tips for Capturing your Best Journal Ideas:

1. Take your journal everywhere you go to capture those special thoughts or moments as they happen. If your journal is too big, you can always buy a small notebook to use while you are on the go. Then, transfer or glue your notes in your journal at a later time.

2. Select a journal that feels right to you. You can purchase a beautifully crafted handmade journal, a hardcover book with unlined pages, a softcover notebook with lined pages, a 3-ring binder with loose paper, or just a spiral notebook. It really doesn’t matter your style, just make sure that your journal feels right to you and you can comfortably use it to capture your thoughts.

3. Handwrite your journal entries so you are unable to edit your thoughts. Handwriting keeps things more spontaneous and gives you clues about your emotional state. If you’re anything like me, you can tell what you’re feeling just by analyzing the state of your writing.

4. Create an informal table of contents in the beginning of each journal. Number each page and try to list the topics covered as you go along. This makes finding stuff a lot easier down the road or when you just want to reflect on some of your past writings. Don’t worry about doing this each time you journal, but make sure to complete this step before starting your next journal.

5. Don’t worry about format, grammar, or spelling. Remember, this is your personal space and a written account for how you feel right now in this very moment. Don’t worry about following your traditional writing rules, just write.

So, whether you are currently writing in a journal on a regular basis or you would like to start, these journaling highlights should help you on your journal writing journey. Go ahead and grab your journal and write your ideas so you’re able to retrieve your thoughts whenever needed. Your journal holds your pertinent life information, so you can remember and reference at any time in your future. Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
If you do keep a journal, please share some of your writing experiences or the types of journals you like to keep; organizing tips and techniques; pros and cons of journaling; journaling tips that help you continue your journey. We learn from one another, so your comments are necessary for all of us to learn and grow. I look forward to reading your feedback!

Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates and Target Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Target.com

Patience Hidden Within

LaPorterJune 24, 201818 Replies

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience, and experience, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

Thought for Today

Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible.

Welcome to Renew Inspiration! I am so glad you decided to read my blog on today. I want to spend some time talking about patience. Unfortunately, patience in life is not spread evenly amongst people. Some of us have it, and some of us don’t. According to the Webster Dictionary, patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset; to wait or to do something despite difficulties or to suffer without complaining.

Everything comes to you. In the right moment. Be patient. Be grateful. – Unknown

Well, what does patience mean to you? As we go through life, we often take a lot of things for granted. For example, do you have patience with yourself when you are dieting or exercising? Do you have patience with your family as it relates to doing household chores, doing school work, going to various appointments during the week, participating in school events or running errands on the weekend? How about your co-workers helping you meet important deadlines for projects at work? Now, let’s take a moment to think about your personal behavior. Do you find yourself screaming a lot, losing your temper, or always stressed out about something? The real question should be, do you have patience hidden within?

Let’s Get Personal

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)

Honestly, I consider myself to have lots of patience, but lately I find myself wondering how much patience I really do have. Well, my husband and I adopted 2 boys with the hopes of giving them lots of love, positive support, and helping them become more independent in life. Yes, we want the same dreams for our boys as you have for your children. We want them to be successful in school, play sports, learn karate, play video games, and enjoy their favorite hobby. Both of our adopted sons have a hearing impairment, but we do not allow it to define our children. Both boys attend speech therapy and behavioral therapy regularly.

When we adopted our children, I knew it would be a struggle because of the adoption itself, the unknown factors involved with their history of abuse, the boys being developmentally delayed, and the hearing impairment. After years of therapy and the cochlear implant in 2016, we came to realize that these factors help define our children. I truly understand that. However, I was not prepared for all the negative energy that the oldest child is bringing into our household. Unfortunately, he is defiant (disrespects, lies, don’t follow directions, sneaky, failing grades). I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself wholeheartedly. After all, you have opened your home and your hearts to strangers. You have sacrificed so much to provide things for these children that they probably would have never had in their young lives. You are willing to love them despite their past trauma and living situations. In most cases, you don’t even know what the children really went through in their young lives. It takes a lot of patience to parent children I am sure you already know, but it takes even more patience when you have negative factors playing a huge role in the dynamics of your family unit.

I wanted to provide you with a real life example because I am living with this lack of patience every single day. To take it a step further, I noticed that I began struggling with patience especially after my mother passed away in 2015. She was my ROCK, my strongest supporter, my EVERYTHING. She encouraged me and always complimented how well I worked with our boys through their personal struggles. So, as I write this blog today, I ask myself the very same question that I asked you earlier, do I have patience hidden within?

Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. – Unknown

When I decided to blog, I wanted my blogs to be different. I want to impact your lives in a unique way. I want you to think about your life and how you can make positive changes as you read my blog. I want to impact your life in a positive way. Remember, to grow from within, sometimes you press yourself to move out of your comfort zone and be willing to feel awkward. Yes, you may feel uncomfortable when evaluating your current living situation or when trying to change something for the better, but that’s when you know the best is yet to come. Don’t be afraid to be different. Don’t be afraid to be alone. You are not alone while going through this process. Well, it’s time for you to get your journal or notebook out so you can start the necessary work.

Symptoms When You’re Impatient

How do you know when you’re being impatient? You will probably experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Shallow breathing (short breaths)

• Muscle tension

• Hand clenching/Tightening

• Restless feet

• Irritability/Anger

• Rushing /Quick decisions

Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind. – David G. Allen

Ways to Manage the Symptoms

Here’s some strategies to help you manage symptoms for patience:

• Take deep slow breaths, and count to 10.

• Focus on relaxing your body.

• Learn to manage your emotions.

• Force yourself to slow down.

• Practice active listening and empathetic listening.

Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time. – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Journal Prompts – Ways to Work on Patience in your Life

• What does patience mean to you?

• What gives you patience and why?

• Do you believe in something most people don’t? If so, what keeps you believing?

• What future challenge are you most looking forward to and why?

• What is the best way to show patience to family? friends? strangers?

Prayer for When You Are Waiting and Feel Impatient

Heavenly Father, I know I am impatient, so prone to worry, to give up, to lose hope. Please help me to rest in your promises on today. In this season of waiting, renew my joy in this moment so that I do not miss your presence in this place. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for love, your guidance, and your glory even when I cannot see. In Jesus Mighty Name, AMEN.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

So, what’s your story as it relates to patience? Think about your life right now where you are. Describe a situation or a person in which you wish you showed more patience? Don’t be afraid to comment or ask a question. WE all learn from other people’s struggles and life experiences. Help can be found if you take the first step today. I will be waiting patiently for your comments and/or any questions you have. Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!

Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Journaling to Excel

LaPorterJune 9, 201819 Replies

Your life only gets better when you do. Work on yourself and the rest will follow. – Unknown

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Believe in yourself. Be brave and take risks. After all, nothing can substitute an experience, whether it is positive or negative. In today’s session, I want to talk about Journaling to Excel. Let’s take a moment and think about the following questions.

• Why do I write in my journal?
• What do I want to learn about myself?
• What am I exceptionally good at?
• How do I shine from day to day?
• Do I have any talents or special skills?
• How do I stand out in a crowd?

Well, I hope you have your journal and something to write with. I love to write in my journal because it is a safe place for me to put my feelings and emotions into words, then put my words into action. Journal writing is a form of personal expression. Journal writing can be whatever you want it to be. Remember, journal writing is your very own personal journey throughout life, your ups and downs, your successes and failures.

excel, success, achievement, happiness — pixabay

So, when you first read the title Journaling to Excel, what were you thinking? What does the title Journaling to Excel mean to you and your current situation? Whenever you make the decision to excel at something, you must put in some hard work and dedication. Let’s face it, most of us did not just wake up one day and have a successful career, a beautiful home, respectful children, a healthy fitness routine, etc. You had to first decide what you wanted to work on, then you had to plan, then you had to execute your plan into action. In reality, most people fail many times before they succeed so never give up on your dreams.

You have the power to heal yourself, and you need to know that. We think so often that we are helpless, but we’re not. We always have the power of our minds. Claim and consciously use your power. – Louise Hay

To take yourself to the next level, let’s look at the following concepts:

Goal Setting
Goal setting is important in every aspect of your life. To pursue new ideas or strive to reach your dreams, you must have a plan to do so. Here’s some steps to follow when goal setting:
• Identify what you want and name your specific goal(s). You can brainstorm each area of your life and identify one or two things you want most and set these as your beginning goals, such as weight loss, exercising more, building stronger relationships, being a better person, etc.
• Write your goal(s) down and write the steps needed to facilitate the goal(s). Make sure to include changes in habits and lifestyle that must take place.
• Take each of the steps you wrote down and incorporate them into your current lifestyle. You may need to rearrange your work schedule, ask for help around the house from family or friends, etc.
• Begin to visualize yourself after your goals are achieved. Take a moment and ask yourself what life looks like after the goals are reached, then spend a few minutes every day picturing yourself in that very same life.
• Evaluate your progress as you move through the steps you’ve identified as necessary to reach your goals and adjust your efforts as needed.

Self-Confidence
Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every aspect of our lives, but if we are honest with ourselves, we sometimes struggle to find it throughout our every day lives. Did you know that gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways in which a self-confident person finds success in life? Unfortunately, people who lack self-confidence find it difficult to become successful. There are two main things that contribute to self-confidence: self-efficacy (when we see ourselves and others mastering skills and achieving goals) and self-esteem (we cope with what’s going on in our lives and know that we have a right to be happy). Here’s some ways for you to build self-confidence:
• Prepare for your journey. Look at what you’ve already achieved, think about your strengths, think about what’s important to you, and where you want to go in life.
• Set out on your journey. Build the knowledge you need to succeed, focus on the basics, set small goals and achieve them.
• Accelerate towards success. By this point, you should feel your self-confidence building from within. Keep yourself grounded and always aware of how you feel throughout this process.

Self-Reflection
Self-reflection is a process of examining one’s own thoughts, feelings, and sensations to gain better insight of one’s life. Self-reflection allows you to:
• Notice negative patterns in your life.
• Keeps you focused on the bigger picture.
• Prevents you from worrying about things out of your control.
• Helps you face your fears.
• Allows you to clearly define happiness on your own terms.
• Allows you to make decisions based on your conscience.

Self-Care
Prioritizing everyone else in your life may seem honorable, but the reality is, totally neglecting yourself isn’t good for anyone. In order to take care of others, you first need to take care of yourself. Here’s some great ways to practice self-care:
• Make time for exercise or yoga.
• Read an inspirational book or read positive affirmations.
• Listen to soothing music with your eyes closed.
• Create a relaxing routine (warm bath, meditation, reading, writing in your journal).
• Get out in nature (go for a walk, run, or hike).

Spiritual Foundation
Without a strong spiritual foundation, you cannot withstand the storms of life that you may be facing, whether they are financial, emotional, or relational. Although society and culture may offer many solutions to help you brace against the struggles of daily living, here’s the three essentials needed in your spiritual life to weather any storm you might be dealt:
• Praise and Worship
• The Word of God
• Prayer
These spiritual essentials will help you build strength (your spiritual foundation) and begin to experience a powerful new sense of God’s presence and purpose in your life.

My mind is focused, my body is healthy, and my spirit is calm. – Unknown

Mind – Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. Feed it with love.

Body – Your body is healthy and beautiful.

Spirit – Everything you need is within you.

Journal Prompts – Journaling to Excel
• Name at least five things that you love about yourself.
• What are my short-term goals and long-term goals?
• What are my strengths and weaknesses?
• What is my proudest accomplishment and my biggest failure?
• What matters most to me right now in this very moment?
• What am I ashamed of and/or what do I fear?
• What brings me the most joy and how can I make time for it?
• As of today, what is my vision for my life in one year, two years, three years?
• What stresses me out? What can I do to reduce the stress?
• What is overwhelming in my life right now? How can I reduce this overwhelming feeling?

In addition, here’s some suggestions of things you can do to help you connect deeper (www.simplystepping.com). This process will help you stay grounded and become more comfortable with yourself while doing various activities, then writing about them throughout your journaling process.

• Walk a long distance or hike. Realize what you’ve accomplished in the end.

• Stand in the rain and let it wash you clean. Feel grounded in the Earth.

• Plant a tree or start a garden. Place labels where you planted, with words that encourage you to move forward.

• Imagine what a new beginning would look like or how it would feel. Create a vision board with images and words capturing what you what.

• Wear new, special, comfortable shoes that represent your bravery and willingness for simply stepping one step at a time forward in life!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com