Quotes from Lysa TerKeurst

Do you find yourself facing a challenge and too tired to pray? Allow the power of prayer to revive your spirit and restore your physical and mental vigor. By following Nehemiah's example, you will have the energy needed to defeat the enemy and thrive in the midst of your challenges.

The short time we actually focus on today's journey is often wasted on complaining, grumbling, wishing to be in a different place, or simply and mindlessly going through the motions of life.

Dear Lord, I struggle caring too much about the opinions of others. I beg You to please whisper words of truth into my heart and mind today. Protect me from both the bad and good opinions of others as I am reminded that only Your opinion counts. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Proximity and activity don't always equal connectivity.

We are made for more because we are children of God.

I've realized this isn't as much about losing the weight as it is gaining truth—the truth of who I am in Christ and how I am made for more than this constant, self-defeating struggle. It's the truth that reminds me a scale can measure my physical body but never my worth as a woman. And it's the truth that God loves me the way I am, but He loves me too much to leave me stuck in a place of defeat.

Please see how dangerous this assumption was. She got alone with her own thoughts and assumptions. And it led her to doubt God. And take control to get what she wanted. What she thought was best.

doesn't it all come down to that? Trust. Trading our will for "Thy will," because we know He will.

If we want recovery and healing we would be wise to take a break or possibly make a clean break from the one wounding us.

I tried to prop up what was left of me so I wouldn't collapse into the broken place inside. Good grades. Achievements and accolades. Fun friends and good times. Boys who made me feel special. I tried to steady myself with anything that helped me feel better.

Look for Me. Long for Me. Experience unbroken companionship with Me.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. (Psalm 91:1 AMPC)

Between any trial and the blessing that comes from that trial, there is a pathway we must walk — that pathway is perseverance. Perseverance means having an urgency, firmness, resolve, and consistency. And, while the joy of the blessing may seem a long way off, signposts or mile markers of joy line the way. These will help us persevere with resolve and consistency if we "consider" them.

We are to think about, ponder, and park our minds on constructive thoughts, not destructive thoughts.

Some will live their whole lives missing the chance to see all the good God has placed around them just for them. Partly because the hard stuff has demanded so much of their attention. And the seeming permanence of some of the heartbreak has stolen their affection for life.

A Jesus girl who rises up and unexpectedly gives grace when she surely could have done otherwise reveals the power and the mystery of Christ at work — in her life and in the world.

Instead of waiting for the time to get started to simply appear one day, we need to be intentional with scheduling it.

Thoughts that breathe life into us, not suck life from us.

This isn't an indication that your healing isn't working. It's just an indication that you're a human still holding on to some hurt that needs to be resolved.

Hurting but still hoping—that is the human journey.

C. S. Lewis said it best: "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."1

Power enters our prayers not by sounding powerful, but by listening for even the slightest whisper from the One who is all-powerful. That

God made us to crave—to desire eagerly, want greatly, and long for Him.

A note from Jim on goodbyes: There's a big difference between waiting for a breaking point and establishing a breaking point. A goodbye shouldn't sneak up on us because if we set boundaries with consequences, breaking points are established ahead of time. As boundary violations occur there will be changes in the relationship so that you can protect yourself from hurtful patterns and behaviors that you are no longer willing to tolerate.