Wow. I’m so blown away by each of your comments from Monday’s No Quitting Giveaway. I wish I had time to respond to every comment because they all deserve a response!
As I was reading the comments, I saw a common thread amongst us…
We are each in process.
This morning I did not want to get out of bed. In fact, I laid there longer than I usually do. I told God all the reasons I didn’t want to get up and writing this blog post was one of them.
Because I wish I was a woman who was finished with this process and was able to cheer each of you on to success. But what I am instead is a woman who is dog-tired of the cycle of defeat.
So I climbed out of my bed, made it, put on a pot of coffee and began another new day. Because its a new 24 hours. And this is my process.
And so today I hold tightly to this promise from our God found in my process:
“Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.” – Matthew 5:8
While I’m no Bible scholar, this verse speaks deeply to my process today. Because the journey to fulfilling the vision God has for our lives is very tiresome. But if we hold tight and keep believing, our hearts will stay pure.
And my friends…together we will see God.
We will see God heal.
We will see God restore.
We will see God extend mercy.
We will see God give passion.
We will see God give Life.
I get 24 hours. You get 24 hours. It’s what we get today on our process. And I pray today we each hold these hours as if they are one of the most valuable things in our lives.
While almost every comment from Monday’s post was worth winning the devotional book and posting on this blog post, I had to choose 3. It was so hard but I pray you are encouraged by these next 3 thoughts from readers:
Laura H. is a single mom.
She said, “While Sundays and reading the Bible definitely fill my cup, I can’t help but wonder “why is my journey like this? what did I do to deserve this?” while all my friends have families and are stay at home moms.
Her encouragement for other single moms was this:
I’d like to encourage other single moms who don’t have anyone to never give up. Days may turn into years, and tears and longing, and sadness, but there are moments of joy. There are times where it feels good to be a mom who works hard, and I feel like if I can keep it up just a little longer, I might meet someone who loves Jesus and will run the run with me. So don’t give up, stay in the race. Find things you are grateful for, like food, or an apartment, or clothes. Don’t let Satan win.
Ellen is a writer struggling with confidence:
She said, “My need for encouragement always revolves around confidence. Am I enough? What can I write that would be of interest to anyone? Does what I do matter? Finding my confidence is a constant battle for me.”
Her encouragement for others is:
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard. God is the inventor of brand new endings…
Jennifer is a teacher, struggling through the exhaustion of the classroom:
She said, “I need encouragement to not quit trying to reach the children in my classroom. Today was completely exhausting and fruitless. The guilt of spending too much time with other people’s children and not being there to get my own off the bus is suffocating. I need to remember that I clearly heard God’s call for my life 17 years ago.”
Her encouragement for others is this:
“I need to remember that the gift of teaching and creativity were given to me by my master Teacher and Creator. I need to remember that I asked God to divinely hand-select the little ones that need to experience His love the most and that I am to be His love to them. I need to remember that this year’s smaller paycheck is nothing compared to the treasures being stored in heavenly places. I need to remember not to wear a white knit sweater when painting orange pumpkins!”
O God, help us to fill these 24 hours today with thoughts that reflect Your promises in our lives. May we will seek you in each moment. May we become sensitive to Your presence. Help us to not give up and make today count in our process. Lead us away from the things that waste our time, our energy and our efforts. Keep our hearts pure God so we can indeed…see You.
7 Comments
xxxdoc.monster tattooed cab driver licks busty babe.
Nicki, I am SO encouraged by the three women you chose and each of their comments spoke to me as I too work in a school as a guidance counselor and have those same struggles with confidence and comparing my life with other friends and colleagues wondering if I am enough… I especially like what the first women said at the end- “Don’t let Satan win” and the teacher, reminding herself of the clear calling from God to remember why she started.
Secondly, I will absolutely read anything you publish. I really think God uses you, the tweets, blog posts, and so forth to speak to so many people who need to hear these words of truth. Thank you. I love the way you share so vulnerably – you are real and people need to hear it.
Like Kristen, I, too, am encouraged by these comments. I am also encouraged by this post. Nicki, you seem to have a genuine concern for others. May God bless the work of your hands.
I want to encourage you regarding what you said in this post: Because I wish I was a woman who was finished with this process and was able to cheer each of you on to success. But what I am instead is a woman who is dog-tired of the cycle of defeat.
Your devotion from the other day named Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Give Up cheered me on to success!
I was ready to give up…completely give up…in finishing my book that is due to my publisher by tomorrow night. But, your words in that devotion encouraged me to keep going and not to quit.
I think that you might feel dog-tired and defeated because Satan is attacking you because of how much you have helped us already.
I listened to a sermon the other day by Joel Osteen and he said these words: “When you’re really discouraged and hopeless, remember that the enemy always fights you the hardest when he knows God has something great in your future. You wouldn’t be having these difficulties unless there was something amazing in front of you.”
You, Nicki, have already been an encouragement to me and cheered me on to success. Ever since I read your devotion, I have been working diligently for many hours on finishing my book when I was ready to completely give up!
I want to encourage you with these Bible verses:
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
(Proverbs 13:12) RSV
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
(Psalm 20:4) NIV
I pray for you that God fulfills your deepest desires.
Your plans will succeed!
Gloria Gunderson
Owner, Quiet Waters Photography
I got encouragement from all of them. I ‘m a single mom of a teenage daughter and we both need help with being confident and stop doubting and sometimes I need with all her running around with school and homework and getting ready for football games and competition with her dance team. (me time to relax) . I pray to God everyday for my daughter. I thank God for Nicki and 3 women’s encouragement, Felicia
I am struggling with how hard and overwhelming things can be at times. My friends think because I work in ministry and it’s my calling that it’s easy street, but it’s not. There are times when balancing ministry and family life are difficult. One thing I know for sure, I can run to my Heavenly Daddy and He will be my source to navigate what I’m walking thru. Thank you, Nicki.
Hi Nicki,
Its really amazing to be here.
OMG!!!! Lovely pics all around and a well narrated post.
Keep up the good work.
Keep inform
phil
It always takes a willing heart to be used by God. And when God uses us, it won’t be such an easy path to take. There will still be trials and hardships that we will face BUT we can be sure that Christ will never abandon us and will help us in overcoming each one. God bless you Nicki! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Comments are closed.