Finish Free Devotional - Day 13 of 13

Prayer

Father God, help me to fix my eyes on you. I want to end this year dwelling on the things that you’ve done already and on the God that I know you are. You have always been there for me, you are my rock, and I choose today to believe that just as you have never left my side before you won’t in 2016. I cast any worry of the year to come on you Lord. I praise you because you are my provider and my protector just as you’ve always been. You are working all things together for my good and even when a trial may arise I will know it is for your glory. You are a good good and you love me. You care about me and you want to see me succeed. I don’t have to worry about failing in 2016 as long as I am seeking you. Thank you Lord for being my guide and my counsel and thank you for giving me another year and another chance to live out your will. I pray for fearlessness Lord. I pray for freedom.

In Jesus’ Name

Amen

Verses

Philippians 4:8-9

Thoughts

Here it is, the last day of the year. Let us feel refreshed and excited. This is a time where either you can experience the peace of God in knowing there is greatness ahead or anxiety in fear that your struggles are coming with you and new ones may even pop up. The fear of failure is toxic. Let us today not dwell on things that have not even come but let us rejoice in the things God is going to do for us. We have to stop imagining things to work out for the worse. What we put our mind to determines everything and if we can get this right we can experience the peace of God. Focus your thoughts on freedom, joy, peace, victory, and abundance. You serve a good God and He is working everything, the good and the bad, together for your good. No matter what challenges come your way the blessings will be greater as long as you believe in the best. Make it easy for the Lord to bless you by taking captive your negative thoughts and opening your heart. The best is yet to come.

Questions

What is still worrying you about 2016?

How can you shift your thoughts about those things?

What are some go to thoughts or verses you can dwell on when you are feeling anxious?

How has God proven himself to you in the past that you can think of for the future?

Challenge

End negative thinking. Dwell on the goodness of God. Experience His peace.

Embrace the new year believing the best.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 12 of 13

2016 Won’t Be Perfect

Prayer

Lord, you are so good! You are so good that even in struggle and challenge your love and security is unwavering. Lord I pray that we can commit to growing in you daily so that when challenges come our way in the next year we can face them with the tools we need. I pray that your strength be readily available to us in our weakness. I pray that when we fall short we do not identify ourselves with our mistakes. I pray that our identity will be strong in you. Thank you for calling us wonderful, thank you for calling us loved, and adopting us as your sons and daughters. May this truth be written on our hearts and relevant in our minds in times where we feel less than. Let us be built up in you so the world can not stand a chance to tear us down.

In your Son’s name

Amen

Scripture

1 Peter 4:12-16

Thoughts

Let’s be honest for a second. We should be getting hyped for 2016. You should be expectant for great things to happen to you. You should believe that you won't have to deal with the same struggles you did last year and that should excite you! You should feel refreshed and free from worry. But don’t be naive at the same time because the truth is 2016 can and will be great but it will not be absent of it’s own set of challenges. And that’s okay. The Lord never said we would be without suffering. But we should not be anxious about the suffering that may come in our near future because our God is with us. He gives us what we need to overcome and He allows us suffering for our growth. I know there are a good amount of verses in today's scripture but read them. Here you’ll find the key to enduring your conflicts in 2016, keep REJOICING. Rejoice in the midst of your suffering. Take time now to pre decide how you will embrace these hard times, go ahead and decide that when things are less than perfect, REJOICE.

Questions

How has God proven Himself in past trials?

How can you become confident in the Lord enough that you are not surprised when suffering comes?

What would it look like for you to rejoice in the midst of struggle?

How can you go ahead and accept that although greatness is coming your way it will be paired with unique challenges?

Challenge

Go ahead and come to terms with the fact that you will have something go wrong in 2016 but go ahead and decide how you will respond when these times come.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 11 of 13

Choose Your Fuel

Prayer

Father God thank you for your perfect love. Thank you that when we are in relationship with you we can be free from fear. Thank you Lord that you are trustworthy and sovereign. I pray that as we approach our new year, we can approach it with the truth of who you are not only in our heart but in our mind. Help us to see the future in faith and not in fear. We come into this new year expectant, knowing you will do great things, you will be there for us when we need it, no struggle will be impossible for us, and no blessing will be too big for us. Have your way in this year Lord, for there is no greater plan than yours. I will trust you in the hard times and trust you in the good. I am just so thankful that you are with me in it all! Thank you for never leaving me Lord.

In your Son’s holy name,

Amen

Scripture

Romans 8:15

Thoughts

It’s time to decide what is going to fuel you’re coming year. Every action we take is determined by the motive of fear or the motive of faith. If you believe that God can do anything then you will go for the new job that other’s doubt you can do but if you believe you’re not good enough, you’ll never even try. Faith is believing that the things we can not see, the things that don’t make sense, can happen if God is in the mix. Fear is believing that you are only capable of what you have seen happen to others. But God says that his thoughts and plans are far greater than we can imagine. So it’s important that we decide what we are filling our gas tanks up with before we hit the road of 2016. If we take the time now to fill up with faith then we pave the way to take on the unthinkable God has in store. Believe that the best is yet to come! Be expectant of the great God you serve put your hope in His promises. Continue to fill your mind with the truth and move forward.

Questions

What do you fear for your future? What does God say about your fears?

What do you believe in your heart could happen for you?

Are you aligning your future with the word of God?

Is God big enough to help you overcome your struggles or achieve your dreams?

Challenge

Start imagining your year in a perspective of faith. If God is as good and as big as you believe Him to be, start thinking about the great things He could turn around for you in 2016. Enter your year being expectant.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 10 of 13

Thankful Heart

Prayer

Lord thank you for being good. Thank you for holding me in your hands this year. Thank you for protecting me from the things I couldn’t see and keeping me safe through the things I could. You, my Lord, are a great God. You are faithful and just. You don’t turn your back on me no matter what I go through and for that I am so grateful. Thank you for the love you’ve shown me through others and thank you for the provision you’ve given me and my family. I can trust you and I place my faith in your sovereignty. You are worthy to be praised.

In your Son’s Holy Name

Amen

Verses

Philippians 4:6-7

Thoughts

The key to unlocking your blessings in 2016 is plainly written in God’s word. He says to enter His gates with thanksgiving. In the verses above He asks us to come to Him with prayer and thanksgiving when we give our requests to Him There is nothing wrong with asking God for His promises. The truth is you have needs, we all do, and the Lord has proclaimed to be our provider. But he doesn’t just want us to ask and beg for these things. He wants us to be thankful. Thankful for the things He’s already done, thankful for what is to come, and thankful for the amazing God that He is. Do not be anxious about the changes you want to see happen in your life. With prayer AND thanksgiving God will hear your requests. Trust in Him.

Questions

What has God done for you in the last year?

Who did God prove himself to be to you in the last year?

What do you believe God will do for you in the future?

Challenge 

After answering these questions, take time in prayer daily to thank the Lord for all He's done and for who He is. Start transforming your heart to a heart of thanksgiving and I believe you will see things unfold in the next year like you've never seen before.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 9 of 13

Win the Day

Prayer

Father God, I’m so thankful that we can give our worry and stress to you. Lord I pray as the new year approaches we can feel your peace. The peace that helps us take it one day at a time. Lord let our dreams be written on our heart but let there be peace in the process of getting to them. Thank you that all things come in their perfect timing. We commit, Lord, to pressing on toward the desires of our hearts and trusting you every step of the way. I pray against all unnecessary pressures and stresses as we enter into 2016.

We love you Lord!

In your Son’s Name

Amen

Verses

Philippians 3:13-14

Thoughts

Christmas is over and new years is in sight. New Year’s resolutions are probably floating in and out of your mind. A picture of what you would love 2016 to hold and thoughts of the things you’d love to leave behind in 2015. If you’re anything like me this can all be a little overwhelming. An entire year is a lot of time for a lot of things to happen. Things that take time, prayer, faith, patience, and certainly perseverance. But most of all, all these desires we have for ourselves only happen by progress. One day at a time of making the right decisions and putting one foot in front of the other is the only way we can reach our goals. The bible says press toward the goal not achieve the goal. We will eventually get to prize but the prize only comes by committing to the process. Everyday waking up and making decisions that will affect our tomorrow. If we win the day maybe at the end of 2016 we can say that we’ve won the year.

Questions

Make a list of your desired Goals for 2016

Then list the process of achieving your listed goals

Then change your list of goals to reflect the daily process instead of the end end result

(ex. Goal: lose 10 pounds, change it to Goal: Work out 3 times a week)

We can do nothing without Christ, so how can you let God support and encourage you in your process?

Challenge

Go into 2016 understanding that all things take time to achieve. Give yourself the grace to commit daily to taking steps toward the desires of your heart but not becoming anxious that the end result has not yet come.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 8 of 13

BUT Nothing…

Prayer

Lord, thank you that you have a nature so good that it is hard to even comprehend sometimes. Your grace is unexplainable and at times it’s hard to believe it for ourselves. But thank you Jesus that even though we can’t comprehend it doesn't mean it isn’t real. We access our faith today Lord to see, the times that we haven’t saught you as we should, like you see them. We ask today Lord that we feel your love and we know your grace. Jesus help us be humble enough to receive them. Let us not identify ourselves by our situations or mistakes but be known the way you know us, as your son’s and daughters’, whom you love unfailingly.

In your Son’s Name

Amen

Verses

Matthew 20

Thoughts

Oh the responses that parents make to their children in the midst of impatience. As a child it drove me crazy, “the because I said so’s” etc. but surely as I am not a parent I can see how easily they could flow from a mommy or daddy’s mouth and sometimes they are truly granted. I believe that God even has these responses. Especially when we try to shame ourselves for not living our lives the way that, deep down, we know we should. We still feel him calling us despite it, pulling our heart in the direction that we know it should go but we hold ourselves back because of the mistakes we’ve made in the past or the lives we are currently living. I believe we do this when God says to us, “come.” We shift our eyes, duck our heads and say “but God, I messed up.” Children use the emphasis word BUT constantly. And when we do this with our heavenly Father, when we respond like a child, he quickly responds back like a daddy and says one of those typical parent responses….”But, Nothing.” When he asks you to draw near to him, there is no “BUT” that can keep you from doing so in God’s eyes. So shake the past and your present because your Lord is not looking at that. He is asking you to come now. He is saying it’s okay if you didn’t yesterday, it won’t count against you. Come now and you will still receive all the blessing He’s promised whether you think you deserve it or not.

Questions

In what ways did you not follow God the way you wanted to this last year?

What do you feel like God is speaking to your heart about how you should live in the following year?

What do you feel like is standing between you and living out the desires of your heart?

How can you start to see those things as God does so that you can move forward?

Challenge

Don't let anything come between you and the life you feel deep down you should be living. See it as God does, nothing can stand in the way of you living your life in true relationship with him. Your reason for a "BUT" may be big but it is not bigger than God.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 7 of 13

Come Let Us Adore Him

Prayer

Father God, we come to you humbled this morning. Humbled that you came to this earth through the birth of Jesus to save us. Lord there is nothing that we’re going through or no sacrifice we have had to make this year that compares to the Gift you gave to us in the sacrifice of your son. You endured every pain so that we may be healed. You gave it all to us because you love us. Father I pray that this day we can just love on you, be grateful for you, and ultimately just adore you. We love you Lord.

In Your Son’s Holy Name, Amen

Verses

Psalm 95

Thoughts

It’s Christmas Morning. God bore His word in the form of His only Son to teach the nature of our all loving, comforting, gracious Lord on this earth. He came to endure the ultimate pain so that we one day would be healed. God loves you that much. No sacrifice you experienced this year, no pain you took on, compares to the pain and sacrifice Jesus experienced on the cross and resurrection. He was born on this day to one day take on the pain that would birth the promise of redemption, healing, comfort, love, joy, peace, and hope in our lives. He came to save us. Let us today adore Him. Not only feel His love but love him in return. For is a Great God.

Challenge

Take today to set your struggles aside. His promise is greater than your pain. 

Let us focus on His goodness, let us adore Him.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 6 of 13

Speak the Truth

Prayer

Father God, touch my heart today. Father there are times when I feel so unworthy of the love given to me by others. I believe the lie that if they only new my struggle they wouldn't love me the same. Father I renounce this lie. Lord help us to find the words today to be kind to ourselves. To look in the mirror and not only say that we're beautiful but to believe it. Help us to see ourselves in your gracious eyes. Help us as we reflect on 2015 to be kind to ourselves. To see things how they really are according to your word and not the enemies lies. I am beautiful. I am strong. I am not defeated. You are with me and I am yours. You care for me. You believe in me because ultimately I was your idea. I am not a disappointment. And I am not a burden to my family. I love you Lord. Thank you for always allowing us to come back to the truth.

In Your Son's Name, Amen

Verses

Ephesians 4:29

Proverbs 16:24

Thoughts

Boy did I need this more than ever today! As we walk into this new year let's focus on the way that we look at ourselves and talk to ourselves. There is so much power in our words. They breed life or death. We often learn this lesson well for how we should treat others but we too often omit this lesson when it comes to how we speak to ourselves. You are a son or daughter of the Almighty King. And you are a son and daughter that this almighty father is proud of. We must be cautious not to compare Him to earthly fathers. For they are human and they all fall short and to a lot of us out they are even completely nonexistent but hold tight because your Heavenly father is nothing like that. And even to those with a great earthly father, know God loves your even more than that. God does not shame you, God does not label you a disappointment, God does not give up on you. You are His and He looks at you in the midst of your struggles or personal disappointments and smiles. So be kind to yourself. Treat yourself as you would treat others in a hard time. Call yourself worthy, call yourself chosen, call yourself called, call yourself beautiful, call yourself purposed. This is not crazy, this is speaking truth and will bring those desolate places in you to life.

Questions

Where do you feel low self-worth?

What are you shameful of?

What does God's word say to you in response to these lies?

How can you purposefully practice being kinder to yourself?

Challenge

End negative self talk and thoughts. When you catch yourself doing this think about what you would say to your best friend or your child if they were dealing with those same thoughts or worries and change your words.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 5 of 13

Because He Cares About You

Prayer

Father God, thank you for your goodness. Thank you that even though I don’t deserve it you have an unfailing love toward me. You want to protect me and you want to see me free from worry. You care about me and I am so thankful. I pray and believe that the struggles I faced in the last year will make me stronger for the year to come. You are my redeemer and I want to walk into this new year restored. Help me to not fear failure based on what I saw to be failures in this last season. I pray to walk into this year believing the best about myself and believing that you have called me to greater. I love you Lord.

In your Son’s name, Amen

Verses

1 Peter 5:6-11

Thoughts

I am believing that I can use the tools I gained from my battles in 2015 to overcome in 2016. Anxiety was a tough struggle for me this year. And as the year closes there is much that the enemy wants us to be anxious about. All the things we didn’t do in the last 12 month and all the things we hope to have the strength to do in the 12 months to come. But your freedom is chained by your anxiety. If you’re feeling anxious remember what we talked about in my blog post on anxiety. Stop. Breath. Build your confidence in the Lord. Identify what’s making you anxious. Resist. Believe the words of 1 Peter 5:7…”Cast all your Anxiety on God because He cares about you.” He wants to take your worry from you simply because He loves you. What a good God we serve.  

Questions

What battles did you face in 2015?

What tools did you gain from your battles?

What are you feeling anxious about in the coming of the new year?

What are the truths that speak to the things you are worried about?

Challenge

Recognize where you are anxious and cast your worry to the Lord, believing that He is trustworthy, has your best interest in hand, and is taking care of you.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 4 of 13

Tricks

Prayer

Father God, you are so good. You are the hand that saves us from the deceiver. Lord I pray protection over our lives in the last days of this year. Keep us from the enemy’s hand and help us to see clearly the areas in which he is building our pride. I want to let go of the things that I still have my grip on. Thank you for being a Lord that we can trust and that care about us.We humble ourselves before your throne. You are almighty, you are all knowing, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t permeate in all areas of my life. I pray as I spend time with you daily that I will be fit with the armor of God and that I will know my worth as it is defined by you and not the world.

In your Son’s holy name,

Amen

Verse

Matthew 4 

Thoughts

Let’s not be naive. You have purpose to your life. You have a chance for a fresh start in a new year just days around the corner. The last thing the enemy wants is for you to find strength in the turning of the year. He in no way wants you to take the opportunity to turn things around like we talked about yesterday. So we must be on watch for his tricks. In the wilderness he tempted Jesus by trying to build him up and make him prideful. Pride is what leads us to our own destruction. The areas we feel entitled to are the areas we are not leaning on the Lord. Our weakest places are the places that we think we “have it covered” and are not leaning on God.

Questions

Where do you feel as if you “have it covered”?

What things are you leaving God out of and doing on your own?

Are you allowing the world to determine how you will gain your worth?

Are you spending time in prayer and thanksgiving for every area of your life?

Challenge

Recognize where you are not leaning on the Lord for strength, help, and direction then humble yourself. Admit that you know, although it looks good now over time with out God it will be destroyed. Let God in and avoid the enemy's tricks of pride.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 3 of 13

The Game’s not over.

Scripture

James 1:2-4,12

Prayer

Father God, thank you that we are not defined by one moment. Thank you that every moment is a new chance to make the right decision, to persevere, and to move toward you. Although we fall short it does not keep us from your promises and for your grace I am so grateful. Be with us as we end this year and start a new one. Help us to see that our future is not decided by our past or present but by your word. May our lives be a testament of your victory. Instill courage in us to keep walking forward. Be our strength and be our hope! Lord, I invite you into my life, and I ask you to be my help as I am believing to overcome the challenges this year as brought me and I look forward to the blessings ahead of me. I love you so much God!

In Your Son's Name, Amen

Thoughts

No matter what you have faced this year, whether it was your best year yet or a year paired with your greatest challenges and heartbreaks, you’re game is not over. You are still in the midst of the purpose you have been called to on this earth and there in no greater time than now to keep walking, start walking for the first time, or get back on track with believing the best about yourself and the Lord. We must hold our heads high and know that no matter what we have faced in the past or are currently dealing with can determine what the future holds for us. Like I said weeks ago in a post. It is time for your comeback. Now is not the time to give up but the time to persevere.

Questions

Where in your life do you feel like you are “losing the game”?

How can you let God into those areas of your life?

What are times in your life where you have turned it around and experienced a comeback?

How have your mishaps this year made you stronger? 

Challenge 

Find hope in the fact that the game is not over and you still have an opportunity to live the life that you desire. Make small steps. Believe you can do it. Let God off the bench to help you.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 1 of 13

"Sure it's Been Hard, But..." 

Prayer 

Lord, thank you for who you are. Thank you that in the midst of the busyness in this season you are still present. Thank you for the way that you are always with us even in the times that we don't seek you like we should. I pray we can take time to remember all you have done for us and shown us as this year comes to an end and we can remember what this week means to us as Christians. You came to this earth to bring us your word and offer salvation through the miraculous birth of our Savior and I'm so thankful.

I love you Lord, thank you!

In your Son's name, Amen!

Verses

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 

Thoughts 

12 months. 12 months full of lot’s of blessing but also 12 months full of lot’s of challenges. We all have a story of 2015. We each have our victories and we all have the battles that feel more like losses. Although the story is different for all of us, there is one common denominator from me to you and the stranger next door. We’re all still here. We made it. Another year in the books and no matter what pressures we experienced we were not destroyed, no matter what confused us, hope is not lost, no matter what or who persecuted us we were not abandoned, and despite being struck down at times, we were not destroyed. And as you look back on your year and look forward to what’s to come take time to remember that God’s hand has been on you the entire time and His hand is surely on you now. Sure, times were hard but the victories far outweigh the struggle. Praise Him.

Questions

What were the biggest challenges of your year?

What were the greatest blessings of this year?

Looking back, where was the Lord protecting you when you weren’t aware of it?

Are you focusing more on the struggles or the victories?

Today's Challenge

Let’s end this year remembering the way we’ve overcome our challenges, not remembering the fact that we had challenges.

Finish Free Devotional - Day 2 of 13

Called to Abundance

Prayer
Lord, I thank you so much for who you are. Thank you for always being there for me. Father I am sorry for the times that I have felt so lonely or in need when the whole time you were there offering me your hand the entire time. Thank you that you don't want to just be worshiped but you want to be in a relationship with me. I pray that I can experience the fullness of life you promised. And even in the craziness of this year you have filled me up in ways that nothing else could. For this I am so grateful!
In your Son's name, Amen. 

Verses

Ephesians 3:14-21

Thoughts

It hurts to feel alone, it hurts to feel unwhole. There may have been times this year when you experienced this or you may feel it now. The knowing that there could be something more to the life you're living can be taunting. God offers the fullness of life but we must be connected to Him. We must allow Him the room in our lives to move and challenge us. Our God is active and He is surely alive. He is with you and He is calling you. His desire is for you to experience the fullness He offers when you are in relationship with Him.

Questions

What areas of your life are currently closed off to God?

Are you spending quality time with Him?

Are you allowing Him to lead you through your everyday life?

Are you believing the lies that you are alone or without when you have a God that says he can supply all our needs?

Challenge

Enter this year in a surrendered and open relationship with the Lord. Spend quality time with Him and give him the opportunity to lead you into the fullness He promises.