I JUST Wanted To...

I just wanted to say, good morning! 

I just think this would be a good idea. 

Dear Lord, I just want to ask you for...

JUST.  A polite sentiment that I've been using over and over again. One not to intrude or interfere, but just to ask or just to say something. 

I read an article yesterday from Propel Women,  an organization dedicated to helping women internalize a leadership identity and find their purpose, passion and potential, titled "Three Words that Undermine Your Message" and the word "JUST" was top on the list! The author writes,

"This word is usually used as an explanation, but it comes across as weak, apologetic, and whiny. Sometimes we use “just” to make our idea seem small. That way, if someone doesn’t like it or doesn’t agree with us, we can brush it off without being hurt. The truth is that you have to believe what you’re saying more than anyone else does. You have to own it, not minimize it! Simply remove this word and the sentence becomes stronger, more direct, and confident." 

It hit me like a ton of bricks. The word "just" isn't bad nor wrong, but the way that I've been using it has been undermining the way I approach things, especially in my prayer life. Dear Lord, I just want to ask you to show me your way in this. It almost sounds as if I'm bothering God with my request.

Dear God, the Mighty Creator of the Universe, the Redeemer, the Giver of Life, the One Who Is and Can do all things, can you pretty please just help me? It's as if I'm saying, "I'm coming to ask for your help, but I'm unsure if you will or if you care or if this is even worthy of asking." 

Anyone? Or is it just me? 

I don't think this a matter of faith, but a preconditioning, politeness of the heart. We never want to inconvenience those around us, but sometimes when we approach God, we feel the same way. I'm afraid there might be an underlying, unnoticed tone in our hearts in which we feel this time our request may just inconvenience Him.

I believe God is who He says He is in the Bible. I believe that He is the same God who parted the Red Sea, shut the mouths of lions, saved guys from a fiery furnace, healed the sick and made a way for us to have eternal life with Him in heaven through Jesus Christ. I believe the stories of the Bible and I believe that He can do the same things today in 2016 as He did back then. 

And I've witnessed modern day miracles: babies being born healthy without a medical explanation, broken relationships and hearts being restored, sick being healed, addictions broken, people doing a complete one-eighty in their lives and seeing strength and courage given when something's hard to face. Yet, I still sometimes go to God as if I'm bothering Him. 

The truth of it, God cares about it all. He says in the Bible that He does (Psalm 139). Even the littlest as I've seen it in my own life. I've asked for the smallest of things - from needing to be on time for a meeting and hitting all green lights, to finding a new place to live as time is running out, to finding lost car keys and finishing a race when I didn't think I'd have enough strength to go the distance.  To be the biggest of things - healing of a broken heartache, finding strength to get up each morning and do life after the loss of my Momma, loving again without hinderance, bitterness, or fear after a divorce, and having the freedom to laugh, find joy and enjoy life after all the hardship in life. Those are big, y'all! 

I'm sure you have stories of the same. 

So let's be BOLD. Not just bold sometimes or occasionally, but always. Let's remember Who we are asking. Let's be the ones who are filled with gratitude and ask unapologetically and who love fiercely. Let's be confident in God's promises, His great love and His truth in the Bible. 

No more #justsaying. Instead #truth #boldness #confidence #compassion #love 

I don't just love y'all. I really do. 
xoxo
Jes

P.S. Are you in the wait of life right now or afraid to ask? This article is a great reminder as we pray and ask God. 

"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:12

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

"Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deed, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

When I'm Weak

As an avid CrossFit enthusiast, I’ve learned to do pull-ups, squat cleans, clean and jerks, climb ropes, flip tires and now know words like WOD, AMRAP, and RFT. I’ve also learned that I’m physically stronger than I ever thought. The physical fitness has brought on a mental fitness where I’ve learned how to push beyond the muscle fatigue to meet (or beat!) the workout goal.

However in all of the physical fitness, there have been a few times when I wanted to quit. I wanted to literally quit the workout, skip the next exercise rep and walk away. In life, there have also been times that I wanted to quit the job, stop the work, forget the responsibility, leave the commitment and simply walk away.

Today’s WOD (Workout of the Day) was a 20 minutes AMRAP where you complete as many rounds as possible in the allotted time. Going into the workout, I had made a mental note to complete at least four rounds. I started off pretty strong, slowed down some in the third round, and pushed through the fourth to realize that I still had four minutes left on the time clock!

“Holy smokes, are you kidding me? I thought, I can’t make it through one more round. But I can’t sit around and wait for the time to expire either! “Lord, give me strength to finish.” I whispered while chalking my hands to jump up to the pull-up bar once more. As sweat was dripping down my face and my arm muscles were starting to burn, I barely busted out the last few pull-ups. From there I went onto next exercise and whispered again, “Give me strength, Lord.” as I took in a deep breath to finish the last set of lunges just before the buzzer went off.

I made it! Feeling quite accomplished and completely worn out, I laid down on the cool concrete to recover.  I had just complete five rounds--one more round than I thought that I could to start. As I caught my breath, I felt as though I heard God’s voice whisper in my heart, “For when you are weak, I am strong.” a Bible verse that I recognized.

My mind raced as I thought about the times in my life when I didn’t think I was strong enough to finish. When I kept seeing no while waiting for a yes, when my guy walked out and the heartache was fierce, when my boss couldn't see the worth of my work and perfection was defeating, when my commitment to teach stood in the way of the evening of fun or my fight to stand firm when the right thing wasn't cool. 

In those times, I had whispered the same prayer. While God's strength didn't always change my circumstances, it gave me the confidence to have faith in His power and persevere in His truth. It allowed me to finish even when I was stretched thin. God's strength changed my attitude [perspective] and gave a peace in my heart do the work, bear the disappointment or carry on through. 

I’ve said many times, “God must think I’m strong.” as I endured trial after trial, but the truth is, He is the One who is strong. I'm simply the one who asks for His power. Because when I am weak, He is strong. 

xoxo

Jes

P.S. Where do you need His strength today?

"I can do this through Christ who gives me strengths. " Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

“But The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9 & 10b (NIV) 

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us. " Philippians 3:14 (NIV)