“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. … John 15:1-7

Often I desire to be able to focus on one thing at a time. Everyday I feel like I am being pulled in a million different directions. Mental exhaustion at the end of the day is pretty typical for me, everything on my to do list seems too important to cross off.

I find myself playing catch up in almost every area of my life including laundry, money, housekeeping, bible study, and grocery shopping. Finding the best way to divide my time seems almost impossible.

Often I will go to God with my overwhelm, begging Him to please help. Help lessen the financial burden by helping us get caught up or help me to be able to manage it all. I want it to be OK to not have a clean organized home, or to eat fast food everyday. But none of this is good for my family so I work to change it.

I work to try and do everything on my to do list only to have stuff left on it and I end up playing catch up the next day. Or I try to work more in order to meet our needs and I avoid sleep so I can finally try to get caught up.

But no matter what I do the disorganization and the overwhelm that is in my mind and life never seem to be resolved…until I put my complete focus on God.

When I focus on His promises, or I focus on His provision, I’m not overwhelmed anymore. Or when I focus on the individuals and the relationships that’s when I’m not overwhelmed by the big numbers that equal success.

When I focus on God I take life one moment at a time. Of course my flesh wants to be the center of attention, but my focus needs to be on God and not on me.

I desire to be able to focus on one thing at a time and when I focus on God I am truly able to go throughout my day without being overwhelmed.

And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:15

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this beautiful day. Everyday I wake up to a list of things to do and it is truly overwhelming at times. Often I have no idea where to start because they all are important. I am so thankful to be able to turn to You and put my focus on You. When I do You are always there to guide me. Lord please continue to guide. Show me where to pour my heart into. Guide me in when I should say no, and motivate me when I say yes. Thank You for always being there even when my heart is resistant and selfish. I pray this in Jesus’ name. – Amen!

Copyright © 2012 Heather Bixler, All Rights Reserved

 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email

Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4

What does it take to walk by faith? This is a question I have been pondering for a couple of months now and with the New Year here I feel God strongly impressing on my heart that the word FAITH is my word for this year.

Last year my word was healing, and 2011 definitely brought healing in every area of my life. It seems a bit strange to go from healing to faith because in my mind it takes faith to bring healing. However seeing God’s faithfulness in bringing healing to my life will definitely be fresh in my mind as I learn to walk in faith this year.

Part of me is afraid. The fear that comes with walking in faith is there because of the unknown. Faith means I won’t have all the answers, and right now I would LOVE some answers. Or maybe I will think I have the answers only to have everything fall out of place again only to leave me with more questions than answers.

Faith means trusting God when you can’t see past two feet in front of you. It means walking down a winding road in the fog with confidence and boldness only because you KNOW that you’re here because that’s where God has brought you.

Walking in faith is not easy for me, especially since I am pretty comfortable worrying and being afraid of everything. I like to have control and I like to plan and set goals. But lately my plans and goals seem to be falling through the cracks and all I’m left with is my faith in God and His promises – which really seems to be enough.

So in 2012 I plan to walk by faith so I can also walk in His grace.

Faith brings us grace because when we walk by faith we find our self in a vulnerable place where we let go of control and surrender to Him. We can’t walk by faith if we have a heart of pride. Faith brings us to a place of humility because we finally find our strength in Him instead of what we can accomplish on our own.

Faith is enough. God is enough. His promises are enough, and He always keeps His promises.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for another hour, day, week, year. It is a wonderful blessing to be alive and well. Thank you for your provision and healing. So much has happened last year, and I look back on it with gratitude in my heart. Right now it’s difficult to find that gratitude, joy, and confidence simply because things aren’t going the way I had planned, and I have no clue where things are going really. I am grateful for the rainbows You send me, they remind me that You always keep Your promises. I think I can walk down the path You lead me with confidence and boldness this year if I can get a little glimpse of Your promises and a rainbow every once in awhile. Lord, even though it’s not easy to walk by faith, I also know it is a blessing because it keeps me focused on YOU and YOUR strength and provision in my life. And for that I am grateful. I pray this in your might son Jesus’ name. – AMEN!

Copyright © 2012 Heather Bixler, All Rights Reserved

Today I am linking up with “What is Your Word for 2012?“

 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

A brain fuzzy from lack of sleep, I try to handle a sibling conflict. Impatient, I speak harshly. I enforce unnecessary consequences. Later, I realize I had made matters worse. I wasn’t Christ-like in my interactions with my children. Instead of pointing them toward Christ, my behavior turned them away.

Some days, my failures as a mother point an accusing finger straight at my soul. It tells me I am no good and a failure as a Christ-follower.

Do you have days where you feel like you’ve failed in your walk with Christ?

Scripture challenges those lies that I am a failure. Instead, it tells me that while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me. (Romans 5:8) When I stumble in my walk, I remind myself that he bore those very sins on the cross. His grace covers me each time I fall.

Not only that, the Bible tells me that the path to holiness has already been paved. The righteous life Jesus lived is given to me. I just need to walk in it. He will complete the good work he started. Christ paid a high price for me, He will not allow me to fail.

I rest in that promise and it strengthens me.

On those days where I stumble in my flesh, He pulls me back up so that I may stand on the road of grace. And I remember anew the Love that died for me. It was His grace that paid for me, His grace that gives me His righteousness and His grace that helps me to continue my walk with Him.

Do you sense His grace today?

For further reading: Hebrews 4:16, 2 Peter 1:2, Romans 5:10

Copyright © 2011 Christina Fox, All Rights Reserved

 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email