Browsed by
Category: Devotionals

person hand reaching body of water
Lies Perfectionists Believe About God 

Lies Perfectionists Believe About God 

God, why do you feel so far away right now? We’ve all asked this question, even David, the man after God’s own heart. This rift in our spiritual relationship is confusing because God’s presence seems inconsistent. Perfectionists follow the checklist of spiritual disciplines, keeping up with our Bible-in-a-year plan, volunteering every week, and praying for the people we say we will. We’re doing our part, so where is God?  Perfectionists are tempted to solve every problem by attempting to do…

Read More Read More

woman looking at sea while sitting on beach
Why Am I So Unmotivated? 8 Reasons

Why Am I So Unmotivated? 8 Reasons

Scanning my planner, I saw lines against lines of unfinished tasks–Tasks that would move me toward my dreams, tasks that I desperately wanted to accomplish but always pushed off for lack of energy and motivation. It had been two years of this. My sight started to blur, and fat tears streamed down my face. Will I ever get over this motivation hump? Why am I so unmotivated?  It took two years, but I finally asked myself why. In my journey and in…

Read More Read More

photo of woman holding her head
How To Build Discipline Without Getting Overwhelmed

How To Build Discipline Without Getting Overwhelmed

I used to think discipline was pure willpower, and most people seemed to be better at it than me. When researching discipline and motivation, I felt so defeated. I’ve tried “pushing through,” and it never works. But in studying my Bible, trying different strategies, and researching the science connecting discipline and motivation,  I’ve realized we’ve been looking at the two all wrong.  Discipline can be joy-producing and invigorating, deeper than motivation. It can be productive but not overwhelming. Getting to…

Read More Read More

woman jumping wearing green backpack
The Recipe For Staying Motivated

The Recipe For Staying Motivated

Peeling my eyes open, I felt the seconds tick by. My family went to bed hours ago; the house was quiet, and my dog was asleep in his bed. When will I ever be done? My to-do list seemed never-ending. Exhausted, I felt a hot tear slide down my cheek.  Should I turn on some energizing music? Maybe watch a motivational speech on YouTube? Should I splash water on my face and force myself to continue? After all, the sooner…

Read More Read More

woman sitting in front of macbook
Why Motivation Doesn’t Work For You

Why Motivation Doesn’t Work For You

Lots to do and never enough time, I repeated for the hundredth time. Knee tapping against my desk and planner pages bursting with tasks, I felt so overwhelmed. School zapped me, but these were exciting projects; why am I so unmotivated? My knee slowed; I checked my watch—6 p.m. I just can’t. I don’t have the energy. Closing my planner, I fell into bed.  This wasn’t unusual. For the past two years, I’ve been in a motivation drought. Stuck with…

Read More Read More

brown landscape under grey sky
How to Protect Your Joy Amid Unmet Expectations: Part 1

How to Protect Your Joy Amid Unmet Expectations: Part 1

Let’s talk about expectations. As a recovering perfectionist, I struggle with setting my expectations too high and constantly being disappointed. When you’re always being disappointed in others, yourself, even God, it’s easy to lose sight of the joy and peace you crave. So this post will explain how we can identify when we are setting our expectations too high, how to be hopeful but also realistic. We will also talk about practicing positivity amid disappointment so that we can keep…

Read More Read More

green trees surrounding lake
Feeling Friendless? Me Too

Feeling Friendless? Me Too

For the past few months, one of the most significant burdens on my heart has been the lack of connection. I felt I had no close friends and like this season would turn into a permanent situation. Going to as many events as I could, reaching out desperately to connect, I tried my best to find a community. The situation remained stagnant. I kept telling myself, “just keep trying; it’ll get better eventually,” but the inner critic started whispering like…

Read More Read More

photo of person riding kayak during dawn
When You Can’t Hear His Voice

When You Can’t Hear His Voice

We fostered rescues for years, and I learned so many positive lessons from that experience. God never ceases to amaze me in how He puts the pieces of past experiences and present struggles together to create a lesson with enough impact to make it stick. One such occasion was with our first set of kittens. A young mom and her four kittens were ours for a few months as the babies aged into readiness for adoption. We watched as the…

Read More Read More

foamy ocean under cloudy sky at sunset
How to Find Freedom From the Fear of Flaws

How to Find Freedom From the Fear of Flaws

How to Find Freedom From the Fear of Flaws “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves [punishment]. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:8 God will never leave us when we fail My mom always reminds my sister and me that there is nothing we could do to lose her love. Her love casts out my fear of confessing and her judging me. Because of…

Read More Read More

wavy foamy ocean near shore under blue sky
When You Just Want to Fix It

When You Just Want to Fix It

There is this ingrained desire to solve problems. At the core of some of us, we feel this need to make everything better. My mom always described this feeling as wanting to be someone’s savior. When someone trusts us enough to open up about their lousy grade, parents’ divorce, or crumbling love life, we want to fix the situation, make everyone happy, and save the day.