The Saga of Life
Don't forget the strategy at the bottom!
We want to help you actively practice what you are reading today!
"The Lord God is my strength. He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills."
Habakkuk 3:19
I remember vividly a short season of stressful interruption in my life due to a Facebook hack. My personal Facebook page was hacked many years ago. And before I knew it, my passwords had been changed and my bank accounts nearly accessed. It was a very scary and frustrating time. Literally, I felt as though I had been robbed and my personal life very much invaded. Years of interactions with family and friends, pictures, videos, and memories were now inaccessible, and I spent hours and hours securing others accounts, changing passwords and attempting to recover 'my' page.
(To this day, I have never able to regain access.)
It's one thing when you are dealing with the consequences of your own choices:
What then?
Doesn't that warrant a huge bowl of Rocky Road icecream?
Don't you deserve that family size bag of Doritos?
Maybe.
But make no mistake.
Anything you do in excess that leads to guilt later, is a work of Satan.
Read that again.
1 Corinthians 6:12 puts it this way,
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything."
No one is going to condemn you for soothing your stressful soul with a big bowl of ice cream and cookies during a crazy, frustrating season of life. In fact most of your closest friends and family would likely encourage it.
"You deserve it. Life is hard. This will make you feel better."
And there's that word; FEEL.
Know this. Feeling your way through stress only leads to more stress.
I still feel my blood pressure getting elevated when I think about that season. I remember needing to be more diligent than ever not act on feelings when working through the stress.
You may find yourself in a similar situation right now, and needing to be diligent too.
Just because ice cream isn't outlawed doesn't mean it's the first thing we should run to under stress.
Friend, God still promises to lead us to a successful life, "a land flowing with milk and honey." No matter what your current situation looks like. But that promised land and all that is there waiting? It is conditional. Getting there requires one thing; obedience. Obedience when life is going in your favor and obedience when it's not.
Today, choose not to be enslaved by stress. And not to eat just because you're stressed. Yes, the saga of life continues. But so does the mighty and powerful Word of God! Remember this,
"The Lord God is my strength. He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills."
Hold onto this. Your valley experience (stress) can only last so long. God truly is leading you out of the valley and up onto the mountaintop today.
Let's Pray.
Dear God,
Even though the saga continues, I will still put my trust in You. Your Word continues to be a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. I will meditate on Your Word day and night so that I will not sin against You. God, I know You have a plan, and I am reminded in the book of Job, that no plan of Your can be thwarted. Today, I choose to run to You and not food during my times of stress and frustration. Thank You for the constant reminder. I praise Your holy name.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen
E4M DAILY STRATEGY
The Saga of Life
When the saga of stress in your life continues, how can you remain faithful and obedient? Read the following verses. And then, share how you will courageously and actively work out obedience in your life today.
1. “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."
Exodus 23:22
How will God handle our enemies if we are obedient to His Word? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. "But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 11:28
What will we be if we are obedient to God's Word?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. "But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’"
Jeremiah 7:23
What does God promise if we obey His Word?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. "I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments." Psalm 119:60
What does the psalmist realize about the timing of our obedience? When should we practice obedience?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We want to help you actively practice what you are reading today!
"The Lord God is my strength. He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills."
Habakkuk 3:19
I remember vividly a short season of stressful interruption in my life due to a Facebook hack. My personal Facebook page was hacked many years ago. And before I knew it, my passwords had been changed and my bank accounts nearly accessed. It was a very scary and frustrating time. Literally, I felt as though I had been robbed and my personal life very much invaded. Years of interactions with family and friends, pictures, videos, and memories were now inaccessible, and I spent hours and hours securing others accounts, changing passwords and attempting to recover 'my' page.
(To this day, I have never able to regain access.)
It's one thing when you are dealing with the consequences of your own choices:
- When you make the decision to overspend, you will pay the consequence of dealing with the stress of debt.
- When you make the decision to overeat, you will pay the consequence of dealing with the stress and guilt of added weight.
What then?
Doesn't that warrant a huge bowl of Rocky Road icecream?
Don't you deserve that family size bag of Doritos?
Maybe.
But make no mistake.
Anything you do in excess that leads to guilt later, is a work of Satan.
Read that again.
1 Corinthians 6:12 puts it this way,
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything."
No one is going to condemn you for soothing your stressful soul with a big bowl of ice cream and cookies during a crazy, frustrating season of life. In fact most of your closest friends and family would likely encourage it.
"You deserve it. Life is hard. This will make you feel better."
And there's that word; FEEL.
Know this. Feeling your way through stress only leads to more stress.
I still feel my blood pressure getting elevated when I think about that season. I remember needing to be more diligent than ever not act on feelings when working through the stress.
You may find yourself in a similar situation right now, and needing to be diligent too.
Just because ice cream isn't outlawed doesn't mean it's the first thing we should run to under stress.
Friend, God still promises to lead us to a successful life, "a land flowing with milk and honey." No matter what your current situation looks like. But that promised land and all that is there waiting? It is conditional. Getting there requires one thing; obedience. Obedience when life is going in your favor and obedience when it's not.
Today, choose not to be enslaved by stress. And not to eat just because you're stressed. Yes, the saga of life continues. But so does the mighty and powerful Word of God! Remember this,
"The Lord God is my strength. He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills."
Hold onto this. Your valley experience (stress) can only last so long. God truly is leading you out of the valley and up onto the mountaintop today.
Let's Pray.
Dear God,
Even though the saga continues, I will still put my trust in You. Your Word continues to be a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. I will meditate on Your Word day and night so that I will not sin against You. God, I know You have a plan, and I am reminded in the book of Job, that no plan of Your can be thwarted. Today, I choose to run to You and not food during my times of stress and frustration. Thank You for the constant reminder. I praise Your holy name.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen
E4M DAILY STRATEGY
The Saga of Life
When the saga of stress in your life continues, how can you remain faithful and obedient? Read the following verses. And then, share how you will courageously and actively work out obedience in your life today.
1. “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."
Exodus 23:22
How will God handle our enemies if we are obedient to His Word? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. "But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 11:28
What will we be if we are obedient to God's Word?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. "But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’"
Jeremiah 7:23
What does God promise if we obey His Word?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. "I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments." Psalm 119:60
What does the psalmist realize about the timing of our obedience? When should we practice obedience?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
February
September
October
November
Run Your RaceCooperate PleaseNoise Noise NoiseDon't Do What Peter DidNew People Do New ThingsThe Lord REALLY is your strengthTime To RenovateDo You Need Some Good NewsThere is Something You Need to KnowIt's Not an OptionShow Up To ScoreYou're Scrolling in the Wrong PlaceWhat Do You Need To Hear TodayAre You Hanging on by a Thread?Let's Get TogetherDon't Stop NowThoughts from a Thanksgiving OutreachQuit Going in CirclesI've Got So Many Things to Thank Him ForBecause Mama Said SoToday, I'm Grateful ForDon't Wait Another MinuteLook in the MirrorJust One ThingFrom This Day On
December
The End is So Much GreaterThe Gift That Money Can't BuyGet This is Your HeadHe is WillingRun Your Race TodayRise and ShineGod Wants You To Know ThisThe Power of 30Let It BeWhat You See Is What You EatAre You AfraidBeing Overweight Can Cripple YouWhen You Go To BattleAre You Having one of "Those" DaysThe Saga of LifeI Survived (And So Will You)Lift up Your HandsYes You CanWrap This UpYour Trial is About to Become Your TestimonyLet's Drink to ThatIt's High Time
1 Comment
This too shall pass. Everyday is a gift from God. Don’t dwell on the bad dwell on God and his word.