Devotionals for the Heart: Fear Not!

Fear Not!
A devotional by Ginger Solomon

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?”
~Psalm 56:3-4 (NLT)

I’ve been dealing with a lot of fear lately. I’m not sure why. Crazy hormones? Bad eating habits? Too much stress? A teen with a learner’s license?

Two years ago, I also dealt with fear, but then I had a specific reason. I was facing brain surgery. My neurosurgeon was confident in his abilities, but any little thing could have gone wrong and caused my death.

At the time, I took out a notebook and searched for verses about fear. I wrote a bunch of them down. Not every verse applied to me, but many did. And God buoyed my faith in Him at that critical time.

Today, I struggle.

And, sadly, I have not yet overcome. I wallow instead of praying. *Shrug* What can I say? I’m human. I forget God’s promises.

I’m sure you’ve heard, but I’ll tell you again, in case you didn’t know and to remind myself. “Fear not” is in the Bible 365 times. (Someone else says 366 to account for leap year, but I didn’t check it out.) Every day, God has given us a verse to fight against the fear.

And yet, here I am, living my life afraid.

What am I afraid of? In essence, it boils down to one thing—getting hurt. I don’t like to be in pain. But then who does? And I find this utterly amusing because for the last seven years, I have lived with chronic back pain.

I’m not afraid of heights. I’m afraid of falling, or more accurately, of landing. I’m not afraid of cars. I’m afraid of car accidents (people are crazy drivers). I’m not afraid of writing stories. I’m afraid of disappointing God by not writing the right story. Do you see where I’m going?

But my fear is holding me back. And, more importantly, it’s starting to affect my family.

I’ve taught five children to drive (that’s scary, in and of itself). I should have this whole sitting in the passenger seat down, but I don’t. I still get nervous. My inexperienced child is behind the wheel of a four-thousand-pound vehicle. And there are IDIOTS on the streets (and no, I don’t apologize for that word because it is absolutely accurate). Anything could happen.

And therein lies the rub.

I’m scared of what could happen. It steals my joy of the right now. It makes my child think I don’t trust his driving abilities, and really, it’s not him so much as it is what the other people are doing.

What I need to remember, and yes, I’m still working on it, is that GOD is in control. My fear is in direct opposition to trusting Him. If I trusted Him like I should, I don’t need to be afraid.

I learned that lesson during the month before my surgery. I trusted Him like I never had before. It was a supernatural faith. And I want it back. I want to look at life through the lens of faith.

My Prayer: Dear God, whatever comes my way today, help me have faith. Help me to trust in Your divine plan and if pain is a part of that plan then help me rely on You to get through it.

~*~
Author Bio:

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly).

She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre, and if she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, books are on her mind.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: How to fight worry and win!

Don’t Worry
A devotional by Dana McNeely

Why do we worry? Do we not believe that God will take care of us?

If you worry, you're not alone. Bible characters worried too, even the best of them like God's prophet Elijah.

The Messenger of Doom

When Queen Jezebel heard all her prophets were dead, she flew into a rage. She sent this message (paraphrase mine) to the prophet Elijah, who had ordered them killed: “We’ll see about that! By this time tomorrow, your body will rot in the sun, just like theirs!”

Elijah fled the city, afraid of a woman.

He ran, as if he weren’t the servant of the living God, as if there were no proof of the Lord’s power. Think back. The previous day, at Elijah’s request, God dramatically sent fire and rain from heaven, ending a three-year drought. Such a victory! Had Elijah forgotten how God raised the widow’s son from the dead? Didn’t Elijah remember the never empty jars of oil and flour? Was being fed by ravens in the desert such a small miracle?

The queen was a formidable enemy, no doubt. Elijah was likely exhausted, mentally and physically from the events of the previous weeks. The messenger of doom made him forget, for a time, everything he’d been shown about the Lord’s powerful love.

Confession: The messenger of doom visits me more often than I like to admit. I struggle with worry, which falls into the general categories of family, friends, my job, my writing, things past, and things to come. I even worry about worrying, because a Christian shouldn’t worry, right?

Saturate Yourself With Truth

Whether I should or shouldn’t, I worry too often. I think the Bible includes stories of great believers who fell victim to worry to encourage us. Elijah’s ministry continued, God gave him a successor, and later he was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot.

We can tell the messenger, “Just because the thought exists doesn’t make it true. The Lord is the source of all truth.” He has said much to conquer our fears in his word. This month as I searched the scriptures, these verses spoke to me. I found it helped me to write the verses and the thoughts I had that day in a notebook.

The Foundation

John 3:16 (NKJV) says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

‘So’ is a big little word. I am so loved by God! You are so loved! This is a wonderful truth to dispel worry: we are so loved by God and we are offered the gift of everlasting life. I have believed in him and have everlasting life. Have you? I hope so!

Psalm 28:7 (NLT) says, “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”

This verse reminds me of the many times God has helped me. The time he healed a sick friend, protected me from a bad accident, and removed a problem at work. And music lifts my soul! I sing and sometimes I strum my ukulele.

Romans 12:12,13 (NLT) says, “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”

Prayer is the great elixir. As I read the rest of Romans 13, I found a long list of actions to take, actions that would take me outside of myself and keep me too busy to worry: Bless those who persecute you, rejoice with those who are happy, weep with those who weep, live in harmony with others, don’t be a know-it-all, live an honorable life.

The Big Picture

John 14:1, 27 (NLT) says, “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am … I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

So many worries become insignificant when I meditate on the Shepherd’s words. I fix my heart on the big picture. The day will come when all earthly troubles will end and I’ll be with him forever. And for now, He offers peace of mind and heart.

It’s your turn:
Here in the comments, please share verses you turn to for help. I’d love to hear your thoughts and strategies to fight worry. I’ll be dropping by today and the rest of the week to chat.

~*~
Author Bio:

Inspired by the Bible story of Elijah and the widow’s son, Dana McNeely wondered why the prophet had come to stay with these two. Who were they? What was their life, before? And how did the boy change after dying, seeing the other world … and coming back? 

Dana began research for her novel, “Rain,” which tells the story of the three-and-a-half-year drought from the boy’s perspective.

No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies. She writes biblical fiction, cozy mysteries, and has written for magazines and newspapers. Her short story “Death in the Butterfly Garden” appears in SoWest: Killer Nights (2017).

Connect with Dana on Facebook, Twitter, or DanaMcNeely.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Strongholds

Pulling down Strongholds
A devotional by Nanci Rubin

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

–2 Cor. 10:4-5 (KJV)

The above Scripture speaks of THOUGHTS!

These thoughts are STRONGHOLDS! 

They produce IMAGINATIONS!

Then come fear and torment, sickness and defeat!

The battlefield is the THOUGHT LIFE. 

The Christian is the enemy of Satan. The devil wants to defeat us by deception. He wants to keep us from the truth, for he knows that the Truth will set us free.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times the enemy has lied to me, and I bet he’s lied to you also. The biggies are, “You’re no good.” “You are not saved.” “You’re not going to make Heaven.” “Your children are going to hell.” “No one appreciates you.” “Your husband doesn’t love you anymore.” “You have cancer.”

These thoughts bring fear. Thousands of lies are offered to your mind. When you accept them as your own, you begin to say with your mouth what the enemy has said to your mind. We have to bring every thought into the captivity of Christ. We must remember that life and death are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)

When you repeat out loud, the lies Satan gives you in thoughts, you become fearful and live in torment. You are defeated before you even begin. Self-confidence is eroded, and an apathetic persona robs you of your energy. You feel trapped and unable to escape. A lie seeded in your mind.

Accept God’s thoughts and promises and repeat them out loud in faith. It brings peace to your heart. My dear mother used to take index cards and write scripture on each one and posted them on her refrigerator. Every morning she read them out loud. She placed God’s word in her mind, not what our enemy would like for us to confess. Hold up your Bible and look at it. Contained therein are the thoughts of God! Live in the pages. Replace every thought the enemy gives you with one of God’s thoughts. For every lie, the enemy whispers you must stand tall and counter it with the Word of God. When you do, he will have to flee.

“Submit yourselves therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

–James 4:7 (KJV)

There is supernatural power in God’s Word. I was put to the test several years ago when I stayed with my brother after his surgery. I knew in my spirit my brother was waging a war, and if I didn’t stand in the gap right then he would die. I prayed all night, walked the floor and quoted every scripture I knew over and over. I felt such power from God’s Word. I knew in the spiritual realm my voice was heard. I was living John 7:38 (KJV), “He that believeth in me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” I could feel living water rise within as I interceded for my brother.

Remember the battleground is in the mind, and the devil desires to infuse your thought life with his lies. Lies to beat you down, give you fear and doubt. He has perfected his subtle ways through eons of time. You see, his primary approach is to attack our minds. He wants us to accept and act upon it.

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and defile the man.” –Matthew 15:18 (KJV)

God was very specific when he stated in scripture for us to guard our hearts, being careful about what we see and hear and speak. We can’t allow our senses to become garbage receptacles and dump just anything in there.

You can alter your condition and atmosphere by changing your thought life. Concentrate on God’s great unchanging promises. You cannot sow seed thoughts of sickness and live in an atmosphere of health. You have to see yourself as a conqueror before you have the victory. Take baby steps. Find the scriptures that surround your area of need. Meditate on them and trust God. 

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7a (KJV)

Calvary made a way. The Blood of Jesus is the key to every issue we have in life. See yourself as an overcomer. If you do, you’ll have victory over every circumstance. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we want but allowing our Savior access and seeking him first will guarantee peaceful resolve. 

Be alert to your enemy and don’t let your guard down. 

Stay prayed up, suited up and ready for a battle. 

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci writes Inspy Amish romance. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two fur kids, Romeo and Juliet, rescue cats. She is working on her debut novel, Plain Justice.

She retired earlier than planned from nursing to care for her mother, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her mom passed last year at the age of ninety-nine and Nanci has delved more into her writing.

She is active in an intercessory prayer ministry in her church, belongs to The Woman’s Club, a service-oriented volunteer organization dedicated to the welfare and enrichment of the community and volunteers two days a week at the Mary Washington Museum.

Currently, she's enrolled in Rhema Bible College’s correspondence Bible studies. She belongs to ACFW and RWA. When she’s not working, reading or writing she’s hiking with her husband at Shenandoah National Park.

A New Year's Devotional for your heart

Today marks the first day of a new year! Welcome into 2017!

Are you looking forward to this new journey? I am hopeful, for many reasons.

Please welcome a new face to the blog, Lynn Kinnaman! She's an author and ministry leader with a heart for Jesus Christ. Today, she's here to share a devotional about taking a fresh start in life.

I hope that your heart will be encouraged by her message.

God bless you!

~*~

A New Beginning – A Fresh Start

A New Year 2017 post by Lynn Kinnaman

I’m not much for resolutions, but I do feel a renewing with the beginning of a new year. After all, we’ve just come off the season of the birth of Jesus, the hope of the world, and we know the promise of salvation that He brings.

However, one January many years ago found me desolate. I felt no hope and couldn’t imagine a future. My life, as I’d known it, had disappeared.

I was getting a divorce.

I’d met my husband at church when I was 15, and on my 16th birthday he gave me a ride home from a youth event and we became an item. A little over three years later we got married and a few years after that we were blessed with two children.

Having a family meant everything to me. As an only child of divorced parents, I’d never really experienced the closeness and warmth I’d read about in books, and I relished the idea of building new traditions.

Then it was gone. After 28 years of marriage I had to begin again. The problem was, having gotten married so young and identifying myself as a wife and mother, I didn’t think I was anyone by myself.

In addition to the divorce, we’d also gone through bankruptcy. I had no job, no credit and no ideas.

Stripped of all the things that I thought had defined me, I was forced to figure out who I was and what I should do with the rest of my life.

I could crawl under the bed and hide, which was very appealing, or I could make some changes.

I knew I wasn’t alone. Through the darkest times of the divorce and bankruptcy I prayed and God sustained me. I was angry, I was frightened, I was hurt, I was shattered. I went to church and cried. Yet He never left me.

I felt unloved. He loved me and rejoiced over me (Zephaniah 3:17).

I felt betrayed. God was constant and He keeps His promises (Deuteronomy 7:9).

I felt abandoned. God is faithful (Deuteronomy 31:6).

I felt tired. God gave me the strength I needed (Isaiah 40:31). 

I moved, for the third time in months, and stayed with relatives in another state. I found a church, got a job, and learned a new skill, building websites.

It’s been years since I had to make that massive new start, but I haven’t forgotten the lessons I learned about how to do it.

First, I needed to get grounded. I needed to reconnect with God and find a community of friends who would support my faith and encourage my focus on Him.

Then, I needed to honor my losses but also go beyond myself so I could begin to count my blessings. This wasn’t immediate, it’s a process, but I got a job working with an organization that used animals for therapy for people who had injuries or other disabilities. It was a daily reminder of healing potential.

Finally, I wanted to help others. In 2 Corinthians 1:4 it says that God is the father of compassion and all comfort, “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” I wanted to make that a reality so I took a coaching course and later becoming a Divorce Care Facilitator.

I’ve written books on divorce recovery, comfort verses and began a group called Solo Sisters to create a community for women, who are single for any reason, to support and encourage each other.

My fresh start opened a new path for me, but it worked because I committed it all to Him. As I remember that dark January long ago I realize God has blessed me beyond my imagining. Today I appreciate this new year, and feel full of joy and possibilities.

You don’t need a life-changing event to create a new beginning. If you don’t like where you are, imagine where you’d like to be, commit it to God then put one foot in front of the other. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way.

~*~
Author bio: 

Lynn Kinnaman is a published author and website designer. She’s a Stephen Minister and founder of SoloSisters.com, welcoming women who are single for any reason. 

She’s been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul. You can see a complete list of her books and publications on her official website, LynnKinnaman.com.


~*~
Connect with Lynn:
Website - LynnKinnaman.com
Ministry - SoloSisters.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LynnKinnamanAuthor/

Interview (Part II) with Courtnaye Richard, author of "Identified" (book)

Please welcome Courtnaye Richard to the blog again! She's the author of this book:

Courtnaye has more to talk about regarding this book and the reason she wrote it. Enjoy Part II of Courtnaye's interview featuring her book, IDENTIFIED! :)

Here's the interview: 

Alexis: You advise your readers to not let people dictate what they think they should be, but instead to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading. Why is that so important?

Courtnaye: I believe it’s important because if you’re not rooted and grounded in who God says you are through the leading of His Spirit and His Word, then you can be easily persuaded to believe what others say about you over what God says. And that’s when things can get cloudy and confusing. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading will be crucial for victory as you walk out your purpose.

Alexis: In Chapter 3 of your book, you say that Jesus has chosen us to be His disciple. How do you know? And what does that mean for each of us?

Courtnaye: Once you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are then born-again and you become a follower of Christ, which is the definition of a disciple. But it’s also about becoming a student under His leading through Bible studies, church meetings, personal devotion and study time, or additional schooling for your calling.

Alexis: What does it look like to be “hungry for truth” and “want more of God?”

Courtnaye: I would say that it looks like a personal life devoted to Christ. And nothing satisfies you more than getting full in God’s word and spending time with Him at all costs. In the natural sense, when you’re hungry, you look for something to eat. And quite naturally, you won’t stop until you find it. It’s similar with God and wanting more of Him. You’ll search until you find what you’re looking for. And God tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Alexis: Why do you say that prayer is our “lifeline?” How does that relate to our daily living?

Courtnaye: The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Meaning, “Don’t stop praying.” It’s the way we connect and communicate with God. Think about Jack and Beanstalk. The only way they could get up there was through that beanstalk. We can’t live this Christian life successfully without staying connected to God through prayer and through Jesus’ name. Prayer is our lifeline. It’s how we reach Him from day to day, hour by hour, and minute to minute.

Alexis: What does it mean to be identified as a Christian?

Courtnaye: It means knowing who you are in Christ and having the godly character that goes along with the title and your devotion to Him.

Alexis: How can we stop (and free ourselves from) the game of comparison?

Courtnaye: I believe it can stop by identifying and embracing who you truly are in Him. It’s also about not doubting who God has called you to be. And when you grab hold of this fact, that’s where the freedom can enter in. That’s when you can move forward in faith and with a God-confidence.

Alexis: Tell me about your favorite plaque that says, “Thank God for what you have. Trust God for what you need.” Why did you buy it? Why is it special to you?”

Courtnaye: I bought it because it encouraged me to be thankful for what He’s done in my life already, and to be reminded to trust Him in everything for the future. I shared this with the readers because I believe that He wants to remind them as well. He wants to remind them to remain thankful for what He’s done, and to know that He’s got them going forward. All they have to do is keep trusting Him and follow His direction as they walk out their purpose.

Alexis: What does it mean to be courageous and step forward in faith?

Courtnaye: Being courageous is all about trusting God and moving forward in faith in the face of fear. It’s trusting that God has you in the heat of the battle or in the midst of apprehension. If He tells you, “Go and be strong and courageous,” then do it. Because He’s telling you that He will be with you. The next thing to do is to step out in faith courageously!

Alexis: Why is this message of your book important now in today’s modern world?

Courtnaye: I believe it’s very important because it’s time for us to stand up and be identified as Christ’s followers. Christianity is being crowded out of a lot of things in our world today, and so I believe God is raising up His daughters to advance the Kingdom of heaven now. He wants more people to be identified in Him before He sends His Son. I believe that we’re living in very dire times and that Jesus’ return is drawing closer and closer. With that being said, we’ve got work to do before that great day comes.

Alexis: Complete this sentence: When I started writing this book, I thought ______________________________________and when I wrote “the end,” I felt ______________________________________.

Courtnaye: When I started writing this book, I thought “Lord, what do You want to say to Your current and future daughters?” And when I wrote “the end,” I felt like I’d done what He commissioned me to do. 

~*~

NEWS: It's not too late for you to WIN a copy of Identified! Visit Part I of Courtnaye's interview and enter the book giveaway contest by filling out the Rafflecopter widget in the blog post. Here's the link, http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/2016/09/interview-with-courtnaye-richard-author.html

~*~
Author bio: Courtnaye Richard is a Christian writer, blogger, speaker, and founder of Inside Out with Courtnaye (a ministry especially designed to help women grow in their daily walk with the Lord, live out their purpose, and be ready when Jesus Christ returns). 

She's all about real life, real talk, and real faith! She posts a weekly blog every Monday @ 7:30 a.m. on www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org, hosts a “LIVE” call on 1st Tuesdays, and shares a weekly Two-Minute message with her audience every Wednesday. 

For more info, please visit www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org. 

Connect with Courtnaye: "Like" her page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Interview with Courtnaye Richard, author of Identified (the book)

Welcome my new guest Courtnaye Richard, author of Identified, to the blog! She's here today to visit with us and tell us about her new book! She'll be here a few more times because this interview is a short series with today's guest post being Part I.

Every day that Courntaye visits to talk about her book, she's going to talk about something new related to it. Today, she's included an extra bonus: you have the chance to WIN a copy of Identified! Simply fill out the form in the Rafflecopter widget below then proceed to read the interview. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview (Part I) with Courtnaye Richard, author of IDENTIFIED:

Alexis: Tell me about the heart-shaped thumbprint symbol on your book’s cover. Why did you want that there? What is its significance?

Courtnaye: I love that you asked that question. The heart represents so much! The thumbprint is all about being identified and making our mark in this world for Jesus Christ before He returns. In the natural sense, our thumbprint signifies who we are. It identifies us. But spiritually, it makes a strong statement that says, “We are loved by God and identified through the blood of Jesus” (that’s why it’s red). It also represents the love that we should have for one another as we walk out our purposes (I talk more about this in the book in detail).

Alexis: What does it mean to be “identified” as a child of God?

Courtnaye: It means that we have been saved through believing in Christ…that God sent His only begotten Son to die a shameful death on a cross to save sinners like you and me, and so many others. Being identified in Christ also means that we have been marked by the Holy Spirit and now His power lives in us. As identified daughters of the King, we have amazing power to do great things to advance the Kingdom of Heaven. The themed Scripture for the book is actually, Ephesians 1:13 which says, “And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.” Once we KNOW who we are in Christ, that’s when we can walk in a God-confidence and begin to move forward in what we’ve been called to do on this earth.

Alexis: In Chapter One of your book, you said, “…Too many people are beginning to lose sight of who they are right now.” What do you mean? Explain.

Courtnaye: We are living in the last days and the Bible warns that there will be a falling away, before Jesus returns. We’re definitely seeing that happen in our time and generation. People are beginning to fall away from the faith. And many are beginning to get caught up in the things of this life and world, unfortunately. When this happens, it begins to steal away the affection from God. Colossians 3:2 tells us, “Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth.” We have to stay focused and continue in the faith. Paul said, “I kept the faith…I finished the race that God set out for me.” We have to do the same. Now is the not the time to be losing sight of who we are. We are IDENTIFIED women in Christ, and we need to proclaim and stand firm in that truth at all costs. Before I close this statement, I have to say that some long-time believers are now beginning to question if Christianity is really the only way to heaven and they’re now open to other ways. It’s a global struggle. And I believe that’s why this message is so timely. I believe this is why God wants to remind His people who they are and to stay awake in these dark times. We need to be moving forward, not backwards.

Alexis: Your book gives a faith-based spin on what it means to have an “identity crisis.” In a few words, explain what this type of identity crisis looks like and let us know if it’s possible to avoid it (then show us how).

Courtnaye: Gotcha! An identity crisis is an “all-of-a-sudden” change and/or form of confusion that begins to take shape against who you really are. It’s as if, one day you wake up and you don’t know who you are anymore or you’re suddenly uncertain about things…you enter into an identity crisis. It can also take the form of low-self-esteem, comparison, low self-worth, self-condemnation, lack of confidence, or it can go as far as wanting to become someone that you weren’t created to be.

Alexis: What does it mean to truly know that we are who God says we are and not believe negative labels given to us by the world?

Courtnaye: We have to take God at His Word and believe what He says about us. We are IDENTIFIED in Him. No one else knows us better than He does. And we have to own His words over what the world says about us or what people say against His truth. We have to make that declaration to ourselves. A great example would be to speak the Word out loud over yourself. You can speak it in your car, living room, bedroom, prayer closet and say, “I am a child of God. I am His masterpiece. He knows the end result. I am chosen. I am called by Him. I am loved by God. He is for me and not against me. And I have a purpose and He will fulfill it.” You have to speak life over yourself…especially when the fiery darts are being thrown at you from every direction or when negative words or doubt try to penetrate your mind and heart. That’s when you have to hold up your shield of faith as an IDENTIFIED warrior in Christ and believe what God’s Word says above all else. I talk about this in my book in detail as it relates to conquering spiritual warfare.

Alexis: When did God place this message on your heart? Paint the picture of that day then explain why you wrote it as this book.

Courtnaye: The Lord placed this message on my heart to write IDENTIFIED in March of this year (2016). Actually, I’d already started writing a book about something else. Until one day, as I was writing the front and back cover text of that particular book, God shifted me. It was really a supernatural experience. Reason being is because as I was typing, I looked over to my left and my Bible was opened to Isaiah 55:8. It read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are my ways your ways, declares the Lord.” And that’s when I thought to myself, “Oh, oh! I feel a God-shift happening.” I knew it! I knew He was changing my plan as a tradeoff for His plan. So I went with the shift. And here we are.

Alexis: Why did you choose to cater this book to women?

Courtnaye: Good question! I believe it starts with the calling. God called me to minister to women about 13 years ago and He prepared me in so many ways for this time to write this book. Again, I would’ve never thought about writing it, but He knows what His daughters need to hear in this season.

Alexis: What is the main message that you hope your readers will remember?

Courtnaye: I pray that the women reading this book will receive the message that God wants them to truly know who they are in Christ right now, and to begin preparing themselves to move forward in what He has predestined them to do (in every way). I also pray that they will know that they were created for such a time as this. This book is not only about identity and walking in your purpose, but it’s also advancing the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s has an evangelistic message within it, because it’s time to share Christ all over this world! And God wants to use His daughters to get the job done. Jesus is coming back soon, and we’ve got to be ready from the inside out. With that being said, it’s time to know and live like we are IDENTIFIED.

~*~

Author bio:

Courtnaye Richard is a Christian writer, blogger, speaker, and founder of Inside Out with Courtnaye (a ministry especially designed to help women grow in their daily walk with the Lord, live out their purpose, and be ready when Jesus Christ returns). 

She's all about real life, real talk, and real faith! She posts a weekly blog every Monday @ 7:30 a.m. on www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org, hosts a “LIVE” call on 1st Tuesdays, and shares a weekly Two-Minute message with her audience every Wednesday.

For more info, please visit www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org.

Also, be sure to "Like" her page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Know your worth

GOD and His Son Jesus Christ thought YOU were worth dying for! So he made a way for you to be saved! Read all about it in John 3:16.

Why did He do it? Because He thought YOU are worth keeping! He wants you to be FREE (Revelation 1:5) and experience the abundant life (John 10:10).

I hope this song by Anthony Brown and Group Therapy encourages you as much as it has inspired me.

Sincerely,

Alexis

31 Days of Prayer: When you are too tired to pray

Truth is, sometimes you're too tired to pray. Not sleepy, just TIRED because the day-to-day demands and disappointments of life have worn you down. Sometimes situations you face may take every ounce of your energy. Sooner or later in life most of us arrive at a point where we know what it's like to feel like you're tired of praying and tired of going to church when your situation does not seem to be getting better. And it's when we're in those trying times that we need to seek God with more diligence and passion than ever before because God will NEVER fail you and no matter what you're going through, He is right there with you! So when you feel like you're sinking in the ocean of life, call out to Jesus Christ and trust Him to save you from drowning.

Recently, I went to a Christmas concert. The weather that night was very cold and while there was no long line to wait in outside in the elements, there was a five minute journey you had to make from the parking lot into the warmth of the church building. As we in the crowd of concert-goers neared the front doors of the church, there was about a two-minute wait in a very short line which would not have been a problem in perfect warm or breezy weather. But that night, it was so cold that we who were waiting outside the doors were shivering and then laughing. We laughed because this little boy who was about two feet tall and very small spoke in a big voice accompanied by a very serious look on his face as he said, "Lord Jesus!" We all laughed because we figured he was probably echoing what he hears the older people in his family saying. I think we found it to be funny because he's just a child no older than two or three perhaps four years of age and as one of the bystanders said, already "He knows how to call on Jesus!"

Precisely my point, just like that little boy who called on Jesus to save him from being out in the cold, when we feel like we cannot go on or we're overwhelmed or becoming jaded about life, it is still important to call on Jesus. And not just to call on Jesus but to know that He's right there with us and even when we cannot see past our pain, God is working everything out for us (Romans 8:28) according to His good plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11).

Finally, I'd like to share this song that was performed by gospel artist Tamela Mann at the concert. It's called "Take Me to the King" and it's for the brokenhearted and discouraged. My prayer for you today is that this song will encourage you in your walk with the Lord. I pray you will trust God every step of the way and keep seeking Him even when you feel that you cannot continue going through whatever it is you're facing. Remember, God is with you and be encouraged.

Here's the song:



P.S._ After you've taken your situation to the King (God), remember to leave it there at His throne. Don't pick up your problems after you've presented it to God, leave it with Him and trust Him to take care of it. I think that's why often at the end of this song, Tamela sings lines from the hymn I Surrender All because part of going to God in prayer and trusting Him to work it out for you is surrendering your problems, issues and suggested solutions to God because only He knows how to take care of it for you in a way that will be the best. So take it to the King and leave it there! :)

What a beautiful series of life lessons

GOD Cares about YOU!