Hope Filled Living

Choosing Hope and Cultivating an Inspired Life with Author, Mary Clewley

Doing Things Differently

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When you know that it is time for a change, how do you handle it? Do you jump right in or do you take time to mull it over and see how it settles with you? Do you pray and listen for God’s voice to answer you before you take a leap? Doing things differently than you have done them in the past is sometimes intimidating. We grow comfortable in the patterns of our daily lives and the way things are, even if they are not serving us or God anymore. Even if they are not serving God anymore…we hold on because we have settled into being lukewarm, but God says,

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3

Perfect peace is found when we abandon the fear that keeps us holding onto things that are no longer working. Fear says, “I will hold you close and not let you go because if I let you go...” but perfect trust says, “I will let go and let God. I trust that He will supply my needs and care for me in this area of my life.” Peace is derived from trust. If we have no trust, we have no peace.

But what about those hard places? How do we trust in the hard places? When we feel afraid, we simply open our hands and pour out all of the fear. Palms to God. “I am yours. I empty myself to you, Lord.” Perfect peace says, “For my yoke is easy and the burden is light.” Matthew 11:30

Are you holding onto something that keeps you in a lukewarm place? I’ve been there, in the lukewarm. We either have to give up or give in and surrender. When we hold things so closely to us, it’s as if we think we can control things and yet, letting loose is so liberating. The God of mercy, hope and grace invites  you to open your palms. He is all-knowing, all-powerful and has a hope and a future for you.

When we sense that it is time to do things differently, perhaps it is an opportunity for something new to be born–something beautiful that God put inside of you that He wants to bring to life. When we trust and lean will take us to new levels. Perhaps it is time to put to rest the things that have kept you lukewarm because a lukewarm spirit has no life or nourishment.

He died on the cross, nail scarred hands that we might trust. He bore our brokenness so that we might not carry it with us or hold it so tightly…because being afraid to do things differently and allowing our spirit to become lukewarm says that He is not in us. Christ did things differently. His life was different. His ministry was different. He was passionate and jumped right in. He was not lukewarm. Perfect peace is found when we abandon the fear that keeps us holding onto things that are no longer working.

Philippians 4:7

 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayers and Declarations For Your Week

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Declarations

Monday:  I will listen to the words I speak today. Words can help me make sense of, explain, learn and teach. Words can open windows, the imagination, create change. Words bring joy and laughter. Words can heal.

Tuesday: Today I will say no, without feeling guilty or fearful. I will realize that sometimes it is in my best interest to do so. I am learning to love myself enough to not be afraid of the consequences of the word “no”. I am not in control of the behavior or actions of others. I choose do what is healthy for ME. I am creating healthy boundaries.

Wednesday:  I want to experience new things and make new choices. I am no longer willing to live in the past, but looking forward to moving in the direction of my dreams. The past is what it is. I cannot change it, so I will move on. Each day brings new promise and an opportunity to begin again.

Thursday: Today I will re-think the challenge words: all, every, never, always, nobody, everybody, either/or, should, ought, must, can’t.  I will pay attention to the way I use these words and how I allow them to define me.

Friday: Today I will play! I will give myself permission to dream. I will make a conscious effort to put worry aside, if only for today. Today I will laugh.

Saturday:  Today I will take a moment to think about my personal philosophy. I am strong and my experiences, good and bad, are valuable. Today I will decide what to toss and what to keep. I will think about the things that mean most to me in my life. I will create a statement about how I choose to live my life, which will guide me in future decisions.

Sunday: Today I will take time to rest. Rest renews my mind, body, and spirit. I give myself permission to sleep in just a little later and stay in my pajamas a little longer than usual. I don’t have to “do” today, but rather, just “be”…and that is great!

Prayers

Monday:  Dear Lord, help me realize today that the words that I speak are a reflection of the state of my soul.  If I speak ill of others, negativity, and profess gloom and doom for myself, please help me to recognize it and come to you for help. Help me to seek a quiet moment alone with you to give you all of those things, which weigh heavy on my soul. Help me to live, laugh, love and fly freely today. Please help me to breathe life into situations through my words, rather than death and/or sorrow. Help me to build others up,  fill me words that bring joy and laughter help me to teach and heal others through the use of my words today. Thank you Lord. Amen.

Tuesday:  Lord, I know that you created me in the image of yourself and that you know even the number of hairs on my head.  Help me to better understand the love you have for me, therefore realizing my own value. Give me a voice to speak kindly to others about my own needs and those things that are healthy for myself. Help me set boundaries that will make me a healthier, happier, and whole person. Lord, please help me understand that I am not in control of the reaction of other people when I choose to set healthy boundaries for myself.  Thank you Lord. Amen.

Wednesday:  Dear Lord, please help me to be everything that you created me to be. I want to live in a world of possibilities and forgive myself for past mistakes and failures. I recognize that you forgive me too and that you want the best for my life and that you long to give me the desires of my heart.  Thank you for beginning the process of healing in my life today and showing me that I am perfect just as I am. Please open new doors of opportunity for me and help me to walk through them, unafraid. Help me to walk one step forward at a time and know that when I feel afraid you are walking alongside of me. Amen.

Thursday:  Lord, thank you for letting me see that I have choices. Thank you for showing me that I have allowed my own words to define me in the past. I have allowed my words to control situations, sometimes holding me back from doing and being everything that I can be.  I will re-think my words today. Please help me to see them in a new light. Please help me to recognize how certain words can inhibit my personal growth. Thank you for bringing it to my attention Lord.  Amen.

Friday:  Lord, thank you for filling me with laughter and joy. Thank you that I can laugh and that I have people with whom I can laugh.  Thank you that even though I have grown, I still have a child-like sense of wonder Please refresh me and help me to feel free enough to be playful today. Take my burdens and make them light, Lord I release them to you today. Amen.

Saturday:  Dear Lord, I understand that you stood for something, that you came to this place to teach us and that you are not only a great teacher and healer, but also a great philosopher.  Lord I am asking you to help me recognize what is important; what things are non-negotiable in my life and personal philosophy.  Help me to develop a strong life philosophy by using my past experiences to guide me and my hopes and dreams for the future to move me forward.  Thank you that I am strong and capable and not afraid. Thank you that I am willing to walk through whatever doors of opportunity you open for me in the future.  Amen.

Sunday:  Lord, you say in your word, “the body is the temple of the holy spirit” (1Corinthians 6:19).  Please help me take time to rest today, realizing that even you took time apart to be alone and pray.  Thank you for helping me understand that rest renews my mind, my body, and my spirit and that in the quiet, restful times that I create for myself, you speak.  Help me to not be so busy “doing” that I am uncomfortable just “being” and that being busy is not always productive. I will think about this in the coming week. Thank you Lord. Amen.

Blessings to you on your week, friends.

 

Holy Discontent

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I had been praying for nearly a year about growing discontented while being so “connected”…

God created me as one who needs down time-time to withdraw from the world to connect with His spirit, to ponder and ask questions and to walk quietly with him every morning.

As my social media presence grew, so did the distraction. Here’s the thing: I bought into the lie that if I wanted to be significant, if I wanted to be an author and signed by an agent or a publishing company, I needed to grow this presence. But, God made us so beautiful and whole. We already have all that we need to complete His plan here on the planet. His desire for each of us is to fully live while we are here and be fully present with the people in our lives and the people we encounter each day.

I bought into the lie that if I desired to touch more lives and grow a ministry, I must continue on this social media cycle, like a hamster running on a wheel. I started with a simple blog in 2007, then a website. Next, I opened a Facebook account, then a Facebook Author account, next an Instagram, Pinterest and an author platform on Amazon.

Then there were the Facebook private groups that I started for people reading my workbooks, prayer groups and a self-care group. The social media platform kept growing and I continued to be only one person. Suddenly, I started feeling completely drained and lacked inspiration because my mornings with Jesus…my renewal time was time now spent catching up with all of these avenues, answering messages and e-mails, creating new content and praying with people.

In the years that I have been blogging, writing and maintaining social media, we have lost friends and loved ones, said goodbye to family pets that crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, endured sickness, disease, loss and heartache. My husband almost died when he bled internally after a simple, outpatient procedure. We have lost my mother in law, my father in law, my step-father in law, three aunts, my mother had a stroke and we have an adult daughter with a rare and disabling condition. But the social media continued. It continued not only as a distraction but became in and of itself a distraction.

I began to pray for clarity. I asked God to help me know which way to go, as I felt responsible for the spiritual care of my readers. To many, I had become a spiritual mentor or a spiritual mother. The ministry kept growing and growing and I  continued to be only one person running a great big platform.

The thought that we must DO all of these things that society tells us we “must” do, is a lie. The lie is meant to deceive us into believing that somehow, we are not enough. It is meant to make us believe that God is not enough. The chitter chatter of social media can distract our hearts from being wound up intricately with the heart of God. It can make us believe that busyness is better than stillness. 

Peace comes after we take a leap of faith. Peace comes when we listen to the voice of God, even when it feels scary. Peace comes when we rest in the knowledge that no matter what happens, God has a plan for us.

So, one morning a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in my kitchen sipping a cup of tea and the Lord spoke to me. A sudden peace washed over me and I knew that He was directing me to eliminate most of my social media. With a desire to be completely obedient, I quickly let my Facebook friends know in a post that I had made this decision.

Following God when people do not agree with the word He has for us is always difficult. Changing directions is difficult. Not knowing where a new direction will lead  is always difficult but I am reminded of a few Bible verses:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“For we walk by faith, not by sight”. 2 Corinthians 5:7

“Out of the anguish of his soul, he saw and was satisfied”. Isaiah 53:11

Every single time I have been obedient to the Lord when He has asked me to do a difficult thing, I have grown leaps and bounds in my walk with Him. I am excited about His direction for my life, even though I may not see the blueprint yet.

I look forward to walking in the garden with Him each morning and writing from my tiny writing shed this summer. I know I will draw nearer to Him as I work in the garden and catch my breath, and see Him in the eyes of my daughter as I care more delicately for her needs. And I am so excited about new insight and wisdom that I will share here, in my upcoming book projects and on my Patreon page.

Thank you for being part of my journey for all of these years and for allowing me the GRACE to step back a little bit and bathe myself in what God has for me and the ways He will use me to draw you ever closer to Him.

Don’t ever get so busy looking down that you forget to look up! God has a plan for you.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

 

Victory During Difficult Times

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The Lord upholds all who are falling
    and raises up all who are bowed down.

Psalms 145:14

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalms 34:17

Lord, thank you for making me victorious! You are my constant help in trouble, supplying my every need. Because I trust in you, I have victory in all areas of my life. I have good favor with others, good favor in my health, finances and family life. I do not doubt during times of trouble because you are my refuge and strength. Amen.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Have there been times during your life when you felt the comfort of God during difficulty? If so, describe a few:

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Can you think of some ways God helped you to live victoriously, even during your most difficult times? List a few:

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Victorious Living Day 16: Victory Over Poverty

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 But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— if only you will strictly obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.

Deuteronomy 15:4-5

Lord, please grant me victory over poverty. Send ministering spirits on my behalf. Give me favor in my career and finances. I pray, Lord, that the work of my hands will yield a harvest, and you will give me victory over despair. You never meant for your people to live in poverty or lack , but in the richness of your glory. I thank you, Lord, that my cup runneth over, and I am satisfied. Amen.

 

He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

Psalms 113:7

 

Praise: Praise you, Lord, that I lack nothing. I have all that I need. Praise you, that I have richness in your glory and that my cup runneth over. I give you praise for the victory I find in my life with you.

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
    and will execute justice for the needy.

Psalms 140:12

Have there been times in your life when you have been overcome with financial difficulty? What are some ways that God brought you comfort and victory over the trials of poverty? Describe:

 

 

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