Take Care of Yourself

Practice self-care. Invest in your emotional and mental health each day.

 

There are so many demands on our time and attention from family, work, children, friends, and volunteer work. If we don’t take the time to tend to ourselves, our well will dry up rather quickly. We will have nothing left to give.

 

When it comes to things we care about like our family and our work, none of us aim to give the very last leftover bits of ourselves. Rather, we desire to give the very best of ourselves. So when we take care of ourselves, we are filled up, renewed, and restored so we can offer the people around us the very best of who we are.

 

Mark 1:9-13 is an example where Jesus took time to go away and be alone to be refreshed. Today I encourage you to add some time in your calendar daily, or at least weekly, to do something you love that is just for you. It may be reading a book, soaking in a bubble bath, shooting at the range, golfing, camping or walking a trail in the mountains. Whatever you do, do it to take care of you. You will love yourself, your job, and your family more when you do.

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No Perfectionism Today

Romans 3:23 No one is perfect (My version)

 

Stop being a perfectionist. It really does hinder you and those around you. Make an effort to be easier on yourself!

 

If God does not expect you to be perfect then why do you have those expectations for yourself? Be careful, because if you are a parent or a leader/manager you may be teaching those who follow you that if you can’t measure up to your standards then maybe they can’t either.

 

Grow in grace today. Messing up is something we all do. It makes you a better person to fall and get up than to never fall at all.

 

Like, share and comment if you agree.

Get Out of A Rut

Joshua 1:9 ESV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Studies show that doing some part of your daily routine differently, whether it’s changing your route to work or opening the door with your left instead of right hand, can boost your creativity.

Do you find yourself driving to work the same way every day? Do you have the same routine each morning? Have you drank the same coffee the same way every day for as long as you can remember? What about your night time routine, is it the same as well?

Today, shake things up just a little, as a matter of fact try to shake it up all week long. Check back with me and let me know if adds a little creativity and excitement to your life. Maybe you are in a rut and you have been there so long you don’t even know you are in one.

It can’t hurt to try it!

Stop Reacting

In the social media world of instantaneous opinion sharing, this can be tough. Resist the urge to lash out, and take a deep breath or two before you respond to something that might upset you.

 

Read it, take a breath, pray about it and sleep on it. If after doing those things if you still feel that you should respond to a social media post, ask yourself if your post is true, necessary and kind. If not….skip responding and move on. FYI. You are not required to respond to or acknowledge everything that you read on social media.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:7

Plan To Get Ahead

Psalm 21:5
Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run.

Too many times we are overwhelmed when we think about all that we have to accomplish in a day. We run the kids here or there, responsibilities of caring for the home seem endless, work often spills over into our home life and then add to that list we need to care for our spiritual and physical well being. Whew, I am tired just thinking about it.

Everyone is busy, so you are not alone. I want to encourage you to start each day by listing out what activities you have to accomplish then number them in order of urgency/priority. Don’t cheat and put the ones you don’t want to do at the bottom of the list if they should go to the top.

After the items are numbered then pray over them and ask for strength to stay on task and ask for wisdom to complete each of them, especially the tough ones.

The end of today’s scripture is true and powerful ” hurry and scurry puts you further behind.” May you complete your to do list each and every day.

Do What Is Right!

Each day we all have decisions to make based on what is right and what is wrong. Sometimes the decisions are small and sometimes they are big but the result is always one of two outcomes, right or wrong.

 

This past weekend I had the privilege that 5 of my 8 grandchildren came to visit for the weekend. The conversations and topics were endless but one stood out to me.

 

The discussion was about doing what was right in a world where so many people do wrong. It was hard for my young grandchild to understand that she should try to do what was right no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT!

 

As adults we struggle with this same thing. Someone takes more breaks than they are allowed, makes excess personal phone calls during the work day , says they arrived at work earlier than they really did, takes office supplies home to use for personal use and the list goes on.

 

How do we do the right thing knowing others around us are doing the wrong thing and seemingly getting away with it? We call on God to give us strength to do what is right, that is how. Without God leading and guiding us we will fail miserably. Doing right will not always be easy but at least you can sleep at night and be proud of the decisions you made that day. You can also know that your heavenly Father is proud of you too.

Desires Of Your Heart

Maybe you have stopped asking God for things because you feel He no longer listens or answers your prayers. Maybe you are mad at God. Maybe you are hurt or disappointed. Maybe you have quit dreaming, setting goals. Just maybe you are DONE with looking ahead.

 

Don’t give up and if you already have then commit to give it another try. I am praying this prayer just for you!! YOU CAN DO IT!!

 

Psalm 20:4.

Attached or Committed?

Are you attached or committed…

 

to God

to your spouse

to your church

to your friend

to your job

to weight loss

to stop smoking

 

In both cases, whether joined and committed, you are connected to those things, however if you are committed you are going to be there in the good times and the bad times.

 

This year as you are making your new year’s resolution list and checking it twice, decide to be committed to them and then pray that God will give you perseverance to stick to them this year, no matter what.

 

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Happy New Year

Prayers for you to have a wonderful and happy New Year.

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Be Encouraged Today