My Life For His Glory

If you would allow me, I'd like to speak over your life today through this prayer:

—Louie Giglio

“Father, I lift up my friend who is reading this right now, especially the one who feels like there is no where else to turn. I speak the powerful name of Jesus of Nazareth over their situation. Please shine truth into the cobwebs of despair and allow them to see You right there with them in the midst of the darkness. I thank You that You promise to lead them to the other side if they will put their trust in You. Jesus, you are greater than whatever is trying to take them out. Preserve. Protect. Awaken. Restore. For Your great glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.”

‭‭— James‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

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You have been with me from the beginning.

Your appearance to the world is the result of hundreds of your ancestors passing on their unique traits to you.

Not only that, but the very concept of beauty is what inspires grand displays of art and poetry.

Beauty is what inspires entire civilizations.

So, enjoy wearing elegant dresses for no reason. Enjoy taking a little extra time to do your makeup. Enjoy finding new ways to play with your hair.

by Ann Luna Ann Luna’s Blog

Maybe I’m beginning to like you a lot, but I will never pursue you.

Around me, I’m tempted by all these pawns calling me to use them, looking me in the eye, saying maybe you and I can ”accidentally” bump into each other in a coffee shop; maybe we can schedule “friendly dates” with a bunch of conniving friends; maybe I can start “innocent” topics with you over that gleaming chat box, ask you things that no one would brand as bad, I can even send you “wrong sends.” But even this early, I realized that albeit pawns are the most numerous pieces in a game, at the end of the day, they are but the weakest.

Don’t get me wrong - I want to be with you. Just to get to know you more, I am ready to manipulate so many things - things I can hide in my heart’s darkest cellars things you would never have to know I did. And I am so sorry if so many times I feel terribly inclined to make things happen in a forced manner through the methods I uncannily know; and always try to get in your way even if most of the time, it’s way out of mine. I would never want to know how it is to look at you knowing that only my own human hands engineered the story we so thoughtlessly call ours.

I choose not to get my hands dirty.

I will not move my cards - use things, use people just to get to you. I will be secure even if we do not get to be together as often as I would want us to. I will be happy even if we do not get to know each other as fast as I want us to. I will not sulk if I do not get my way in trying to make way for us to finally talk.

I choose to be secure even if such things are way out of my control. Perhaps my heart will rest more happily knowing that I have never orchestrated things by employing selfish methods; never cheated you by whispering my own words through other people’s mouths, never betrayed you by telling you at the end of the day that it is I who made everything possible, that it is I who worked behind the scenes, that it is I who controlled and manipulated everything just like some pathetic cheater in any easy exam.

If anything, maybe I can write these things about you in secret for now then just tell you everything (laughingly) in the future. Plenty of time to bide, to strive, to try to improve myself, become a better woman.

But one thing I’ll never do is pursue you. I’ll never do the pursuing the making way the courting the getting to know And the trying to be close to you part. Because it’s not my part. I’ll stick to the part that I know - and that is to keep my heart pure. So pure

That when love finally finds me I’ll know that what I have is divine. My part is to trust God, to fix my eyes on Him, to acknowledge His sovereignty in all my life’s areas I don’t want human hands Not mine. Not yours. I want the only Hands that matter – His.

That as I wait, He’ll be my only delight my singular motive, my one true purpose; for His will and His person to become my life’s utmost concern. I’ll never pursue you or anyone else. I’ll pursue the One who loves me best, knows me best, and who’s the only authority to deem it best if ever you are the one I should have in my life…

Or not.

Christian Wiman, “A Million Little Oblivions,” My Bright Abyss

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shower. not a bath, a shower. use water as hot or cold as u like. u dont even need to wash. just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. sit on the floor if you gotta.

moisturize everything. use whatever lotion u like. unscented? dollar store lotion? fancy ass 48 hour lotion that makes u smell like a field of wildflowers? use whatever you want, and use it all over. 

put on clean, comfortable clothes. 

put on ur favorite underwear. cute black lacy panties? those ridiculous boxers u bought last christmas with candy cane hearts on the butt? put em on.

drink cold water. use ice. if u want, add some mint or lemon for an extra boost.

clean something. doesn’t have to be anything big. organize one drawer of ur desk. wash five dirty dishes. do a load of laundry. scrub the bathroom sink. 

blast music. listen to something upbeat and dancey and loud, something that’s got lots of energy. sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both.

make food. don’t just grab a granola bar to munch. take the time and make food. even if it’s ramen. add something special to it, like a hard boiled egg or some veggies. prepare food, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something. 

make something. write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic. even if you don’t think you’re good at it.

go outside. take a walk. sit in the grass. look at the clouds. smell flowers. put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin.

call someone. call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call. talk to a stranger on the street. have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. if you can’t, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. even if you don’t say much, listen to them.

1. What are some things you don't thank God for often enough?

2. What is one book (besides the Bible) that you feel has really helped you in your relationship with God and in understanding His Word?

3. The Bible says that God sees even a single sparrow fall to the ground. What has been a “single sparrow” in your life, a problem or request that you perhaps felt was small or silly to bring to God but that He answered anyways?

4. Have you discovered any new hymns/Christian songs that you love lately? (If not, tell about an old favorite.) What's your favorite line and why?

5. Share one thing that you find remarkable about God's creation (about the solar system, about animals, about the human body, anything!)

6. Are there any spiritual mentors God has placed in your life? How have they been there for you?

7. What is one area or way in which your knowledge of God grown truer to who He is over the course of your relationship with Him?

8. What is your favorite name or title of God or Jesus from scripture? What does it mean to you, personally?

9. Favorite Bible story and why?

10. What are some goals you have for spiritual growth?

11. What is something you struggle to believe?

12. If you could witness one bible story in person, which would you choose, and why?

13. Do you have any places where you feel closer to God?

14. What spiritual advice would you give to your younger self?

15. Do you relate strongly to any Bible character? If so, why?

16. What is your favorite Bible verse to comfort you when you are afraid?

17. If you could ask God one scripture-related question, what would it be?

18. If you could ask God one question about your life (past, present, future), what would it be?

19. What is one time God spoke to you through Scripture?

20. What is one thing your church does that you really love or appreciate? Or what is one way you see God’s work in your church?

Special thanks to the lovely @221bdragonslayer for helping me with questions!