Any Given Day lives on...Jesus is the Man!

I have decided that instead of wasting my time writing about relationships with men, I will spend my time writing about my relationship with THE MAN.  Jesus, the human representation of the Almighty Himself!

I imagine Him with a twinkle in his eye, a sly sense of humor, a self-depreciating style, and a sense of quietness about Him.  He was wise, yet never made others feel ignorant.  Ok, maybe some of those guys that needed a smack upside the head...

He was gentle and kind, yet fiercely protective of his flock.  He respected and admired women, and oh how hard that must have been to fight those biological urges...dang!

My guess is he was pretty hot.  Women threw themselves at him, without a doubt.  Oh to have that self control...we can only pray for it, right?

It's what I am praying for most these days...  patience, kindness, and self control...my toughest fruits.

I need to keep my eyes where they belong...on Him.  I need to be faithful that He will deliver the promised goods, at the appointed time, when I will understand and appreciate the gift.  Like a rose cut at just the right time, it will blossom into the most amazing flower...

Prayer for right now:

Hey Lord, could you give me a little patience and self control, please?  I having a tough time of it right now and it sure is easy to lose my faith these days.  Even in the darkest places of my brain, I know you are there, waiting for me to "get it."  Please help me "get it" and move on, and be who it is you want me to shine as.  With your favor I ask for some kind of sign that I am headed in the right direction and that things won't be quite so tough forever...thank you, as always, from the bottom of my heart, for your version of the perfect man.  Amen.

Any Given Day: 36

Discipline.

Self control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If you have accepted Christ, it resides within you. Satan, a powerful enemy, understands this. Our temptations are many and varied. We all have weaknesses, we are all sinners...that does not make us bad people! We make bad choices and there are consequences for those behaviors.

A pathology begins to exist when we surround ourselves only with people who enable the behaviors and refuse to accept help from people who care. Examining why we behave the way that we do or hearing it from others is too much reality to face. It is always much easier to bury the truth under substances and activities designed to numb pain.

Breaking this cycle can only happen with God's help. Accepting that we are powerless over the temptations, asking for forgiveness, and praying for help and healing are key. Discipline then becomes a daily exercise to stretch our faith and flex our Godly muscles. Our relationships with people we love can begin to be restored and we can live with hope and joy!

A prayer for those struggling with toxic behaviors:

Powerful God, you alone know my heart and my weaknesses. Forgive me for the actions that hurt me and the people that I love. I have less control than I would like to have over the dark forces that exist all around me. Remind me to turn to you in times of weakness and assist me in strengthening my discipline and self control. In Christ's name, AMEN.

Proverbs 3:11-12

Fruit of the Spirit, it's in there!

Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version, ©2011)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We are these things. If we have accepted Christ as our Savior, and His Spirit lives in us, then we are these things.

We forget though. We get caught up in our personal drama and we believe Satan's lies...

Next time you find yourself saying the opposite, try this instead...

"I am loving, joyous, peaceful, forgiving, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and I have self control. I just need to act like it." It feels weird at first, but it really works!

A prayer for reminder:

Lord, I don't feel the Holy Spirit inside me sometimes. Quiet and peace is necessary for me to redirect my compass, breathe your love, and freshen my mind. Remind me today that I am Yours, You reside in me, and I am your faithful servant! AMEN

Any Given Day: 34

Family

It's amazing how much of who we are comes from our upbringing. Some of us grew up in healthy, happy households where parents and children communicated lovingly and everyone felt safe. Some of us didn't.

Our relationships as adults stem from what we learned as children, we internalize and carry that forward to our own children. Some of us take the time to examine (sometimes with professional help) how our individual experiences shaped our current state of affairs. Some of us don't. Some of us decide to do better than our parents, some of us forget we have that option.

You have that option. Breaking bad cycles and continuing good ones is a conscious choice each of us make when we become a spouse and a parent, or even just a significant other. There is a responsibility each of us has to ensure that the people we say we love feel safe and cared for. Relationships flourish with loving care, kind words, and acts of service. Relationships wither and die without them, at the cost of emotional bankruptcy.

God explains very clearly what a healthy family dynamic should look like throughout most books of the bible. Paul wrote Timothy a very poignant letter outlining how we should treat our family members. The care that he describes is not just financial. We have a responsibility to take care of each other emotionally as well. Then we can take care of our spiritual family more effectively outside of our house. We are all connected and it starts within the home.

A prayer for those who face conflict inside the walls that should be our safe haven from a crazy world...

Heavenly Father, You are the patriarch we should be looking to for guidance on how best to serve our families. Teach me how to handle mistreatment, and how to avoid inflicting pain on those I love most. Jesus showed love to His family, His followers, and those who despised Him. Teach me how to do the same. Give me the strength to stand tall, turn the other cheek, hold my tongue, and control my behavior. You love me unconditionally. Keep me close and protect me today. AMEN

1 Timothy 5:8

Any Given Day: 32

Betrayal...

There are few things more heartbreaking than human betrayal. By it's very nature, it requires a breach of trust between two people who shared a mutual bond. Regardless if it is a financial deal gone wrong between two business partners, or a knife stuck in the heart of a significant other, or a brother turning on another brother, the results are devastating.

Humans are hard wired to be connected. We build relationships as we roll along through life, some superficial and some deep. Betrayal can only take place in the deeper relationships... when something was invested, where we hung our hopes and expectations, where a foundation of trust existed. It is so painful because we rested there, in contentment and honor, and one day, the proverbial rug is pulled out. Rudely, abruptly, and seemingly out of nowhere.

It happens for many reasons, and each person has a part to play. Once the damage has been done, it creates a cascade of events...all of them based in fear. Fear of more pain, failure, sorrow, brokenness, and regret. The natural reaction is to put up your barriers, harden your heart, and base future decisions on someone else's bad ones.

What do you suppose would have happened to humanity if Jesus had followed this formula?

How sad and heartbroken Jesus must have been to know that one of His brothers, a trusted follower, would succumb to Satan and betray his Master. What would it have been like to walk alone in the garden, knowing your end was coming, feeling every human emotion... and the ultimate rejection? Jesus faced pain and suffering beyond our understanding, yet He never waivered in His love for people, even in the face of certain death. He took it like a man, He did not get angry, He did not strike out, He knew that something greater was at work. His pain ensured our Salvation...selfless to the core. He will always be the One you can count on!

For those of you feeling the sting and sadness of betrayal, a prayer:

Lord, I have been terribly hurt by someone I care for. Place your arms around me and provide me some comfort! Help me to control my reactions, and learn from my experience. Remind me that Jesus, a perfect person, was also betrayed, and knows my suffering. Please give me the patience to endure the test and become stronger because of it. Teach me how to let go of anger and build a foundation of honor again, with wisdom gained, and hope restored. AMEN

Psalm 118:8

Any Given Day: 31

Entitlement

We are entitled to basic human rights. Our country was founded on these and our constitution was put in place to protect them. Nowhere, however, does it say that we are entitled to excessive amounts of money or things. The assumption was that people would work hard, and share their wealth with those less fortunate. We would work together as a community to bring about prosperity, while preserving our rights to worship, carry arms, and go about our daily lives in the ways we felt were best for us and our families. We were expected to respect others for their differences. Somewhere we got lost...

Today, a sense of entitlement pervades all pockets of society. The lucky ones brag about how great their life is, how much money they have, or the important people that they know. Their money is spent on pursuing their own interest and they never give until it hurts, just enough to ease any sense of guilt or make them look good. These people seem happy, but it doesn't take long to realize that their relationships are shallow, and God is nowhere to be found in their hearts.

These are the folks who have all the potential in the world to make a difference. Their fancy cars can feed a family of 4 for a year, and their house has more unused rooms than the average apartment. Their worries are wrapped up in the stock market and politics and the daily stress of maintaining all their stuff. They feed off their own sense of entitlement. Their excessive lifestyle is an addiction like any other.

Many of us know, though, that with God at the center of our lives, we get what we need, when we need it. The bible is clear to be thankful for our daily bread and hand back 10 percent of what he bestows on us. Jesus lived a simple life and preached a simple message: love God, and love others as God loves you. The common folk, who struggle to make ends meet, and worry about which bill gets paid, are much closer to God's heart. A prayer for the rich and the poor.

Heavenly Father, You alone decide who is rich and who is poor. Anything anyone has is because You gave it to them. As quickly as it is given, it can be taken away. Help me to know how rich I am in Your love. Remind me that the earthly things don't matter, and guide me on how best to help others who are facing difficult times. Jesus was born poor, lived a simple life, with no material possessions, yet He had the power to change the calendar, and allowed us, through His sacrifice, to know You. Thank you for your blessings today! AMEN

Any Given Day: 30

Selfishness

There are those, who exist to serve their own self interests only. They wander through life meeting their own needs, bumping through life with no real sense of purpose. They pick up hobbies to keep them entertained, buy things with their extra money, spend their extra time in front of a TV or computer. Ironically, these are the folks with the most to give. They use up the valuable resources of this earth, and are charitable only when it makes them look good, or there is a tax deduction at the end of it. They lose patience for people who are tired from hard work, and look down on those who can't keep up. They have trouble relating to others who are hurting. They seem happy, but a closer look reveals shallow relationships, empty hearts, and a nagging sense of dissatisfaction that follows them wherever they go.

At the other extreme, there are those who can give of themselves tirelessly day in and day out. Some even give up everything, including their identity, and their health, to take care of others. They are run down and don't feel appreciated. They ignore their own problems to help others with theirs.

This isn't the way God intended a serving heart to look or feel, however. A servant's heart takes others into consideration while preserving what makes them unique and special. Taking care of themselves so that they may take care of others with energy and enthusiasm.

Striking a balance is difficult somedays but worth it, because anyone who has spent time giving instead of taking, knows that the reward is immediate and long lasting. Making a difference in a small way, can happen each day. Over time, lives change, people grow, and relationships with God and each other deepen. A prayer for those struggling to get past their own needs...

Lord, today may I go out of my way to assist someone who is struggling. Provide me with gentle reminders that the world isn't about me, but about all of us whom you love so deeply. Help me to find ways to use my time and energy in productive and positive ways. May Jesus, the king of all men, be my example of a humble and selfless heart. AMEN

Phillipians 2:5-8

Any Given Day: 29

Direction:

We begin as 2 cells that meet and divide into 4, then 16...

There is a clear path and desired outcome for about 9 months. We breathe oxygen for the first time, we get hungry, someone clothes us. Our life is a miracle, without question. We were put here for a purpose. We have strengths and talents that are designed to be cultivated over time and put to good use. We were created to bring glory to our Father and to serve man.

Along the way we get distracted. Our earthly wants over rule our spiritual needs. We set out to please others and be loved in return. We react with anger and harbor resentment when things don't go according to our plan. We fight against the natural order of things and assume our way is best. The struggle continues for some people until death. They string a trail of broken hearts and lost opportunities behind them like litter thrown from the car window.

We have been told by companies that want to sell us something what we should look like, wear and have. We get sucked into other people's ideas of what happiness is. All the while, God is waiting for us to know him. He wants us to turn to him and ask for directions. "What is your plan for me?" is a reasonable question to ask him. If you are feeling a loss of direction today, here is a prayer to can begin with:

Lord, my path is not clear. I believe you want what is best for me and sometimes in conflicts with my ideas. Please show me what you would have me do with my life. Point me in the direction I should go and light the path one step at a time. Keep my thoughts clear, my heart open, and my dreams within reach. May I do your will with courage and honor and with Jesus as my example. AMEN

Psalm 139:16

Any Given Day: 28

Fear.

There are only 2 basic emotions: Love and Fear

All other emotions are branches that reach out from them. Happiness, joy, pride, graciousness, generosity, gentleness, self control and the like, come from a basic feeling of Love. Love for God, love for one another, and love for one's self.

On the other side, anger, guilt, jealousy, animosity, revenge, self deprecation, accusation, abuse, and similar are the products of fear.

Fear is a survival mechanism that God gave us to keep us alive. It spurs us into a defensive mode and creates a landslide of physical and emotional changes designed to protect us. Fear in and of itself is not a bad thing. How we handle it, however, can be a problem.

The inability to recognize our fear, and acting out, creates the broken relationships we see all around us. Broken relationships with people we love, people we work with, and Jesus himself.

Jesus went through the scariest time any of us will ever face. Was He fearful? Without a doubt. Did he understand what the fear was? Absolutely. Did He act on his fear? No. He took His "punishment" like a man.

Today, take your negative emotions and really look at them. Ask yourself "What am I really afraid of?" Be honest with your answers and pray this prayer:

Lord, I am fearful. My experiences and situations are creating strong negative emotions that are bleeding on to others and my actions are damaging my relationships. It is time for me to take responsibility for my fear and rely on You for my safety and security. Help me, today, God, overcome my fear, so that I may become closer to you. Help me to let go of what I can not control. AMEN

1 John 4:18

Any Given Day: 27

Hope

How many times have we looked upon a situation with no hope? We worry and fret over what might happen as though our thoughts can change the outcome. Lack of hope sucks our energy, depresses our mood, and kills our motivation. "Why try?" we ask.

Hopefulness is the brother of faith. Knowing that God's will is what can and will be done allows us to relax, focus our attention on what we can do in the here and now, and let the chips fall as they may.

We want certain things. We meditate on them to the point of obsession. Hopefulness is an attractive virtue, and it is different from wishful thinking. We can wish for stuff, money, jobs, and for things to go our way. Hope requires a different perspective. Living hopefully means knowing everything we want isn't coming today, but we aren't getting down about it.

Living in the light, we can walk with a hopeful attitude, reminded always, that God has our best interests at heart. If we are living according to His plan, and really taking the time to get to know Him, we someday get to have it all!

For those whose sense of hope is waning:

Precious Father, I fear an uncertain future. Life is not right side up and I need your help. Show me what hope looks like, and remind me of the goodness of people and the greatness of Your Son! Help me to stay focused on Your plan instead of my own, so that I can walk with the assurance that a beautiful future awaits! AMEN

Romans 15:13

Any Given Day: 26

Relationships.

The first 4 commandments discuss what is expected in our relationship with God. The next 6 talk about our relationships with each other. They are simple, straightforward rules for living that we just can't seem to keep straight. Honor God, Honor each other. Period. Nothing else really matters.

Many assume that they need to die in order to "meet their maker". The bible clearly tells us, however, how important our relationship with God is right here and now! He is waiting expectantly for you to turn to him and relinquish control. He knows what is best, He knows what is in your heart, and He sees everything. You can't hide and you don't have to. He loves you and wants to be a part of your daily life.

How? By simply asking with humility and in some cases, complete brokenness. By honoring His Son, and accepting and confessing your sin, you immediately change not only your relationship with your maker, but your relationships with people as well. When you allow the Holy Spirit to work in you, family, friends, coworkers, and even perfect strangers will respond differently to you, and you to them. Defenses come down, humility reigns, and the right people become drawn to you.

Relationships with God, and people, take time, energy, and effort. The end result is a life worth living, however. Moses brought down the rules, and although we may not live them to perfection, God still loves us. When we accept Jesus, He resides in us. Everyone benefits and we all have something to gain: a new life, a new perspective, a second chance, and a best friend who will never let us down. A prayer for those who have lost sight of their relationships:

Lord, you are my closest companion. Teach me to rely on you for everything, and turn to you for the important decisions I face. Heal my life, my relationships, my mistakes, and turn my failures into the learning experience you intended them to be. I trust you, God, to show me the way. AMEN

Exodus 20:1-17

Any Given Day: 25

Generosity

An open hand also receives...

The things we have: money, jewelry, precious items, furniture, clothing, homes, cars. Heck we are even proud of our dishes! All of it is stuff and none of it matters. What is interesting is we always think we need more. If we just had this, then we would feel better about that...

In our quest to obtain more things, we forget about those who truly do have less. We hold on to our money tightly, fearing it will disappear. We keep buying stuff and end up storing it in garages and attics. Some of us even need to rent storage units!

God is very clear in many places in the bible that we only need so much. He challenges us to be generous instead of holding on and continually obtaining more. We can all be more generous, with our money, our time, and our resources. A great saying is "when you feel like you don't have enough money or time or stuff, give some away to someone who has less." You will immediately feel blessed!

God's rules for money are as follows: We are required to give 10% of our earnings back to the community. We are required to save 10% and invest it. The rest is ours. 80% is a big chunk. We really don't need all of that either.

The true measure of a person is not in what they have, but in what they give. Jesus gave His life up, inarguably the ultimate gift! Open up your hand and see if you don't receive. For those of you who have a little trouble with that one, here is a prayer:

Lord, you ask us to be generous, but it goes against conventional thought. Bless me as I give of my valuable resources today. Bless the time I spend working with others for their betterment instead of my own. Thank you for your generosity and the blessings you have bestowed upon me. Help me to see the ways you want me to share my gifts with others. Jesus paid the ultimate price. He was a King who wore peasant clothes and relied on the kindness of others for His meals. May He be my example! AMEN

Mark 9:41

Any Given Day: 24

True Love

The word love gets thrown around a lot. We love to sleep in, we love a new song, we love the neighbors' new car, we love football, food, and fun! When it comes to loving others, it gets tricky.

Love is an action verb. Many people feel it is an abstract feeling of warm fuzzies, however that may be the end result, but it is not love itself. Love is not something you say, it is something you do! You show love, you make love, you provide love. Talking about it is icing on the cake.

A person who says they love someone, but turns around and says and does hurtful things, isn't loving anyone, particularly themselves. God is very clear on what love is and is not. Jesus loved us enough to die for us. Men and women in the military love their country enough to put their lives on the line. We give money to those who have less because we love people.

Sacrifice without compromising ourselves is Love.

Giving without thought of reward is Love.

Everything else is like at best, and manipulation at worst.

God, help me to show love today. Help me to see who truly loves me, and who just needs to have the upper hand. Keep me focused on goodness and light, and sharing it with those that I care about. Thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your Son to die. AMEN

1 Corinthians 4:7

Any Given Day: 22

Beauty.

Our definition of beauty is shaped by many things. By the age of 5, we have our definitions in place. We look around and see beauty in different places for different reasons. We may stop for a moment and marvel at a sunrise. A sweet melody can elicit a wonderful memory. A new friendship can be a beautiful thing. Physical attractiveness in another person, or a horse running across a green pasture can stop us in our tracks. Cars and houses can be considered things of beauty.

What we define as beautiful isn't as important as the appreciation of it. Taking the time to appreciate beauty is something that God asks us to do. Recognizing His handy work and giving credit to Him can play a big part in how we perceive both beauty and ugliness.

We all know people who are beautiful on the outside and ugly on the inside. After a few encounters, the individual no longer looks quite as attractive and eventually their company is not pleasurable. Of course we are all attracted to physically beautiful things, however, we must stop to take into consideration what that beauty represents. ( Satan loves to use beautiful things to keep us apart from God.) Our desire to own and control beautiful possessions can overthrow common sense and perspective. We place too much importance on the wrong things...

We spend large amounts time and money trying to improve our own physical appearance, when really, our self worth has nothing to do with what we look like. God created us in His image, therefore we are beautiful. It really is that simple! Jesus was the most beautiful person ever created. Crowds were drawn to Him everywhere He went, and no doubt He radiated light and goodness. He was dirty from walking for hours at a time, and there is no evidence that he stopped to comb his hair before speaking, yet He was attractive.

Today, when your mind gets full of judgements about physical appearance, pray this prayer:

Lord, You created me with a beautiful person in mind! Allow the Holy Spirit to work within me, and refresh my inner loveliness so that others may see it. Help me to dismiss my earthly ideas of what my appearance should be like so that I may focus on serving you to the best of my ability. I know that is what ultimately makes a person beautiful, just like Jesus! AMEN

Proverbs 19:22

Any Given Day: 21

Hypocrisy

Anyone who calls another person a hypocrite immediately becomes one. Those who throw stones usually are the ones who live in the glass houses. They are eager to point fingers and dwell on the flaws of others, rarely stopping long enough to examine their own behavior. Even with the best of intentions, many of us spend our time and energy doling out advice and telling people what they should do, how they should think, and who they should be.

We are all hypocrites to a certain degree. Our time and energy is better spend working on becoming more Christlike, rather than telling others how to. Of course, some of us are lead by God to discuss His truths. The difference is that when people seek our council, buy our publications, and tune into our shows in order to better themselves, they are asking for guidance. It is voluntary collection of information.

The best bet is not to offer advice unless it is asked for. This is something that takes practice. (Particularly for us codependent types who are compelled to solve other people problems for them.) Regardless, the most important thing to remember is that we are all sinners, and we will all be judged by God. Only Jesus was perfect, and it's ok to get tripped up. Just be careful about pointing out someone else's failures!

Dear God, help me to recognize where my soul needs work. Remind me that it is not my job to fix other people, but to love and support them. I trust You to do the work in them. Thank you for loving me and helping me grow, even if it is painful sometimes. Help me to love others as You do. In Jesus' name, AMEN

Isaiah 29:13-14

Any Given Day: 20

Forgiveness

This is a tough one. Some people are more open to forgiveness than others. Sometimes it takes a long time. Some never forgive and harbor anger and resentment the rest of their days. They walk around, head down, bitter and beaten.

We all get to a point in our lives where we have been hurt by another person so bad, and our grief is so painful, even the most mundane tasks seem impossible. We try to process what has been done, only to come up empty. Thoughts twirl and swirl in our head, we feel lost and hopeless... then we get angry. Shoving the anger down and pretending it isn't there isn't a viable solution. It will surface eventually. Many times with no warning! Then it gets ugly.

As a vital part of the healing process, anger is a defense mechanism that provides us with energy and momentum for a while. The problem is that if we hang on to it too long, it turns on us like a rabid animal. Our anger doesn't hurt the people that we are angry at, it hurts us! Jesus is very clear about forgiveness of others. When asked about how many times we should forgive the same person, his reply was "Seventy times seven." Pretty sure that wasn't the answer Peter wanted to hear.

Forgiveness requires giving up control of the situation. We think we will be viewed as weak. However the opposite is true. It takes great strength to forgive the people who hurt us. As Jesus was hanging on the cross, He asked God to forgive the people who were mocking him. We need to remember that God forgives us for everything we ask, and we in turn must forgive others. Even the Lord's prayer that many of us recited daily as kids addresses this issue.

You can not heal and grow as a person until forgiveness is possible. Be patient and pray this simple prayer:

Lord, forgive me for my anger and hostility today. I am in pain because of the actions of someone else. Free me from my addiction to control of this situation. Allow me to forgive and move on. Remind me to stay focused on the present and not the past. Thank you for sending Jesus, so that we will all be forgiven. AMEN

Matthew 18:21-35

Any Given Day: 19

Guilt

Overwhelmed with guilt? Sometimes it feels like it is coming from all sides! It is a destructive emotion that can eat away at our sense of self worth and we lose our self respect. Our fear dictates guilt. Fear of losing people we love because of our actions. Fear of not being able to change present circumstances, and fear that we will never measure up!

There are two types of guilt. True guilt is an objective fact based on real circumstance. Perceived guilt is the feeling of the pain of rejection. Both can be powerful motivators for change, but they can not build and encourage and inspire.

So how do we stop feeling guilty? For true guilt, make amends, fix what damage that we can, and move on. Perceived guilt is a little trickier because it is conditioned in us from an early age. People surround us who are experts at illiciting that feeling in us. We just can't ever seem to do anything right. Somehow we must understand that this is their way of managing their own guilt, by projecting it on to us. Some of us have been a victim of this for so long, we have actually come to believe that we are the guilty ones.

Regardless of what kind of guilt you are feeling today, the prayer is the same:

Lord in Heaven, You created us in Your image. My free will gets me into trouble time and time again. Help me to understand what my feelings of guilt really are! Help me to look at my self worth through Your eyes instead of my own. Guide me in understanding the powerful motivation that Satan has in keeping my guilt front and center. It keeps me from being closer to You and those that I love. Your Son bore the burden of all my sins, God. I am forgiven by You by Your grace and awesome power. It is time for me to forgive myself. It may be the hardest thing I ever have to do. AMEN

Romans 8:1

Any Given Day: 18

Jealousy

The fastest way to turn a beautiful person ugly? Watch that person become jealous. We all have experienced jealousy in our lifetime. Their stuff is better, their body is better, they have more money, more power, more friends...

Our jealousy is a window into our own insecurities. We size ourselves up against others and measure out our self worth. We base our happiness on how we look, what we have, who we are married to, the list goes on!

As we get older, part of the maturing process is to understand that we are all given gifts and talents and abilities that make us unique. Judging ourselves based on anything other than what is God-given is not healthy.

Jealousy turned into actions and words is sour grapes. It becomes obvious, very quickly, that adults who covet other people's earthly things, are struggling with their own self image. They may even fixate on them it to the point of mental instability. A prayer for those who are struggling:

Lord, one of your commandments given to humans early on is to not covet our neighbor. This is so hard to do! Please direct my attention to the beauty and loveliness that is mine. Teach me to cultivate and magnify the gifts you have given me. Strike the harsh words and thoughts from my mind that are perpetuated by the ugliness of jealousy. You alone are the jealous one, and Jesus alone is the one we should strive to be more like! AMEN

James 3:14-16

Any Given Day: 17

ADDICTION

Experts define addiction in any number of ways, usually with a bullet list of things to look for. God has an easier definition:

When we feel the compulsion to put anything in front of Him.

When our relationships with God and people are affected in a negative way by something we think we can control, but we can't.

When we need more and more of something in order to feel good, but it is ruining our health, finances, relationships, our reputation, and we feel worse than ever. We think only a fix will fix it.

Anyone can be addicted to anything. The reward center in the brain is a powerful thing. Some addictions are more physically damaging than others, but the key is to look at our relationships to determine if there is a problem. If there are a lot of people telling us the same thing, perhaps we should listen. They are saying it because they care, not because they want you to feel bad.

There are a million ways to get help. It is all in the asking. Admitting that we are powerless is the first step and bowing down broken in front of God can work wonders! A prayer for those of you who are battling the demons of addiction:

Lord, you are almighty and powerful. My addiction is stronger than me, but it is not stronger than You. Help me to see what everyone else sees so clearly in my life. There is something that is controlling me, I am not controlling it. Provide me with the courage and the strength to seek help and follow through. God, You deserve better from me, my family and those close to me deserve my full attention. I deserve a chance to find happiness in Your Son, rather than in my own addiction of choice. I pray for others who are struggling as well. Thank you, Lord, for loving me through all of this! AMEN

John 1:1-5

Any Given Day: 16

Burdens

Many of us carry a heavy load of responsibility. We bear the weight of the world and pick up things to add to our "to do" list out of a sense of obligation and guilt. We are happy to take them on until it becomes time to actually get things accomplished.

Some of us didn't take it all on voluntarily. We don't have family nearby or our partners and friends are unavailable or unwilling to come to our assistance. We walk around heavy, distracted, and trying our best to keep all of the balls in the air. We get angry at those who have less to do than us. We end up resentful and overwhelmed...we feel guilty if we rest!

God asks us to rest. Jesus would draw away from the crowds to rest. God rested after creation. When we don't rest we aren't as good at what we need to do. It is easier said than done for some of us however!

Heavenly father I am weary from the responsibility and burdens that I carry. I feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Remind me God, that it is important for me to lay my burdens at Your feet and take some time to rest. Remove the sense of guilt, refresh my body and mind, and provide me with the tools and skills necessary to be productive and valuable to You. Thank you for providing me with the fruits of my labors and allowing me a day of rest. AMEN

Hebrews 4:8-11