“for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help”

I’m not sure if you are like me, but when I read this quote from one of the psalmist in the Bible, I can totally relate. In fact, I had a meltdown just this morning because I felt exactly this way. Emotions of weariness, feeling overwhelmed, and guilt. I’ve always been a huge dreamer so at times throughout my life, the dreams I have just seem way too out of reach. They don’t make sense. They can feel like jumping into the middle of the ocean because of how beautiful and mysterious it is, but then at dusk realizing it’s hard to swim when land is so far away and it is dark all around you. The night does not bring clarity, and the next steps are never outlined or given to us, so we must swim…and swim…and swim some more into the unknown and into greater depths. I ask God sometimes “Please take away these desires, because life would be SO much easier if I didn’t have dreams or didn’t live in great expectation. OR at least if I keep chasing these dreams of mine, please give me a foothold a.k.a. a boat so I don’t have to keep treading with my head barely above water!!”

Trusting is hard. It is against our own nature. Just take the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible. They were given EVERYTHING. Life was literally set up perfectly for them…but they still didn’t trust. They thought that “more” would make them happy and that self-reliance was greater than trust in their Creator. Oh how I am still fighting this curse that has been instilled in all of humanity since the beginning of time!

the longing for more…

the overwhelming feeling we get when life’s circumstances make us doubt God…

the curveballs that life throws our way that bring out the worst in us…

Here is what I’m getting at: This morning felt overwhelming to me, but God really just wanted my TRUST. I’ve never gone without, and, based on my past, I know He is faithful to give me my hearts desires as long as they align with His. For me, it is music that has been healing and has brought me so much joy throughout my life. For you, maybe it is another dream or another passion, but I know I’m not alone in feeling discouraged from time to time. So today I am reminding myself of what I do know, and letting go of the things I don’t. I’ll tread if I have to tread, and I’ll float if I have to float. All because in the end, I know if I never jumped into the deep blue waters of the ocean, I would never know the true beauty that comes from letting go.

 

 

So it’s a new year and we all probably have said either out loud or to ourselves, “I’m going to get really fit this year!“…and if you are like me you’ve already been tempted to eat a whole bag of chips from Trader Joe’s and veg out on the couch watching Friends.

HOWEVER. 

I am determined to break any bad habits this year and stay motivated. I believe in taking care of our bodies, but also in treating ourselves so that we stay sane. It is also so confusing nowadays to figure out what to do. Do we go vegan or just cut out dairy? Try a new diet? Take a supplement? No carbs? More carbs? The internet can be a confusing place of so many opinions on what is healthy and what is not. That is why I would love to help us all out by at least stating what I DO know, and pointing us all in the direction of taking care of our bodies. Not just for a 2018 resolution, but for an entire better lifestyle overall.

Here are 3 ways we can make our fitness goals a reality this year by things we DO know:

1. Work out. Simple as that. Working out is something that, until the end of time, will be the number one way to build our muscles and keep our hearts, lungs, and skin in the best shape possible. Grab a friend to have as an accountability partner and join a gym! Or if you don’t want to spend the money (I know in Nashville, gym memberships can be insanely pricey), download a free workout app that you can do at least 3-4 times a week so that you are burning calories and being the best YOU as possible.

 

2. Keep consistent eating habits. Something I DO know about keeping our fitness goals a reality is that food DOES matter. What we put in our bodies has an incredible effect on our overall wellbeing and health. One thing to keep in mind is that everybody’s body is different. Know your body. Know what goals you have and then make your diet and the choices you make at restaurants/grocery stores reflect those goals. There are many trends with dieting, so don’t feel pressured by what everyone else is doing. Yes…dairy, meat with every meal, candy, high processed foods, and fast food ARE bad for you if you are eating that all the time. If you can cut all of these things out of your diet, do it! However, don’t shame yourself if you have a big steak and fried pickles or go to the movie theater and buy that Snickers bar and popcorn. Just don’t make these things an every day habit, and do your research to make sure you are treating your insides as good as you are your outsides.

 

3. Rest. Yes, that’s right. Take time to pray, meditate, and rest daily. Research has shown that good sleep and rest has a HUGE impact on your health. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society stated this past year that “sleeping less than seven hours per day is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and frequent mental distress.” That is a big deal. In our culture it is popular and makes us feel successful to say that we are “busy”, but we must remember our own bodies are more important than success or careers, so it is vital to make sure we are getting an appropriate amount of rest each day.

 

With all of this being said, go get em! Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from being a better you than last year! Let’s take care of our bodies. Have accountability. Set goals. And most importantly, do it because you only get 1 body in your lifetime to take care of! Live your best life NOW!

 

 

References: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0215-enough-sleep.html, https://www.sleepassociation.org/sleep/sleep-statistics/

 

What is the “more” that you are searching for?

That is the question I am stuck with after reading a friend’s Instagram post this morning. She posted this statement that really hit me hard:

The “more” my soul longs for will not be satisfied in more “success”, more followers, or more things. The longing for “more” is only satisfied in Jesus.

I don’t know if you are like me, but I’ll admit, most mornings I get up and the first thing I do is check my Instagram or Facebook. I’ll shake it off as I am just keeping up with my fans or keeping in touch with friends and family, but truly I think that it is because I am looking for more. More opportunities for my music, more money, more clothes I need, more facial products that will prevent acne & wrinkles, more….more…more…

Comparison is a killer…

… and it will always leave you wanting more of the wrong things.

Today when I read that post, I immediately stopped what I was doing and just spent time listening to some inspirational music and reading my Bible. I read about the unity that Jesus wanted so badly for the world. I read that God has already gone before me…before my own plans and before my dreams that he placed in my heart. I read that when my “more” is placed at the feet of Jesus, I will never walk in darkness.

If you are a lot like me, I challenge you today to refocus for 2018. All of the things in your life that seem would bring more to your life are just things. What if you never got any of the things you wanted? Would you still feel of the same worth that you are today? The truth is that success or things DO NOT reflect who we are as humans or, better yet, the worth that we carry.

you are priceless. you are worth MORE than you believe.

When we focus more on Jesus and the life that he lived, we begin to understand that more and more.

 

References: John 10, Well Watered Women