Daily Journal Challenge- Day 6: Refocus on the Truth.

Hey Lovelies,

So today I was reminded of John 15:5 (NIV):

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

So today started off well and "to plan." I started the day off in God's word and aimed to cling onto it throughout the day. Recently I have been forgetting God promises when I need it the most and in instances doubt has been on my mind so it is really important for me to meditate on Gods word. I remember reading a blog post on desiringGod.org back in March, the post was on the war within the flesh Vs. spirit. I remember that one of the main practical things that the blog spoke about was how to stay in the spirit. The post spoke about how to "feed the soul" and make the soul "happy" in order to nourish your inner man and this is through the word of God. Meditating on the word, which is God and God's truths and promises is so key. These are the truths and promises that will get you through the day, through temptations and through any attacks. Anyway so as the day went on I began to... I guess lose focus forgetting who is sovereign and I worked myself up into a frenzy. Instead of getting on my knees to pray and submit it all to God, I began to feed the frenzy in my mind and I just continued to lose the battle. The irony of the whole thing is that this morning I listened to the audio for Purpose Driven Life Day 26 which was on the prayer of deliverance and resisting temptation. Rick Warren emphasised on not feeding the temptation/sin of doubt (in my case).

I remember it said the battle with sin "always starts off in the mind and it starts of by getting your attention."

He also said that "Resisting sin takes practice"

I'm a work in progress. Psalm 138:8 (KJV)

The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD,endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Lots of Love xxx

Daily Journal Challenge- Day 5: Fall Down and get back up...

Hey Guys...

Its been over a week since I posted, when I reflected I found the reasons to be...

• not having enough time  Not making enough time
• not getting a chance to write and having other things to do  Not being disciplined enough and a lack of intentional behaviour- such as planning etc
• Not submitting to the Holy Spirit and letting him, lead, guide and strengthen me

It's been an interesting week or so but I thank God that throughout he has still continued to speak to me and guide me...the main thing that was stopping me from moving forward was communicating in his presence.

But today I did and through my pastor and the Holy Spirit God told me that...

Naomi you are giving in to doubt...

The scripture God told me to lean on was Jeremiah 17:5-8 (MSG)

Cursed is the strong one
    who depends on mere humans,
Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone
    and sets God aside as dead weight.
He’s like a tumbleweed on the prairie,
    out of touch with the good earth.
He lives rootless and aimless
    in a land where nothing grows.

7-8 “But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
    the woman who sticks with God.
They’re like trees replanted in Eden,
    putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
    never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
    bearing fresh fruit every season

Thank you Jesus 

Lots of Love xxx

Daily Journal Challenge- Day 4:Feelings are options/God you are my greatest joy

Hey Lovelies,

Today I was studying Proverbs 9:

Proverbs 9:10 really stood out to me especially because of the commentary I was reading. Proverbs 9:10 says the reverent and the worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy one is insight and understanding. 

The commentary that I was reading went on to say that:
1. To "fear" is to respect God so he must be 1st place in your life
2. God is more important than anything in your life: your job, friends and family etc.
3. When we make decisions we must review and identify whether our decision brings honour to God 

Also... another one of my favourite scriptures is...2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I love this scripture because it shows that Christ reigns above all things negative and evil. The battle in the mind is real and as our mindset controls our behaviour it is important to submit it all to God. There is no space for doubt, anxiety, unbelief, anger, depression, irritation, none of this should override our joy in Christ.

Nai do not settle for anything but joy in Christ, do not try to exalt anything positive or negative above your God. God is above everything, God is everything.

If you feel that something is trying to exalt itself over God, do not let it. Submit it to God in prayer and keep it moving.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) says always be joyful.  Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Lots of Love xxx

Daily Journal Challenge: Day 3- Jesus is always enough for me.

Hey Lovelies,

So today at church the song of ministration spoke about Jesus being enough for me.

Another worship song that was sung in church today was one by Matt Redman- The Heart of Worship which is one of my favs. There is a line in the song that goes "I'm sorry Lord for the things i've made it, when it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus". So I have spoke in my last few posts about Jesus bringing me back to basics and today God spoke to me about 3 things.

1. I have become selfish and very "me" focused this walk is not about me or what I want or how I feel.

2. God wants to know that you Naomi believe that he is enough for you. God will never give you something/use you for a certain thing if you have not demonstrated that no matter what you will put him first in ALL things. I remember my pastor once said "Are you about you or are you about God"

3. Surrendering your all to him

4. Your eyes should be so fixed on Jesus that you see everything through the eyes of him, its not about how I think or feel about this person, its about what Jesus feels about them and that's the way in which I need to treat them. 

Matthew 14:27-31 (AMP) talks about when Jesus told Peter to come to him by walking on water. The moment Peter took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink. The bible says that "he perceived and felt"- Naomi do not perceive situations, build up perceptions in your head or give into your feelings. In verse 27 Jesus tells Peter to take courage for "I AM, stop being afraid." 

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and he is more than enough so be encouraged. In Exodus 3:14 Moses has the strength to do what God has called him to do, he says "the I AM is with me." 

He is ALL you need.

Lots of Love xxx

Daily journal challenge- Day 2: Running to win

Hey Lovelies,

It's quite late (for me) and technically the next day but I have to write this post! Can't give up only 2 days in! 

Anyway...God is really taking me back to basics! and it is much needed!

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NIV) - This is definitely a scripture that I am always coming back to! It says...

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

I remember listening to an audio made by a friend (link here) a few weeks back and I remember thinking what type of race am I running in terms of my walk with Christ and my overall purpose. Is it a race to win or a race to mediocrity. 

The key word here is "strict training" another version says "discipline." What disciplines do I have in place so that Jesus is at the forefront of my life?

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) also says:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

It is a matter of urgency I need to "throw off" anything that hinders this race and causes sin.

God really caused me to evaluate the things that I need to "throw off" today, things that God once freed me from that are slowing creeping back into my life and overtaking the pillars and good habits that God had started to build in my life.

I remember someone telling me, the choice of discipline is a choice of two "pains." The "pain" of the discipline now which will produce good fruit or the "pain" of regret once you have taken the path of least resistance. 

Lets resist our fleshly desires today and fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith.

Remember: Regular consistent steps will inevitably produce growth.

Let's run this race to WIN

Lots of Love xx

Daily journal challenge- Day 1: Stripped

A message...

Today God stripped me, yet again. 

Why do I deceive myself into thinking that I can do anything without God and without being firmly (none of this im sort of planted in him, God showed me I wasnt when the hard times came) planted in him? It's so annoying for me to think like this. God just continues to bring me back to this place reiterating that... TRULY WITHOUT ME YOU ARE NOTHING- and it's true without him I am unloving, unkind, irritable, uncaring, selfish, annoyed, ungrateful, mean, unsatisfied, depressed, I lack self control, care about the world and the list could go on. I guess the works of the flesh really are opposed to the works and fruit of the spirit- Galatians 5. But I know these things so why do I keep going around the same mountains- because I took my focus off you oh God. I have suppressed you in my life both consciously and subconsciously and I let the world in once again. Things that weren't important to me in Christ somehow have become important to me again. I stopped keeping the first things first, I have taken my eyes of you as as a result I haven't been praying over the last couple of weeks, I haven't been clinging onto your word, my quiet time has suffered and as a result my relationship with you has also suffered.

God I miss you SO much.

I miss the person that I am in you.

I broke down but he brought me to...Psalm 91:1 (AMP)-

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.

Nai...don't ever move from that secret place again- never let a day go by. Be in the secret place of the most high and do not be deceived by the veneer of this world.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.- Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Lots of love xxx

The daily journal challenge has began! #saynotoprocrastination #sayyestogrowth #amtttC

Hey lovelies,

It's been a while! Hope you're all well!

In the month of September (and forever) I am saying no to procrastination and moving forward into becoming the woman God has called me to be.

This blog has been on my heart for 2 years now so believe me when I say I cant let it go and God does not want me to let it go either as time after time the desire to write keeps on coming back AND I write daily notes and lessons learnt to myself using the iphone app. so I figured why not share it and if I can help even one person well then that will be fantastic so here goes..

Every day I will write a short post on the lessons learnt from each day, the revelations God has laid on my heart and his wisdom bestowed upon me. Since giving my life to Christ in October 2014 the journey has been crazy, with ups and downs, but with everything comes a wisdom and lesson that God wants you to learn. God can turn absolutely anything into something great.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.- James 1:2-3 (NIV)

Also... the name of the blog signifies a place where I feel I am since giving my life to Christ, becoming a Christian (conforming to the image of Jesus Christ, who we are called to look up to and be like is a life long journey, especially as long as we remain in this imperfect human flesh). Especially after I gave my life to Christ there was a transition period of dying to my old self and getting to know God and Christ. A time of self-discovery in Christ while still holding onto my old fleshly and worldly habits, and it is a daily fight and battle (thankfully we do not have to do it alone #Learning ThatTheHolySpiritIsMyBestfriend). Since we are called to die to ourselves daily, I believe that we transition daily through our thoughts, choices and behaviour. 

Although it has not been easy I endeavour to smile and remember God throughout every second of the day because I know that even if I don't know or understand, God knows and has the best for me.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.- Romans 8:28 (NIV)

I pray that this will be a blessing to you all and a blessing to me as it serves as a sort of accountability of my thoughts and consistency. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Lots of love xxx