I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Be Deeply Formed by God

Recently, I learned about a wonderful tool to get closer to the Lord. It is called Contemplative Prayer. We are called to a deeper faith—a life shaped by contemplative prayer, self-examination, and transformation through God. It’s not just about doing the right things; it’s about being molded by God’s presence so that we can love as He loves, extend grace and mercy like He does, and walk fully in the purpose He has called us to embrace. Throughout Scripture, we see God use seasons of stillness and waiting to prepare His people. David, Moses, and Joseph all experienced times of solitude and transformation before stepping into the roles God had for them (1 Samuel 13:14, 16:13). David was known as a man after God’s own heart even before he became king. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness tending sheep before leading the Israelites out of slavery. Joseph endured 13 years in difficult circumstances, growing through prayer and self-examination, before he was elevated to save nations from famine. These seasons weren’t wasted—they were essential in forming their hearts to align with God’s purpose. As Psalm 46:10 reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Contemplative prayer is about

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I Choose Today to be Protected

Protected. We spend a lot of time, energy and money trying to protect ourselves. I know for instance, in our home we have smoke alarms that also detect carbon monoxide, sprinklers in case a fire breaks out, and an alarm system on our home in case there is an intruder. But all these things are reactive. They tell us when danger is happening not before the danger even exist. We strive to protect ourselves, but God offers a deeper kind of protection, one that knows the danger coming and goes beyond our ability to anticipate it. That’s exactly what God originally designed for us. In the garden, God protected Adam and Eve from the effects of sin. But when they ate from the tree of knowledge, they became exposed to sin and evil on a personal, intimate level. Though sin is now part of our world, God remains our protector, offering His presence and guidance in the middle of the brokenness. Though sin is now a reality, the good news is that God remains committed to being our protector, as David reminds us throughout the Psalms. Psalms 121:5-8 shows this. Verse 5 says, “The Lord watches over you, the Lord

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I Choose Today to Prevail

Have you ever struggled? Struggled with a relationship, finances, your weight? Struggled with a decision—choosing between your way or God’s way? Or maybe even with faith itself, wondering how God could be good with so much hardship happening around you? I know the feeling. One of the deepest struggles I’ve faced was trusting in God’s goodness after experiencing the heartbreaking loss of my son to SIDS. I can still remember the rawness of those moments: yelling, crying, and wrestling with God. It felt like I was struggling alone, silently holding pain that no one else could understand. In reflecting on my own struggles, I found deep encouragement in the story of Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32). Jacob’s story is about much more than a physical struggle; it’s about an internal wrestling with identity, sin, and faith. Jacob’s encounter with God teaches us some powerful truths about working through our struggles. 1. Perseverance in the Struggle: Jacob wrestled with God all night and refused to give up, even after being injured. His persistence shows that prevailing isn’t about overpowering God but about enduring with faith. We often face the temptation to quit when things get tough, but Jacob’s story reminds

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I Choose Today to Tidy Up

When I clean, I have been known to be a shover. I shove things in drawers, closets, cabinets, whatever I can do to hide things so my space looks tidy. On the surface, everything appears tidy, but inside those drawers, closets, and cabinets, there’s a mess that still needs to be dealt with. Being a shover of our mess when it comes to life, is not the way to go either. Because sooner or later, that mess will demand to be addressed. Unaddressed hurts or mistakes can seep into our actions, attitudes, and even relationships, catching us off guard. Often, we don’t realize how much the mess we’ve buried affects the way we respond to others. For example, when I have made a mistake or been hurt by a situation, instead of dealing with it directly, I tend to shove it down and ignore it. This leads to all kinds of issues. Believe it or not, our mess tends to manifest in ways we don’t even realize. This mess reared its ugly head when my husband gave me feedback about something. I had an inordinate response that was completely over the top! So why did I have that kind of

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I Choose Today to be Unburdened

Last weekend I hosted an event at my home. When greeting my guest at the door, I ask to take their bags, coats, and anything else that weighs them down. This allows them to relax and be unburdened. When we are unburdened, we have the freedom to be more present and enjoy ourselves with the people we are with. Jesus wants to do that for us too. When we come into His presence, He wants us to give Him our burdens, our baggage, and the things that are weighing on us. He wants to unburden us, teach us, and to give us rest for our souls. That is exactly what He is saying to us in Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬, when He vows, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” What kind of physical reaction do you have when you imagine having “rest for your soul?” I know I have a visceral response to having rest for my soul. It feels like a deep inward sense of relief, freedom, and lightness, allowing me to feel more settled. For example, when I am up in

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