Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. — Isaiah 41:10 NLT The messy middle is the hardest part. When the homework project is halfway done and the room is a mess. When the kitchen renovation is at peak craziness and you're cooking out of the back bedroom. When a loved one is in treatment, but not quite yet cured. When you're waiting for the results, and the anticipation feels as if it may drown you. When you're aching for that significant other, that baby, that job. When you're slowly adding one more day to your sobriety calendar and choosing yourself over the addiction minute after minute. When you're waiting, putting one foot in front of the other, hoping to get to the next day. I once heard someone say, when you can't take one more step forward, move just an inch. And sometimes it doesn't even have to be a whole inch — just make sure you're not moving backward. Move forward any way you can. And, if you can't move forward, try stepping to the side. Some seasons, the strongest thing we can do is move sideways. When the grief, the struggle, the fear, or the yearning feels like it may do you in, move forward or move sideways. Seek first the Kingdom of God and trust that He will be with you in the messy middle places. How will you move forward or sideways today? Celebrate your progress, even if it is tiny. You are one step closer to who you are becoming. * |
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The tiny choices we make every day make up our lives. |
The tiny choices we make every day make up our lives. |
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Delight in Discipline For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. — Hebrews 12:11 Have you ever adopted a new habit — say, eating healthy — and given it up after exactly forty-eight hours because you didn't notice an enormous change? It takes a lot of willpower and intention to make healthy choices for two whole days in a row. So why aren't we back in our jeans from college after all that effort?! I sometimes struggle with maintaining discipline for the long haul. I love immediate gratification, great transformation, and awe-inspiring befores-and-afters. But people who've achieved such things will tell you they only got there by making a series of small choices over and over again for a long period of time. Let's use vitamins as an example. If I take my vitamins daily for three days, I probably won't see a fantastic impact. I probably won't see a fantastic impact if I take them for a week. But months or even a year? That daily choice will add up to something really good for my body. The tiny choices we make every day make up our lives. What will you commit to? Moving your body every day? Spending time with God? Wearing sunscreen? Delighting in discipline can be tough, but the long-term rewards are worth it. What healthy daily habits would you like to implement? Make note of one or two Consider a physical reminder to help you remember this task Put a Post-it Note on your bathroom mirror or set up an automatic reminder notification on your smartphone. |
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Keep going! What are you waiting for right now? What are you in the middle of that's stretching your faith? The Lord is with you in the messy middle and He will strengthen you to endure. Keep seeking the Kingdom of God! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Wake up to the beauty of God's love every day |
Sure as the Sunrise: 100 Morning Meditations on God's Mercy and Delight |
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+ FREE shipping on all orders over $35 | Do your days sometimes feel uncertain and chaotic? Do you wonder if what you're doing each day matters in the grand scheme of life? Are you seeking calm and peace amid turmoil? In Sure as the Sunrise, bestselling author Emily Ley offers inspiration and reassurance that God's mercy, delight, and provision are as sure as the sunrise--and ready to greet you each morning with hope and joy. Reading Sure as the Sunrise is like having coffee with your best friend each morning. With vulnerability and relatability, Emily shares her own stories and struggles, while also giving you permission to stop and check in with yourself--how are you doing, really? Every five days of devotions are separated with additional inspiration or space for personal reflection. If you are the type of person who loves starting your day with a planner or Bible in hand, this is a wonderful tool to add God's delight to your days. Or, if you need help creating a morning routine to put more calm and joy in your day, this book can help you do it. This devotional is perfect for those: - Looking for a fresh start
- Struggling through hard times and needing reminders that God has not forgotten you
- Trying to transform your morning routine
- Searching for God in the sacred, ordinary moments of life
- Wanting to start your day with God
- Seeking reminders of God's perfect consistency, faithfulness, and mercy when the world is uncertain and unpredictable
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This 100-day devotional will make a wonderful gift for fans of Emily and the Simplified brand and for those who are looking for uplifting, biblical readings to inspire them and help start their days. When everything else in the world feels unsure, ever-changing, Sure as the Sunrise reminds us that God is almighty, forever, and dependable. God shows us that sometimes a fresh start isn't found in a magnificent transformation, but in focusing our hearts on the signs, the slivers, the surprises and delights right in front of us. |
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More inspiration from Emily Ley |
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You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For |
Share the sweet message that "you're always enough" to little ones and remind them that no matter what mistakes are made or how hard a challenge is, they are loved. Boost your child's self-esteem and confidence and remind them they are perfectly unique and extraordinarily made to be exactly who they are, and it is always enough. |
| A Standard of Grace: Guided Journal |
Are you standing in the middle of opportunity and being overwhelmed when you really need calm? Not sure where to start to simplify and bring grace and peace to your home? Emily Ley has created a joy-inspiring guided journal designed to help you nurture your dreams, discover your hopes, and pay attention to those things you hold dearest to your heart. |
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this devotion with someone who needs it today |
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