Faith

I feel so overwhelmed. I just do not think I can handle one more thing. How can I stay strong?

Trust God! If you are a believer then simply believe. He loves you and knows your needs even before you ask. He shall supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19) We have all heard the saying “God only gives us what we can handle” sometimes it feels like there is no way we can handle it. Terrible things do happen here, we lose a spouse, a child our health and finances. Life here on earth can feel overwhelming. Concentrate on what is the most important your assurance that you are saved and He loves you. (Acts2:21) All things will work out for good for those who love God.

Simplify, we can all get over busy in this world. Prioritize your day. Make sure you have time for God each day. Act in a manner that honors Him. Make sure each day you have time to take care of you, your relationship with your spouse, your children and work. If you don’t have time for these priorities cut the frivolous stuff out. Even Bible studies can be too much if we do not have our basics covered. Simplify, having time in your day to just exhale is very important. If you are too busy you will more easily feel overwhelmed. Simplify, cover your priorities and trust Gods love for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ”

I like another common saying, “Less is more!”.

Sometimes I feel so empty I just shovel it in. Once I get started I can’t stop. I just fill myself with anything. What can I do? I want to stop.

I understand wanting to stop and not being able to. I used to promise myself that I would quit and then half way through the day I would be into my old behaviors again. I felt empty and I just shoveled it in. Now, I fill myself with Jesus. He is always there. He helps me from the inside out. There is a saying, “You are only lonely when you don’t like who you are alone with.” Accepting His love for me, I am able to accept and love myself. I become filled from the inside out. I like to compare the visual of a river-fed lake (illustrating being filled from the outside) verses the spring-fed pond (being filled from within). I prefer to be like a Spring fed pond. When I start to feel that old emptiness creep in, I cry out to the Lord. I apply the seven ways to keep Jesus front and center (FCF). What is FCF? Letting myself be filled with His Holy Spirit, I find a sincere reward from the inside out. This gives me the strength to leave my old sabotaging behaviors behind, and press forward to the new. I call on Him constantly to help me be the woman He created me to be. Call on Him, He will be there.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

I have been trying to change my thinking but I can’t. What can I do?

One of the most powerful ways I know to change my thinking is to memorize and quote scripture. One of my friends said that she is using, “get ye behind me Satan” when she is tempted. She said, “it is working great!” I know for me, if I get in the word each day I get the extra encouragement I need during my moments of weakness and glory. Try changing your thinking by memorizing scripture and quoting it.

Matthew 6:33 NKJ But, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

A testimonial on your website site said, “you go beyond exercise and diet.” What else is there?

There is so much more to fitness than exercise and diet. Those things are very important. Fitness is taking care of your physical body, treating it as His temple. Fitness is also taking care of your mind, choosing faith not fear. Taking care of your soul is choosing love not anger. In your relationships choose acceptance vs. criticism. In your home, create a safe place vs. a hostile one. In your work choose diligence not slothfulness. In your finances be responsible vs. squandering. In these seven main areas of your life, if you center them around God and His word it will provide you peace and true fitness. I know this because it works for me. I was once only about diet and exercise. I was then fit on the outside but empty on the inside. True fitness is centering your life around Jesus and treating your body as His temple. It works for me.

Hebrews 3:15 “While it is said: Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in rebellion.”