Posts by Bethany Wilkes

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What does it mean to be healthy? What kinds of things do you do to be healthy? We pour so much time and effort into healthy living, healthy eating, healthy habits, and healthy thinking. It takes intentional effort. It takes planned out thought. It takes discipline. It takes saying yes to certain things and no to others. In the moment you may be what you think might be sacrificing, but you are trying to make certain choices, change, and change your lifestyle because of the lasting benefit. Health is such a focus of the new year, but let’s look into it from a different perspective.

Some people call it dieting, others call it healthy living. But it is all the same thing. It all comes down to changing your actions to change the effect. What should really be focusing on is creating a healthy lifestyle.  Because then it isn’t just a fad, the newest trend, or a temporary phase. A changed lifestyle lasts. When you first start a diet you usually cut things out or add things in.  Have less dessert throughout the week, make healthier choices at meals, and control your portions.  The more established those habits become, the more routine it becomes.  It becomes second nature to make healthy choices. It becomes a part of who you are.  Usually over time you prefer the good things rather than the instant pleasure of the not so healthy things. Your appetite changes. Your cravings change. And you change.

Often times faith and a spiritual life is seen as something that is regimented and monitored.  You have to “do” all these things to feel close to God.  There is a continual push to read your Bible, pray, and be surrounded by good people. And we say it is because you …

Do you find a whole week goes by and you haven’t found one moment for yourself, you feel like you have accomplished nothing, or you don’t remember what you did in the week? As the new year has begun, I have been trying to think of simple ways I can connect. Ways I can connect to God, to myself, to my husband, to my boy, and with the world around me. As I have reflected the ways I want to grow, I have discovered some simple ways that can ground me, keep me connected, and make me feel more fulfilled.

Connecting with God

• Prayer- I really like when I make intentional effort to pray at specific times or for specific things. It helps me remember and is something consistent. Like when I drive I can pray for my community. When I get ready in the morning I can pray for my family. When I serve food we can always pray before a meal. When I get ready for bed I can thank God for where I saw him that day
• Time in Scripture- It is so easy for whole days to pass by and I totally forget to even think about God. Great things I have found are the
  • First 5 App
  • If Gathering App
  • She Reads truth App
  • The Bible App
• Worship Music- A great way to get in touch with the Lord through song, worship, praise. Listen to the words
• Podcasts- Find your favorite pastors or favorite churches podcasts. Listen while you drive, walk, run, do dishes, etc.

Connecting with Yourself:

• What do you like to do? Think of one thing you can do a week for yourself
• Journal
• Focus on being thankful: I used a thankfulness journal for years and loved it
• 5 minutes a day book:

Jesus has another name, PRINCE OF PEACE! This name can be self explanatory, the prince of the king, who brings peace to the world. But let’s dig in a little bit. Sarah Young, in her book ¨Jesus Lives  explains Prince of peace through this devotional by writing to us from the PRINCE OF PEACE.

I am the Lord of Peace, the only source of genuine peace. I give you this gift, not as something separate from Myself, but as part of My core essence. As you open your heart and mind to Me, My peace is present- readily available to you. However, this glorious gift is not somethign you can grab on the run. You need to take time to focus on Me and enjoy My presence, putting everything else aside for awhile.

You live in the midst of intense spiritual battles, and My Peace is an essential part of the armor I provide for you. To stay on your feet during combat, you need to wear sturdy warfare boots- the Gospel of Peace. This good news assures you that I love you and I am for you: I am on your side.

Many of My followers forfeit Peace because they view Me as someone who is constantly scrutinizing their lives- peering at them through critical eyes. On the contrary, I gaze at you through eyes of perfect Love. When you are feeling like a failure, talk to yourself and tell yourself the truth: My death on the cross covers all your sins. I love you regardless of how well or poorly you perform- simply because you are Mine. Rejoice in this Gospel-Peace; it is yours to enjoy at all times and in every way. 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times …

What’s in a name? In the Bible, names are very important. So looking at the names of Jesus can bring an amazing picture of the character and different roles of Jesus.

Who is Jesus? Why did he come to earth? How can we have a greater understanding of the saving grace and purpose of Jesus.

Jesus as Savior means Salvation. John 4:42 says, “They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

In the devotional Jesus Lives, by Sarah Young, an excerpt on Hope, which is written from Jesus to YOU, states:

I am your Risen, Living Savior! Through my resurrection you have been born again to an ever-living hope. It is vital for you to remain hopeful, no matter what is going on in your life. People put their hope in a variety of things- wealth, power, health, medical treatments- but these are all insufficient. When storms break upon your life, you can find only one adequate source of help-ME! The hope I provide is an anchor for your soul, firm and secure in the midst of tempestuous waters. A good way to reamin anchored in Me is to whisper as often as needed: “Jesus, You are my Hope”. This affirmation strengthens you and keeps you connected to me.

I am constantly working to transofrm your life. You need My help continually to keep your hope alive. I stand ready to help you at all times- during stormy episodes as well as times of smooth sailing. I am not only ever-living but also more abundatly alive than you can possibly imagine. There are no limites to what My great Power and Glory can …

How great is our God?  Do you see Him as the great God he is? Or do you put other things on the throne of you hear in His place? Thankfulness, the attitude of the heart, helps you reflect and resonate on God’s faithfulness because you focus on what God has done, where God has been in your life, and the worship of the true God.

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The pilgrims, on their journey “in lean times as well as relatively plentiful—they gathered for prayer, meditation, the singing of hymns, and a sermon. It was their regular practice to stop and give thanks to God at the outset of each week. They did this despite hardships and heartache, and their faithfulness is a bright example for how we are to honor the Lord with our thanks in every season. ”

Are you able to reflect on the Lord’s faithfulness despite the current circumstance you are in? What do you do to center your heart and reflect on what God has done in your life?  He is GREAT. He is WORKING. And he LOVES you.

Spend some time thinking about what God has done in your life and thank Him for it.  Pray a prayer of Thanksgiving for His faithfulness:

“Father, You have been so faithful to me over the course of my life, showing Your care and provision time and again. I’m so grateful for the way You have walked with me, sustained me, encouraged me, strengthened me, comforted me, and loved me in every season. Thank You!” (excerpts from Revive our Hearts: Gratitude Challenge)

Discover the you God created you to be. And see His fingerprints throughout your life. And thank Him for the path you have been on and the fact the GOD has been walking with you. Even when …