It may sound cliche’, but do you have an Attitude of Gratitude? I didn’t!
I’m finally home in San Diego after a week of busy traveling and I went back to back from 4 days in Texas for a personal growth conference, to 4 days in New Mexico caring for my niece and nephew while my sister was away for business. To say this past week has been a whirlwind, would be an understatement!
While at my conference the Holy Spirit revealed to me deep-seeded roots of things I’ve been stubbornly holding onto or blocking myself from feeling the fullness of the goodness of God and all that He wants for each of our lives.
I came to have some life-changing realizations that I think you might relate to as well:
- I have not been ALLOWING myself to receive good things. In fact, I have been RESISTING and blocking them in many areas because of deep feelings of unworthiness.
- I have unresolved issues of PRIDE and self-sufficiency that have gone undiagnosed and therefore not addressed.
- I have NOT been practicing a FULL Attitude of Gratitude for all the things God has given me and done for me, and I’ve taken many things for granted.
- When the Holy Spirit reveals things to you that you’d been in denial about, or not able to see them for the truth of what they are, it’s both liberating and scary. Now you’re faced with the undeniable fact that you MUST allow God to begin working in these areas if you want to receive God’s true JOY and Peace—but that’s not always easy!
We’ve become used to our old way of thinking. Those old habits and routines that perpetuated our negative thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
But the good news is WE ARE ADAPTABLE! God gave us the ability to change!
He made our brains pliable and literally adaptable (called brain plasticity) which allows us to not only change or heal the old, but actively create and mold the new!
What grace! What a gift! What a miracle!!
So let’s talk about HOW to change all of that.
How to adapt an Attitude of Gratitude that will allow us to experience deeper more intimate relationship with God, and can be cultivated and grown into a full life-changing experience of the fullness of joy that God created us to experience.
How to cultivate more JOY into your life:
- Start a daily written practice of what you are grateful for, on a daily basis. (I prefer nightly journaling just before bed to reflect and analyze your day.)
- Start your morning with prayer, asking God to open your heart and mind to see all of the things you can be grateful for that day.
- Begin a Bible study on Gratitude. Either a formal study, or do a google search on verses about gratitude that you can read, study and begin to memorize.
- Pray before every meal, no exceptions. Thanking God for what you’re about to eat, the miracle of convenience you experienced to have your meal before you, and the hands and processes that had taken place to get each item now resting on your plate.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show and reveal to you ways in which you are blocking or blinding yourself from being grateful and what spirits of negativity or pessimism are creeping into your mind and destroying your experience of true joy. Rebuke them in Jesus’ name!
There is power in the name of Jesus!
His name has been given authority over every other name (Ephesians 1:18-23).
Daughter of the King, do not dismiss the power that Jesus died to give you!
Use it to it’s full capacity over negativity, pessimism, doubt, evil, darkness and the enemy of your soul.
Jesus has already defeated Satan so that we can be free from any sin that entangles. Plead the blood of Jesus over your life!
>> I’d love to hear how you’re planning to begin cultivating a culture of Gratitude and what realizations you may have had that are holding you back. Praying for you that the Holy Spirit will reveal truth to you and that you will have a deepening relationship with the Creator of the Universe, our Heavenly Father.
Your sister in Christ,
~Dr. Melody
P.S. If you’re needing additional help or “another pair of eyes” to help you examine what might be blocking or holding you back, I’m here for you. My mission to love others and help them grow in their calling and experience the fullness of the love of Christ is my greatest desire. I’d love to be that help for you.
Schedule a 90 minute Custom Strategy Session with me here.
Whether you’re excited or scared on this historical Inauguration day...
I wanted to bring to you a beautiful passage in the Bible to help remind us that God is always, and has always been, in control. Our trust is to be placed firstly in His Mighty and Righteous hand above all else.
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.
Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?
Then do what is right and you will be commended.
For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.
But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the
sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.”
Romans 13:1-6
Cast your cares on God and give yourself the gift of less worry by placing your full trust in God, not in men. <3
Your sister in Christ,
~Dr. Melody
The Devil is on attack of your life EVERY DAY!
It hit me last night, after watching the movie War Room for the first time (great movie btw if you haven’t yet seen it!) that I have not been recognizing the Devil’s workings in my thoughts and in my heart because they’re so SUBTLE!
And that’s just the way he likes it!
Our brains are AMAZING. The most incredible creations on the face of the planet if you ask me. One of the many reasons I went into healthcare and got my Doctorate in physical therapy because I wanted to know all I could about our amazing bodies, and especially our brain.
But since we have free will and we have control of our minds, the Devil can find clever ways to begin to seep in and start chipping away at God’s truths and our thoughts around God in hopes of creating a divide and keeping us timid, scared and distrusting of God’s ability and intimacy that He wants to have with us.
NO MORE! I’m calling B.S. on the Devil!
He will NO LONGER convince me that I’m not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not capable enough, not special enough, that God is distant, can’t hear me, doesn’t care, wants to punish me, wants to hold back from me, doesn’t want to bless me. That’s he’s blinding me to see the beauty, the good, the grace, the mercy, the love, the humanity that’s all around me.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
It’s time for you to do the same.
Start digging into God’s word. His promises of love, provision, beauty, abundance, grace and mercy. Use God’s word for the tool that it is–to guard and protect and defend and repel the forces of darkness and the enemy from slithering his way into your mind, thoughts and actions.
Jesus has already defeated him on the cross! The battle is WON!
Will you claim it for yourself? Will you claim that truth over your life and no longer be a slave to negativity, pessimism, self-condemnation, guilt and shame? God has such beauty, love, life and joy for you, if you only would dispel the Devil’s influences over you and your family in Jesus’ name.
You can do it. And let me know when you do. I’d love to join with you and the angels in rejoicing victory that you’re reclaiming God’s reign in your heart and that you’ve cast the Devil out for good!!
Your sister in Christ,
~Dr. Melody
P.S. If you’re needing help and guidance in reclaiming your beautiful and joy-filled life, it’s my ultimate pleasure to be that avenue for you. Book a free strategy session with me and we’ll flesh out the areas that have been holding you back and give you options on how I might be able to help facilitate you stepping into the life you’ve been missing.
