Christian Living: A Prize Journal

I recently finished a 21 day soul detox. Ashley Joy of Distinctive Female Blog hosted it. I found it through Instagram and it was truly an awesome experience. I'd like to share 2 blessings that I received through this experience and lessons that you can remember throughout your spiritual journey. 

1. You Can Win!- 

Now, I rarely enter giveaways, contests, etc. I have the mindset that I'll never win. Mind you, I've won two contests online off the top of my head but for some reason, my mind has been programmed to "loser". That sounds awful to think about but I subliminally do this to myself. As a result of thinking, I'll lose, I don't enter or try. To be a part of the 21 day detox, Ashley Joy asked that we all give our name, email address, and some other info. I did this not realizing that I was entering a drawing. Lo and behold! I won one of the prizes for the contest! I was really excited and shocked to hear I was getting a gift.  I won the beautiful pink journal that is pictured above! I had no intentions of winning and so I didn't even put my hopes there. I think this parallels with my relationship with Christ. A lot of times, I have no hopes in winning in life because things have been so hard for so long. However, if I set my mind there, that's what my reality will be. As a Christian, I must have hope, faith and a belief that with God, I can win in the situations in my life. 

2. Document the Journey!-  Now, if you've followed me for some time, you know that I love my gratitude journal. Since I already have a journal for gratitude, I decided to use this journal to write letters to God. My letters to God are mainly filled with my feelings and my prayer requests. In keeping a gratitude journal, my intention was to focus on the positive and hopefully more positive would come into my life. Yes, it has worked! God has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined! The part that is problematic is the denial. In focusing on the positive, I've tried to tell myself that the hurts and pains I feel don't exist. When you're dealing with aches and pains of any kind (emotional, spiritual, physical, financial, etc.), the worst you could do is pretend they're not real. In order to see healing take place, you must recognize the pain, deal with it, and ask God to help you move through it. This prayer journal is my opportunity to recognize and deal with the pain in my life. 

I hope this helps you as you continue to seek Christ in all you do!

God bless you!

-dani

Nothing Is Impossible For You

Can you believe it?! It's Friday already!!! I've had a blast back in the blogosphere this week! Thank you for joining me on my first week back! I have so much to share to keep checking in! You don't want to miss anything!!

A couple days ago, I shared that I joined a 21 day soul detox. When I signed up to join the challenge, I didn't realize that I was also signing up to join the contest! Two days ago, I got an email from Ashley saying that I was one of the winners!!! How exciting!!! I'm thrilled! I look forward to receiving my gifts and looking forward to see what God continues to do through this awesome 21 day journey! For more information, please check out Ashley's instructions and information here. 

As previously mentioned, I've been incorporating music into my devotionals as a part of the detox challenge. My theme song for the challenge is "Healer". I am mainly listening to the Kari Jobe version live. The words are so powerful. Some of my favorite lines are:

1. You walk with me through fire.

2. Nothing is impossible for you. 

3. You're more than enough for me!

4. Jesus you're all I need!

To some this may seem super elementary but I'd like to challenge you for a second!

Do you believe those words? 

It's one thing to say that you know God is with you but do you believe it? Or do you constantly feel a pang of  fear, loneliness, desperation and anxiety? God is love and his love is perfect. Perfect love casts away all fear. When we cast ALL our cares on Him, a sense of peace and calm should come. You can't surrender the burdens to God and then go back and pick them up because devotion time is over. A walk of faith is a moment by moment thing. Faith doesn't just show up when you're in church praising God or when you say your grace before you eat. Faith needs to be exercised constantly. I believe it's a discipline or a muscle that needs to be exercised and strength! Have faith and the strength to let it all go and rest in what He can do!

Believe God today! He can do the impossible!

God bless you!

Who are YOU listening to?!

I'm so excited to be a part of an amazing 21 day soul detox. Ashley Joy is an incredible blogger that I recently found on Instagram. She's currently leading the soul detox. For more information, I'll have her link at the bottom of this post!

I usually try to make sure I get my time in with God on a daily basis but I usually have the following routine: 

1. Devotional Thought

2. Bible reading

3. Gratitude Journal

4. Prayer 

The End :)

However, with the detox plan, different suggestions are encouraged such as prayer walks and listening to music. So anyone who know me well KNOWS how much I love music. Oddly enough, I've never thought to actually incorporate it into my personal devotion time. So music has been the new addition to my devotion and when I say that it's so powerful, I'm not kidding. Music really does help to set the tone and bring me into a place of gratitude and humility while coming before the King. It's really been an humbling experience. 

I only listen to 1-2 songs before I start and so far, here's the few songs that have made the playlist for the week: 

1. Kari Jobe- O the Blood  (can easily bring me to tears. so powerful!)

2. Kari Jobe- Healer ( There's a Kari Jobe trend going on. can't help it though! I love her!)

3. Hillsong United- Healer 

I'm sure the list will grow as time goes on but that song "Healer" is obviously pretty crucial for me right now. Listen to songs that speak to your current situation and promises that you are desperate for God to keep. I'm grateful for this experience. Many thanks to Ashley Joy for leading this detox. I'm grateful for what it's already doing for me. God bless you sis!

Click here to check out her information and check out my vlog below! :)