Five Minute Friday [5] - Not Giving Up

Not giving up is difficult. And there are so many things I’d love to give up on at the moment, if I’m being perfectly honest. I’m weary of and irritated with myself. Every time I don’t get something right again, my heart feels a little heavier. I desire to see improvement and structured progress, but sometimes I just can’t seem to get rid of the short-term tunnel vision I have going on. My mind likes to think that getting through a day is enough for now at least, and I lose track of what I might need to still prepare in advance of the future. I fall behind.

However, I don’t have to focus on those things. I don’t have to try to find all I need in myself. If I thought that I did, things would be hopeless. If I relied on myself for strength and perseverance, giving up would be my default, not only a temptation. If it was just me, myself and I, there would be no will.

BUT. My hope lives. The Lord is fighting my battles, He is coming to my defence. He’s reminding me that I’m loved. He’s holding my arms up in praise towards Him when I am too broken or too tired to. He is MIGHTY. He’s carrying me in however many pieces I come in, and He’s making me whole again.

Not giving up is how I’ll live. Because my God is showing me how to.

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Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. / Isaiah 41:10, NKJV

Wednesday Words [7] - I Will Praise

Do you see, Lord?
In my weakness, in my fickleness
In my pain, my confusion
And in all of my brokenness
Can you see how the human in me
Is settling into stubbornness?
Can You reach me, please?
Cause this heart wants to sing Your praises
But all this doubt is crashing in
Can You please bring me back to my knees?
I know who I am and I know I’m Your child
I know the things You’ve done and how your might is endless
Remind me now in all of this darkness
You’re the same, yesterday, today, forever and always
Hold onto me because I don’t have the strength
Touch my soul again because my faith is trembling
Don’t let this heart grow cold
Don’t let it turn to stone
Pull me back towards You and Your fathomless grace
Thaw me with the warmth of Your glorious face
And I will stand here and I will praise
It’s a choice, it’s a decision, it’s an embrace
Let this be my stance and my song for all my days
I will fight this and I will fight it with praise

-t.h.

written: 20/11/19

Five Minute Friday [4] - Before It Begins

As bright as the night

Is the truth in the words that come from your lips

As black absorbs white

Is the good in your actions and in your heart

I don't know why I listen to you sometimes and yet I do
It's like a bad habit I've got to kick
But I struggle to see past the mirages you present as true

And through all the shadows you hide in

But I stand against what you stand for
And I won't let you stay where you're not welcome
I may have fallen for all your tricks before
But this time the finish line lands before its start begins

-t.h.
written: 15/11/19

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A/N: I think the devil's favourite move is to lie to us, something I've been realizing more and more lately. So when I sat down today to write my five minutes for this Friday, these words came to me. I've often struggled with the lies the enemies tries to throw at me and I've seen that my Christian family and friends do as well. He is the master of deceit, and the things he tries to tell us can sound so convincing...but we need to continue in steadfast reliance on the Lord, we need to be impermeable to the devil's lies trying to trickle in.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. / James 4:7, NKJV

I pray you have a day filled with truth and love ♥

Five Minute Friday [3] - What is Bravery?

I don't consider myelf to be a brave person, although I do admire brave people very much. But what is bravery, really? Some will say it is essentially the same as courage, but perhaps it can be described from a different angle, rather than just giving a synonym. The definition of bravery to me has been made up out of bits and pieces of different people's hearts I've seen be put out on the line by them for others' benefits or sakes and not for their own. I've seen bravery displayed through both bold and loving actions, all ones worth being mentioned- but mostly, I've seen bravery be shown in altruistic ways. You see, I feel...

...bravery is...someone who commits to being an example of love to others even when it costs them big time, or a person who doesn't give up on a relationship with someone they love even when continuing to love that other person is more than difficult.

Bravery is when someone forgives someone else who didn't deserve it. 

Bravery is fighting for the truth and not giving in to lies or to the temptation of lying simply because it would be easier.

Bravery is someone daring not to react the way anyone else would when confronted with the biggest and worst problem or situation they've faced while living on this earth. 

Bravery is holding onto hope when, in many other's opinions, hope has left the building.

Bravery is found in kindness, in picking up the pieces of a mess someone else made because you want to save them from it, in taking the fall for another, in standing strong and tall for what is right, in deciding to love fiercely.

Bravery is found in Jesus' name. Bravery was Him going to His death for those who hated Him.

And that is bravery to me.

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A/N: Okay, gotta be honest here. That one went a tad over five minutes, and I've posted it three days late, even though I had it written by Friday already. Oops. But it's funny- sometimes I'm glad for the five minute time limit because I struggle to line up my words right, and other times I catch onto something my mind wants to go further with and I just don't wanna stop writing. I guess this time was closer to one of those :) But before you run off, I have just one question I'd love to hear your answer to: What is one example of bravery that you have witnessed?

Now, of course, you're welcome to do as you please ;) Have a lovely weekend ♥

Five Minute Friday [2] - It Starts With Gratitude

Lately, I've been wondering. How often am I truly grateful for all that I have? When I'm told by someone that they love me, when I wake up in a healthy and functional body each morning, when there's a sunny and perfect day in a good week- do I praise the Lord for those things? Or do I take it all for granted? 

The truth is that there are many, many more people in much more difficult situations than there are people in good situations. There's so much hurt and pain in this world, there's darkness I haven't ever even experienced in a nightmare and there are people who are living through that darkness in real life. Why am I not more thankful? Why am I not more ready to help others where I can when I've been equipped to? Why don't I tell more people that there's a Saviour who loves them?

I pray and I hope for a radical change of heart. There's so much beauty and comfort in my life, but just a car ride away, there's the opposite and worse that others are going through. I pray that being someone who knows having enough, who knows love, who hasn't got half the scars others do- that God would make me willing to give all or any of that up for someone who cannot say the same, if He wills it.

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Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! / Psalm 105:1-3, NKJV

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. / Luke 12:48, NKJV

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A/N: What is something you're really grateful for today? What is the last selfless deed you can remember someone doing for you, or what is something you would want to do for someone else?