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Hello sweet sister. Welcome to a bonus episode here on the Stepping Into a Joy Filled Life podcast.
I’ve gotta be totally honest in telling you that I’m recording this episode in large part for myself. I fully intend on hitting play on this one over and over again, anytime I’m having a tough day or needing a breather or needing a reminder of WHO I am and WHOSE I am.
Recently my husband was out of town for about a week and a few days in, I was physically and emotionally exhausted. I have a hard time sleeping at night when Chad’s not right beside me, so after a couple nights of less than adequate rest, it didn’t take much for the tears to start flowing for little to no reason at all. I’m sure you’ve been there too, especially if you’re a mom. Sometimes those tears sneak down your cheeks in a hot minute! That’s where I was at.
The incredible thing was that while Chad was gone and while I was finding myself in this very vulnerable space, I had what I call a Holy Spirit moment… two of them actually. They were these simple little moments, that as I look back on them, even just days later, the memory of the moments make me laugh, smile and feel deeply loved. They were such little things and such big things, all at the same time. They were real life moments, that led to sweet encounters with the Holy Spirit and the gentle reminder that I am a beloved Kingdom daughter.
The first one actually happened in the bathroom. I had walked in to use the bathroom and one of my little cherub sons had dribbled on the seat and had forgotten to wipe the seat off. It was like the straw that broke the camel’s back and as I swiped the toilet seat clean, I just started crying.
I felt overwhelmed, exhausted, unappreciated, all the things. In that moment, the Lord whispered to my heart “I see you.” (It wasn’t an audible voice, it was the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart. If you’ll practice being still and seeking him, I believe that every single person is capable of discerning whispers from the Holy Spirit.)
So the Lord whispered, “I see you.”
I paused and brushed the tears from my cheeks. Then the Lord whispered “and I love you.”
I took a deep breath, then muttered out loud, “Lord, I don’t want to be seen. I just want to rest.”
“Rest in me,” came the next whisper.
I stood in the bathroom with my eyes closed for a minute letting that sink in, then I looked into the mirror.
That’s when the last whisper came… “You are my daughter.”
I have Holy Spirit goose bumps just thinking back to that moment. Here I was telling God that I didn’t want to be seen and he’s telling me “I see you. I love you. You’re my daughter.”
Can we just marinate in that goodness for a second?!
Sister, sometimes what we want or don’t want is different than what we need or don’t need!
Let me say that again…
Sometimes what we want or don’t want is different than what we need or don’t need!
So that was Holy Spirit moment #1.
…….
The very next day, still completely exhausted, I was having these weird flashback thoughts going through my mind about choices I’d made in the past, sin that I had walked in long ago… sin that I’d already been redeemed from. The enemy started whispering lies in my ear and I was letting my mind wander in all sorts of directions.
While I was still deep in thought, the kids started arguing. It was like this perfect storm moment.
That was it. I felt so deep in the trenches of motherhood and mess that I went into my office and slumped down on the chair… like a full body slump.
Earlier in the day I’d heard this quote from Andrew Ripp, the singer of the song “Jerico”. He said “No matter the circumstance, the answer is always…Go to the Lord, get a word and obey.”
So there I was sitting in my office chair, hoping to get a word, or something, anything from the Lord.
I prayed. I cried. I looked around at all the different scriptures that are posted up in my office. I prayed some more. I cried some more. I whispered to God…
“This is hard…..”
In that moment, the Lord reminded me of two different visuals, or events that had recently happened in my life, which had illustrated the goodness of God.
I flashed back to a time when my son Canyon was upset about something and as he was crying, I opened up my arms to embrace him so that I could love on him and let him know that everything was okay. He stubbornly stood there still weeping, and it was then that the Lord whispered to me “This is how it is…My arms are open wide, ready to embrace you and you stand just feet away from me, stubbornly refusing to come be embraced and comforted.”
The second moment I was reminded of was a time when I was having a bit of a mom meltdown and my husband told me to come sit on his lap so that he could hold me and comfort me. As he wrapped his arms around me, I got this picture of myself as a child of God, fully embraced and comforted by the Lord.
God reminded me again, that he is a GOOD Father and that I am his beloved daughter. YOU are his beloved daughter too, Sis!
So today, I want to bring you something special. I’m going to lead you through a short, simple guided meditation that you can come back to again and again anytime you need to be reminded that you are a beloved Kingdom daughter!
Meditation is quickly becoming an important practice in my life. It can be challenging to do though! It takes practice and discipline to be able to focus your thoughts. But like Hebrews 12:11 says “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
I also love what Psalm 1:1-3 says about meditation…
How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
—
I encourage you to be still for the few minutes we spend going to through this meditation and to turn your thoughts to what is good, pure and true.
…..
Close your eyes, sweet sister and take a deep breath.
Let all your other thoughts drift away for a few moments and breath in peace and calm.
You are okay. Where you are? It’s okay. How you are? It’s okay. Everything about this moment is peaceful and calm.
Focus your mind on thinking like a child of GOD, through the lens of redeemed, loved, accepted, valued, worthy and confident all because of what Jesus has done for you.
Focus on the truth. God created you, as a masterpiece. He calls you good and he loves you with an everlasting love.
Visualize God, the Good Father now. Picture him as large, but loving and kind. He’s opening up his arms to embrace you now. You step towards his embrace. You curl up in his lap.
You are His beloved daughter and he’s holding you now…. Breath. And feel safe and feel peace. Rest in that space.
……
Sweet Sister, anytime you need to refresh or reset, or if you just want to rest with the Lord for a bit, come back to this episode and hit play. I’m praying that this mediation helped you to feel God’s presence and love. There are wonderful things in your future, Sis. I know this because God’s word says that he already knows the plans for your future and that your future is good.
Until next time, live and love with great joy!
