Are you doing more than God has asked you to do? Or are you doing it in your own power? Because if you’re doing either of those things, you’re at risk for burnout, break down, or bursting out in anger at the ones you love.
Take time to breathe. Lay down before the Lord everything you’re busy with. Ask Him which of those He wants you to do, and which are something your own guilt, or someone or something else is driving you to do.
What has God asked you to do that you haven’t done yet?
What’s keeping you from obedience?
What are you doing that He never asked you to do?
And what are you doing in your own power?
Ask Him. Then step out in obedience.
Philippians 4:13, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 5:19, Galatians 1:10
Check out these resources to help put your schedule and your heart back into Jesus’ hands:
DELIGHT TO BE A WOMAN OF WONDER, by Mikaela Vincent: Deep devotional Bible study for overcoming the enemy in the battlefield of the mind
2024 DELIGHT TO BE A WOMAN OF WONDER POWER PLANNER – Day planner, time management schedule organizer for surrendering every day and every plan into Jesus’ hands to make them His and let His Spirit empower you to do more than you could ever have done on your own
For these and other deep devotional Bible studies, day planners and prayer journals on walking as one with Christ and overcoming the enemy, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.
Daily walking in the Spirit’s leading
Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
Any proceeds this author receives from the sale of the deep devotional Bible studies and other MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com books mentioned in this post go to shining Christ’s light in the darkness and seeing the nations come to Him.
But please ignore unrelated advertisements WordPress places here. The author has not approved those links and does not receive any money from them.
Thank you for your support! If you have any questions or want to help with this ministry, please contact Mikaela.
Everything we’ve been studying in our Group Bible study, and all the Victory Strategies yet to come are nestled in this principle:
To overcome the enemy, draw near to God. James 4:7-8.
Invite God near by drawing near to Him yourself.
Let God help you clear away whatever blocks you from hearing Him and feeling His touch.
Say no to the enemy’s plans.
In other words, resist the enemy. Pursue God.
It sounds simpler than it is, of course. But once you start practicing winning strategies for drawing near to God, and those become new habits built into your lifestyle, the joy, freedom, and thrill of God’s felt presence will be so intoxicating, He will be all you want, and those old temptations the enemy once used to win you over to his side will lose their appeal.
Flee the enemy, and he will flee from you. Pursue God, and you will find Him right here with you.
Practice with Purpose
Memorize James 4:7-8.
What steps can you take to actively flee the enemy and pursue God today?
Ask the Lord, and write the plans and instructions He shows you in your journal. Then step out in obedience.
Some questions for discussion in the comments:
Your enemy wants to knock you off God’s purposes and paths. To anger you, depress you, make you afraid or discouraged. To keep you from shining Christ’s love. What has distressed you this week? How will you draw nearer to Christ? The best way to rise above the stress and truly rest is to go through life in Jesus’ arms. His love is what makes us more than conquerors. Romans 8:28-38.
What are some things God has led you to do to help your children draw near to Christ?
What are some things God has asked you to do to “flee the enemy”?
The enemy likes to disguise sin by making it feel “not so bad” or even “righteous.” Is there anything in your life like that right now that God is asking you to flee?
How are you helping your children flee from the enemy? James 4:7-8.
War room guided conversationsWar room guided conversations
Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
Any proceeds this author receives from the sale of the deep devotional Bible studies and other MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com books mentioned in this post go to shining Christ’s light in the darkness and seeing the nations come to Him.
But please ignore unrelated advertisements WordPress places here. The author has not approved those links and does not receive any money from them.
Thank you for your support! If you have any questions or want to help with this ministry, please contact Mikaela.
2022 has been a hard year for many. Were you able to go through it in Jesus’ arms? Or did you find yourself overwhelmed?
As 2023 nears, I want to encourage you to dedicate it to Christ. Ask Him what He wants to do in you and through you this coming year. Is there anything He’s asked you to do you’re not doing yet? Or anything you’re doing that He never called you to do?
The trials of daily life can consume us if we don’t let the Lord take over.
I’ve found that, many days, the things I think must be done aren’t that high on God’s agenda. If I busy myself with those, not only do I miss what He’s doing, but I end up exhausted or worse.
I know you’re busy. Mothers especially often feel we have no time to ourselves. But if you purpose to seek the Lord for your every day, every situation, every moment, every plan, He will most certainly meet you, whether or not your “quiet times” are truly quiet.
Not only will He empower you to lovingly parent these precious children He’s brought under your care, but He will transform you in ways you never thought possible.
The Lord wants to meet you amidst the mayhem and bring extraordinary peace.
“Lord, what are You doing today? I want to do that with You.”
“Is there anything on my schedule You haven’t asked me to do? Or anything You’re asking me to do that I’m not doing?”
“What do You want to teach me today?”
“How do You want to use me for Your glory today?”
“Do You have a special word or verse for my day today? A theme you want me to walk out in? Or something special You want to show me?”
“Delight me with Your love today, Lord, in some special way that only You would do, so I know that I know it’s You.”
2. Every day, I purpose to spend time with Jesus. Mornings are my favorite, before anyone else wakes up. (I’ve also done it during the kids’ nap time, or when my husband or someone else can watch them.) In my quiet times with Jesus, I like to
I ask Him, “Lord, what are You doing now? What are You saying?” and look for what He’s showing me, so I can join Him there.
I hand Him my thoughts: “Lord, I think…. What do You say to that?”
I seek His viewpoint: “Lord, when You look at this person (or situation), what do You see?”
I ask Him to flow through me and use me: “Lord, speak through me. What can I do to bless (person’s name) today?”
4. I set aside special dates or personal spiritual retreats with the Lord. I might go hiking, sit by a beach, stay overnight at a friend’s house while she’s away, or go to an empty church. (You may feel this is impossible in this season of life, but ask the Lord and see how He wants to make it happen. Maybe while your kids are at a program at church, or when your husband or parents or another friend can watch them.) It’s a sweet time to worship as long and as loudly as I like, go all the deeper in the Lord and His Word, and let Him renew my strength. Just like Jesus did, I might set aside a whole day, half day, or overnight
at the beginning of a new season, so I can hand all my plans to the Lord and ask for His.
when I need to make a difficult decision.
when I’m hungry for more of Him.
when I need to prepare for something else He’s called me to do.
2023 day planner for empowered life2023 day planner for overcomingSteps to freedom from anxiety and moreOvercome the enemyFamily read-aloud prayer devotionalDaily Diary for adventures with JesusPrayer Journal that goes with Listen to MeBible study workbook activity book, ages 8-12
Through negative life experiences and wrong thought processes, the enemy has embedded lies, sins, and self-protective habits (strongholds) so deeply in your heart that your will alone is not enough to break free.
You need Someone stronger.
If you still don’t know what I’m talking about, don’t worry. I was there, too. My wrong thought processes were so habitual they felt “normal,” not shameful or dirty like sin should feel. That’s why I couldn’t find them. Well, some of them, anyway. Others were blaringly loud.
But then … Jesus … He slipped into my quiet times and gently tapped at the walls in my heart, saying, “Open up. Let Me show you what’s in here taking up space where I want to be.”
You see, the mess within me had piled so high, it rose like a mountain between us, blocking His voice and side-tracking me from the oneness I was created for in Him.
Sin and the wrong thought processes that lead us there are the greatest barriers to hearing God’s voice and experiencing the fullness of His love.
Each time He set me free from one of my old habits, I could hear His voice clearer, obey Him easier, and experience more of His power flowing through me.
Can you see why the enemy would want to deter us from oneness with Christ? I’m still on a journey, and will be until this life is over and I see Jesus face to face. But now I know …
Mountains DO come down.
Practice with Purpose
What barriers stand between you and God?
In your journal, or in the comments below, write a prayer, inviting Him to remove those, and asking Him to make you a clear channel for His powerful love to flow through to others.
War room guided conversationsWar room guided conversations
Some questions for discussion in the comments:
It often takes those closest to us to notice we have a problem. So, what is something others have confronted you on that maybe you denied or dismissed?
Do you find it difficult to hear God’s voice? The strongholds we obey instead of the Holy Spirit can block us from hearing His voice.
Ask God to show you lies you believe that disagree with His truth in the Word, or truth He’s been telling you that you don’t yet fully believe.
2021 has been a hard year for many. Were you able to go through it in Jesus’ arms? Or did you find yourself overwhelmed?
As 2022 nears, I want to encourage you to dedicate it to Christ. Ask Him what He wants to do in you and through you this coming year. Is there anything He’s asked you to do you’re not doing yet? Or anything you’re doing that He never called you to do?
The trials of daily life can consume us if we don’t let the Lord take over.
I’ve found that, many days, the things I think must be done aren’t that high on God’s agenda. If I busy myself with those, not only do I miss what He’s doing, but I end up exhausted or worse.
I know you’re busy. Mothers especially often feel we have no time to ourselves. But if you purpose to seek the Lord for your every day, every situation, every moment, every plan, He will most certainly meet you, whether or not your “quiet times” are truly quiet.
Not only will He empower you to lovingly parent these precious children He’s brought under your care, but He will transform you in ways you never thought possible.
The Lord wants to meet you amidst the mayhem and bring extraordinary peace.
“Lord, what are You doing today? I want to do that with You.”
“Is there anything on my schedule You haven’t asked me to do? Or anything You’re asking me to do that I’m not doing?”
“What do You want to teach me today?”
“How do You want to use me for Your glory today?”
“Do You have a special word or verse for my day today? A theme you want me to walk out in? Or something special You want to show me?”
“Delight me with Your love today, Lord, in some special way that only You would do, so I know that I know it’s You.”
2. Every day, I purpose to spend time with Jesus. Mornings are my favorite, before anyone else wakes up. (I’ve also done it during the kids’ nap time, or when my husband or someone else can watch them.) In my quiet times with Jesus, I like to
I ask Him, “Lord, what are You doing now? What are You saying?” and look for what He’s showing me, so I can join Him there.
I hand Him my thoughts: “Lord, I think…. What do You say to that?”
I seek His viewpoint: “Lord, when You look at this person (or situation), what do You see?”
I ask Him to flow through me and use me: “Lord, speak through me. What can I do to bless (person’s name) today?”
4. I set aside special dates or personal spiritual retreats with the Lord. I might go hiking, sit by a beach, stay overnight at a friend’s house while she’s away, or go to an empty church. (You may feel this is impossible in this season of life, but ask the Lord and see how He wants to make it happen. Maybe while your kids are at a program at church, or when your husband or parents or another friend can watch them.) It’s a sweet time to worship as long and as loudly as I like, go all the deeper in the Lord and His Word, and let Him renew my strength. Just like Jesus did, I might set aside a whole day, half day, or overnight
at the beginning of a new season, so I can hand all my plans to the Lord and ask for His.
when I need to make a difficult decision.
when I’m hungry for more of Him.
when I need to prepare for something else He’s called me to do.
2022 day planner for empowered life2022 day planner for overcomingFamily read-aloud prayer devotionalDaily Diary for adventures with JesusPrayer Journal for Listen to Me
Kingdom Culture Parenting 