Seek First: One Simple Way to Settle Your Soul
Hello Friends! You know those days when worry steals your peace of mind, making it hard to hang on to hope? Isn’t it time to stop worrying about just surviving? Let go of the scarcity mindset of scrounging up just enough to scrape by. How...
How to Silence the “Not Enough” Voice in Your Head
Ever feel like your resources aren’t enough for your need? The job is too hard, the problem too complex, the bill too large… Maybe you wonder if you have enough time or talent to complete your work and make an impact. Or possibly you’ve run out of energy for a challenge you face, or there’s too much month left at the end of your paycheck. Wouldn’t it be great to silence the not enough voices in your head?
Whatever our current not enough may be, God delights to meet us in that place. Here’s a story of how God strengthened me in a time of frustration and discouragement in the midst of writing my first book, Holy in the Moment. To give you a little backstory, I had 4 useable months to write my book and prepare the final manuscript, which is a very quick contract for any author.
_________________________________________________________________
We all face days when we believe with our heads that God is faithful, but we need a boost of encouragement to refuel our weary souls. A month before my deadline, I felt frustrated and discouraged. The deadline for the manuscript weighed heavy on my heart and every word felt forced, awkward, and stiff. I spent hours staring at a blank screen and a blinking curser. hearing the minutes ticking. Help me, Lord, I prayed.
Working up to a rant, my emotions amplified fears the enemy served to my thoughts: You can’t do this. You’ll never finish on time. You’re going to fail and the book will be terrible. Your not enough.
Blah, blah, blah . . . We often listen to the wrong voices–the nay sayers, the what ifs, and the you’ll nevers that barge into our thoughts in vulnerable moments. It’s all too easy to fritter our attention and energy on our worries, draining confidence and motivation.
Is there a concern that makes your steps heavy and ignites the not enough buzz in your thoughts? You probably aren’t writing a book, but we all face moments of uncertainty that benefit from a word of reassurance from God. We need His word to be louder than our thoughts of self-doubt or fear.
The best response is to pray in the moment, turning our attention to God’s resources rather than our need and to His truth rather than our perceptions. Envisioning myself tripping just short of the finish line of a race, I prayed, Lord, these are the questions and fears my insecurity shouts, but I rely on You. Enable me to rest in my work, trusting You for the outcome. Please help me finish on time with excellence.
After dinner, I opened my Bible because that’s how I hear God the most clearly. I needed to counter the uncertainty and spiraling emotions with truth. In the fading light of evening, my scuffed and scratched table became holy ground as God spoke to every concern. I share this not to make everything about me. I hope God will speak to your struggles with the words I share.
I wrote the verses big and bold in my journal like this:
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that ALWAYS having all SUFFICIENCY in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. . . Now He who supplies seed to the sower [and words for the writer] and bread for food will SUPPLY AND MULTIPLY your seed for sowing and INCREASE THE HARVEST of your righteousness; you will be ENRICHED in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:8-11, emphasis and brackets added).
Taking time to study the words in a passage is one way to amply God’s words over our own. I longed to catch everything God revealed. As I studied, God showed me another passage also using the same word enriched. Failure, my deepest fear in writing the book, evaporated as God spoke through His word.
“That in everything you were ENRICHED in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that YOU ARE NOT LACKING IN ANY GIFT, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:5-7).
[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#amwriting #trustGod”]When I worried I didn’t have what it takes, God reminded me that He gives what it takes.[/tweetthis]
Seeds for the sower and words for this writer. The word for not lacking or not coming behind is hystereō (wonder if that has any relationship to hysterical…). Reading the full explanation of the word, I knew that God was drawing my attention to His faithful provision. Not lacking means to not. . .
come late or too tardily
be left behind in the race and so fail to reach the goal or fall short of the end
be inferior in power, influence and rank
fail or be wanting
lack (be inferior) in excellence or worth
When I read the part about finishing the race, I was deeply encouraged by the kindness of God. Experiencing His loving care with such direct encouragement ministered to my heart, settled my emotions, and infused my writing with fresh energy.
[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#amwriting #trustGod”]God’s word speaking our need is a holy moment for silencing fear.[/tweetthis]
What would have I missed if I didn’t give God my attention that night? This wasn’t a case of me trying to be spiritual–I was just trying to survive the moment and stand up under the pressure of a big task. God simply whispered the thought that I needed to listen for His voice in His word and I responded. He did the rest. He showed me a specific passage, nudged me to look up the words, and brought the words to completion. Through the working of the Holy Spirit I finished a week early to accommodate travel to a speaking event in California..
Consider the power and help that is yours when you bring your concerns to God. Listening to God’s truth silences the not enough voices in our head. We want the problem to be solved instantly, but God reminds us He is with us in the fight. He gives what is needed to take the next step, asking us hold on to faith, rely on His resources, and trust Him with the outcome.
One moment at a time.
How do you silence the not enough voices in your head? I’d love to know how God is working in your life. Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Lifting Your Heart: Author Q & A with Janell Rardon
Sweet are the friendships we develop on life’s journey. One of the treasures I love about the writing journey is meeting other Jesus-hearted, wisdom-seeking, and heart-lifting women who share God’s call to write. Several years ago a...
A Father’s Legacy and Father’s Day Sermon
Fathers have the capacity to leave a powerful legacy for their children and the generations to come. The legacy a dad leaves has to do with the things he passes on to his children, what he gives them in terms of love, support, wisdom, character, and faith. Don’t miss the printable blessings to pray for Fathers at the end of this post. The greatest thing that we can do beyond loving and appreciating the fathers in our lives is to pray for them. A loving and wise father makes a powerful difference in a child’s life. Everyday can be a day of gratitude for the blessing of dads in our lives. Watch Ginger’s Father’s Day Sermon honoring fathers at the end of this post.
Every father will leave a lasting mark on his children. Legacy isn’t confined to a will or an inheritance; it’s far more important and substantial than dollars and cents.
The legacy a dad leaves has to do with the things he passes on to his children, what he gives them in terms of love, support, wisdom, character, and faith. Billy Graham once said that “a good father is one of the must unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.”
In many ways, my dad was my first love when I was a little girl growing up in Knoxville, TN. Though I remember fun times of playing with my dad, riding piggy back and going fishing, the faith he demonstrated built a strong foundation for life.
[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#fathersday #prayersfordad #parenting”]A father’s legacy is powerful.[/tweetthis]
His faith and character helped shape my view of myself, my world, and my God, and I’m grateful for the legacy of his love.
My dad demonstrated the value of these words: “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. . . ” (Matthew 6:33a).
Fathers are blessed when they cultivate faith in God.
Some of my early memories include kneeling at the end of the bed as we said “night-night” prayers. The prayers were simple, the words of a child, “Now I lay me down to sleep…and God bless Mommy and Daddy…”
Through this simple routine was part of my childhood world my dad demonstrated the importance of seeking God in prayer. His presence made an impact. He didn’t have to pray like Billy Graham to show the value of prayer.
Fathers make a difference when they build God’s kingdom.
Attending church and participating in the family of God was another way that my father led our family to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness. Attending church is still an important value we share with our children. Demonstrating faith and teaching God’s Word are also important ways of building the kingdom of God in our own homes.
Godly fathers seek God’s righteousness.
God changes our hearts when we commit our lives to Him. Faith in Christ brings the righteousness of God into a dad’s heart, empowering him to grow in godly character.
Caring for people was my father’s greatest gift. At home and at work, he valued people. I always knew that I was deeply loved, even when my father faced challenges or was busy at work. His heart for people showed me the importance of loving others.
Though he was a man of influence, a doctor and hospital administrator, he used his influence to make people’s lives better.
Deeply passionate about caring for the homeless, my father volunteered his time to treat many who were overlooked by society. He knew many of them by name, making sure they had access to flu shots before the winter came.
Though he was not a man to preach sermons, his example at home and in the community showed me the generous and caring father heart of God.
Though my dad passed away in 2005, there is not a day that I do not benefit from his legacy in my life.
What will our legacy be?
Seeking God first carries a blessing and a promise–all these things (our needs, cares, and concerns) will be added to you. To seek God first puts the priority of our lives on God.
[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#fathersday #prayersfordad”]This is the spiritual legacy my father gave me—a strong foundation for a faith-filled life.[/tweetthis]
Now it’s our turn.
Through the years, I’ve watched my husband grow in faith, taking the reins of leadership in our family. It is often a heavy responsibility. Together, we’ve learned the blessing of seeking God first.
The power behind a father’s legacy.
It has been an honor to help my husband teach our children these life-lessons of faith. Holy moments are for teaching your children to trust God. Proverbs 3:5-6 is foundational in our parenting. Leading our family, my husband shows us what faith look like in his words and actions.
Does he do it perfectly?
Nope.
And neither do I.
Neither did my dad.
I see the impact—both of the mistakes we’ve made and the faith we’ve taught our children. Despite our mistakes, I see a godly legacy in the lives of our children.
God is faithful…
In a day when many young people are leaving the church, our son committed to finding a church in the midst of the demands of graduate school.
In a day when the world says you can be anything you want to be, one daughter seeks God’s will for her education and vocation. God’s plan included living for 2 ½ years as a missionary in Australia building the kingdom of God.
In a day when sexuality has become moral confusion, our daughters seek God’s righteousness in dating relationships.
These are places in our children’s lives where God has made straight paths and the baton of faith made a handoff from our prayers to their personal decisions.
This is the goal and the power of a father’s legacy—both the efforts we make to trust God and what our eternal Father does through our faith.
Acknowledging God in all our ways is the legacy that God uses to pass the baton of faith straight to the heart of the next generation.
Not because we did it perfectly, because, boy I tell you, we did not do it perfectly.
We trust in a God who makes our paths straight.
Stand by the fathers in your life.
Encourage them.
Notice the things they do.
Honor and respect them.
Appreciate and celebrate them.
15 Prayers for Dad
Prayer is a vital way of supporting fathers. Consider the following prayer topics for the dads that you love!
Seek God first
Trust God whole-heartedly
Grow in the love of God
Choose not to lean on his own understanding
Acknowledge God in all his ways
Find his strength and courage in Christ
Make wise decisions
Be respected by his wife and children
Cultivate a deep prayer life
Learn from the Holy Spirit
Build strong relationships with his children
Rest and renew strength and energy
Receive encouragement and favor in his work
Experience good health
Show humility toward others
A Printable list of these prayers for the father’s you know.
The greatest thing that we can do beyond loving and appreciating the fathers in our lives is to pray for them. Click on the list above to print a copy of 15 Prayers for Dad.
Enjoy 32 of my favorite quotes for Father’s Day in this post.
Make everyday Father’s Day with our prayers. Share a prayer for father’s in the comments!
Enjoy more parenting posts from Ginger.
32 Best Quotes to Celebrate Dad on Father’s Day
Powerful Truth Gives Direction to Our Children
God’s Powerful Dreams for Our Children Give Direction
Powerful Prayers for God’s Direction for Our Children
14 Things I’d Say to My Younger Self About Being a Mom
Frazzled Mom, Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Journey
How to Drive Your Teens Crazy in Four Easy Steps
Visit Ginger’s book page to learn more about Holy in the Moment or read a sample chapter.
10 Holy Habits to Overcome Selfishness
Welcome to the #HolyintheMoment Blog Tour!
We dislike selfishness in others but sometimes we fail to see it in ourselves. It can be so easy to have blinders on when it comes to recognizing our issues with selfishness.
An uncomfortable topic, it feels abrasive to just bring up the subject. We want to think we are better than the pettiness of selfish actions and attitudes.
Here’s a sneak peak at a recent guest post on my friend Carol Stratton’s website. I met Carol, author of Lake Surrender and Changing Zip Codes several years ago at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. She has guest posted on my site, and it’s a sweet joy to get to hang out on her corner of the web. Enjoy this infographic to go with the article on Carole’s website!
10 Simple Ways to Overcome Selfishness
Practice holy habits to overcome selfishness with these simple ideas. Click the image for a free download of the infographic.
I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t have this down. I struggle with selfish tendencies, especially when my feelings are hurt or I feel overlooked by others. It is only by the power of Christ at work in my heart and renewing my mind that I can lay down my rights and freely give to others. So, I’m learning to ask God for help…every single day. This is the holy choice that changes my heart.
Which suggestion could make a difference in your day? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Please join me at Carol’s for the article that goes with this infographic. By the way, I’d love to have you share this graphic on Pinterest!
Click here to download a free copy of the graphic.
Discover your best moments.
So much more than a religious version of perfectionism, holiness is a secret to enjoying life with freedom and joy. Overcome anxiety, perfectionism, and insecurity, as you trust God to make you holy and whole, living well in the choices you make today. If you choose holy in the moment, what difference could it make? Find more information and read a sample chapter here.
Have You Tried Praying in the Moment?
Simple Ways to Pray in the Moment
Recently I had the honor of guest posting for Sarah Forgrave, author of Prayers for Hope and Healing. Part of the Holy in the Moment Blog Tour, Simple ways to pray in the moment is a holy choice we can make every day.
Have you ever promised to pray for a friend and then forgotten to pray? In the busyness of life, it’s easy to have a good intention and then feel guilty if we don’t follow through.
My friend stood in the church hallway, holding a large camera in her hand. She wore a black wrist brace, so I asked if her wrist was healing.
“No, I’m having a lot of pain right now, but I offered to take photos this morning,” she answered with a sigh.
After a crowd of people passed by, I asked, “Would you like for me to pray for you?”
“Yes. I’d love that,” she answered, holding out her hand. Fingers touched and eyes met before we bowed our heads to pray.
Joining me for the “amen,” she smiled and commented, “Thank you. No one has ever just stopped and prayed in the moment with me before. Why don’t we do more of that?”
Her question hung in the air and echoed in my heart.
Yes. Why don’t we?
At the time, I didn’t consider that I was doing anything unusual. But I remember a time when offering to pray in the moment would have felt risky and more than a little awkward.
Some days, the needs for prayer stack high and heavy on our hearts. We’ve promised to pray, and we intend to pray later when it’s quiet. For me, it’s too easy to forget to pray when later comes.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV).
First things first, this instruction addresses both time (when) and priority (order). Rather than an if-all-else-fails plan, prayer is our first priority, our first solution, and the thing to do first of all.
Paul instructs us to pray before we do anything else, the kind of prayer best fitting the situation. Building the habit of prayer makes a difference: we live quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness.
There are many simple and quick ways to pray in the moment. Sometimes it may be like my experience this morning at church, praying aloud with someone. Then there are the harried moments when we are the ones in need of prayer.
Consider these simple ideas to pray in the moment rather than intend to pray later:
Write a prayer on a social media thread or message when you see a request.
Send a written prayer in a letter, card, or email to a friend needing encouragement.
Text a prayer or make a phone call when God brings a need to mind.
I hope you’ll click over to Sarah’s website for the rest of this post. She has loaded the post with wonderful graphics to enjoy and share.
You can also find a post from Sarah on my blog here: 4 Ways to Bless Others When You’re Facing a Trial.
What simple ways help you to pray for others?
Are you a Perfectionist in Disguise?
Are you a perfectionist?
Until recently, I’d have answered. “Anything but. I’m always struggling just to get it together. I am NOT a perfectionist!”
I would shrug at the piles on my kitchen counters, thinking, I’m a terrible housekeeper.
I would tell you the ironing board has been in the dining room for a month.
Despite my joking, I would hear relentless whispers: why didn’t you ___ and you should have ____.
And from my own self condemnations.
Are you a perfectionist in disguise?
You see, I thought of perfectionists as people who always succeed. The mythical creatures who. . .
· never have a hair out of place,
· always have angelic children
· loose extra pounds without breaking a sweat
· enjoy plenty of friends
· experience success at work
. . . and on and on the list goes.
Longer than a roll of toilet paper, my list would include the things I didn’t do well. The ways I didn’t measure up.
Nope…definitely not perfectionist material.
Or is it?
What’s beneath the discouragement that reeks like old garbage in the back alleys of my thoughts? The fact that my first response is to recount my failures is a blaring beacon.
Fear Lurks Behind Perfectionism
Truth is, lurking behind perfectionism is fear:
· Fear of failure.
· Fear of rejection.
· Fear of disapproval.
· Fear of being hurt.
· Fear of not being picked in the kickball games of life.
Enjoy this short video Liz made to go with my guest post!
Join me for more on realizing I am a perfectionist and how I found grace to overcome the challenge in my guest post at My Messy Desk.
Liz is one of my good bloggy buddies.
Here’s a little about Liz and her wonderful website: Liz is a U.S. Army combat Veteran turned Army wife and mother to two boisterous boys and one shelter pup (who provide endless content about overcoming messes). Here’s her heart for writing and ministry:
Do you ever think you’re the only one who’s life is full of MESSES?
Would you like to make your MEMORIES work for you?
Do you long to become the MASTERPIECE God created you to be?
Well, then you’re in the right place! Liz shares the lessons God is teaching her through His Word and her everyday experiences so that together we can overcome our MESSES, embrace our MEMORIES, and become the MASTERPIECES God created us to be.
Celebrating the Release of Holy in the Moment!
Woohoo! We’re celebrating the release of Holy in the Moment!
Friends, this is an exciting week! Holy in the Moment released March 6. We’re practically beside ourselves on the giddy-scale of joy!
I’m thrilled to see a long-time dream become real. It has been quite a journey, but God has blessed each step along the way. The book is much better for the waiting times where God was working in the wait. You can read about that here.
Don’t miss the contests at the end of this post–two ways to win a prize–yeehoo!
It has been an honor to have an article in the faith column of More to Life Magazine this month. Other authors to share this column include Timothy Keller, Liz Curtis Higgs, Cynthia Ruchti, James Robison, and Lisa Harper.
Launch week started with a radio interview with Nashawn Turner of Uniquely Designed Talk: The Total Empowered Woman Radio!
Tuesday night we celebrated with a FB Launch Party. You can enjoy the replay here. Though having a party online seems like a crazy idea it was super fun. So many friends showed up to celebrate and though it was virtual, we had a great time. In less than 24 hours the broadcast views were over 1.4K!
[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#BookRelease, #HolyintheMoment”]Excited to read Holy in the Moment by Ginger Harrington![/tweetthis]
My buddy Nashawn Turner of Uniquely Designed Coaching was here to celebrate and help. It was fun to team up with Nashawn twice this week.
And there was dancing! And my friend Salena joined us from Colorado–she can dance on the ceiling and she is a mighty prayer warrior! We had a little techno challenge but it added to the fun for sure. Salena also led us in a powerful time of prayer for those who will read the book–cause that’s what this whole celebration is about! You can find Salena’s story in Chapter 8: Moments to Listen to God! It was a special treat to have Salena join us!
Sweet friend Regina was here to help with technical, moral, and dance support as well!
My sister of the heart also joined us. Larissa’s story is in chapter 12: Moments to Choose Good Attitudes and Chapter 15: Moments to Be a Good Friend! You can find Larissa–Gr8tful Tribe: Doing Community Well on FB and Periscope, and her newly re-designed website Gr8tfulchick.com
Holy in the Moment Bracelets
My good friend Holly Witt-Allen of Witt ‘N Whimsy made fabulous bracelets for me to give as prizes for the Book Release party. These bracelets were a huge hit. For those that are interested in ordering a bracelet you can find Holly on Instagram or you can order here.
Guest Post: Cease Striving for Perfection and Embrace God’s Holiness
Enjoy this great video Liz made to go with my guest post!
Book Reviews
Jenny Connors shared Holy in the Moment on her website with a slideshow of book quote graphics and a great shoutout about the book.
Cynthia Thomas talked about the process and the book in the beautifully written post, A Good Read.
Blogger Michele Morin did a wonderful book post at Living Our Days. Her post, Love God. Embrace Truth. Enjoy Life. gives a thorough taste of book content in a lovely review. You can read Michele’s review here.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Above the Waves blogger, Dawn Klinge, reviewed Holy in the Moment on her beautiful website. You can read her review here.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Book Reviews on Amazon
You can read the first book reviews here.
Why Waiting on God Made My First Book Better
How long did it take you to write your first book? I’ve been asked this question a lot in recent days. Though I wrote the manuscript in less than five months, that’s not the real answer. Nope, not at all.
Some dreams are a long time coming, and waiting can seem like it will never end. Recently (March 2018) my debut book, Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life released with Abingdon Press.This journey began in 2008. Ten years. 415 blog posts. Four book proposals. Yes, some dreams do take time. Ten years and a lot of life growth is the more accurate answer. But here’s what I’m discovering: It’s worth the wait.
Many times I wondered if I were being faithful or foolish to keep working “at a job I didn’t have.” Despite the challenges, I see the waiting years differently on this side of the opportunity. God doesn’t waste a moment–especially when we’re waiting.
Maybe you have something you’re dreaming about, hoping for, and working toward. Maybe it’s a vocational goal or possibly a personal desire. Or maybe you’re simply praying your children will make it through school or stop fighting at the end of the day. Waiting is a necessary and vital part of life. Even so, it is a struggle to make the most of each day when waiting is hard.
As I do the 10,000 things that are on my to-do list today, I realize that if I had published Holy in the Moment several years ago, it would have been a lesser book. The waiting time has deepened this book and solidified the life message. I understand now that God was writing the message in my life before it could be written in a book. I’m thrilled to publish my debut book, but the set-my-soul-free work God has done is the far bigger accomplishment. God’s work in our lives is what is truly worth the wait.
[tweetthis twitter_handles=”via @GingHarrington” hidden_hashtags=”#HolyintheMoment”]We think we’re waiting for an opportunity, but sometimes the opportunity is waiting for us. [/tweetthis]
Seeing what God has done in the writing of the book, I marvel at the extraordinary grace written on every page. He wove it all together–the signature struggles of my life (anxiety, people-pleasing, insecurity and perfectionism), a season of counseling, life experiences, as well as the years of study, ministry, writing, and teaching. This book is richer and more transparent than what I would have published even a few years ago.
The work He has done in my soul through the wait is what enabled me to be ready to write this particular book.
God will not waste your wait, your pain, frustration, or discouragement. All of these are part of the story He is writing in your life. He is doing far more through your daily choice to be faithful, to trust him, and to persevere than what you can see.
He is always working in the wait.
The other thing I discovered is this:
[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#HolyintheMoment”]It takes as long as it takes and God is always on time.[/tweetthis]
I just wanted to share a slice of my process because we often have no idea of what goes into that book sitting on our bedside table. Maybe some books are easier to write, but for me, Holy in the Moment has been a choice to trust God one word at a time.
Life is ramping up and there really are nearly 10,000 things to do. I’m grateful to have the support of family, friends, and a team of people helping me to get the word out about the book! We’ll be celebrating the book release with a FB party from 7-8:30 pm EST.
Reviews
The first reviews are on Goodreads!
Enjoy a short review on Dawn Kling’s beautiful website.
I enjoyed my first radio interview on The River with Maxine and Jeannie.
Stay up to date with what’s happening by signing up for my newsletter. Seriously, I’d love to have you join the community. Come visit the landing page and share a few of the beautiful graphics to help get the word out. Working together we can spread the powerful message of the practical power of choosing holy in the moment!
