Elevate Your Day with Andi and Brian Hale

Sar Shalom (Speak the Names of God)

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shallow is be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6 KJV
Most of us have experienced passing moments of fear and anxiety that overcome us with dread. But for many, this frightening physical response is a way of life. Anxiety disorders are more prevalent today than at any time in history. We are overwhelmed by financial stress, physical problems, and loneliness in a world filled with unknowns. Traumatic events like war and natural disasters affect the psyche of entire countries. The constant threat of bad news is damaging to our souls. Where can we find peace?
Isaiah 9:1-7 ESVBut there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.  You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.  For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.  For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
When the prophet Isaiah made the pronouncement of a coming prince, it was part of a larger warning of impending disaster that would destroy the nation of Israel. God’s people had set Him aside and turned instead to the gods of other nations. They had rejected His love and care, and now an invasion was coming. Only Sar Shalom, the “Prince of Peace,” could bring them through and save them, and one day the promised Prince would come.
When we think of a prince, we picture Prince Charming from a fairy tale or the prince of a nation who travels around doing good deeds and smiling for the cameras. But Sar is actually a military term that means a powerful military leader. Sar Shalom is not a gentle hero; He is a powerful victor.
Israel waited for hundreds of years for their warrior prince, and when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, they celebrated His arrival with shouts of “Hosanna.” But cheers quickly turned to jeers when they realized He had not come as a mighty warrior to overthrow the government. Jesus didn’t come to usher in national peace from an earthly throne, but spiritual peace from a heavenly one.
Philippians 4:4-9 ESVRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Stress and strife are realities in a fallen world, and they will continue until Jesus returns. But the peace of God that passes understanding is available to everyone who trusts in Him. Fear and anxiety are rooted in seeds of deception planted by the enemy that grow when they are watered by worry and doubt. But Sar Shalom offers a permeating peace that overrides anxiety and sustains you through every battle.
DECLARE
The Prince of Peace offers permeating peace that passes understanding.
PRAY
Jesus, I need Your peace. When distress sets in, it overwhelms me and I can’t escape it. But I will trust in You and Your promised peace. Anxiety will not have the final say.
PONDER
If you struggle with anxiety, it is often both a physical and a spiritual issue. Ask God to give you His peace. Ask other Christ followers to pray for you. And if necessary, seek the help of a medical professional.

Elohei Tehillati (Speak the Names of God)

Be not silent, O God of my praise! —Psalm 109:1 ESV
Diehard sports fans are passionate when they celebrate their favorite team. They put on the jersey and paint their faces. They clap and cheer with all their might. If their team is playing well, there’s no holding back. But the cheering stops, and the stadium becomes silent when the score is not in their favor.
2 Samuel 6:14-23 tells the story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to the temple.
And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
David did not hold back when it came to praising the Lord. God had been by his side through the best and the worst of times, and He deserved everything David had. He shouted, sang, and danced, undeterred by what people might think. His joyous thanksgiving was his gift to Elohei Tehillati, “The God of My Praise.” Even in the lowest points of his life, David continued to praise the Lord.
Ephesians 5:15-21 ESVLook carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Praise is the act of expressing approval or adoration. It is an outward expression of devotion and gratitude for all God has done and the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. – Hebrews 13:15 ESV
It is our chance to glorify Him for who He is. In the high moments of life, praise may come easy. But praising God even when our hearts hurt is a sacrifice that pleases Him.
God is worthy of praise even when our circumstances don’t feel praiseworthy. The apostle Paul understood that. He experienced much suffering as he traveled around sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet he never let any of it turn his praise into lament. He rejoiced in the God of his praise in the good times and the bad, and he exhorts us to do the same.
Psalm 100:1-5 ESVMake a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
The Bible says to rejoice always, even and especially when it’s difficult to, because God is always good.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. – Philippians 4:4 ESV
He has promised to sustain us through every challenge we face. He has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, enabling us to have faith no matter what. We don’t praise God based on our evaluation of His performance; we praise Him because He is worthy.
DECLARE
I will rejoice in the God of My Praise regardless of my circumstances.
PRAY
God, you are worthy of my praise no matter what I may be going through. You love me and have a glorious plan for my life. I will trust You and praise You in the waiting.
PONDER
When you’re celebrating a breakthrough or a blessing, praise comes easy. But what about when you’re still waiting? When you offer the sacrifice of praise during suffering, you will begin to see beyond the pain.

El Rachum (Speak the Names of God)

For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them. —Deuteronomy 4:31 ESV
Do you ever wonder if you’ve blown it too many times or wandered too far from God for Him to forgive you? Maybe you loved Jesus a lot when you were little, but you’ve been doing things your own way for so long, you can’t imagine Him taking you back. Or maybe you’ve been pushing Him away for so long, you’re certain He is out of reach.
As the people neared the end of their journey, Moses delivered a speech that was both a warning and a promise.
Deuteronomy 4:15-31 ESVTherefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day. Furthermore, the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he swore that I should not cross the Jordan, and that I should not enter the good land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. For I must die in this land; I must not go over the Jordan. But you shall go over and take possession of that good land. Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
When you father children and children’s children, and have grown old in the land, if you act corruptly by making a carved image in the form of anything, and by doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, so as to provoke him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess. You will not live long in it, but will be utterly destroyed. And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
God’s people were entering a land filled with temptation, and he knew their devotion would be divided. Moses warned them of the consequences of turning away from God, but he also assured them that even when they blow it, El Rachum, the “Merciful God,” would never forget them or destroy them. Wherever they ended up on their journey, they could search for Him with their whole heart and soul, and He would be there. He would not turn them away.
Jesus shared a beautiful example of the merciful and compassionate love of God in the parable of the prodigal son. Although the son had left his father and broken his heart, the father eagerly awaited his return. And when his wayward son finally came to his senses, the father mercifully welcomed him back.
Luke 15:22-24 ESVBut the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
He didn’t punish him for leaving. He didn’t dwell on how far the son had wandered or what he had done when he was gone. Instead, he ran to meet him and threw him a welcome home party.  Our merciful and compassionate God will do the same for us.
You are never too far from God to turn around and come home. 
Luke 19:10 ESVFor the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
When you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. (See James 4:8.) He is merciful and compassionate. He will not turn you away, no matter how far you may have wandered.
DECLARE
The Merciful God will never turn me away.
PRAY
God, forgive me for wandering away. I want to remain in Your will, fully devoted to You. Thank You for Your mercy and compassion, even when I fall short.
PONDER
However far you may think you are from God, He is as close as one heartfelt prayer. Cry out to Him today, and He will welcome you home with open arms.

Emmanuel (Speak the Names of God)

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel. —Isaiah 7:14 ESV
There are many religious traditions in the world today, each with a different view of deity and their own path to enlightenment. People spend their lives trying to reach their “god” with no assurance they ever will. But we do not need to strain and strive to reach the God of heaven. He came down to us.
Isaiah 7:1-14 ESVIn the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” thus says the Lord God: “‘It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’” Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
When Ahaz, king of Judah, heard that his kinsmen to the north had made an alliance with the enemy and were threatening to invade, he feared for the future of his nation. So, God sent the prophet Isaiah with a reassuring message of future salvation. One day, an immaculate conception would bring forth a miraculous birth, and Immanuel, “God with Us,” would arrive.
Isaiah 7:14 ESVTherefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
God’s presence was a big deal to the Israelites, and it was manifested in many ways throughout their history. When they traveled through the wilderness, He was there as a cloud by day and a fire by night. (See Exodus 13:21–22.) When they worshipped at the temple, He rested in a cloud over the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. (See Exodus 40:34–35.) When people of faith faced obstacles, the Angel of the Lord appeared to minister to them. But they never could have fathomed that the One True God would come to earth and dwell with them in human form.
Luke 2:1-7 ESVIn those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Centuries after Isaiah delivered the prophetic promise of a glorious birth, Jesus of Nazareth was born. The tiny baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger was no ordinary human. God Himself had come to dwell with His creation. He came to reveal Himself to us and to become acquainted with our human struggles. To walk alongside us, healing, forgiving, and proclaiming the kingdom of God. To live a perfect life and offer the perfect sacrifice. Immanuel came to show us the extent of His love, a love that led Him to the cross for our redemption.
In the days of Isaiah and Ahaz, God’s presence would come and go. Today, the presence of God is always with those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus. There is no place we can go where Immanuel is not there.
DECLARE
God is with me, and His presence changes everything.
PRAY
Immanuel, thank You for coming to earth to reveal Your love. Help me always to be aware of Your presence.
PONDER
If you ever wonder if God is with you, stop and pay attention. See Him in the beauty of creation. Hear the whisper of His voice when you read the Bible and pray. Sense His intervention, when you have unexpected strength or peace. Ask God to reveal Himself to you. He is always there.

El Elyon (Speak the Names of God)

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. —Psalm 57:2 ESV
Purpose. It’s a powerful word. We’re all searching for answers to life’s big questions. Why am I here? Where am I going? What’s it all about? Is there someone somewhere who can help me figure it all out?
When Samuel the prophet showed up and announced to a young shepherd boy named David that God had chosen him to be king of Israel, his purpose seemed clear. But it wasn’t a straight line to the throne. David went from being a shepherd in the field to a giant-slaying hero to a fugitive. And as he hid in a cave, fearing for his life, he cried out to El Elyon, the “God Most High.” Even though he couldn’t see beyond the cold, damp cavern, he knew God would save him and fulfill his purpose.
Psalm 57:1-11 ESVBe merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
The same God who rescued David and brought him from the cave to the throne came to rescue us, too. We were stuck in sin and doomed for eternity until the God Most High intervened in a mighty way. He chose a young virgin girl to be the one through whom He would send His Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of the World. (See Luke 1:35.)
God’s primary purpose for you is to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and spend eternity in His presence. But He also has a purpose for you here on earth. He has given you unique passions and talents, aligning special opportunities for you to impact your world in a way only you can. When you use your God-given gifts for His glory, you are fulfilling your purpose because your ultimate purpose is to know God and make Him known.
When you start to feel discouraged about what you’re doing or where you’re going, consider the apostle Paul’s words to the church at Philippi: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV). As long as there is breath in your lungs, you have a purpose on earth. Cry out to El Elyon. He will fulfill His purpose for you.
Ephesians 2:1-10 ESVAnd you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
DECLARE
God Most High will fulfill His special purpose for me.
PRAY
Lord, thank You for intervening in my life to save me. I surrender my search for purpose to You and commit to living my life to glorify You.
PONDER
Consider the special passions, talents, and opportunities God has given you. How can you use them to glorify Him? When you surrender all of it to Him, your purpose will be fulfilled.

Set Your Boundaries (Give it to God)

For every good night’s sleep, another tomorrow will come with its own set of challenges. Just like your alarm clock or phone alarm, stress will sound its alarms in your life every day. You can plan ahead, however, and order your life so you are not suffering a constant train wreck of chaos and stress. You can choose to filter stressors so you are not swimming in their aftermath. People who swim in stress all day long find it hard to give it all to God at night and go to bed!
Revelation 21:3-4 ESVAnd I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
How do you set a plan to filter stressors? I have found three important steps that are helpful (and for easy recall, all begin with the letter A): Acknowledgment, Assignment and Alignment.
Galatians 5:1 ESVFor freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Acknowledge that every situation passes through God’s hands. Bad things that happen don’t originate with Him, but, as I like to say, He is not on vacation when they happen.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESVFor I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Ask Him for insight on them. He will give it. Seek His perspective on stressful situations, and ask Him if He has an assignment for you in response to them. Then carry it out.
Revelation 2:2-5 ESVI know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Finally, align (or realign) yourself with your “first love.” Maybe you have been out of earshot of God’s voice. He might be talking, but you have been on a different radio frequency. Through prayer and His Word, get back to the channel you once heard Him on.
Next, map out your goals. Who or what has been defining the boundaries of your life? Set (or reset) those boundaries according to God’s map for you. Then put the disciplines in place to help you reach your dreams and goals.
Remember to keep your three-part self—body, mind and spirit—healthy. (You might even need what I call a “total-temple detox” to get there.) Eat right physically. Ingest and digest God’s Word. Study out your God-given dreams to see what He is saying to you in the night. Pray about how you respond.
Philippians 4:4-9 ESVRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Understanding the dreams God sends you and acting accordingly can even save your life, or someone else’s. It has saved mine more than once. There is nothing like a prophetic directional dream to set you on the path to fulfilling God’s purposes for you (or for helping others fulfill theirs).
So give it all to God and go to bed . . . and sleep and dream and get peaceful, revitalizing rest.

Junk Under Your Bed (Give it to God)

If there is any space at all under our beds, we usually stuff junk under there, out of sight, out of mind. It may or may not be precious to us. I want to keep the junk under my bed, but my husband wants to throw it away. Did you know that most of us stuff more than actual objects under our “beds,” so to speak? Most of us are trying to sleep on top of our emotional junk, too, but it never works! Let’s look at some emotional junk keeping us awake at night and see if we can get rid of it.
First is fear—a highway the enemy drives down, straight into your heart and mind. Fear will steer you toward believing lies about God, yourself, those you love and your future.
John 15:5-11 ESVI am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he … bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
You pay a price for traveling down the road of fear. Exit that highway by reminding yourself of who God is and how much He loves you.
Then come addictions, old habits that die hard. Addiction is an evil spirit with many forms. People can become addicted to anything—drugs, alcohol, work, food, people, even ministry.
Psalm 34:17-18 ESVWhen the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
The world tries to deal with addictions without Christ’s help. That doesn’t work! You have to surrender addictions to God and ask for His help to get rid of them and get back on track with His good plans for you.
Unforgiveness brings torment, yet people hang on to it anyway. When we won’t pardon someone for a wrong, it opens the entryway for our own torment.
As Jesus told us in Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV) “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
The bottom line is that we must forgive others if we want God to forgive us. Unforgiveness disconnects us from Him, which is torment. Forgiveness demonstrates that we love Him and live in His love.
Philippians 4:6-7 ESVdo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayerlessness and doubt are more junk that needs to go. One of the best ways to confront prayerlessness is to confront another kind of junk cluttering our lives—busyness. Add hopelessness (doubt) to busyness, and it is a recipe for spiritual disaster.
Do you need disaster relief? Then don’t let anyone or anything block you from an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Speak with Him as 1 Corinthians 14 guides us to do, praying both with the Spirit and with the understanding. It has changed my whole life and it will do the same for you.
Mark 11:24-25 ESVTherefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
The Holy Spirit is a faith-boosting Mastermind, and He wants to live with you, in you and upon you. He is God’s gift to you. Your Helper in everything, even prayer.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ESVNow there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Outside Your Window and Inside Your Head (Give it to God)

Sometimes you can create the perfect refuge in your bedroom, will yourself to bed and master all your monsters, yet you still can’t get to sleep. The reason is that sometimes the chaos that keeps you awake once you crawl into bed continues, either outside your window or inside your head. You see things on the news, or you read things on social media that create a political or cultural theatre far more disturbing than entertaining. And you may not have a lot of control over what goes on outside your window—but you can still worry if you so choose, letting it steal your peaceful rest.
2 Corinthians 10:1-5 ESVI, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Try using God-given dreams and prayers at night to deal with that world outside your window. This will help you feel less fearful as night falls. It’s also important to watch your words both day and night, on social media and elsewhere. Don’t pray for peace and then make war with your conversations!
Put down those electronic devices at bedtime. Their glowing light hits your optic nerve and cues your pineal gland to stop producing melatonin. Melatonin is the drowsy hormone, and without it you’ll never go to sleep. Instead use that time to ask God for direction (even in your dreams) and pray for whatever is going on outside your window.
John 14:25-27 ESVThese things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Inside your head, certain voices might keep clamoring for your attention. It can be hard to shut them off, even after you switch off the lights. You have to choose which one to pay attention to as you lay yourself to rest. The only voice that matters belongs to the One who has promised you His peace.
The other voices probably include your own discouraging self-talk and the voices of the skeptics, those naysayers without the heart to see you succeed in your calling or purpose. When the voice keeping you awake is your own, it’s time to silence the inner critic. The only way to do that is to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, as Romans 12:2 tells us.
Romans 12:1-2 ESVI appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Replace negative self-talk with God’s mind-transforming words about His love and care for you. As for the naysayers, it’s imperative that you become convinced of who God says you are, so other voices cannot change your mind. Knowing God’s voice is knowing peaceful sleep.
Isaiah 54:17 ESVno weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESVif my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The Weapons Under Your Pillow (Give it to God)

Remember the Disney Pixar movie Monsters, Inc., which introduced a hidden world of monsters that generated energy by scaring human children, even though the movie was a comedy? Kids were toxic to these monsters’ plans for world bedtime domination.
As adults, we have overcome our fear of monsters in our closets. Or have we? Indeed, entities are hiding just out of sight—not in your closet, but in the wings of your life.
James 5:13-16 ESVIs anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
If you are God’s child, His enemies are your enemies, and they lie in wait for you to open the door to fear. I’ve noticed three common “monsters” that want to intimidate people of faith, and they start growling at nighttime in an attempt to steal our peace, our sleep and our dreams. They are monitoring spirits, some of them are familiar spirits, and all want you to dress yourself in garments of fear, worry and other devastating outfits.
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESVBe angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Must you fall victim to these monsters, or is there something you can do? I believe that if you’re brave enough to open the closet door and walk straight into the monster factory, you’ll find that you are not afraid of them, but they are actually afraid of you!
Your faith is toxic to them. You can dismiss the spirits tracking your steps each day to steal your future, one peaceful night’s sleep at a time. Freedom awaits you through prayer that takes authority over these interfering enemies, in Jesus’ name!
A powerful arsenal is at your disposal each and every night. Slip your hand under your pillow and take advantage of the weapons waiting for you there. These weapons include your dreams, your prayers and your rest. Your dreams especially are your direct pipeline to heaven’s wisdom. That’s why it is so important to get to sleep and have some!
Acts 2:17-18 ESVAnd in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
Throughout the Bible, God used dreams to communicate with people. What He did for those in Scripture, He will do for you. You just have to be in a relationship with Him to hear His voice. There are waking dreams that call for action, encouraging dreams, warning dreams that protect you or your loved ones, and directional dreams. If God gives you a dream, He’ll give you the grace to pray it forth. Between your dreams from God, your prayer and your rest, you and God can handle any monster that comes your way!
Psalm 91:1-5 ESVHe who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day

Sleep is the Mattress of Dreams (Give it to God)

From Give It To God And Go To Bed by Laura Harris Smith on YouVersion
Matthew 6:25-32 ESV“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Many people bring sleep-disturbing distractions to bed with them every night in the form of stress, work and worry. These are what I call the three main thieves that steal your sleep, your dreams and your health. At some point after the sun goes down each day, you’ll have to make the choice to give it all to God and go to bed.
The alternative is that your troubles do jumping jacks in front of you and keep you up too late, either eating in the kitchen, vegging out on the living room sofa or slaving away in your home office.
Those other rooms and the activities you do in them distract you from making your way down the hall to the bedroom, where you rest and sleep, and where prophetic directional dreams from God await you. It’s vital for you to learn how to decompress nightly so your sleep can be sweet, your peace can be full and your health can be protected.
Job 33:14-18 ESVFor God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
One thing I’ve learned from my own experience with sleep deprivation is that if you don’t go to bed and sleep, your organs will go to sleep for you. Trust me, you don’t ever want to experience that scenario the way I did when I suffered adrenal burnout.
The key to good physical health is not just diet and exercise; it’s diet, exercise and sleep. And as I now believe and will never tire of saying, sleep doctors could put all the other doctors out of business, because once you fix your sleep, you fix your whole health!
Your bedroom is the room where you should spend one-third of your day—one-third of your life—resting. But sometimes we treat our bedrooms like a pit stop where we plunk down and lie unconsciously for a few hours after a hard day. But look around you.
Your bedroom should be a treasured place full of items that make you smile and bring you peace. It should be much more than a pit stop for you, your bills and your dirty laundry. It should be a place of inspiration, a sanctuary where the cares of your day melt away. A place where you can sleep so that God can communicate with you through your dreams, which can change your life. That is what happens when you give it all to God and go to bed!
John 10:27-30 ESVMy sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESVNow may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.