Psalm 136:1 NIV — Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

This week I have shared with you about a time when I was overwhelmed by my circumstances. I pray that you have been able to look back and see times God has shown His overwhelming love for you instead of focusing on the stresses of your current circumstances. Reflect and remember His faithfulness throughout your life. Remember how He is always with you. Remember how He always provides. Stop holding on so desperately to control. Surrender to Him. Have faith. Trust Him. Reach out to Christian friends for support and encouragement. Be overwhelmed by Him and give thanks. His love endures forever!

Let’s pray. Thank You Lord for You are good. Thank you for Your enduring love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

FYI: I completed the work for my National Board recertification and submitted it on time. Then I had to be patient, have faith, and trust as I awaited results in November. Hallelujah! I passed the recertification process and continue to be a National Board certified teacher. Go God!

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the love of God? Has God ever shown up on your behalf in a mighty way?

Yesterday I shared with you how God showed off and provided the money I needed to begin my National Board recertification process. I was overwhelmed by God’s mighty provision. As I worked on completing the necessary work I was overwhelmed by the circumstances of finishing the process along with being Mama, Wife, Church Member, and Teacher. As I breathed in Jesus, He reminded me of how He is always with me and how He always provides. He reminded me of a story in the Bible where His people were overwhelmed by circumstances. Please take a moment to read 2 Chronicles 20: 1-27 NIV.

In this story, Jehoshaphat is facing an ominous battle and he receives word from God by way of Jahaziel as recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:15 — Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

The next day Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing and praise the Lord for His holiness. The Lord did the rest. He defeated the enemy. Jehoshaphat and his people were once overwhelmed by what they faced, but through their obedience, faith and trust, God defeated the opposition and His people were overwhelmed by His mighty actions and enduring love. That is what God wants for all of us. He wants us to turn over control to Him. He wants us to surrender to Him. He wants us to be overwhelmed, not by circumstances of life, but by Him. We are to be overwhelmed by His mighty love and goodness. 

Being submissive and turning over control to God is hard. Today, listen to “Thy Will” by Hillary Scott and slowly release your worries to God. Trust Him to go to battle on your behalf. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Give me courage to release control to You. The battle is Yours! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV — Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Yesterday I encouraged you to look back and remember your journey. When I became overwhelmed with life’s circumstances while working on National Board recertification God told me to look back and remember my recertification journey. 

As I looked back, I remembered. It all began one of the last days in January of that year. I knew the time was growing near for me to register for the recertification process so I decided to check the website. When I opened the page I nearly fainted. The last day to sign up and pay the $1200 registration fee was January 31st, less than a week away. My husband and I had planned on using some of our tax refund money for the fee. We hadn’t filed our taxes yet. Where in the world would I come up with that much money so fast? At that moment I was overwhelmed with worry. I immediately sent a text to a pastor friend who sent back, “God’s got this!” Her words of assurance comforted me and gave me peace. At that moment I knew that God would handle the details if this was His will. Later that evening a friend sent a group text to myself and others inviting our families to have dinner at their house in a couple days. I felt led to share with them my news of needing to come up with $1200 in a rush and asked them to pray for guidance. In a few short minutes one of those friends sent me a private message offering to let me borrow the funds until we received our tax refund. OVERWHELMED! Again that is what I felt. Completely overwhelmed! This time I was overwhelmed by God’s awesome power and presence. I knew right then that this text was an answer to prayer. My friend shared with me that accepting the money was an answer to her prayer as she had prayed earlier in the week for an opportunity to use this money to help someone. What an awesome way God had answered both our prayers!

When you look back are you able to see how God has answered your prayers? How has God overwhelmed you with His loving presence? Listen to “Overwhelmed” by Big Daddy Weave. Today may you be overwhelmed by the love and presence of God.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for Your overwhelming love and presence. May I never forget Your overwhelming love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Isaiah 46:9 NIV — Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.

Yesterday I shared about a time when I felt overwhelmed during my National Board recertification process. When I cried out to God He told me to remember how this journey began.

Today, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances of life, I encourage you to look back and remember. Allow God to lead you back to the beginning of your journey and show you from where you have come. Spend some time reminiscing with God and allow Him to wrap His arms around you and embrace you as only He can. Listen to “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns and be comforted.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Hold me tight as I look back and remember the road that brought me to this place. Remind me of Your presence then and now. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 4:13 RSV (Revised Standard Version) — I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

In yesterday’s post I told you about a time I felt overwhelmed while trying to complete my National Board recertification. At that moment, I started praying for God’s strength and guidance. Then I texted several friends that are prayer warriors and explained my stress. They all gave me loving and encouraging words. One dear friend said, “Deep breath…breathe in Jesus and breathe out that stress!” So I did. As I breathed in Jesus, I poured out my stress to Him. I told Him how much I had to do, as if He didn’t know. I told Him it was impossible and He said yes it is impossible on your own. I wondered, why in the world did I sign up for this National Board process anyway? He told me to remember how this journey began. So I thought back to the beginning of my recertification process.

What makes you feel overwhelmed? How do you handle feelings of being overwhelmed? Examine your response to feeling overwhelmed. Do you start out with prayer? Do you call on prayer warriors to join you in prayer? Recognize the need to rely on Jesus and allow Him to give you guidance, strength, and courage. Breathe in Jesus and pour out your stress to Him. Before rushing into the next thing on your list, read this article titled, “7 Christian Mindfulness Exercises” for a Christian approach to dealing with feeling overwhelmed.

Let’s pray. Thank You God for reminding me that I cannot accomplish tasks with my own strength. Help me to rely on You and turn to You for guidance and direction. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 61:1-3 KJV — Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 

OVERWHELMED! That is what I felt. Completely overwhelmed! I was in the throes of completing my National Board for Professional Teaching Standards recertification on top of my normal life duties of wife, mother, active church member, and my job as a teacher. I felt like I was drowning. I felt like there was no end in sight and that the tasks before me were impossible.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your life circumstances? Are you feeling overwhelmed today? Do you feel like the waves of life keep knocking you down and you are drowning? Re-read today’s featured scripture. Let’s follow David’s lead today as in the scripture. As we enter into worship today, let’s follow God to the “rock that is higher” and embrace God as our “strong tower.” Listen to “Strong Tower” by Kutless and allow God to lead you to His shelter of peace and strength.

Let’s pray. Dear God, You are my Strong Tower. Help me when I feel overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher so I do not drown. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalms‬ ‭63‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Join me by clicking the link to 👉 See You Saturday as I talk about the Fourth Watch!

Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭148‬ ‭NIV — My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. ‬‬

Watches of The Night according to Wikipedia