Today’s thoughts are by Julie Wicker

Read Luke 10:1-24 

Do you see yourself as one of the Seventy-Two? 

Are you thankful that you “get to” work in God’s harvest field? 

Do you rejoice that your name is written in Heaven? Do you share this gift with others?

As you reflect on the week, take time to surrender your answers to God. Be reminded that you are blessed to do God’s kingdom work with a “get to” mindset through His strength.

Sunday I encouraged you to listen to Strong by Anne Wilson. Try praying through her lyrics, “I hit my knees with my hands held high saying, “Dear Lord, Jesus, you know I can’t do this on my own. Lord knows I’ve tried, but I’m good at falling down. Thank God you’re good at picking me up off the ground. The world’s gonna try to break me but I know the one who makes me strong.”

@biblegateway @youversion @jongordon11

Today’s thoughts are by Julie Wicker

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭MSG‬‬ — So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

How do we keep our “get to” in focus? Dress in compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, and discipline. Wear love. Cultivate thankfulness. If you have a word of the year or mantra, keep it at the forefront of your mind. We’ve learned this week that we must set boundaries. We also must fervently pray because the Devil is scheming in our “have to.” I encourage you to write “get to” statements as your gratitudes.

1. I get to work.
2. I get to clean my house.
3. I get to pay my mortgage.
4. I get to shop for healthy foods.
5. I get to cook for my family.
6. I get to take my family to the doctor.
7. I get to exercise.

Now it’s your turn. What are your ”get to” gratitude statements? Be reminded that you can’t do this life on your own and your “get to” will be accomplished by relying on God’s strength. As a result you will be fruitful for God’s glory.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your quiet strength. I desire to wear Your love so that I can carry Your fruit as I get to walk this life with my family and friends. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion @jongordon11

Today’s thoughts are by Julie Wicker

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

A cheerful heart does not come easy. Often we have to wrestle with the Devil because our “get to” is easily crushed by taking our focus off of God and the joy that He has set before us. What is one way we can maintain a cheerful heart? From the @whoathatsgoodpodcast, “Don’t let people’s expectations control your yes and no. Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.”

The mind is a very powerful tool that has the power to be good medicine or crush one’s spirit. Be reminded today that you are a child of God. Recite: I “get to” walk with Jesus by the gift of the Holy Spirit. I “get to” serve God through my yeses and my nos because not everything is my assignment. Give yourself grace and remember that even Jesus needed time to turn to His Heavenly Father. 

What is one way you can build up your boundaries so that the expectations of others don’t crush your spirit? Trample the Devil through worship and prayer. Sunday I encouraged you to listen to Child Of God by Crowder. Some of the lyrics sing, “Clap them hands, stomp them feet. Devil ain’t got no hold on me. Dance all day, dance all night. Good God, I’m on fire. I may be flesh and bone. But in my haunted soul. I got the Holy Ghost. I know where I came from. Can’t keep me from my home. I am a child of God.”

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for I am full of joy through the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Help me not to give in to the Devil’s schemes and allow the expectations of others to crush my spirit. I trample the Devil in Jesus’ name. Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion @jongordon11

Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ NIV — Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Often our weariness comes from overcommitment. Our “get to” turns to “have to” because we haven’t set proper boundaries and we leave the door open for animosity to creep in. Whether we are serving in our homes, churches, workplaces or communities we must prayerfully look at each task as an opportunity. Steven Furtick has said, “Sometimes the interruption is the assignment.” 

Another God Wink on this week’s theme was when my daughter shared with me an excerpt from the 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna West, on you don’t “have to’” you “get to.” “This is one of the simplest changes in perception, and yet also something truly fulfilled people master: the knowing that everything is an opportunity to experience. You don’t have to go to work; you get to go to work. You don’t have to wake up early; you get to wake up early. When you start considering things not as obligations but as opportunities, you start taking advantage of them rather than trying to avoid them.”

Ask God to hold onto you in your times of weariness. Sunday I encouraged you to worship with, Hold On To Me by Lauren Daigle. Some of the lyrics sing, “When the best of me is barely breathin’. When I’m not somebody I believe in. Hold on to me. When I miss the light the night has stolen. When I’m slammin’ all the doors You’ve opened. Hold on to me.” 

Let’s pray. Dear God, give me strength to do Your will. Guide me in setting boundaries. Give me a heart of submission to Your purpose so that I don’t get weary focusing on the tasks outside of Your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

@biblegateway @youversion @jongordon11

Today’s thoughts are by Julie Wicker

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭MSG‬‬ — Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Another God Wink on this week’s theme on “get to” rather than “have to” was when Deborah shared with me a second quote by Jon Gordon: “Let Go. Focus on the things that you have the power to change, and let go of the things that are beyond your control. You’ll be amazed that when you stop trying to control everything, it all somehow works out. Surrender is the answer.”

I had just waited an hour in the dermatology office with my daughter while my mom waited for us in the car. My car battery drained as a result of me leaving my keys resting in the ignition for my mom’s convenience. Thank goodness AAA was able to come to my rescue in a timely manner. As a result of these two events, I had to surrender my plans of making dinner. Eating fast food seemed like the best option since we had other stops to make on the way home. If we keep our minds on things that are true, our mindset shifts. That day, I got to take my daughter to the doctor. I got to sit and eat a corndog with my family at Sonic. Today’s quote was a good reminder to surrender my plans. In the end, God worked it all out. We read in ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for times when I can surrender my plans to You. Thank You for opportunities to support my family by taking them to the doctor. Help me to stay in the “get to” mindset. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion @jongordon11