But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God].

1 Timothy 6:6 AMP

Driving in the car, I chatted with a friend I’d picked up from the airport. I was telling her about our recent move from the country to the city—and the house for which I’d been praying for seventeen years. As I shared some details of our new house, I explained that I’d made a list of all the things I wanted in my home. The thing that piqued her interest was the most embarrassing thing that escaped my lips that day. Without intending to, I blurted out something I’d tucked away in a corner of my heart.

“I want a house I can be proud to invite people over to visit.” It sounded prideful and shameful simultaneously, yet it was a hidden, unconfessed truth I’d only spoken to the Lord and my husband. Not that I was unthankful for the home in which I previously lived, but deep-down there was a whispered lie I’d wrestled with, telling me I couldn’t have, nor did I deserve, anything better. It felt so vulnerable admitting it out loud. And yet, her response surprised me.

“I know how that feels—to not want to be ashamed to have people over,” she began. “How did you do it?”

Vulnerabilty Between Friends

In that moment, I realized we were so similar—two women who had dreams tucked away in the quiet places of our hearts, sometimes wondering if those dreams were too big to share. It’s easy to get comfortable with what you have; to give up believing in a dream. But our dreams, even the big impossible ones, don’t scare God. He has none of our limitations—not in ability or imagination.

I told her how I’d taken part in a Bible study with my small group many years ago. We’d read The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. I’d written every detail of the home I hoped for, paired each request with a scripture, and kept circling those prayers year after year, even when they felt impossible. My needs changed with different seasons of life, and as the needs changed, I adjusted what I’d written, found new passages of scripture, and kept praying. Mark Batterson explains the purpose of writing the things for which you pray by saying, “It insures that I don’t forget what I’m praying for. It also insures that God gets the glory when the miracles happen.”[1]

“You intercede until God intervenes.” – Mark Batterson

Here’s the thing, though. You can’t stop praying. Mark Batterson puts it this way: “You intercede until God intervenes.”[2] There were times I felt like giving up. Many times, in fact. I could see our circumstances and the impossibility of it all. I knew all the reasons it was impossible—all the reasons nobody knew but us and God. But there were so many things God knew that we didn’t, and He knew the dreams planted in my heart had a purpose beyond my desires. So we lived our life and prayed. We went to work and prayed. We paid the bills and reared our boys, but the dream was always there, circled in prayer.

As the years went by, I saw the prayers I’d written. There were times I would question why I should keep believing for a house. I knew God could work miracles. I knew He loved me enough to want me to have the best things that my character could support. But with each flip of the calendar page, I would wonder why the delay.

Just Have a Little Talk with Jesus

One sunny afternoon, I lounged in my backyard chair and talked to God about it. I wanted to come-clean with Him, to lay it all out on the line. I confessed my doubts, admitting that I felt silly praying for something that seemed so far beyond our means. Maybe I was just dreaming too big, I thought. Maybe, instead of believing for God to work this miracle, I needed to just be content with what I had. After all, Hebrews 13:5b says “be content with such things as ye have” (KJV).

But as I sat there, soaking in the sun’s warmth, I felt a gentle nudge in my spirit. He tenderly reminded me that being content didn’t mean I had to stop dreaming. He knew I was thankful for and content with what He’d already provided. The “more” I was longing for wasn’t selfish; it had a purpose. The peace that washed over me at that moment was unmistakable. It was as if God was saying, “It’s okay to want more. It’s okay to believe Me for bigger things because I have a plan for it all.” Dreaming for bigger things doesn’t make you less thankful for the things you already have.

Godliness with Contentment

My pastor recently shared a message about how God satisfies the righteous. While he gave many passages from the Word to support the sermon, one scripture he shared was 1 Timothy 6:6. In the Amplified version, it says, “But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God].”

Contentment in this verse means, “A perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed; sufficiency of the necessities of life, self-satisfaction; Satisfaction with what one has.”[3] But as my pastor said, “If your heart isn’t right with God, even if you have all the stuff, you aren’t satisfied.”[4] You need both—a heart in right-standing with God and contentment with the things He has already provided. It is in knowing He is the one who supplies our need, because of His goodness and love for us, not because of our own merit, that we can trust Him for those things and even more!

Contentment vs. Complacency

My pastor clarified, however, that the Word doesn’t say, “But godliness with complacency is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6, misquoted). The trap I’d fallen into before my tête-à-tête with God on that lounge chair in the sun was one of complacency. Complacency means, “marked by self-satisfaction, especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.”[5]

By settling for being satisfied with what I had and no longer praying and believing for the good things God wanted me to have that I hadn’t yet obtained, the timetable of what God wanted me to walk in was going to be further delayed or never achieved. All because I didn’t know, was unaware of, the actual deficiency. This reminds me of the passage from Hosea 4:6a, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]” (AMP). In that passage, that lack of knowledge affects the following generations, too!

If you are in a season where you vacillate between being content with what you have and daring to dream for more, I understand. It’s a tender place to be, balancing gratitude with the hope of something greater. But remember, God knows your heart. He knows the desires you’ve tucked away, the ones you’ve maybe stopped praying for because they seem too big or too far out of reach. He isn’t limited by our circumstances or by what we think is possible.

Spell it Out

Matthew 7:11 says, “If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him” (AMP). It’s okay to ask God for the desires of your heart! He already knows them, and He delights in hearing you share your dreams with Him. He is a good Father, and He desires to bless His children! Psalms 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart” (AMP).

So, take a moment. Write those dreams, desires, and goals no matter how impossible they might seem. Mark Batterson wrote, “If you don’t spell it out for yourself, you have no way of knowing if you’ve achieved it.”[6] Search your heart to determine why you want those things and pair them with promises from God’s Word. Then pray over those things and don’t stop praying until you see it come to pass. As Mark Batterson wrote and I previously quoted, “intercede until God intervenes.” Keep praying, keep believing. Your dreams are not too big for God.

In Your Contentment, Remember This: He Has Purpose for You!

You’re not selfish for wanting God’s blessings; contentment and dreaming big work hand-in-hand. The dreams He’s placed in your heart might just be the very things He wants to use to bless others through you. He’s a good Father, and He wants to give you good gifts—not just for your own sake, but for the sake of the purpose He’s placed on your life. So dream big, my friend, while embracing contentment in the present. You are worthy of the dreams He’s placed in your heart. Perhaps He’s waiting to see how much you truly desire to follow His call!

Want to get a jumpstart on writing down some life goals and big dreams you can start believing God for and praying over?

Download this FREE GIFT, a beautiful three-sheet printable. If you have a disc notebook, it’s the perfect size for that! Print, punch holes, and you are ready to write every bold prayer for which you are believing.

[1] Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears (Michigan: Zondervan, 2011), 28.

[2] Ibid., 35.

[3] G841 – autarkeia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 7 Nov, 2024. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g841/kjv/tr/0-1/

[4] NewLifeAugusta. “Livestream,” New Life Church, streamed live on November 6, 2024, YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs4snFJeYVI&t=3870s.

[5] Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “complacent,” accessed November 7, 2024, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complacent.

[6] Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears (Michigan: Zondervan, 2011), 29.

The post From a Quiet Dream to a Bold Prayer: How God Meets Us in Our Deepest Longings appeared first on Holly D. Murray.

“So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.”

Galatians 6:9 HCSB

The other day, I quit. I was trying to fix a problem with my website, and instead of solving it, I made a muddled mess of the whole thing. Frustration washed over me, and soon I was sobbing. Angry tears blurred my vision as I pushed my rolling chair away from my desk and marched into the den where my husband was sitting. “I quit!” I stormed. He waited quietly.

“No, really,” I insisted. “I’m done. Done with writing. I’m just done!”

Why Not Just Quit?

Have you ever reached that level of frustration where quitting felt like the only option? If so, that doesn’t make you a failure, it makes you human! Clearly, since you are reading this, you know my quitting wasn’t permanent. Eventually, I accepted help and worked through the issue. But it made me wonder: why do some challenges push us to our breaking point? And why did this website glitch become the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back of my calling?

The answer, for me, was that I felt overwhelmed. Even today, as I write this, I’m in a season of life where I feel pulled in a thousand different directions. There are things I want to do, things I have to do, and things I’m asked to do. But no matter how many things compete for my attention, one truth remains: I am limited. Like you, I have 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and there is only one of me.

Recently, I heard author Jordan Lee Dooley share that the word “priority” is not plural. By definition, a priority is “something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives.” [1] God doesn’t want us overwhelmed because we put too many things in first place. He intends us to have one priority—the thing that matters most. Everything else has to fall into place behind it.

How many times have we said we need to “get our priorities straight?” What we really meant was we needed to organize our responsibilities—tasks that need to be done but don’t all deserve top billing. The key is choosing the right priority, making decisions that align with God’s unique calling for our life, and letting go of the things that don’t belong on today’s to-do list.

Make decisions that align with the unique calling God has for you.

It’s Okay to Say No

Today, that looked like going home to write instead of visiting with a friend who just had surgery. It hurt to say no, but it meant trusting that God was sending the right people at the right time to be a blessing to her. Sometimes, saying yes to our calling means saying no to other good things.

Denise J. Hughes wrote, “I’m not looking to be busy. I spent too many years just being busy. Instead, I want to be purposeful in the things I say yes to, so I’m lingering on the choices.” [2] That resonates deeply with me. In a world that demands instant responses, it’s okay to take time and ponder our decisions. Some answers need to be ready on our lips (1 Peter 3:15), but others will require us to linger in prayer and seek God’s wisdom. And that’s okay.

James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for the wisdom we need. When we pause and bring our decisions to Him, we avoid many unnecessary mistakes. By focusing on purpose rather than busyness, we can stay on track with what matters most without getting distracted by all the events vying for our attention.

Your Calling is Unique

The call of God on your life is as unique as your fingerprint, and the challenges you will face are just as personal. Seasons and responsibilities may change, but God’s call for your life remains steady, even when everything else feels uncertain.

Matthew 24:13 says, “But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved” (AMP). The word endure in the Greek means “to remain in a place instead of leaving it.” [3] I know staying in your place of calling—holding on when it would be easier to quit and let go—may take everything you have some days. But don’t forget, God wouldn’t call you to endure if He didn’t also promise to hold you up.

Just Don’t Quit

There are countless reminders in Scripture not to quit. They are His gentle whispers of encouragement to your weary heart, reminding you that you can do this. Not because of your own strength or abilities, but because He’s with you. And He knows the victory that awaits on the other side of your endurance.

So, take heart, friend. Be strong and don’t let discouragement take root within you. God sees you, and your work—no matter how small it feels some days—has value and purpose. Keep showing up, even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired, even when it seems nothing is working the way you intended. You’re not pushing through just for the sake of finishing—you’re planting seeds that will one day blossom into a beautiful harvest.

Galatians 6:9 says, “So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up” (HCSB). God hasn’t called you to quit, and He hasn’t forgotten about you. He’s right there with you, equipping you for the journey. He’s called you to endure, and He will see you through to the end—where your faithfulness will bear fruit for His Kingdom. Stay focused on the main thing, find strength in God, and trust that He is weaving all the threads of your life into something beautiful.

[1]Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “priority,” accessed September 6, 2024, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priority.

[2] Huges, Denise J., Making Room for What Matters Most, A Sacred Yes, accessed September 6, 2024, https://denisejhughes.substack.com/p/a-sacred-yes?utm_source=post-emailtitle&publication_id=1660296&post_id=148555801&utm_campaign=email-posttitle&isFreemail=true&r=2fm7pd&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[3] “G5278 – hypomenō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 6 Sep, 2024. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5278/kjv/tr/0-1/

Don’t quit reading! Find the “secret sauce” to walking out your calling. Check out the post “The Power of Friends.“

The post The Day I Quit: Finding Strength When Frustration Takes Over appeared first on Holly D. Murray.

When God called me to write, I glanced around to determine who He was speaking to. As I scanned the empty chairs, the answer was obvious—it was me. But surely, there had to be some mistake. I was not qualified to take on a project of this magnitude. I spent the next several moments creating an extensive argument with God, listing every reason I could think of why I wasn’t the right woman for the job. 

When I got no response, I went to my husband, expecting him to agree that this new “suggestion” from God was impossible to add to my already overwhelming list of responsibilities. Instead, my husband, traitorously and with much enthusiasm, said, “That’s great! You should do it!”

Doubts and fear bombarded my mind over the next several weeks and months. I imagined the whispers of women like Sister Suzie, questioning, “Who does she think she is?” I asked myself the same question, so why wouldn’t she? I wasn’t qualified. It wasn’t just about writing—it was about stepping into something unfamiliar, the unknown, with no real stepping stones to follow to get to a destination that I couldn’t even define.

Why Do You Feel Disqualified?

When God calls you to do something, you can bet the enemy will try to convince you that you’re not enough. Satan is a proficient liar, and he’s not afraid to whisper those lies in your ear when you are most vulnerable. He would say anything to distract you from God’s purpose. John 8:44b (AMP) says, “When he (the enemy) lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths.”

If only I could say fulfilling your calling would feel like walking through a field of wildflowers with the sun on your face and a gentle breeze in your hair. I wish I could say that as soon as you stepped forward in obedience, thousands of other women would gather around you affirming your perfect solution for their life. I wish I could tell you it was easy. 

If I said that, I’d be lying.

Admitting God’s call takes guts.

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

Following God’s call is hard work. It requires grit, determination, and a willingness to battle through doubts and fears. Now that the harsh truth is out, let me share something that helped me. After God called me to write, my small group leader handed me a half-sheet of paper with a simple message: “If you’re waiting for a sign, this is it.” I wrote my calling and dreams on the back.

Let me tell you, writing what God is calling you to do or dreams He has placed in your heart takes guts. I felt worse than silly. It was embarrassing! I wanted to tuck it into the pages of my Bible and slam it shut before anyone else in my small group read what I’d written.

Those words, “Who do you think you are?” echoed in my mind. And the “what-ifs” flooded in: What if people laugh? What if I’m not good enough or if nobody listens? What if I failed? 

I’ve heard many lies regarding my calling: You won’t be able to finish what you start. You don’t have the ability or the resources. Somebody else is already doing that with tremendous success. You are nobody special, just a small fish in a big pond. Would God really use someone like me?

Familiar Lies and What-Ifs

Do these lies sound familiar? Has the enemy whispered lies and “what-ifs” to you, too? What if people laugh or you lack the ability? What if you fail?

But what if you don’t? Imagine the possibilities when you answer God’s call and succeed. You are not disqualified because of the enemy’s lies. The answers you require are in His Word, and the Holy Spirit is waiting to teach and lead you every step of the way. The Word says in 2 Corinthians 3:5 (AMP), “Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.” The next verse affirms that it is the Spirit of God that gives life, making our dreams and callings bear fruit as we obey what He commands.

The Power of the Word

When we feel inadequate or disqualified, we draw encouragement from the Word. Hebrews 4:12a says, “For the Word of God is living, and active, and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective].” (AMP). If the Word of God can transform lives and bring victory, then search it to gain the courage to overcome fear and combat the lies.

There is a corkboard beside my desk adorned with the prettiest pink rose thumbtacks. It’s a place where I pin Bible verses, encouraging words from friends, and quotes that inspire me. When doubts creep in, I look to that board and remember God has equipped me. He’s equipped you, too.

The Word works regardless of how pretty you make it! Having a firm foundation on which to stand when doubts and fear try to rear their ugly heads keeps us from quitting too soon. You have the weapon with which to fight, so write it down, read it often, and pray about God’s instructions. He has the perfect blueprint for your life.

The Word works regardless of how pretty you make it,
so write it down, read it often, and pray about God’s plan.

The Enemy Says You’re Disqualified.

God realized the enemy would lie to us, trying to make us feel disqualified to carry out His call, and His Word is the key to overcoming the lies. Consider the lie, “Who do you think you are?”

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV). God didn’t make a mistake when He called you. He planned it all along. In fact, He created you for it.

When you wonder if you’ll be able to finish what you start, remember Philippians 1:6 says, “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” (ESV). He will give you what you need and help you finish what you start.

If you wonder, “Do I have the ability?”

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (ESV). You can do everything God asks you to do!

Are you concerned you lack the resources to fulfill your calling and that leaves you disqualifed?

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of ours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (ESV). He won’t supply just a few needs, but every single one.

Is somebody else doing what you feel called to do, and they are excelling?

Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (ESV). He won’t change His mind about what He has called you to do or withdraw the assignment, no matter how many people seem to be doing something similar. Only you can reach the people with the message God gives you.

Confront the lies, “Nobody knows me, so what does it matter? I’m a small fish in a big pond,” with a verse from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you” (MSG). You aren’t “nobody.” God loves, knows, calls, and chooses you. That’s an impressive pedigree!

God Qualified Paul

Apostle Paul recorded most of the scriptures I used to rebut the enemy’s lies. If anyone should be disqualified from ministry, it would be Paul, right? Before his conversion to Christ, he sought to imprison and murder followers of Jesus! Yet God used Paul to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and write half of the New Testament.

I wonder how often the enemy whispered lies to Paul’s heart as he endured unthinkable conditions in a Roman prison. Yet there he wrote, “Brothers, I do not count myself to have attained, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, MEV). Paul wasn’t disqualified from God’s call because of his past. He remembered who qualified him.

You are not Disqualified. God is Your Qualifier.

God knew every lie Satan would ever tell you. He foresaw each mistake you’d ever make that the enemy would bring to your remembrance. God was aware of every word you’d ever speak that the enemy would whisper back to your ears to try to make you feel disqualified. God knew every attack the enemy would use before He planted the dream in your heart. He knew before He called you. And He called you anyway.

God uses His imperfect, busy, often-distracted people to carry out His call because that’s all He has! If you are imperfect but willing, busy but willing, distracted but willing, then you are qualified! He seeks someone willing to say yes to Him.

You don’t have to answer every phone call. When the enemy comes calling (and he will), don’t pick up the phone. You are not disqualified from God’s assignment for you. Remember, the Word of God says in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “The One who called you is completely dependable. If He said it, He’ll do it!” (MSG). He calls us first to Himself, for salvation, then to take His message of love and hope to others.

Your Call is Unique and You are Enough

The call God has for you is as unique as you are. Nothing in your past or any lie the enemy dares to declare makes you disqualified from walking it out. God qualified you when He planned it for you, and He will help you every step of the way. You don’t have to rely on your worth, strengths, personal provision, or abilities. The next time you hear that nagging voice saying you’re not enough, remember that God knew everything about you before He called you. He’s not looking for perfect women; He’s looking for willing ones. 

You have everything you need to step into your calling. So, go ahead—trust Him. Delight yourself in Him and following His leading. The destination will be worth it!

Are You Ready for a Step of Boldness?

I know it might make you a little nervous, but are you ready to put on paper what God is calling you to do, or the dreams for which you are believing? If you are, grab a pen and something on which to write! Write a scripture or two you can stand on as you believe. 

When you finish, put it where you can see it, so you can pray over what this will look like for you as you step out in obedience. If you would like me to be praying with you, fill out the prayer request form on the sidebar to the right, and I will begin praying the Word over you specifically this week! Also, be sure to pop over to the “free gifts” tab to download a 5×7 copy of the “If You’re Waiting for a Sign, This is It” to print and post as a reminder to get started on what God is calling you to do!

Blessings,

Holly

Looking for why God might call you to do something out of your comfort zone? Read “Dust Off Your Dreams” to learn more!

Want to learn more about the book God called me to write?
View a free sample of Believing for a Miracle!

The post Disqualified by Doubts and Fears? Discover How to Still Answer God’s Call appeared first on Holly D. Murray.

“And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!

I was a schoolteacher. When my boys started school, I had high expectations and pushed them to do their very best. I felt it really mattered. In first grade, my eldest was writing full page essays and working through two different math and phonics curriculums along with his other subjects. My youngest completed two curriculums in one school term. I was a stickler for great scores and working hard.

Then, at age eleven, my eldest was diagnosed with cancer. As we learned to navigate a new, unexpected season, I had an epiphany. School isn’t everything. It isn’t life or death. Making straight A’s doesn’t make a person immune to trouble, nor does it make them a better person.

The Things That Really Matter

I wanted (and still want) my children to do well. It is more important, however, that they do what God wants them to do than to meet my personal standards of achievement. I needed to look at my expectations and ask, “Does it really matter?”

My children need to recognize God’s love for them. That really matters. They need to know their parents love them unconditionally. That matters, too. My children need to care more about helping other people and sharing about Jesus than any other ideal I had for them.

How quickly we can get sucked in to life’s pressures and forget what really matters. When we don’t ask what really matters, it is easy to become discouraged as we strive to do all the things and keep up with all the demands. This isn’t God’s plan. He doesn’t want us to grow weary of doing good. But we need to ask what good things God wants us to be doing in the first place. Focus on what really matters and invest our time in those areas.

Focus on What Really Matters

There is nothing wrong with encouraging our children to do their best. We all need to give our best effort. But navigate others to ask God for His help in all He calls them to do, and set the example. Think of all the good surrounding us. It’s so easy to take our blessings for granted.

To the mama who is struggling with changing schedules and the demands of teachers, relax. For the one who is trying to figure out how to solve that math problem in an untraditional way, it is going to be okay. If you find a toy in the middle of the bowl of jello or have baby powder all over the floor, take a picture. I promise you will laugh later. If you feel ready to cry because you’re so tired and the day isn’t even over, take a moment and ask God to help you. He is always listening.

Make Investments in What Matters

These problems will pass. Don’t be discouraged. We won’t always make perfect decisions, but we can give our best effort to make great investments in our family. Take a break and do something fun. Go outside and pick flowers. Throw a ball and lay in the grass. Blow on dandelions and watch the wind carry the white wispy seeds away in the cool autumn breeze. Hug your babies and tell them you love them. Tell them about Jesus and how much He loves them, too. Teach them kindness by example. Focus on what matters.

Babies grow so quickly. Blink and they are entering elementary school. Blink again and they are graduating high school. Your children won’t remember how hard tonight’s homework is or even what their classmate said that hurt their feelings. They will always remember that you took the time to be patient and encourage them, and that you pointed them to Jesus. They will remember the things that really matter.

Don’t throw in the towel. You are going to make it. The season of reaping what you are sowing is coming, and God will give you everything you need to succeed in the meantime. You are His child, after all. He wants the best for you, too.

He wants you to create sweet, memorable moments to look back on and enjoy for years to come. You have wonderful memories to create. Why not start now? Ask yourself, “Does it really matter?” Then focus on what is most important.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father,

I am so thankful I am Your daughter. I know You see me and love me, despite my imperfections and mistakes. Forgive me for every sin I have knowingly or unknowingly committed, and I forgive and release everyone from any wrong they have done to me.

I thank You for the gifts of family and friends. Help me, Father, to focus on what You call me to do – that is what is most important. Help me not to make mountains out of mole hills and to be patient with those I love. Lead me to be a good wife, daughter, mother, and friend. Help me to point others to You.

Thank You for the beautiful memories I have already created and thank You for all the ones in my future! I love You, Father. Thank you for always loving me.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Free Gift: Focus On What Matters 5×7

Download the free “Focus On What Matters” printable as a free gift. Click on the link and this printable will open as a PDF in a new tab.

(Downloads are only available to hollydmurray.com subscribers: With downloading, you’ll be OPTING IN to Holly’s email newsletter with more encouragement and freebies delivered straight to your inbox! Unsubscribe at any time.)

Do you have a love of fabrics?

Check out the guest post I wrote for Inspired Quilting by Lea Louise. It is tells of some memories from childhood and of a special wedding gift.

Free Gift: Believing for a Miracle

Click here to read the first chapter of Holly’s book, “Believing for a Miracle.” Her books and notebooks are available on Amazon.

The post Does It Really Matter? appeared first on Holly D. Murray.