The Core of Everyday Life: 365 Devotions and Journal

By Dr. Candus Jack-Williams

The Core of Everyday Life is a Christian devotional book and journal filled with stories, biblical references and ways to apply knowledge of God each day. A daily word of encouragement is medicinal hope, which builds strength within us each day. Because each day bring forth new experiences, these devotions will provide encouragement in many forms including scriptures, stories, poetry, love letters, declarative statements, prayers and informative text all tied to the knowledge of God. In addition, you will receive the opportunity to get intentional with your spiritual journey through Dr. Candus’ Ex-E-R-C-I-S-E model, daily journaling and adhering to tips provided to help you apply knowledge of God each day. Are you seeking changes in your life and answers from God? Do you struggle with letting go of past mistakes and burdens? Is it difficult for you to forgive? Do you want peace and joy, but struggle to find it? Are you willing to connect with God each day? It’s time to get spiritually fit and exercise your core.

Are you seeking changes in your life and answers from God? Do you struggle with letting go of past mistakes and burdens? Is it difficult for you to forgive? Do you want peace and joy, but struggle to find it? Are you willing to connect with God each day? It’s time to get spiritually fit and exercise your core.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664126282

Dr. Candus Jack-Williams

Dr. Candus Jack’s goal is to encourage people to remain strong in their faith at all times. She enjoy ministering the word of God helping people understand there is nothing impossible with God. She recently founded Core Refined in 2020 to encourage men and women to become centered in Christ through transformational change. She wrote The Core of Everyday Life as a spinoff devotional book and journal from her previous creation, The Core, Exercising Godly Character through the Nourishment of Spiritual Fruit, a book about the fruit of the spirit to help people apply knowledge of God each day. The more time we devote to God, the stronger our core becomes.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Dr. Candus Jack-Williams.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/20/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

817367

Contents

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

JANUARY 1

Your Vision Aligned with God’s Vision

JANUARY 2

Exercising Your Mind

JANUARY 3

Stay Alert

JANUARY 4

Spiritually Fit

JANUARY 5

Love Until It Becomes Who You Are

JANUARY 6

Shotgun!

JANUARY 7

Character On Fleek

JANUARY 8

Lovingkindness

JANUARY 9

Triple-Threat

JANUARY 10

Be of Good Cheer

JANUARY 11

You’ve Got to Be Kidding…

JANUARY 12

God’s Protection

JANUARY 13

Totally Dependent

JANUARY 14

Stop, Drop, and Rest!

JANUARY 15

Communication

JANUARY 16

Producing Patience

JANUARY 17

Exercising Your Body

JANUARY 18

Feeding Your Spirit

JANUARY 19

I Can’t Deal With This! Lord Help Me!

JANUARY 20

EnJOYing Every Day

JANUARY 21

God on My Mind

JANUARY 22

What’s Your Mission?

JANUARY 23

The Uncomfortable Side of Love

JANUARY 24

Take the High Road

JANUARY 25

Lose the Pride to Inherit the Prize

JANUARY 26

The Blind Leading The Blind

JANUARY 27

You Don’t Need an Apology To Forgive

JANUARY 28

How Determined Are You?

JANUARY 29

The Time is Now!

JANUARY 30

Walking in God’s Protection

JANUARY 31

Without Credit

FEBRUARY 1

Set the Tone

FEBRUARY 2

All Is Forgiven

FEBRUARY 3

Appointed Time

FEBRUARY 4

Good Thoughts

FEBRUARY 5

Let It Go!

FEBRUARY 6

Have Several Seats!

FEBRUARY 7

Intercepted by Protection!

FEBRUARY 8

Talk It Out

FEBRUARY 9

Kind Words

FEBRUARY 10

True Beauty

FEBRUARY 11

On Fleek

FEBRUARY 12

Masquerade

FEBRUARY 13

God Sees and Hears

FEBRUARY 14

Commitment

FEBRUARY 15

Good Deeds

FEBRUARY 16

When Life Gets Tough…

FEBRUARY 17

Self-Control

FEBRUARY 18

How Strong is Your Faith?

FEBRUARY 19

It’s Not for Free!

FEBRUARY 20

Motive Check

FEBRUARY 21

Love Yourself

FEBRUARY 22

Wise Encounters

FEBRUARY 23

Gentle Whispers

FEBRUARY 24

The Power of Persistence

FEBRUARY 25

Learn to Listen

FEBRUARY 26

I’ve Got Receipts

FEBRUARY 27

My Clap Back is On Point

FEBRUARY 28

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

MARCH 1

No Fear!

MARCH 2

The Power of a Gentle No

MARCH 3

Make the Most of What You Have

MARCH 4

Not Another Delay…

MARCH 5

When Wounded…

MARCH 6

Jesus Didn’t Give Up; Neither Should You

MARCH 7

Full Court Press

MARCH 8

Keeping It Real, Yet Gentle

MARCH 9

Love Doesn’t Discriminate

MARCH 10

What Are You Spreading?

MARCH 11

What’s Trending Within You?

MARCH 12

Lighten Up

MARCH 13

The Way, the Truth and the Life

MARCH 14

Heart of Gold

MARCH 15

Danger Zone

MARCH 16

Live for God

MARCH 17

Silence is Loud

MARCH 18

Check Your Priorities

MARCH 19

Love and War

MARCH 20

Honor Your Spouse

MARCH 21

Responsive and Responsible

MARCH 22

Man in the Mirror

MARCH 23

What’s In Your Diet?

MARCH 24

Provoked Yet Protected

MARCH 25

Unsuccessful Attempt

MARCH 26

Stewardship

MARCH 27

The Heart

MARCH 28

Undefeated

MARCH 29

With God in Mind

MARCH 30

Stay Woke

MARCH 31

Doctor’s Orders

APRIL 1

Too Faithful to Be Foolish

APRIL 2

Reading is Fundamental

APRIL 3

Praying For Others

APRIL 4

Who Are You Pursuing?

APRIL 5

Rainy Season

APRIL 6

Miracle Worker

APRIL 7

Overflowing With Joy

APRIL 8

For Better or For Worse

APRIL 9

Pettiness Has No Control of Me

APRIL 10

My Possessions

APRIL 11

My Joy Is Not For the Enemy

APRIL 12

Using My Time Wisely

APRIL 13

Bonded

APRIL 14

Love Yourself

APRIL 15

Abandon Old Habits

APRIL 16

Spring-Cleaning

APRIL 17

Radiant Beauty

APRIL 18

Perfect Peace

APRIL 19

He is My Refuge

APRIL 20

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

APRIL 21

Overcomer

APRIL 22

Unstoppable

APRIL 23

Slow to Judge and Quick to Forgive

APRIL 24

Be Good Because It Glorifies God

APRIL 25

Defeating Giants

APRIL 26

Crazy Faith

APRIL 27

God Has Your Back

APRIL 28

Planted

APRIL 29

Blessings Beyond Measure

APRIL 30

Feeling Rejected

MAY 1

Strength in Weakness

MAY 2

Tested and Tried

MAY 3

Uplifting Others

MAY 4

Grateful

MAY 5

From The Heart

MAY 6

Stay Plugged In

MAY 7

Slow to Speak

MAY 8

Keeping Your Cool

MAY 9

Alone Time

MAY 10

Be a Giver

MAY 11

Pray For Others

MAY 12

Try Again

MAY 13

Who Do You Trust?

MAY 14

It Is Written

MAY 15

Open Access

MAY 16

Provisions

MAY 17

What’s In Your Heart?

MAY 18

How Are You Treating People Closest To You?

MAY 19

Was It Worth It?

MAY 20

Don’t Give Away Your Reward

MAY 21

Activate God’s Power Within You

MAY 22

Be Stronger Than Your Excuses

MAY 23

Back Against the Wall

MAY 24

Uneasy

MAY 25

What The Heck Is Going On?

MAY 26

When Fear Creeps In

MAY 27

Taking Cover

MAY 28

Always With You

MAY 29

Wonderfully Made

MAY 30

Who’s Navigating You?

MAY 31

What’s On Your Mind?

JUNE 1

Spread Love

JUNE 2

Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed

JUNE 3

Opened Doors

JUNE 4

In His Image

JUNE 5

Praying For Your Children

JUNE 6

Affirm

JUNE 7

Work In Progress

JUNE 8

Keep Calm…

JUNE 9

Lesson Learned

JUNE 10

Get Back on Course

JUNE 11

Be Used By God

JUNE 12

Lend a Helping Hand

JUNE 13

Satan Is Defeated!

JUNE 14

Shaken, But Not Scared

JUNE 15

Don’t Take it Personal

JUNE 16

Love Never Fails

JUNE 17

Make the Most of Today

JUNE 18

Be of Good Cheer

JUNE 19

Guided By the Holy Spirit

JUNE 20

I Refuse to Do This without God’s Help

JUNE 21

Fight or Flight

JUNE 22

Cool, Calm, Collective

JUNE 23

Take a Moment to Breathe

JUNE 24

Daily Bread

JUNE 25

Preparation

JUNE 26

Appreciating Others

JUNE 27

Sacrificial Love

JUNE 28

Everlasting Hope

JUNE 29

They’re Depending On You

JUNE 30

Make Daddy Proud

JULY 1

Take a Moment to Reflect

JULY 2

Today, I’m Bragging

JULY 3

Approved

JULY 4

Celebrate

JULY 5

Watch Your Back

JULY 6

The Call

JULY 7

Consideration for Others

JULY 8

Be the Vessel

JULY 9

A Breath of Fresh Air

JULY 10

You Are What You Eat

JULY 11

He Tried It!

JULY 12

No More Drama

JULY 13

In The Loop

JULY 14

You Matter

JULY 15

In the Right Place at the Right Time

JULY 16

Yaaas!

JULY 17

What’s Controlling You?

JULY 18

Are You Honoring Your Commitments?

JULY 19

Your Engine Light is On

JULY 20

Doubts Dismissed

JULY 21

Walking Through the Fire

JULY 22

Wounded, but Not Weary

JULY 23

Suffering

JULY 24

Get Back Up!

JULY 25

Put to Shame

JULY 26

Cheerful Giver

JULY 27

Compassion and Love

JULY 28

Free From Paranoia

JULY 29

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

JULY 30

Exfoliate

JULY 31

The Real You

AUGUST 1

The Will to Fight

AUGUST 2

Belt of Truth

AUGUST 3

Breastplate of Righteousness

AUGUST 4

Gospel of Peace

AUGUST 5

Shield of Faith

AUGUST 6

Helmet of Salvation

AUGUST 7

Sword of the Spirit

AUGUST 8

Fervent Prayers

AUGUST 9

What Goes Around Comes Around

AUGUST 10

Your Body is a Temple

AUGUST 11

Self-Love

AUGUST 12

A Sound Mind

AUGUST 13

Hands and Feet

AUGUST 14

…but God

AUGUST 15

Ultimate Sacrifice

AUGUST 16

What Are You Seeking?

AUGUST 17

Be Still

AUGUST 18

Thirsty

AUGUST 19

What’s on Your Mind?

AUGUST 20

Unexpected Gifts

AUGUST 21

Lawd!

AUGUST 22

Help!!!

AUGUST 23

Devil’s Playground

AUGUST 24

Turn Up!

AUGUST 25

The God of the Impossible

AUGUST 26

The Power of Testimonies

AUGUST 27

Check Your Motives

AUGUST 28

Clear Your Schedule

AUGUST 29

Enjoy Today

AUGUST 30

Slow Down

AUGUST 31

Growth

SEPTEMBER 1

Relax

SEPTEMBER 2

Empty

SEPTEMBER 3

Make Peace

SEPTEMBER 4

Acts of Kindness

SEPTEMBER 5

What Seeds Are You Planting?

SEPTEMBER 6

Ctrl, Alt, Delete

SEPTEMBER 7

Regardless, Pause and Give Him Praise

SEPTEMBER 8

It’s Going To Be Alright

SEPTEMBER 9

Honor Your Vows

SEPTEMBER 10

Your Prayers Matter

SEPTEMBER 11

Prayers for our Nation

SEPTEMBER 12

Prayers for our World

SEPTEMBER 13

Controlled Temperament

SEPTEMBER 14

Alignment

SEPTEMBER 15

Discipline

SEPTEMBER 16

Fighting Temptations

SEPTEMBER 17

The Privilege to Love

SEPTEMBER 18

At Attention

SEPTEMBER 19

The Joy of Following

SEPTEMBER 20

Good Lighting

SEPTEMBER 21

Have Fun!

SEPTEMBER 22

Good Health and Laughter

SEPTEMBER 23

Persistence Pays

SEPTEMBER 24

You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have

SEPTEMBER 25

Total Surrender

SEPTEMBER 26

First Responder

SEPTEMBER 27

The Great Depression

SEPTEMBER 28

Mental Break

SEPTEMBER 29

It’s All Good

SEPTEMBER 30

Acknowledge the Promise

OCTOBER 1

It Hurts

OCTOBER 2

Change is Good

OCTOBER 3

Protect Your Peace

OCTOBER 4

Keep It Real

OCTOBER 5

Thank You Lord!

OCTOBER 6

People Pleaser or God Pleaser?

OCTOBER 7

The Cost

OCTOBER 8

The Golden Rule

OCTOBER 9

Who’s Writing Your Story?

OCTOBER 10

There’s Beauty in Simplicity

OCTOBER 11

You’re Valuable

OCTOBER 12

Make Joy Contagious

OCTOBER 13

He Rose

OCTOBER 14

Purposeful

OCTOBER 15

Walk in Humility

OCTOBER 16

Helper

OCTOBER 17

Be Productive While You Wait

OCTOBER 18

Ethically Sound

OCTOBER 19

Morally Equipped

OCTOBER 20

Miracles

OCTOBER 21

Designed in His Image

OCTOBER 22

What’s Draining Your Battery?

OCTOBER 23

Community

OCTOBER 24

Radiant

OCTOBER 25

Fasting

OCTOBER 26

His Face

OCTOBER 27

Discernment

OCTOBER 28

Wisdom

OCTOBER 29

With All Due Respect

OCTOBER 30

Behind The Scenes

OCTOBER 31

The Easy Way Out

NOVEMBER 1

The Power and the Authority

NOVEMBER 2

It’s Okay to Cry

NOVEMBER 3

A New Approach

NOVEMBER 4

Obedience

NOVEMBER 5

In Times of Trouble

NOVEMBER 6

Organized Chaos

NOVEMBER 7

The Push

NOVEMBER 8

Flesh vs. Spirit

NOVEMBER 9

Under Construction

NOVEMBER 10

The Way Maker

NOVEMBER 11

Whispers from the Holy Spirit

NOVEMBER 12

Get In Position

NOVEMBER 13

Thankful

NOVEMBER 14

Let Him Use You

NOVEMBER 15

Solid Foundation

NOVEMBER 16

Favored

NOVEMBER 17

Final Say

NOVEMBER 18

Relationship Goals

NOVEMBER 19

From the Heart

NOVEMBER 20

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

NOVEMBER 21

A Good Neighbor

NOVEMBER 22

What If Jesus Said, I’m Done?

NOVEMBER 23

When They Get On Your Nerves

NOVEMBER 24

What Stands In Your Way?

NOVEMBER 25

Humble Pie

NOVEMBER 26

Satisfied

NOVEMBER 27

We’re Not Perfect

NOVEMBER 28

Healing

NOVEMBER 29

You Are The Company You Keep

NOVEMBER 30

It’s Not Fair…

DECEMBER 1

Fear Not

DECEMBER 2

Replenish

DECEMBER 3

A Time for Everything

DECEMBER 4

Be the Example

DECEMBER 5

Check Yourself

DECEMBER 6

Thinking in Excellence

DECEMBER 7

Positive Contributions

DECEMBER 8

It’s Okay to Get Upset

DECEMBER 9

Being Nice When You Feel Awful

DECEMBER 10

Exhausted

DECEMBER 11

Devoted

DECEMBER 12

You’re Not Smarter Than Him

DECEMBER 13

The Power of Walking Away

DECEMBER 14

Receive

DECEMBER 15

In the Name of Jesus

DECEMBER 16

Believe in Yourself

DECEMBER 17

Hello Beautiful

DECEMBER 18

Think Before You Speak

DECEMBER 19

Don’t Waste Your Time

DECEMBER 20

It’s The Little Things That Count

DECEMBER 21

Kiss and Make Up

DECEMBER 22

Enjoy the Ride

DECEMBER 23

Daily Ex-E-R-C-I-S-E

DECEMBER 24

Ex-plore

DECEMBER 25

E-xpect

DECEMBER 26

R-eflect

DECEMBER 27

C-ommit

DECEMBER 28

I-ntegrity

DECEMBER 29

S-acrifice

DECEMBER 30

E-ndure

DECEMBER 31

The Core of Everyday Life

Scriptures marked as (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked GNT are taken from the Good News Translation — Second Edition. Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version, Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Website

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DEDICATION

T HROUGH THE DIVINE works of Your hand, this devotion was established. Through Your vision and Your thoughts, I pray Your people will understand and apply Your will each day. You are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. To God be the glory.

INTRODUCTION

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 STATES, …do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own… (ESV), meaning that the Spirt of God lives within us, including His spiritual fruit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV). Knowing this fruit exist within us helps us strive to utilize it. As life goes on and seasons change, applying this fruit can become challenging. We wonder, How can we love our enemies? How can we trust God each day in a waiting season? How can we be joyful in a tough situation? The more we exercise this character, the stronger our CORE will become.

There is no handbook to life. However, God has been so great to us that He not only left His word, The Bible, He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. The fact that we’re born in flesh and face opposition can alone make decision-making hard. What makes things even more difficult is when we choose to not open our hearts to God. He is our creator and knows what lies ahead. Why not follow His lead?

This book provides 365 devotions to guide you with ways to apply spiritual fruit. The devotions and journal also help you connect with God each day. Ways to please Him are to remain connected with Him and live within His expectations at all times. He loves and pursues you. He is the core of everyday life.

JANUARY 1

Your Vision Aligned with God’s Vision

Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain

on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits

an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

-Habakkuk 2:2-3, NIV

B E HONEST WITH yourself. Are there any goals you wish to accomplish? Have you thought about what your purpose is in life? What actions are you taking towards manifestation? Have you considered God’s will? If you haven’t in the past, no worries! As many people make New Year’s Resolutions each year, goal setting is not only a New Year’s thing. We can set and refine goals at any point throughout the year, as long as there is intentionality about how we live our lives moving forward.

I’m sure that at many times in our lives, we have planned and tried to execute the picture perfect plan, but failed. As failure is something many of us experience, many shortcomings occur as a result of not consulting with God prior to executing our own plans. One of the reasons why the book of Habakkuk is so important is that when God was silent, Habakkuk did not take matters into his own hands. He instead went to God. He wondered why so much evil took place in the world and why nothing occurred as a result. Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever questioned the things that were happening around you, especially those that did not make much sense? When Habakkuk went to God in prayer, God not only gave him specific instructions that would navigate him towards manifestation, He encouraged him by sharing with Habakkuk how He will seek vengeance on evildoers.

There is an appointed time for opportunities to birth in our lives. When we wait on God’s timing, we will not only gain the prize, but be nourished with elements of the fruit of the spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Today: Reflect on your relationship with God and consider ways to incorporate Him in your life each day. Generate a list and refer to it each day. Let’s get intentional!

JANUARY 2

Exercising Your Mind

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets

itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take

captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

-2 Corinthians 2:5, NIV

O UR MINDS PRODUCE thousands of thoughts each day. If you were able to analyze your thoughts for just one average day, would your positive thoughts outweigh your negative thoughts or vice versa? Some people may justify their answers based on which season they are in, ultimately for circumstantial reasons while others wouldn’t. I understand that when problems occur in our lives and when we are faced with opposition, those things are typically at the forefront of our minds from the moment we wake up until the time we lay our heads down to sleep. It is often that when faced with adversity, those thoughts are not pleasant. In many instances, the enemy reminds us of things that will trigger emotional disturbances such as fear, doubt, anger, pain, insecurities, etc…, which may be tied to the circumstances we face. But I’ve got great news!

God wants us to think high when the enemy wants us to think low, and because it’s God’s will, it is possible. Have you ever wondered why some people experienced tough times in their lives, but were calm? There may have been moments in your lives when you surprisingly did not panic about an issue you ordinarily thought you would have. I recall the time when I lost my father. It occurred at a time in my life that was stressful. Surprisingly, I was super calm and at such peace, knowing my father is with the Lord. God’s love is so powerful it heals. The peace I have is unexplainable, and I’ve come to realize that I don’t need to justify it.

You may be facing tough times, but when you come into God’s shelter, He will supply you with peace and joy in the midst of your struggles. If you’re experiencing great moments in your life, be watchful of your adversary and remain connected to God. I encourage you to exercise your mind by focusing on God’s promise for your life instead of dwelling on current issues. We may not be able to control our circumstances, but when we take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 3:5), we gain control of how we respond to them, leading to better outcomes.

Today: Fight through negative thoughts and seek positivity. In moments when negative thoughts arise, in the name of Jesus, speak them away. Take a moment to write down all God has blessed you with and reflect on the provisions He has made for you thus far and refer to them daily.

JANUARY 3

Stay Alert

"…But stay awake at all times, praying that you may

have strength to escape all these things that are going to

take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

-Luke 21:36, ESV

C AUTION IS A warning many of us were taught from an early age. Our parents taught us to not touch a hot stove, to look on both sides of the street prior to crossing it, to pay attention at school and to choose our friends wisely. In many instances, our guardians held our hand, both literally and figuratively when guiding us through our experiences. They taught us these things to help us in life, because they know what’s best for us.

Above them, our Heavenly Father knows all and teaches us to stay alert by learning who He is. God is omniscient, which means He knows what we will face in our lives. Only He can guide us and protect us from our enemies. In order to be used by Him, we must be willing vessels by submitting ourselves to Him. The more we want to learn about Him, the more we will study His word. The more we desire Him, the more we will pray to Him. The more we love Him, the more we will allow Him to guide us faithfully. Staying connected to God helps us gain more wisdom, strength and courage to escape the snares of the enemy. Stay connected and stay alert!

Today: When you seek God in prayer today, rest and allow the Holy Spirit to permeate your space and listen for God’s prompting.

JANUARY 4

Spiritually Fit

Bodily fitness has a certain value, but spiritual fitness is essential

both for this present life and for the life to come… We place

our whole confidence in the living God, the savior of all men,

and particularly of those who believe in Him. These convictions

should be the basis of your instruction and teaching.

-1 Timothy 4:8-11, PHILLIPS

H OW FIT ARE you? How much time each day or each week do you spend meditating, exercising, or just having fun? Do you maintain a healthy diet? Many of us have busy lifestyles juggling work, managing our households, parenting, ministry, school and much more. Because of this, it is even more important that we take care of ourselves physically and mentally. Just as we may feel physically exhausted, mentally heavy, frustrated and without energy at times, there are things that occur in our lives that nudge us to get spiritually fit.

In addition to all we endure on a daily basis, imagine this lifestyle in the midst of personal storms. You know, the thunderstorms of life that rush in unexpectedly and consumes our time because we’re exhausting every waking moment of the day thinking about how to overcome them. So now I ask, how spiritually fit are you?

In life, there will be trouble (John 16:33). When we face them, we can’t go around them; we must go through them. Although going through storms are difficult, God is saying that He will be there with us if we allow Him to lead us through them. If we are not spiritually fit, we spend our time and energy trying to escape by leaning on our own understanding rather than seeking God’s counsel to guide us through them. In the end, we find out that not only are we mentally and physically depleted, the shortcut we took led us to dead ends.

It takes time and energy to strengthen our relationships with God. Just as God pursues us, He wants us to pursue Him. A strong spirit will help us develop supernatural strength and power, leading us to acquiring self-control, peace and joy. Life is a journey and each day we’re on the move. I encourage you to set aside time for God each day and let Him guide you to His divine destination.

Today: Evaluate where you are in this season and seek God for direction. Rate your level of spiritual fitness from 1-10. Set a goal, then re-rate yourself a month later.

Ex: It is possible that your circumstance may not change (naturally), but you will acquire more peace, or you’re less willing to be combative and more willing to let things go.

These are signs of growth.

JANUARY 5

Love Until It Becomes Who You Are

…God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God,

and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us,

so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment,

because as He is so also are we in this world.

-1 John 4:16-17, ESV

F ROM THE TIME we were children, many of us aspired to fit into a role of a doctor, lawyer, professional athlete, parent, a chef; whatever we desired. In order to accomplish these goals, one’s actions must fit the criteria of that particular discipline. In essence, we fit the characteristics of that role through our actions. If someone asks a teacher what they do for a living, they may respond that they teach others. Many of us love God, and even have great relationships with Him, but how many of us can say that we are the very thing He is, which is love?

The bible states that God is love (1 John 4:8). He loves so much, He became the action. God’s love is so great, He designed a world for us to experience the beauty of life. When mankind did not obey, He sacrificed His son for the remission of our sins. 1 Corinthians 13:8 states that love never fails. We may not love perfectly, but God wants us to make daily attempts to exercise love for ourselves and others. So what is love?

The world views love as an emotion, the act of feeling something when giving it and receiving it. Yes, feelings are attached to love at times, but one can be loving towards another without always feeling mushy inside. In many instances, love can be uncomfortable and it can hurt. However, knowing it please God to love gives us a sense of peace about how we represent Him through our actions.

Love is a character trait God wants us to exercise. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 states, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love encompasses a lot of things and it requires daily assessment of ourselves to ensure we are loving towards others, even strangers. God knows we are not perfect, but He knows that we are capable of being loving.

Today: Ponder on this:

Would someone describe you as a loving person or not? How do you know? I encourage you to love so much you become the action!

JANUARY 6

Shotgun!

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of

Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to

profit, who leads you in the way you should go.

-Isaiah 48:17, NKJV

I REMEMBER THE DAYS my siblings and I would fight for the front seat each time we traveled. There’s something about being in the front seat- having access to the expanded view of what’s ahead while observing the driver take control of the destination. For myself in particular, being the third youngest child, my shotgun privileges were limited.

It’s interesting how our wants change in life as we get older. Many of us can attest to graduating from shotgun to being in the driver seat when making decisions that affect our lives. As we gain independence in life, it’s easy to lose dependence on our sole provider- God. He is the One who will navigate us through life. What’s so great is that when we take detours and wrong paths, He will always reroute us back to where He want to take us. Sometimes, it’s difficult to leave the driver’s seat once we’ve experienced life behind the wheel, but it’s always best to sit back and simply enjoy the ride. Which seat will you take today?

Today: Remember God is in control. In every decision you make, ask, God, is this your will? If not, please show me the way. Whatever He tell you write it down so you do not forget. Reflect on it and pray God give you clarity.

JANUARY 7

Character On Fleek

…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;…

-Galatians 5:22-23, NASB

L IGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! Let’s face it. From the moment we wake up until our heads touch the pillow again, we play many roles. We’re caregivers, parents, employees, friends, spouses, entrepreneurs, cooks- the list goes on and on. Each encounter we make affords us the opportunity to make an impression. How impressionable are you?

Our character comes from within. It’s not a role we play, nor a scene from a movie. A true representation of who we are is displayed in every season- rainy, stormy, droughts or sunshine. Only God allows us to have peace in the midst of chaos, keep working during financial duress, or be a nurturing and loving friend when we experience disruptions in our own households. Yes, we may smile when we don’t feel like it, or support others when we don’t feel supported, but in doing so, God produces humility within us to bless others in ways we never thought we could. Our contributions to others do not have to always be tangible. It may simply involve a simple greeting, a smile, comfort, help, or wise counsel.

The beauty about God is that in seasons when we experience tangible lack, God gives us plenty within. The things we think we are not capable of having nor doing are the very things God has already planted within us. He gives us abilities beyond measure. When we become imposters of who we really are to impress people and do not tap into the things God blessed us with, during dry seasons our true character show. When we’re vulnerable to God, regardless of what season we’re in, our character will remain on fleek.

Today: Choose to live beyond your feelings and find ways make someone smile. At the end of the day, list the things you did to make someone smile. Thank God for the connection.

JANUARY 8

Lovingkindness

But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

-Psalm 86:15, NASB

H AVE YOU EVER made a mistake, but felt regretful in the moment? If so, did you face consequences? How did it make you feel? On the flipside, have you reprimanded someone for making a mistake? Maybe your child spilled juice and stained your carpet, or someone accidentally bumped your car. How did you respond?

In life, we experience many things that are beyond our control. How we respond to them can lead to favorable or unfavorable outcomes. Sometimes our actions towards others cause them to not feel remorse even if they are the ones in the wrong. If we develop a mentality of treating people the way we want to be treated and actually follow through with it, life would be so much better!

As we are able to see the surface of the mistake, it is not often that we take time to consider what’s beneath the surface. The person who took your parking spot was probably not paying attention. Maybe the wind caused someone’s car door to hit your car. Maybe the person who did not respond to your morning hello was in their head and going through a rough patch. Who knows? Being quick to lash out at people is not the Christian way. No one, especially an adult wants to be reprimanded. God considers our sins to the extent that He sent Jesus to save us. Are we considering others?

We don’t have to be push overs, just understanding. The next time the waiter misinterpret your order instead of being rude, explain to him/her what you want. The next time your spouse trail mud in the house, instead of reprimanding him/her, speak to them calmly about the issue. We can’t control our feelings, but we can control our actions. Be loving. Be kind. After all, we would want that in return.

Today: If you’ve reacted to someone in the past in a way you’re not proud of, consider reaching out to them and offer an apology. If you encounter a moment when someone’s mistake affects you, breathe and think before you respond. Consider if your response is going to help the situation or make it worse. Show lovingkindness.

JANUARY 9

Triple-Threat

We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death,

in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the

glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

-Romans 6:4, NKJV

I N BASKETBALL, A triple-threat stance is when the player on offense has the ball at their hip, with one foot slightly in front of the other. This position helps the player pass the ball, dribble past the defender or shoot above the defender. It’s all about the right position.

God knows we have a devil who is constantly trying to take home court advantage. Therefore, He sent His triple-threat, Jesus Christ to save the world. Jesus’ death, burial, and crucifixion was the triple-threat to Satan. He has overcome the world.

There are times in life when we feel as though as if the ball is not in our court. When work becomes strenuous or even when our children act out of line we feel as though as if we have no control when we can’t control the seasons we walk into. Even when we play against a strong team who is applying a full court press against us, God gave us abilities to power through the pressure. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection represents a chance to repent and experience an eternal life. For a short moment, when Jesus died, Jesus remained in the tomb. However, He rose on the third day. We may have experienced moments when life knocked us down and we felt buried as well, but God provides opportunities for us to get back up with strength. Regardless of what we experience, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13), but without our coach, we can’t execute any plays.

Today: Who’s team will you represent today- Team Deliverance or Team Defeat? If you feel like giving up, would you want to give everything away to Satan? Giving up may seem to be easy, but those who remain victorious practice each day. Take your stance and be a triple-threat by:

• Changing your mentality

• Resisting temptation

• Pray daily

JANUARY 10

Be of Good Cheer

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a

crushed spirit dries up the bones.

-Proverbs 17:22, NIV

C AN YOU RECALL a moment when you allowed someone to affect your mood? Maybe it was through an argument, an encounter with a rude person, or a work-related issue. Think about how long your mood was affected. In life, there are many things within our reach we can control, such as how we raise our children, the items we purchase or our education. As poised and controlled as we think we are, it’s interesting to discover that little things can affect our entire mood for a length of time- if we allow it to.

Joy is a fruit of the spirit that unlike feelings, it remain constant. It can withstand any condition or season. The more of it we take in, the stronger we become. When we choose to operate separate from God, we lose joy and can ultimately miss opportunities for deliverance. If you’ve ever experienced a dark time in your life, without joy, it’s difficult to enjoy anything about your life when the heart and spirit is empty. We cannot give nor exert what we do not have. Therefore, in those seasons, we faint.

John 16:24 states, Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. The bible demonstrates to us repeatedly that separate from God, we will never be fulfilled. Things don’t fulfill us, God’s fruit will. God’s fruit will help us praise Him during lean seasons, pray when we don’t have words to say, help others when we can’t help ourselves and get up each day when we thought we were too weak. When we become God’s cheerleaders, we will be of good cheer.

Today: Reflect- Is there something bringing you down? If so, identify what it is and claim your joy. Approach the day with the mindset that no weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). When you feel down, think of something humorous to get you through the day. Be of good cheer and fight with praise.

JANUARY 11

You’ve Got to Be Kidding…

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up,

and there were the Egyptians, marching after them.

They were terrified and cried out to the Lord.

-Exodus 14:10, NIV

L ORD KNOWS I’VE had days like this- maybe more than I wished! My parents always said, When it rain, it pours! Tsunami-like rain all on my parade. Just when we think we see a breakthrough, something else happens. It’s enough to make us lose hope, become paralyzed by fear, and eventually give up.

Life is not fair and we must accept that. Life for Jesus was not fair, so we can’t expect