For some reason, don’t even ask me why, we ended up watching The Secret on Netflix tonight. I guess we’ve watched everything else. And it amazed me how every single thing they said mirrored The Bible. For real, if you substituted all the times they said “the universe” for “God” it was straight from faith. Their “secret” is to ask, believe, and receive. Immediately I thought of Matthew 7: 7-8 “Ask and it shall be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened for you. For everyone that asks, receives. He that seeks, finds.” One of their things was that if you visualize you already have what you want it will materialize into your life. Mark 11:24 “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours”. A third thing that was their “secret” was to have gratitude. If you complain about something you attract that into your life. But if you focus on the good and what you are grateful for, you attract good. Philippians 4: 6-8 “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.”
Whether I liked The Secret or thought it was hoaky and goofy, they weren’t entirely wrong. Focus on the good, never stop asking for what you want, visualize you’ve already received it, and give thanks in all circumstances and lives will be changed. And in every case I will thank God for it.
COVID-19 quarantine has been in effect for weeks now and if you’re anything like me then you’re starting to go a little stir crazy, am I right? One fun thing to do that I never really seemed to have time for before is journaling. Weird, since I design journals, but it’s true. Life gets in the way. But one of the positives of this quarantine time is that it has forced everyone to slow down and enjoy the little things that normally get pushed to the wayside. But journaling is not only a time filler, it’s great for our minds as well! Depending on the journal, it can keep you on track with your goals, help you to strengthen your faith, help you to keep organized, or help you to reflect on your life and develop a deeper knowledge of who you are and what makes you so remarkably unique. So, I wanted to share some of the journals I’ve designed in the hopes of filling some of your quarantine downtime and hopefully helping you to grow a little too.
If you’re an author like me then you’ll definitely want to check out my Novel Notes journals. I have the standalone novel version, the 3 book series version, and the pocket side notes version. I also created My Writing Journal, which helps you keep on track with writing goals and daily word counts. Novel Notes 2nd edition has become a staple in my daily writing life.
If you are a horse-lover/owner/leaser/competitor/rider/lesson-taker then My Riding Journal is for you. Designed specifically for my own use while I leased and took lessons a cutie little horsey in town, it proved most helpful to keep me focused and improving.
If you are a more traditional journaler who wants to reflect on life and answer some introspective questions then This Is Me is right for you. It even has sections to help you dig into your family history and tree to see where you come from.
Have a desire to grow your own herbs and blend your own tea creations? Yeah I had a few weeks of that fever too, so I created a journal for it! Never actually started the garden or blended my own teas, but I had the best intentions, I swear. If you have more follow through than me, you should take a look at Journal of Homegrown Herbs and Organic Tea Blends.
And last but certainly not least, my daily Christian journal. This is a two parter each day; morning goals and evening reflections. Grow closer to God and deeper faith by being proactive.
As I research and write my first nonfiction Christian book, “Warrior Princess: Claim Your Identity in Christ”, I wanted to start reaching out to women all over the world to encourage them and help them through trials and tough times, or even just daily struggles. I decided the best way to do that was to make a companion website to the book. The Warrior Princess website launched last week and has been a huge success! It makes me so happy to provide somewhere for women to come together and support and encourage one another! Already, the site has blog posts about “The Princess”, “The Warrior”, “The Full Armor of God”, “Warrior Princess in Music: Lauren Diagle”, “Warrior Princess Film: A Wrinkle in Time”, “Redefining Exercise”, “Combating Negative Self-Talk in Kids”, “Warrior Weapon: Prayer Journaling”, and more! We are going to try to keep up with posting a few posts a week to keep the encouragement fresh and exciting. This is an exciting time for women, but we need to stay alert and strong in the Lord!
Check out Warrior Princess and all its encouragement today!
For the last month I have been rereading the Bible cover-to-cover for verses to include in my upcoming nonfiction book “Warrior Princess: Claiming Your Identity in Christ”. The book is going to take a look at the dual traits and personalities the Father and Son say we are to be, specifically as women. First, there’s the princess. She is a daughter of Christ, the one true King. His blood runs through our veins and we have been adopted into his family when we were born again, accepting Christ into our hearts and turning away from our sins to walk his righteous path. The princess wears a Holy crown and can hold her head up high because she is loved by the King. There are also ways a princess should behave, as we all know. This part of the book uses verses to not only describe how we are a part of God’s family, but also how we are to be once we are a part of that family. The second part of the book deals with the Warrior. She is fierce, confident, and proactive in fighting battles- seen and unseen, on earth against the evils of this world and inside against the evil that tries to overtake her. In this part I use verses to explain how we can all be mighty warriors and fight these battles effectively. It’s intense. I am so psyched for this book and I’m learning so much as I make my way through the Bible, learning who I am and just how strong I can be through Christ. It’s empowering and I hope when the book is finished and in your hands that you are empowered by its verses and words as well. I decided while I read through the Book, I want to share some of my favorite Princess and Warrior verses with you for encouragement. I’ve felt such a calling to encourage women lately and I can think of no better way than with my writing, the gift God gave me and the passion he placed in my heart.
Now, you’re probably wondering why there’s a picture of Wonder Woman in this article. She’s a fictional, mythical character, not a follower of Christ. Since I am a writer, I enjoy all sorts of books- nonfiction, fiction, and even comic books. I find it interesting in the books I read to look for signs of Christ and his ways, even when they might not be intended by the author. In fact, that makes it all the more special. God has placed his ways on our hearts so deeply that even when we don’t follow Him, parts of Him and His ways are still there and they come out in our works. Does that make sense? Even when I look back on my earlier writing, I can see God’s ways woven in between the cursing and the sex and the sin I portrayed. It’s in the kindness of the heroines; their bravery, their desire to help others, to triumph over evil and save the world. Even in Wonder Woman, so many of her qualities line up with how Christ wants us to be. She is supernaturally strong, she uses truth as a weapon (with her lasso of truth!) she fights against evil, she loves humans and desires to save them, she is willing to die for others. Those are all Christlike qualities we can look up to!
Here are some Princess and Warrior verses I’ve found in my reading. I am currently halfway through the Bible so these are all old testament verses, but still we find God and Christ leading us and speaking to us women on how we are to be. I hope you enjoy and find encouragement for your day!
The Princess: The plan is to break the princess lessons up into sections we can relate to; self-love and health, marriage, parenting, friendship, and work. These are not all the verses I’ve collected for the Princess so far, but they are some of my favorites that have really spoken to me.
“Then, God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” (Genesis 1:31) This includes you, princess!
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will never fail you or abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:8)
“Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter.” (Ruth 3:11)
“Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.” (Psalm 9:1)
“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37:3-4)
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. ” (Psalm 139:16)
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
“Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.” (Proverbs 12:24)
“A wise woman builds her home,” (Proverbs 14:1)
“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9)
“Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.” (Proverbs 29:17)
“She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.” (Proverbs 31:17)
“She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” (Proverbs 31:25)
“Whens he speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.” (Proverbs 31:26)
The Warrior: I plan to separate the Warrior into sections like the Princess, though they are going to pertain more to different ways to fight different battles and trials rather than our different roles in life as women. I haven’t decided yet the main fighting tactics I want to focus on yet, though. I know one section will be about trusting in God and one will be about surrounding yourself with a team of faithful women.
“I will protect you wherever you go.” (Genesis 28:15)
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.” (Genesis 50:20)
“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.” (Exodus 14:13)
“I will personally go with you and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” (Exodus 33:14)
“Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)
“Be strong and courageous for your work will be rewarded.” (2 Chronicles 15:7)
“Is not all human life a struggle?” (Job 7:1)
“The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him.” (PSalm 4:3)
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalm 34:18)
“Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic!” (Psalm 45:3)
“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.” (Psalm 112:7-8)
“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.” (Psalm 118:6-8)
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
“Don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.” (Proverbs 24:6)
“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.” (Proverbs 24:16)
“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.” (Proverbs 28:1)
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and helps. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
Sorry (not sorry) to bombard you with all these verses in one article! I should have been blogging them little-by-little this whole time, but of course life distracts and gets in the way sometimes. I hope you found some encouragement from them, though, and that God spoke to you through His Word directly, Warrior Princess! Check back for more soon.
Please leave a comment below! I would love to hear what your favorite verse from today was and how it touched your heart or spoke to you.
I thought I would take the time to write up a little bit about my experience with the Daniel Fast. Our church does it together every January and this is my first time attempting it fully. Last year, I fasted coffee, and I thought that was hard! The Daniel Fast diet is extremely restricting- no meat, no dairy, no sugars, no caffeine, only whole wheats, veggies, fruits, brown rice.
Speaking on the diet itself, it actually wasn’t too bad. I only have one day left of the 21 days and I’m feeling pretty good! The first week was hard because I had no idea how to cook any of this food so I was living off basically nothing and getting headaches from the lack of coffee. Green tea was a life saver in the morning. I realized I just need something hot to warm me up and clear those sinuses. The second week we realized we need to learn to cook. We did a little but it wasn’t until this last Sunday we went to a real grocery store and checked out their healthy section. I ate tofurky for the first time, cooked with tofu, learned all the cool things you can make with potatoes, and started to feel good about what I was eating. Through this whole ordeal I’ve lost about 8lbs, but I’ve also added in a little light exercise a few days a week on top of my horseback riding.
Not that any of that is the point of the Daniel Fast at all! They are just added bonuses. The real point of the fast is to draw closer to God. Through this experience I can say I’ve definitely had my ups and downs with it. I started the fast business as usual. Every morning I write in my prayer journal and sometime throughout the day I read a bit of the word. It was my first time fasting so I wasn’t really sure how it was going to bring me closer to God, only that it sure enough would. By week two I was feeling low, depressed even. The enemy was on me for sure! Lies about myself kept playing in my head (I wasn’t good enough, I was fat, I was ugly, no one would ever love me, etc. All his usual plays) Our pastor says that people tend to get moody on the fast because they cover up their feelings with food. Once they fast, the truth comes out. And I guess he was right. I realized that I am still self-conscious and doubtful of myself and I still try to please others instead of being unapologetically me all the time to everyone…so I started to pray about that. I prayed about the two reasons that mattered most to me while fasting and that and I prayed harder for those I love and for changes in me. My mindset started to change. I realized a lot of the stuff I was unhappy with myself about I could change with the help of the Lord. This last week, I’ve felt as close as ever to my God and can feel him encouraging me and helping me through everything.
What I’ve learned through my 21 day fast:
My body really is a temple. The Holy Spirit lives inside me right now and I need to take care of His home. I will continue to eat better and exercise more, not just because I want to lose weight and look better, but because I want to live longer and healthier to spread God’s way and word.
If I am feeling distance from God, I have to take a hard look at myself and what I’m doing wrong.
I learned to recognize the enemy’s lies better and how to not dwell in them and let them take me over. There really is power in saying, even in your head, “Jesus help me” and “Get away from me, devil!” Those are two things I say many times throughout the day now and it’s amazing how immediately the bad thoughts are gone. I never really knew how to take my thoughts captive and always scoffed at people’s advice on it (don’t dwell on those thoughts, reject all the bad thoughts, and other generic fixes). This really does work, though! I didn’t know until I was brave enough to try it.
I am a princess. I am a warrior. I am a daughter of the King and I am loved beyond all measure.
Have any of you done the Daniel Fast? What was the experience like for you and what did you learn? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
