It was the strangest thing. My pillow was lumpy. What in the world? I thought as I reached inside the pillowcase and pulled out several of my favorite scarves one right after the other—my red, green, and lavender.

“Young lady,” I called out to my six-year-old granddaughter.

I lifted one in the air. “Did you do this?”

”Uh, uh…yes.”

I frowned. “Haven’t I told you that if you played with them, you must fold them and put them back where they belong?”

“Yes.”

“And haven’t I told you that we must have a place for everything and…”

She completed the sentence, “…everything in its place.”

“And haven’t I told you there are consequences for disobeying?”

But that disobedience lesson was for me, too. And dare I say, maybe for you too? You know, when painful setbacks, rejected contracts, empty calendars, or overwhelming marketing strategies darken our days, we often do the same. We stuff our hearts with fear, anxiety, discouragement and distress.

But God who observes our heart that’s lumpy with things that don’t belong there, loves, gentle, yet firm: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Father, how I needed that command to be courageous. To be strong because of your power that’s in me. To be confident because of your strong arms to hold me. I will put everything in its place—my disappointments in your healing power, my stress in your promise of peace, and my fear in your reassurance that you will be with me wherever I go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

• What is stuffed in your heart lately?
• What needs to be released today?
• What keeps you from being completely free?

Janet

Cheering you on to experience life, harvest its lessons and share their outcome.

Best-selling author and international speaker, Janet Perez Eckles’ personal success coaching is just a click away: www.janetperezeckles.com