Don’t let exhaustion be your idol this summer.
Just one measly year ago, I was drowning- in my kids. My life was just THAT exhausting.
I was drowning in the thoughts that got me tangled up in a web of self-pity.
“I can’t do this.”
“I don’t have any freedom.”
“I’m trapped.”
“I’m broke.”
“I’m not a good mother.”
“I’m not enough.”
They continued to swirl around in my head, and one event in my life was like a tidal wave of these thoughts and crashed me to complete exhaustion.
My life changed when the kids started Kindergarten and Preschool, and my women’s bible study group finished “Priscilla Shirer’s Armor of God.”
Although it seems so basic and easy to type out, it’s complex.
- READ OR PIN: 7 Habits That Are Making You Feel Unworthy
Good Vs. Evil
The enemy is out to destroy you every day. You may think, okay- that seems like an exaggeration, but it’s not. After this bible study, I can see all the lies he throws at me more clearly.
When you get a new car, and after you have it a couple of days, you say WOW- there are so many of these cars- same color and model.
Well, they’ve been there. You just were not aware. So being aware and realizing the spiritual warfare going on every day is the best thing you can do to fight exhaustion.
Our culture loves the Good. Vs. Evil is more than people may care to admit.
Just look at Wonder Woman this summer.
Think about all the superhero movies we have. It’s just real life. Our villain is always the devil.
From Armor of God, here are two mistakes we make with our beliefs about Satan.
- We overestimate his impact on our lives, living with an inflated, erroneous perspective of his actual influence and abilities. As a result, we are laden with undue fear and anxiety.
- We underestimate him and miscalculate the impact of his influence on our lives. We prioritize what we can see over what we can’t.
The Devil Knows My Weakness of Anger & He Knows Yours- too well.
My weakness is anger. I’ve carried a lot of anger with me since I started moving around year after year, state after state.
I started to find that rage of anger coming in again after having kids and feeling like I was in this alone. Feeling like I couldn’t keep up with the world that somehow fills our minds with mega guilt.
In a culture where we crave more and see others constantly having the more we want, many leave out the truth.
There is only one thing to fill that void- Jesus.
Nothing else will measure up until you truly walk with Jesus and grow that relationship. If you are a parent, you know how exhausting life is and how much time and energy it takes to build relationships with others outside your family.
Shoot, we all know it’s enough work to develop and maintain the relationships within our own homes.
The same goes for Jesus. But boy, oh boy, let me tell you how rewarding it is.
The simple truth is the enemy is after you. It’s not that something is wrong with you- it’s that you are under attack.
You will constantly be exhausted until you start to stand tall in the morning and declare the Lord’s presence around you.
- You can’t control life.
- You can’t control circumstances.
- You can control your peace. Your contentment.
- You can enjoy and find rest when you have Jesus.
” Jesus said, ” He who believes in Me who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow continuously springs and rivers of living water. But he was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed trusted, had faith, in Him were afterward to receive. – John 7:38-39. “
5 Tips To Help You Enjoy Your Summer With Kids This Year
Below are five tips to help you enjoy summer with your kids and remember that you are enough; parenthood is tough, and there are more bad days than good days. But from here on out, you will NOT let the enemy destroy the blessings the Lord has given you.
Even more, blessings he has in store for you are waiting. So don’t let the enemy take that from you.
Get off Social Media. I don’t think I need to say more. I stopped posting things about our daily life a long time ago. I unfollowed everyone but my immediate family and best friend. It’s made a substantial positive impact.
Whatever is your routine for the school year- do the opposite. I mean, if you are constantly scheduled to the max during the school year- this summer, only schedule a few things and let the day and mood guide you instead.
On the other hand, if you have a very loose schedule during the school year, fill up a few days with fun activities so you have something to look forward to—a day with a break in routine.
Make time for your girlfriends. Plan to spend time with another girlfriend. Someone who truly knows you and you can share where you are at in life.
That friend where you don’t need to prove anything, have a competition going on, or stare at her phone while you talk. The friend you have that truly cares.
Create time for prayer and devotions. Each day take 5 minutes to center yourself and talk with God. It doesn’t have to be the same time every day, but make it a priority to set aside a time to recenter yourself and hear what God has for you.
I like to have it when a quiet time is available because I was set on waking up and reading my devotion every morning, but it became a do.
Okay, I have to read it to do what’s next on the day. Then some mornings, I wasn’t absorbing the word or praying to be able to take a minute and hear what God had to say.
Think about what you enjoyed doing as a teenager or a young child, something that brought you happiness. Maybe it will only be a one-time thing, but take a moment to remember what you used to do in your spare time.
What made your mind at ease and something you truly enjoyed doing. Then when you find that memory and thing make a time to do it again. Try to do it when your kids aren’t bothering you if you need quiet for it, or maybe it is something the kids can be involved in. Be strategic in how you are going to do it.
The last thing I want to tell you is to be strategic in your prayer life. Start praying out loud now for this feeling of overwhelmed and exhausted leave you.
Believe in the truth that will and has set you free. Recognize your weakness and know that the enemy will attack that 24/7. Don’t be ashamed or scared to ask your church, your Bible study group, or your family to pray for you on this.
You are not alone. You are loved. You and I have already won the battle.
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