Did you slow down in trying to do too much at one time? I did, though not as much as intended – but planning to keep at it.
Which is a great reminder that it’s all about step-by-step decisions to live life more simply, more calmly. It’s about making lifestyle changes – with God’s help, we can do this!
So, today…
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Week #4: Read what feeds you. Today’s encouragement is lodged in Proverbs:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (4:23)
Solomon is making the point this should be top priority, above all else — guarding our spiritual selves is paramount in our day and time.
For we are bombarded with hundreds upon hundreds of attention-grabbing hooks into our heart. The way by which we allow information to enter should be guarded with intentionality….for our heart is the wellspring of our life. Our hopes, dreams, ideas, imaginations stem from this deep place within us, which is impacted by everything we’ve ever experienced.
Good reads which feed (whether a spiritually-based book or not) are one way to feast on life-building food for our souls!
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Recently, I experienced some fear and anxiety around my children. I found myself incredibly nervous about dropping them off places, and other things where I don’t normally hesitate.
During prayer, the Lord highlighted to me the source: I’d just been reading several books on women escaping from prison camps with their children, barely making it away from dictator-like leadership to new freedom.
Anything wrong with the subject matter? Not really. The books were well-written, didn’t contain objectionable material…BUT — for me, they caused serious anxiety.
I stopped reading them. My literature intake threatened my sense of peace and calm, and reading these (good) stories were not worth the lack of serenity. There are thousands of other books to read…so I chose something else.
Action Plan: Which area of life could you use the most encouragement? Find a good book on the subject , write down the title, and seek to read in the upcoming days, even if it’s not possible right now.
More to Read (which will feed!): Three Reasons Why You Must Guard Your Heart
Read the rest of the 52 ways posts! {Linked up with Healthy Habits Tuesdays}
I can attest to that. I found when I was nearing the end of my last pregnancy that I was having bizarre nightmares – mostly where my children’s safety was concerned. After much prayer, the Lord revealed that I was being ‘entertained’ both in the books and the movies I was choosing by scenarios much like you have mentioned here that were causing fear. Once I realized that, I put those aside and searched for sources that fed and encouraged my soul, realizing that even those ‘educational books’ could wait for a time when I wasn’t quite so vulnerable and then be read in smaller quantities.
Glad to see I’m not alone. Thanks for the encouragement to be mindful of what I am reading and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in all that I do – including my reading…
Yes Heather, it’s so important to feed our souls well — all we choose to engage in affects us! I like how you pointed out waiting until a less vulnerable time… great insight!
I am so blessed to have read this! I have been having some anxiety lately myself that I do not normally have. I will pray about what I am watching and reading! Thank-you so much!
So very true. What we feed our mind is what fuels us. Thank you for the great reminder. Glad to have you linking up with Healthy Habits! 🙂