Christmas can be difficult for many, bringing up memories you would rather forget. Mean things people did and said. Presents that left you wondering if you were loved or even cared for. Or the reverse, no presents at all. Emotions can run high this time of the year. I understand Christmas wasn't a happy time in my home–no time was a happy time in my home. But somehow, the holiday season made it worse. Can you relate? I decided that if anything were to change how I viewed Christmas, it would have to be up to me. I shifted my focus from the past and remembered what Christmas was all about. The most significant historical event happened, and I got to participate. I get to celebrate with God and Jesus and the incredible gift given to me. This new hope that came to you and me changed our world and lives. It wasn't about what happened or didn't happen on Christmas Day in my past. It was about how that day changed everything for my future. I was given a new life, a new covenant, and a new family. When I force myself to think about these things, the past falls into the background compared to what Jesus did for me. He came to give His life for me, to set me free from the curse of the law, and to adopt me into His family. Christmas is a time to rejoice, celebrate, and be grateful. Your world changed for the better on Christmas day. Now, that's something to shout about.

Christmas is an excellent time for reflecting. The most precious gift we could ever receive was given to us. All we have to do is accept it and appreciate it. The more we identify with our gift Jesus, the happier we will be. We can't identify with the world and its standards because they are beneath God's ways. Find your world in Him. The world will only pull you down and criticize you. You will never be enough by their standards. The thing is, their standards keep moving–they have to. They need to make money, so the only way to do it is to convince you that you aren't enough until you have this product or do this thing. Marketing is a ploy to get you to spend your hard-earned cash and never feel satisfied. But your real identity is in God, not your circumstances, bank account, weight, or postal code. You don't need a title to be acknowledged by God. The blood of Jesus accepts you. My friend, don't get caught in the world's trap ways of doing things. Focus on the creator who knows you, and let Him guide you. Your identity is seen in heaven, which is the most critical and lasting. What God says matters, not what people say or think. Your identity begins with God because you were created in His image, not the world. Let Him be your source of identity. Scripture References: Acts 17:25-28 Psalm 89:11-18 Romans 5:1-2 Romans 8:2 Romans 14:8-9

Improving self-esteem is a gradual process that involves changing your mindset, behaviors, and how you perceive yourself. Here are some practical steps to consider strengthening yourself and your self-esteem. 1. Stop allowing your emotions to dominate you. Don't let your emotions dictate how you feel. Often, our emotions can work against us and hinder what God is doing in our lives. Their words will stir our emotions more than God's word and wisdom. 2. Write a list of things you admire about yourself. Focus on the good things you can do. Be honest. You are good at something. Being kinder to yourself is important. Be your own best cheerleader. These attributes not only enhance my self-esteem but also contribute to my overall well-being and the impact I have on the world around me. 3. Stop being a people pleaser. Other people do not always have your best interests at heart, and they want things done their way. Don't let people control and force you to do what they want. Believe in yourself and who you are. Are you perfect? No, but you do have value. You don't have to be part of the crowd to have worth. You are already worthy. 4. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. The only way you can grow is to set outside your comfort zone. The only way to learn new things is to be bold and take a chance. Trust God to lead you and be brave. You can do more than you imagine if you only take the first step. 5. Stop comparing yourself to others. You are unique. God's grace is your measurement. Real success is doing God's will for your life. You are called to live your best life, not others. Be a trailblazer. Focus on your path and let your journey inspire you to be the best version of yourself. 6. Forgive yourself for your past thoughts of yourself. Forgive the harsh thought you have had about yourself. Treat yourself with respect, and others will do the same. Care for yourself. You are worth it. 7. Set boundaries in your relationships. Don't allow disrespect in your life. We train people on how to treat us. Don't hang around with mean people. 8. Let go of negative people. Ask God to bring the right people into your life to help you. I confess this daily."I attract the wisest people into my life, and they inspire and instruct me to reach new levels of abundance." I have some amazing people in my work that blesses me in many ways. These are a few samples of how to help yourself. I encourage you to look at this list and fight for yourself. You are strong and can do it.

Are you affected by an approval addiction? Does this control your life? Do you need constant validation and approval from others? Do you please people rather than please God? Do you give in to the crowds’ demands because you don’t want to be left out? My friend, we only need to please one person: our heavenly father, God. We have an audience of One—God. Live to please God, and life will be sweet. Approval addiction can change your destiny and lower your self-esteem. It can hinder you from caring about God’s plan for your life because you don’t want to upset anyone, but it could cost you everything. Security and well-being are never found in following the crowd. Only God can give you the peace and wholeness you are seeking. Only God can take away the guilt, low self-esteem, and approval that you need. Whatever people think of you is between them and God, it’s not your concern. Your only concern is to stay in the will of God. The Bible tells stories of people pleasing the crowd, and it never worked out well for them. Having heaps of Facebook likes doesn’t mean you are special and liked. The crowd can change their opinion tomorrow and not like what you posted. The crowd is never happy and demands constant changes from you. God approves of you, and that is all the matter. You are valuable to Him, and He loves you dearly. You are the apple of His eye and don’t need to please anyone but Him. Scripture Reference: Psalm 25:12-13 Hebrew 9:12-14 Romans 14:17 1 Samuel 13:9-31 John 12:42-43

To allow God to move in your life, you need to be willing to open your “whole” heart to him. You need to expose the very core of your being. All your hurts, disappointments, fears, etc. What you refuse to expose will hinder your walk and progress to walking freely in His grace. What you hold back will hinder the Holy Spirit from speaking a fresh word to you and restoring you to wholeness. Only once your heart is open to God can He move in and heal, restore, deliver, and help you. You may have to hear something you don’t want. God wants to change and free you, but you can’t hold anything back. It’s like a game of chess. God moves, then you move. If you refuse to move, it’s a stalemate until you decide to move again. Allow God to bring light into every situation you have. Only then can it truly change. Believing and walking in God’s truth is the only way we can start living changed. Allow Him to lead you through the pain and hurts to victory in every area of your life. As you spend time with Him, He will reveal things that will help you be restored and made whole. Jesus wants to rewrite your story, but you must let Him in. Don’t hold back–open your whole heart to Him today! Scripture references Proverbs 3:5-6 Nahum 1:7 Isaiah 50:10 Psalm 25:2-3 Jesus’ love for you far out weights your faith in Him

So, are you a healthy thinker? Is the glass always half full or half empty? Do you always focus on the negative, which will cause unnecessary stress? A person has to balance the positive and negative situations in life. A healthy thinker sees life as a sequence of events, all factored into an overall track record. No event is perceived as overly essential or of no consequence, but a healthy thinker separates their emotions from their overall self-worth. Ask yourself, how should I approach this situation in the future? Free yourself from stress and guilt by realizing you are not responsible for another person’s actions or decisions. No matter what they tell you! You make your own life and choices. You can’t blame others for your stress because you allowed these feelings into your life. Most of your thoughts go under the radar because you have practiced them so much that they have become part of your mindset. You fly off the handle or become anxious without thinking about it and don’t even realize that you are doing it or why you react this way. Tune into your feelings and inventory your thoughts to recognize these patterns. By monitoring your feelings, you will eventually be able to figure out which thoughts and beliefs triggered your anxiety. Then, you can break their stronghold over you. The thought triggers are dysfunctional thought patterns ingrained in your thinking, similar to a computer virus. So, we need to renew our minds and rewire those thoughts. Joy and peace can come to even the most troubled mind when people discover new ways of looking at life-based on the Word of God. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES 1 Timothy 1:7 Romans 12:2 Isaiah 55:10   NOTHING IS TOO HARD IF YOU WANT IT.

You may be going through a tough season right now and struggling with anxiety and fear, but I want you to know that’s not who you are . This season is not the rest of your life. When you are walking through the darkest valley. The idea is to walk through and not camp there, put up a tent and sing Kumbaya . You will not be afraid because God is with you. It could feel like Psalm 23 is written just for you. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters; He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely, Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.   I want to encourage you that God has set a table before you that contains all the answers you need to go through this season. On this table are the wisdom, answers, guidance, instructions, hope, support, love, and comfort you need to get to the other side without smelling like smoke.   If you stay close to God and feast at His table, you will get through this wiser and whole with the confidence that God has been your constant companion.   So please, when things get tough, don’t run away from God, but run to Him. Dig in deeper and closer than ever before. Read your Bible, seek God’s face, and spend more time on your knees. God has help for you, but you must reach out and receive it.

The better your foundation in the Word of God is, the more successful you will be as a Christian. It’s a bold statement, I know, but it’s true. The more confidence and trust we have in God, the more He can move in our lives. God is faithful to His promises, and He needs you to believe that they will come to pass in your life, no matter how long it may take. How do you build a strong root system? By feeding on the Word daily. In Jeremiah 17, the one who trusts in God plants his tree with water. Roots need water to survive. God’s Word is water to your flesh. His Word nourishes and ministers to you. By engaging with the Word of God and seeking a deep connection with Him, individuals can completely immerse themselves in His essence and all-encompassing nature.   In the same manner that the roots of a tree take in water, we take in God. We take in and comprehend His Word. We experience the presence and power of Him. It becomes ingrained within us.   Make spending time with God part of your daily routine. Grow stronger daily, and when the storms of life hit, you will be firmly grounded, your foundation secure, and you will not fall.   Matthew 13 says, And he told them many things in parables, saying, “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.”   Jeremiah 17 says, Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.   The time has come to establish profound connections with Him, abolish fear and anxiety, and consistently yield fruitful results.

Sometimes, we can doubt that God will do what He has promised in His Word. Often, we have made bad choices and gone on our own way. The answers took longer than we wanted, and nothing changed. Circumstances didn’t turn around or may have even gotten worse. But God has no reason to lie to you. What He has promised in His Word is available to you. Yes, YOU! God is no respecter of persons. In other words, He doesn’t favor one over the other. But He is a respecter of faith. He makes a promise and wants you to believe it. Faith is the currency of Heaven. We have to stand firm even when things look bleak. Remember that God is working on people’s hearts, and you know how stubborn some people are. Things take time, and change takes time. He knows your shortcomings and still makes the same promises to you because He loves you and cares so much for you. He wants the best for you and to help you as much as you will let Him. But Christianity is not a microwave process. There are no drive-through answers. Change takes time, patience, and trust. Stay close to God, and allow Him to lead you towards your answer. Don’t give up your hope and confidence. God is working behind the scenes. Things are changing even if you can’t see it. Even if you feel you are far below the mark, look up because God is reaching down to you, leading you toward the promises He has for you. Let your faith arise, and know you can have what’s been promised because God has no reason to lie to you! He is faithful in keeping His promises to you. Scripture References 1 John 4:19 Psalm 34:8 Nahum1:7 1 Corinthians 2:9                JUST SAY YES TO GOD. I BELIEVE AND RECEIVED IT NOW.

Often, we feel like we are on a treadwheel and can’t get off. Life is on auto-repeat, and we have our version of ground hog day! Can you relate? You feel like you are going nowhere physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Sometimes, pain is challenging to face, so we stick our heads in the sand, hoping it will go away. But it doesn’t, and we become stuck in life. We need to confront these situations in our lives with honesty and truth. God is there to help you and guide you out. Perhaps He has told you what you need to do, and you don’t want to do it–causing you to be stuck. Queen Esther was asked to do different things, but she did it to save her people. For you to save yourself, you need to move forward. You can’t go forward with a backward mentality. Find a trusted friend or counselor you can talk to. Bottling things up is not the answer. Help is available, so don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Set some new rules and retake control of your life. Trust our heavenly Father to take the yoke of bondage off you and give you His light and easy yoke. Come to Him. Don’t allow fear and anxiety to torment you. Know that your God is helping you, working behind the scenes, and leading you to the right people. Stay confident on this journey.   You may feel like you can’t take anymore, but remember, you are stronger than you think. What you need for your life has already been deposited inside of you. Dig down and draw it out! You can conquer this mountain; don’t let it destroy you!   Whatever you lack, God can fill it. Whatever is broken, God can fix it. Whatever is lost, God can find it. Whatever is dead, God can resurrect it. Whatever is weak, God can strengthen it.   Your best days are ahead of you. Keep your head up high and be expecting!   Scripture References:   Matthew 11:25-30 Jeremiah 29:11 Revelation 12:11 Deuteronomy 28:13

We often don’t understand why God closed one door and opened another. Sometimes, you end up in the last place you thought you would be happy. But as Christians, it is our responsibility to trust our Heavenly Father. Believe that He has our best interest at heart. We choose to obey Him. Faith is trusting that God knows best, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. It reminds me of when I watched an ant crawl up a wall. It was going in the wrong direction to go outside. I thought, “Little ant, you are going the wrong way. Turn and go the other way.” I heard God say in my spirit, “I wish you would let me lead you to the right way. How often are you going the wrong way? I can direct you correctly because I can see the entire picture.” I could see where the ant was going and knew it was the wrong way. God can see where you are going and heading for trouble. You may think everything is fine and the road you are on is the right one, but God knows where it will end. Check your spirit. Do you have a check, a red flag, or a scratchy feeling? Listen to God and make the necessary adjustments. You may not understand it now, but it will become clearer later. A Christian life is a total surrender to God, obeying and trusting Him, and asking God why is not the correct question. Ask God to lead you and follow. Remember when you asked your parents why and they would answer? “Because I said so.” We are God’s little children. Even if you are an older person to God, you are still a child with a child’s understanding. God knows everything, and He won’t lead you wrong. You can trust Him and give Him the reigns of your life. Scripture References Romans 8:14 John 10:27-30

Receive means to take possession of, act as a receptacle or container, assimilate, permit entering, welcome, greet, and accept authorities and truth. In other words–to take it. We can receive God’s promises by accepting what He says as true. The more we hear His Word and allow it to produce, the stronger our faith will be. See Mark 4:20. How do you receive the Word when you read it? Do you believe what you read is true, or is it only applicable to others? When you read something, do you find it seems way out there? Don’t let the Devil talk you out of receiving God’s promises for your life. Don’t think it’s all too good to be true. Just because you haven’t seen the desired results does not mean the Word isn’t working or valid. There could be something wrong with the way you are receiving it. Put your faith in Jesus, cast your cares on Him, and receive His promises that He has made to you! The more you learn to do things God’s way, the more heavenly your life will be. Casting your cares means letting them go and letting God work on your behalf. If you take them back, you hinder God from working. Only one of you can have the care. Let it be God; after all, He can do more than you can. To truly receive from God means trusting Him with the problem and believing Him to take care of it. Remain in faith and joy because the answer is on the way! SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Matthew 13:11 Matthew 6:33 Proverbs 2:1-2, 5 (AMP) Isaiah 55:9 WHAT CONSUMES YOUR MIND CONTROLS YOUR LIFE.