Have you ever noticed that we don’t naturally live thankfully?

Sure, there are the “glass-half-full” people who tend to be more sanguine, and therefore think more positively. But that’s not what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about the fact that we don’t naturally live in a way where we are continually aware of the little things in life for which we should be grateful.

What I’ve found is that those who do live like that most often point back to a specific event in their life that caused them to become keenly aware of their own mortality and the profound need to use what time they have left in life to be an example to others.

Thankfulness is something that must be developed and cultivated.

Like godly character, thankfulness isn’t a gift or personality trait that we’re born with. It is a spiritual discipline that must be developed, exercised, and grown in our lives.

I believe this is why Scripture instructs us over and over to be thankful, to give thanks always and continually.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live with someone who gave thanks continually?

I find it odd that, as a society, we denigrate people who live this way. We call them “Pollyanna”, say they wear rose-colored glasses, and insinuate that they don’t live in reality.

As if reality demands that we are cynical, negative, and critical.

When bad things happen to good people, good people have two choices:

• Allow the negative circumstance to make them bitter, cynical, and angry

• Allow God to do a work of grace in their hearts so that He can bring good out of the negative circumstance and thus glorify Himself through it.

Imagine what life would be like if we continually responded by allowing God to do a work of grace in our hearts.

This response isn’t natural, but it can be cultivated through discipline and renewing our minds.

There are four ways we can cultivate a thankful heart, so that we live life giving thanks continually.

1. Memorizing and meditating on Scripture

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95:1-2

If we want to renew our minds, we must make it a daily discipline to memorize and meditate on Scripture. Scripture memorization and biblical meditation retrain the mind so that it comes into agreement with God’s thoughts.

It replaces the negative thought patterns with God’s Word, so that in difficult circumstances our thoughts cease to default to negativity, self-doubt, criticism, and cynicism but rather to biblical declarations and principles.

Here are some articles I’ve written on meditating on Scripture:

What is Biblical Meditation

3 Reasons the Bible Gives Us for Christian Meditation

Biblical Meditation vs. Eastern Meditation

5 Amazing Benefits of Christian Meditation

How Meditating on Scripture Changed My Battle With Anxiety

2. Pray the Scripture

This is different from memorizing and meditation. Certainly, it will help you do both, but it is a different practice entirely.

By praying Scripture, you are taking your present circumstance and coming into agreement with God about it.

Let’s say you begin experiencing discrimination on the job because you are a Christian.

Your boss cuts your hours, purposely schedules you on Sundays so you can’t go to church, or makes degrading remarks around you to others; you can pray Scripture to bring your heart back into right alignment and guard against bitterness and anger.

Learn to take Scripture, personalize it, and apply it to your present circumstance so that you can see your life through God’s perspective and through the lens of Scripture.

3. Keep a journal

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Psalm 95:3-5

I love how the writer of this Psalm pointed back to the miracle of God’s creation. Truly, the Bible is a journal of the works of God, and there is enormous power in recounting to God His great works of the past, because it reminds our hearts that if God came through then, He’ll come through again and again!

Journaling is a habit that every Christian should learn to develop, and I believe this for a couple of reasons.

First, the act of writing is extremely powerful. By slowing down to write our thoughts out by hand, our thinking processes deepen, and we are more aware of our emotions.

I strongly believe that by slowing down and becoming more mindful of what is in our hearts, we would see God’s hand at work in areas of our lives where we have previously been unaware.

Here’s a journal I am using right now!

Second, by keeping a written record of those things for which we are thankful, we are able to go back and remind ourselves of the goodness of the Lord. We see this example all throughout Scripture.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we read repeated accounts of how God freed His people, won battles for them on their behalf, and how He delivered them from their enemies. One could argue that at times the Bible is repetitive, yet at closer examination, we see that by repeating the works of God over and over, God’s people were encouraging their hearts in the Lord.

They were reminding their hearts that what God did in the past, He will do again!

This is an important practice for us today.

Victories that God won 20 years ago are perhaps forgotten today, but having a written reminder will keep them in the forefront of our minds as we rehearse the goodness and greatness of God!

4. Worship

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6

Worship is a powerful tool in the arsenal of the believer!

True, authentic worship shifts our focus from ourselves and our circumstances onto God, His greatness, and His sovereignty.

The very definition of worship is to attribute worth.

God’s worth is not determined by what value He has to us.

• What He has done for us

• What He means to us

• How we feel about Him

His worth actually has nothing at all to do with us at all! His worth is determined by who He is.

By taking ourselves entirely out of the picture and making who He is our focus- His name, His character, His power, and His sovereignty- the focus of our worship, we gain an eternal perspective.

Suddenly, our circumstances are no longer so overwhelming in comparison to eternity!

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Knowing what Scripture says is the first step. But what would it look like to actually walk it out in your everyday life?

This month inside Walk With Me, we’re taking 20 days to intentionally cultivate a thankful heart through our Thankfulness Challenge. You’ll have an opportunity to put what you’re learning into practice, one day at a time, and receive practical resources to help you along the way—including these Bible verses and printable bookmarks about overcoming negativity, along with additional Scripture resources and tools for cultivating thankfulness. If you’re ready to move beyond simply knowing what God’s Word says and begin living it out, I’d love to have you join us!

Join the Thankfulness Challenge

Read more

There is no lack of information out there for those who are looking to overcome negative thinking.

Everything from books to articles, from online courses to life coaches - all designed to help you to turn negative thoughts into positive ones.

They arm you with positive affirmations, morning routines to set the tone for your day, meditation techniques, and self-care exercises [https://rosilindjukic.com/is-self-care-biblical-for-christian-women/].

And while this may work for some on a surface level, negativity isn’t just a battle we wage in our thoughts - it’s a battle that is also waged in our spirit.

And all of the positive affirmations and self-care routines will never go to the spirit level.

To wage spiritual battles, we must use spiritual weapons.

This is why I speak out so strongly against mingling these new age and pagan practices with Christianity because they defile our worship.

They also give us a false sense of having righted our course, when all we’ve done is put up a smoke screen that distracts us from the real issue.

God wants to get to the heart of the issue, and in order to do so, He must deal with the areas of our life that until now we’ve been unwilling to let Him touch.

5 Biblical Steps to Overcome Negative Thinking

If we’re going to overcome negative thinking, we must take a biblical approach.

We must wage this spiritual battle with spiritual weapons of warfare that are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds!

Strongholds.

Areas of our life where we have allowed the enemy jurisdiction in our life. It is time to evict him and all of his minions!

Are you ready?

1. Identify source of negativity

This is actually a little harder than we think.

Our first response is to point to a person or situation in our life as a source of negativity and drama, but if we’re going to root it out, we must go deeper.

The easiest way to solve your dandelion problem is to chop them down with a lawnmower.

But have you really solved the problem? Actually, no. You may have made it worse! To solve the problem, you must go to the root.

Go past the person or situation. Go past the negative emotions. Go all the way down to 1 John 2:15-16

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

For every sin that exists, from which they all stem

• The lust of the flesh

• The lust of the eyes

• The pride of life

The negativity in your life may stem from a desire that is unmet in your life or an area of bitterness left unchecked. Whatever it is, you need to follow it down to the root.

Then it’s time to repent and root it out.

2. Take every thought captive

“Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5

The goal isn’t just to overcome negative thinking.

If this were the goal, then all of those positive affirmations and self-care routines would actually work. But for the Christian, there is a greater goal!

The greater goal is to transform our thinking so that our thoughts are expressed through the truth of Scripture.

God wants our thinking to agree with His thinking!

The Greek word for captivity in 2 Corinthians 10:5 literally means to imprison and bring into submission so that our thoughts are brought into obedience to Jesus Christ.

3. Renew your mind

Once you’ve captured that negative thought, you need to begin building new thinking patterns.

Again, this goes beyond - way beyond - positive affirmations. Positive affirmations deal with our psyche; renewing the mind goes all the way to our spirit.

We aren’t renewing our mind on the soul level.

We’re renewing our mind at the spirit level - and to do so, we must use spiritual weaponry!

We aren’t turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts; we’re turning negative thoughts into biblical thoughts, and to do so, we must use Gods Word.

Find a verse or passage that speaks to the source of your negativity and begin memorizing it and meditating on it.

4. Cultivate thankfulness

“Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 Emphasis mine

I’ll bet you’ve never considered thanksgiving to be a spiritual weapon.

But it is!

Thanksgiving is a powerful weapon to battle fear, worry, anxiety, and negativity, because it shifts our focus from our circumstances to our Creator!

We stop looking at what we don’t have or what we wish we could change to all of the glorious things God has done in our life.

5. Worship

Have you noticed all of the times in the Old Testament when God used worship to defeat Israel’s enemy?

• Joshua

• Jehoshaphat

• Gideon

One of the tools God has given me for bringing rest in my home is to play worship music more often than I do - to create an atmosphere of worship in my home.

Worship brings rest.

It brings rest from our enemy because as God is glorified, the enemy is confused. He flees. He is confused. He defeats himself.

Worship should always remind us [https://rosilindjukic.com/tag/worship/] of who God is: His sovereignty, His character, and His might and power.

And as we become more aware of who He really is, the negativity in our lives must dissipate!

Knowledge and understanding of who God is cannot coexist with negativity. The one cancels out the other.

And sadly, the opposite is true: when we concentrate on negativity, we lose sight of who God really is! This is why worship must be a daily practice in our life because it brings into focus who God is.

And when who God really is comes into focus, negativity flees.

Knowing what Scripture says is the first step. But what would it look like to actually walk it out in your everyday life?

This month inside Walk With Me, we’re taking 20 days to intentionally cultivate a thankful heart through our Thankfulness Challenge. You’ll have an opportunity to put what you’re learning into practice, one day at a time, and receive practical resources to help you along the way—including these Bible verses and printable bookmarks about overcoming negativity, along with additional Scripture resources and tools for cultivating thankfulness. If you’re ready to move beyond simply knowing what God’s Word says and begin living it out, I’d love to have you join us!

Join the Thankfulness Challenge

Read more

Do you practice Christian meditation?

Perhaps you’ve never heard of Christian meditation, its benefits, and the amazing ways it will transform your life and renew your mind.

Maybe you’ve heard of Christian meditation, but it looked a little too much like Eastern meditation for your comfort.

Yes - I have read those posts, too. Here’s the thing: Christian meditation looks nothing like Eastern meditation. You don’t need the quiet room, the candles, the deep breathing, and all of that nonsense.

You can practice Christian meditation in a quiet room or a noisy restaurant.

And today I am going to teach you what Christian meditation is, how to practice it, why it’s vital for every disciple of Jesus Christ, and what benefits you will see in your life when you begin to practice this discipline.

There are three Hebrew words for meditate that we see in the Old Testament:

1. Hagah, meaning to speak, mutter, muse, imagine, or plot (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 63:6, Psalm 77:12)

2. Siyach, meaning to muse, to study, to ponder, to sing, to speak (Psalm 143:5, Psalm 77:6, Psalm 119:15, 27, 48, 78, 148, Psalm 145:5)

3. Amar, meaning to speak, to command, to tell (Psalm 4:4)

Notice that these meanings involve thinking about, studying, speaking, and even commanding.

Christian meditation is so different from Eastern meditation that the two are contrary to one another. While Eastern meditation involves emptying the mind, Christian meditation involves filling the mind with God’s Word and then studying it, thinking on it, and speaking it - even commanding it - to our heart.

3 Steps to Christian Meditation for Beginners

Christian meditation isn’t just a good Christian discipline that we should all practice. It is a command.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.” Joshua 1:8 (emphasis mine)

“Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.” Psalm 4:4

1. Choose a passage and memorize it

Christian meditation obviously begins with memorization. Now, you don’t have to completely memorize a verse or passage to meditate on it. You can meditate on God’s Word while sitting at the table with your Bible in front of you.

But if you want to meditate on a verse or passage all day, you will need to have it memorized.

Here you will find a series of posts I’ve written on Scripture memorization [https://rosilindjukic.com/tag/memorizing/]. An easy way to begin memorizing Scripture is to write it down and carry it with you.

I recommend memorizing and meditating on passages of Scripture, even whole chapters and books, because it keeps things in proper context.

It is very easy to get confused, or even believe something contrary to the whole of Scripture, when we take a verse out of context.

2. Think deeply about the passage, word-by-word

Let’s use Psalm 1:1 as an example.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful

Blessed - Happy, rich, fulfilled

is - now, present

the man - I can insert my name here

who walks not - doesn’t follow the crowd, behavior

in - isn’t immersed in

the counsel - the opinions, the philosophies, the worldviews

of the ungodly - those who do not acknowledge God, who have not surrendered their life to God, whose lives are not founded on and centered on God.

nor stands - is not rooted in, established upon

in the path - the direction, the journey

sinners - those who habitually break God’s commands

nor sits - rests, abides, dwells

in the seat - in the habitation, dwelling place

of the scornful - those whose behavior is a mockery of God, those who are ambassadors of the enemy, those who teach others to sin

3. Personalize the passage

When is the best time of the day for Christian Meditation?

You can meditate on God’s Word any time, day or night, no matter where you are.

But the obvious time of the day that is easiest for everyone is as you are wrapping up your daily devotions. After you have read a portion of God’s Word, meditate on it.

Ask yourself what it means and what it means to you personally.

But there is another time of day when meditation is especially powerful, and that is as you are falling asleep.

“I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons.” Psalm 16:7

Your spirit never sleeps.

“When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.” Psalm 63:6

The Hebrew word for “instructs” in this verse literally means to reprove, to instruct, to chastise, to punish. Meaning, as you meditate on God’s Word as you fall asleep, it will begin to correct your heart. Your thinking.

There is another term for this that we see in the New Testament: Renewing the mind.

As you meditate on God’s Word while falling asleep, God takes His Word and begins to renew your heart. He instructs, chastises, and reproves your heart.

We see this same concept in Psalm 4:4 “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.”

The Hebrew word for meditate in this verse is command or instruct.

Command your heart to be still and not to allow your righteous anger over injustice and unrighteousness to get out of control and turn into sin.

5 Amazing Benefits of Christian Meditation

1. It makes you successful

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Before we begin forming in our mind a picture of ourselves with a great job, nice bank account, and a yacht, let’s remember that success for Christians isn’t the same as success for those in the world.

We are most successful when we are accomplishing the purpose God created us for!

And when we meditate on God’s Word, we are able to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly, telling us where He wants us to go and do what He wants us to do.

And each of the following benefits leads us to this biblical success.

2. It makes you fruitful as Christians

Psalm 1 is all about how meditating on God’s Word makes us fruitful.

As we meditate on Scripture, the seed of the Word is planted deep in our heart, the soil is watered and fertilized, and the seed has a healthy environment to grow and bear abundant fruit.

3. It renews your mind

As we daily meditate on God’s Word, it begins to shape our thinking, our philosophies, and our worldview to the principles of Scripture.

It begins to change our “want-to”, so that we lose the desire to do those things that offend God, and begin to want to do those things that please Him.

Christian meditation changes us from the inside out!

4. It gives you wisdom

Christian meditation fills us our lives with the wisdom of God’s Word, so that we can approach every life situation from godly perspective.

5. It deepens your relationship with God

This is an obvious benefit.

As you daily make Christian meditation a discipline in your life, you will notice how your relationship with God will grow deeper.

The more time you spend in allow God’s Word to shape your thinking, decision process, and your attitudes, you become more and more like Him.

And as a result, your relationship with Him will grow deeper and deeper.

🌿 Ready to Walk This Out?

Knowing what God says is one thing. Learning to live from that truth is another.

That’s why I created Walk With Me—a private daily Bible coaching experience where we take what we’re learning in God’s Word and put it into practice together.

If you’re ready to go beyond simply reading about renewing your mind and begin intentionally replacing old patterns of thinking with God’s truth, come walk with me.

👉 Join Walk With Me and let’s take the next step together, and get the Scripture Memorization Pack illustrated above

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Do you struggle with fear, anxiety, or panic attacks?

Do you feel depressed or like your mind and thoughts are often under attack

Are you weighed down with feelings of failure and a need for wisdom?

The Christian community deals with these kinds of problems all of the time, and most do not realize that the answer to these problems isn’t just right under our nose, or even on our bookshelves.

It’s literally right in our hand... if you have YouVersion.

The Scriptures clearly instruct us in what we are to do in these difficult instances.

3 Reasons the Scriptures Give Us for Christian Meditation

1. God’s Word tells us that meditation gives us peace.

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-21

Philippians 4:8 instructs us this way:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

When we are feeling anxiety, stress, fear, or even depression, it is because we have our focus off of our Savior and on the troubles of our life or the cares of this world.

If we take time out of our day to meditate on God, his goodness, and what Scripture tells us about who God is and who we are in Him, we will find that we, over time, begin retraining our thought processes.

Isaiah 26:3 says it this way: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You...”

2. God’s Word tells us that meditation makes us successful.

Part of why people experience anxiety and worry is because they are afraid of not succeeding. However, success is guaranteed to the person who meditates on the Word of God.

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

When we meditate on God’s Word, our thought processes begin to change; our attitudes about ourselves, about life, our approach to business, and our employers change as well.

In these very things lies the secret to true success.

3. God’s Word tells us that meditation makes us wise.

Once our thought processes and attitudes begin to change, it is apparent to all of those around us that we are developing wisdom in our lives.

David said it this way in Psalms 119:97-99: “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.”

James also instructed us to ask of God if we need wisdom because he gives it to all men liberally.

If we need wisdom, we need but meditate on (think on, mull over) the Word of God, for in it lies all wisdom!

So the next time you are seized by panic or feel a wave of depression sweeping over you... next time you fear failure, or don’t know what decision is the right one, turn to Scripture.

Seek out what the Word of God says about your situation, meditate on who God is and who you are as his child. As Paul said to the Church in Philippi: Think on these things!

🌿 Ready to Walk This Out?

Knowing what God says is one thing. Learning to live from that truth is another.

That’s why I created Walk With Me—a private daily Bible coaching experience where we take what we’re learning in God’s Word and put it into practice together.

If you’re ready to go beyond simply reading about renewing your mind and begin intentionally replacing old patterns of thinking with God’s truth, come walk with me.

👉 Join Walk With Me and let’s take the next step together, and get the Scripture Memorization Pack illustrated above

Read more

For 16 years, A Little R & R has been a part of my life.

What began as a place to share my thoughts, experiences, and encouragement for Christian women grew into a library of Bible studies, articles, devotionals, and practical resources designed to help women grow in their faith and walk more closely with Jesus.

Over the years, I have poured countless hours into my little corner of the internet. I’ve written through different seasons of life, learned about blogging, navigated changing technology, and watched the online world transform around me.

A Little R & R has been more than a website. It has been a ministry, a creative outlet, and a place where I could share what God was teaching me and encourage other women with the lessons I was learning along the way.

But sometimes, even something we have faithfully nurtured for years begins to change.

And we have to decide what comes next.

When Everything Changed

Two years ago, I made the decision to pull my blog away from social media.

It was a deliberate choice. I wanted to step back from the constant demands of social platforms and focus on creating meaningful content rather than feeling as though I had to keep up with the endless cycle of posting, promoting, and trying to remain visible.

Then, in 2024, my blog traffic took a devastating hit.

I lost approximately 90% of my traffic—and with it, approximately 90% of my blogging income.

For someone who had spent 16 years building a website, creating content, and developing a business around that work, the loss was enormous.

I didn’t simply walk away.

Over the past two years, I have continued to work on my website. I’ve made changes, tried new approaches, updated content, and kept doing what bloggers are told to do when traffic declines.

I’ve been dedicated. I’ve been persistent. I’ve kept showing up.

But despite those efforts, things have continued to get worse.

And I’ve had to face a difficult reality: I can keep pouring my time and energy into trying to restore what my blog once was, or I can begin investing more fully in what is growing in front of me.

Finding My Way to Substack

In January, my friend encouraged me to join Substack.

I began building Women Who Love Jesus, a community for women who want to grow in their faith, understand who they are in Christ, renew their minds with God’s Word, and learn to live out the truth of Scripture in their everyday lives.

What has happened here has encouraged me more than I can say.

The community continues to grow. Women are showing up. They’re reading, responding, sharing their thoughts, and engaging with the content in ways that remind me why I started creating content in the first place.

There is something special about a community of people who genuinely want to be there.

I love that Substack doesn’t place third-party advertisements on my content in the way traditional ad-supported websites do. When someone comes to read an article or an email, the focus is on the words, the message, and the relationship between the writer and the reader—not on advertisements competing for their attention.

I also love how seriously so many people here take reading, learning, and meaningful conversation.

It feels different.

And after years of working in an online environment where visibility can feel increasingly difficult to maintain, it has been refreshing to build in a place where readers can choose to receive my work directly and become part of a community around it.

Substack isn’t perfect, and I don’t believe any platform is. But I can see what is growing here, and I want to give it the attention it deserves.

Why I’m Choosing to Be Fully Here

Here’s the truth: I cannot divide my attention indefinitely between multiple places and expect to give my best to all of them.

Every article takes time. Every community requires care. Every platform has its own demands, its own learning curve, and its own expectations.

I don’t want to spend the next several years splitting my energy between trying to revive a website that continues to struggle and nurturing a community that is actively growing.

I want to be fully present where I see people gathering.

I want to write articles that encourage you in your walk with Jesus. I want to create Bible studies and practical resources that help you apply God’s Word. I want to have meaningful conversations about the things that matter to us as Christian women.

I want to invest my time in the work itself—in teaching, writing, encouraging, and building relationships—rather than continually trying to work out how to bring people back to a website that the online landscape has made increasingly difficult to sustain.

That is why I’m bringing A Little R & R to Substack.

This isn’t about abandoning the message I’ve spent 16 years sharing. It’s about choosing a new home for that message and giving it room to grow.

But Isn’t It Risky to Leave Your Own Website?

I’ve heard the arguments.

Don’t build your business on someone else’s platform.

You need to own your website.

You shouldn’t walk away from something you’ve spent years building.

I understand those concerns. There are good reasons to maintain an independent website, and I’m not suggesting that every blogger should make the same decision I am making.

But I’ve never been someone who listens too closely to the voices insisting there is only one right way to do things.

Over the years, I’ve been willing to take risks, try new approaches, and make decisions that seemed right for me and the people I serve—even when those decisions didn’t follow the conventional wisdom.

Sometimes those decisions worked beautifully. Sometimes they taught me lessons I hadn’t expected to learn.

But I’ve kept going.

And here I am, 16 years after I began blogging, still creating, still teaching, still sharing God’s Word, and still finding new ways to serve women.

I don’t believe that choosing Substack means I’ve failed at blogging. I believe it means I’m paying attention.

I’m paying attention to where my time is best invested, where my readers are gathering, and where I can continue doing the work I love without spending all my energy fighting to preserve the way I’ve always done it.

I can be grateful for everything A Little R & R has been while recognizing that the next chapter may look different.

Both things can be true.

A New Chapter, Not the End of the Story

If you’ve been reading A Little R & R for years, thank you.

It is surreal to me that I am retiring the name A Little R & R - a name I’ve had for over 16 years.

A name that was a play on my name - Rosilind - and my older son’s name, Robert, who was only 3 months old when I began blogging.

But it is time to turn a new page and move into new places where God is leading.

Thank you for reading my articles, sharing them with friends, downloading my resources, and allowing me to be a small part of your spiritual journey.

Those 16 years have meant more to me than you know.

And if you’ve found me here on Substack, I’m so glad you’re here.

My heart for this work hasn’t changed. I still want to help women understand God’s Word, grow in their identity in Christ, renew their minds, and live out their faith with greater freedom and confidence.

What is changing is where I am choosing to focus my attention.

I’m choosing to invest in this community. I’m choosing to keep creating. I’m choosing to move forward rather than spend all my energy trying to recover what was.

And I’m doing it with gratitude for the past and hope for what lies ahead.

Below, I’ve embedded a YouTube video where I share more about this transition and what it means for A Little R & R.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

After 16 years, I’m still here. I’m still writing. I’m still teaching. And I’m still excited about what God will do next.

Welcome to the next chapter of A Little R & R. I’m glad we’re here together.

When talking about biblical meditation, I have found that there is a lot of conflicting information on the Internet.

I have a lot of content regarding biblical meditation that I share here at A Little R & R, and how it differs from Eastern meditation, but my concern is that, as I have followed other Christian content creators, there is little to no distinction.

There are those who sell meditation audio files with background music...

There are those who sell breathing technique programs....

There are those who even encourage mixing Eastern meditation poses with meditating on Scripture.

The conflict is in our understanding of what biblical meditation is and why the Bible instructs us to meditate.

To understand what biblical meditation is, let’s first do away with what it is not:

Biblical meditation is not:

• A relaxation technique

• A means of reinforcing positive thinking

• A way to empty ourselves of stress and pressure

Any time we approach a biblical discipline with pagan ideas and methods, we will not only fail to experience God’s blessing, but we also offend God.

God is deeply offended when we try to fulfill His commands in pagan ways.

We need look no further than 2 Samuel 6, when David attempted to move the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem by carrying it on a cart pulled by oxen.

God had already given Moses instructions for how to transport the Ark.

But David chose to transport the Ark the way the pagans had, not considering how it would offend God by not following His careful instructions.

God cares how we worship Him. We don’t worship Him in our own way; we must worship Him in the way He commands.

It resulted in the death of Uzzah.

Mixing God’s commands with pagan methods and rituals results in death every time. Maybe not physical death, but it will result in spiritual death.

What is Biblical Meditation?

Now that we’ve defined what biblical meditation is not, let us examine what it is and the power it brings to our lives.

Biblical meditation is the act of taking the Word of God that we’ve hidden in our heart and pondering on it.

The Hebrew word for meditate is “Haga”, which means to mutter, to speak to oneself.

As we meditate on God’s Word, we take a verse at a time and speak it over and over to ourselves, either out loud or in our mind, and then examine every word.

As we examine each word, we might look it up in the Greek or Hebrew for further meaning.

Then we ask ourselves, “How does this verse apply to me and my life right now? How can I begin applying this verse in my life?”

A Warning and Caution:

There are Christians online right now who are teaching that you cannot apply every verse in the Bible to your life.

They want us to believe that there are verses and portions of the Bible that were meant for that time in history only.

For example, they will say that we cannot apply Jeremiah 29:11 to our lives.

They teach that because it was a prophecy to God’s people who were taken captive by Babylon, it was spoken to a group of people and therefore cannot be applied to our lives individually.

Dear sister, God’s Word transcends time, culture, and situations!

We can take God’s Word and apply it to our specific situation now, 6,000, 4,000, 2,000 years later. Because it is living and powerful!

God gave us His Word to speak to us; not just to instruct us in how things used to be back then.

If it doesn’t speak to me individually today, in my present situation, to my current circumstance, then I’m not listening well enough!

Do not put a lid on God’s Word!

The Best Time of Day to Meditate

You can meditate on God’s Word anytime and anywhere.

That is the beauty of biblical meditation. You can meditate in your car while driving; you can meditate at the bank waiting in line; you can meditate sitting in the car line waiting to pick up your kids.

But there is one time of day that is extra-powerful for biblical meditation, and that is as you are falling asleep.

For many, this is a difficult time of day, because our minds begin to rehearse all of our failures and dumb things we’ve done all day.

When we make the choice to replace our negative thinking as we fall asleep with biblical meditation, we will see our entire lives transform radically.

As we meditate on scripture while falling asleep, God’s Word is able to go deep into our subconscious and dig out all of the trauma, insecure thinking, bad habits, hurts, disappointments, and feelings of failure that have accumulated and grown hard deep inside....

Break it all up, and clean it out.

At first, we may begin to experience some weird dreams and nightmares, as all of the junk inside that has festered is being cleansed, but give it time.

God is doing His Work.

Our spirits never sleep, so as we meditate on Scripture while falling asleep, we give the Holy Spirit an open door to go deep down where no psychiatrist and no psychologist can go, and do His miraculous and deep work.

I want to encourage you to begin taking God’s Word, hide it in your heart, and meditate on it day and night, and watch as it transforms your life.

Passages to begin memorizing

Romans 6-8 - to overcome sin and walk victoriously

James 3 - to control your tongue

Matthew 5-7 – For a biblical worldview

Psalm 1 – For living a consecrated life

Ephesians 1 – For learning about your identity in Christ

John 15 – For abiding in Christ

🌿 Ready to Walk This Out?

Knowing what God says is one thing. Learning to live from that truth is another.

That’s why I created Walk With Me—a private daily Bible coaching experience where we take what we’re learning in God’s Word and put it into practice together.

If you’re ready to go beyond simply reading about renewing your mind and begin intentionally replacing old patterns of thinking with God’s truth, come walk with me.

👉 Join Walk With Me and let’s take the next step together and get the Scripture Memorization Pack illustrated above

Read more

In my article “I Knew The Truth, I Just Didn’t Believe It”, I shared something God has been teaching me:

It’s possible to know the truth without actually believing it.

I knew God loved me.

I knew I was forgiven.

I knew I was a new creation in Christ.

But my thoughts didn’t always reflect what I knew.

I could read a Bible verse about God’s love and spend the rest of the day criticizing myself.

I could remind myself that I was accepted in Christ and still feel rejected when someone was disappointed in me.

I could know that God was faithful and still rehearse everything that might go wrong.

Eventually, I had to ask myself a difficult question.

What if the problem wasn’t that I needed more information, but that I needed to learn a new way of thinking?

My Mind Had Been Practicing for Years

Think about the thoughts you return to most often.

I’m not enough.

I always mess things up.

Why can’t I be more like her?

I’ll never change.

God must be disappointed in me.

Perhaps you’ve never said those exact words. But maybe you recognize the pattern.

Something happens, a thought appears, and before you know it, you’re rehearsing the same old story.

Over time, those thoughts can become so familiar that we stop questioning them. They feel true simply because we’ve thought them so many times.

But familiarity isn’t the same as truth.

And a thought isn’t automatically true just because it feels true.

Our minds need to learn to recognize the difference between what we feel and what God says.

Renewing My Mind Meant Changing What I Rehearsed

Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

For a long time, I understood that verse in principle. But I began to realize that renewing my mind had to become something I practiced, not merely something I believed was important.

When an old thought surfaced, I needed to stop and examine it.

Was this thought consistent with Scripture?

Was I accepting a label God had never given me?

Was I allowing fear, rejection, or past experiences to tell me who I was?

Then I needed to bring that thought to God’s Word.

If I thought, I’m not enough, I needed to remember that my worth wasn’t measured by my performance.

If I thought, I’ll never change, I needed to remember that God was still at work in me.

If I thought, I’m rejected, I needed to return to the truth that I am accepted in Christ.

This wasn’t about pretending that painful emotions didn’t exist.

It was about learning not to let those emotions have the final word.

I had spent years rehearsing thoughts that tore me down. Now I needed to practice thinking in agreement with God’s truth.

This Is Why Renewing Your Mind Takes Practice

We don’t develop new patterns of thinking simply by reading a verse once.

We return to the verse.

We write it down.

We meditate on what it means.

We pray over it.

And when the old thought returns, we bring ourselves back to the truth again.

Sometimes we have to do this repeatedly throughout the same day.

That’s not failure.

That’s practice.

The goal isn’t to condemn ourselves whenever an old thought appears. The goal is to learn how to respond differently when it does.

Little by little, we’re learning to recognize thoughts that once went unquestioned and replace them with truth we can stand on.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

This is the heart behind Walk With Me.

I don’t want to simply tell you that your mind can be renewed. I want to walk alongside you as you learn how to put God’s Word into practice in your everyday life.

Inside Walk With Me, I guide women through a step-by-step process of recognizing thought patterns, examining them in light of Scripture, meditating on God’s truth, and learning to live from that truth.

We take it one thought at a time.

One Scripture at a time.

One small step at a time.

Because I know what it’s like to have the right answers in your head while still struggling to believe them in your heart.

And I know how important it is to have someone walk with you while you learn a new way of thinking.

You don’t have to spend the rest of your life believing every thought you’ve always believed about yourself.

God’s Word gives you a different foundation.

And you can begin practicing that truth today.

🌿 Ready to Walk This Out?

Knowing what God says is one thing. Learning to live from that truth is another.

That’s why I created Walk With Me—a private daily Bible coaching experience where we take what we’re learning in God’s Word and put it into practice together.

If you’re ready to go beyond simply reading about renewing your mind and begin intentionally replacing old patterns of thinking with God’s truth, come walk with me.

👉 Join Walk With Me and let’s take the next step together.

Have you ever known what the Bible says about you but struggled to believe it when life gets difficult?

You know God loves you. You know you’re forgiven. You know your identity is in Christ.

But when someone disappoints you, when you make a mistake, or when you feel overwhelmed, those old thoughts return.

I’m not enough.

I’ll never change.

Why can’t I get this right?

For years, I struggled with thoughts like these myself. I knew the truth of God’s Word, but I hadn’t yet learned how to consistently think in agreement with it.

That’s why I’m so passionate about helping other women discover their identity in Christ and learn to renew their minds with Scripture.

And that’s why I created Walk With Me 1:1 Text Coaching.

This Is More Than Learning What the Bible Says

You can read another Bible study, memorize another verse, and listen to another sermon—and still find yourself responding to life through the same old patterns of thinking.

Sometimes what we need isn’t more information.

We need help learning how to put what we know into practice.

That’s what we’ll work on together.

Through personal text-based coaching, I’ll walk alongside you as you learn to recognize the thoughts that are shaping your emotions and responses, examine those thoughts in the light of God’s Word, and replace unhelpful patterns with biblical truth.

We’ll take it one step at a time.

Rather than trying to change everything overnight, we’ll focus on practical ways to apply Scripture to the real situations you’re facing.

What We’ll Work Through Together

Our focus is on helping you:

• Discover your identity in Christ. Learn to see yourself through what God says about you rather than through past experiences, other people’s opinions, or feelings of inadequacy.

• Recognize old thought patterns. Identify the beliefs and assumptions that keep pulling you back into fear, rejection, anxiety, or discouragement.

• Renew your mind with Scripture. Learn how to examine your thoughts against God’s Word and intentionally meditate on His truth.

• Practice living from your identity. Take what you’re learning and apply it to your everyday choices, relationships, and responses.

• Grow in spiritual confidence. Develop a deeper understanding of God’s truth and learn to return to it when old thoughts resurface.

This isn’t about pretending that struggles don’t exist or expecting yourself to become perfect.

It’s about learning to respond to those struggles from the truth of who you are in Christ.

How Walk With Me 1:1 Text Coaching Works

Walk With Me is personal, text-based coaching. We work together through written messages, allowing you to share what’s happening in your life, ask questions, and receive guidance as you learn to apply God’s Word to your circumstances.

Here’s what that looks like:

1. You share what you’re struggling with.

Maybe you’re battling feelings of inadequacy, struggling with anxious thoughts, or finding yourself returning to the same discouraging patterns. You can share what’s going on and the thoughts you’re wrestling with.

2. We work through your thoughts together.

I’ll help you identify the beliefs and thought patterns behind what you’re experiencing and examine them in the light of Scripture.

3. We discover what God’s Word says.

Rather than simply telling you to think positively, we’ll look at what Scripture actually teaches and identify the truth you can begin meditating on and applying.

4. You practice renewing your mind.

I’ll guide you through practical steps to help you replace old patterns of thinking with biblical truth and learn to respond differently in everyday life.

5. We take it one step at a time.

This isn’t about rushing through a checklist or expecting overnight transformation. It’s about working through the process intentionally, with personal guidance and encouragement along the way.

Because this is text coaching, we communicate through written messages rather than live video calls. You can reflect on what we’ve discussed and return to the biblical truths and practical steps as you continue your journey.

The goal isn’t for you to depend on me to tell you what to think. It’s to help you grow in your understanding of Scripture so you can increasingly recognize God’s truth and learn to live from your identity in Christ.

You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone

I know what it’s like to have the right answers in your head while still struggling to believe them in your heart.

And I know how much it matters to have someone walk alongside you as you learn a new way of thinking.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin. You simply need a willingness to bring your struggles to Scripture and take the next step.

If you’re ready to explore whether Walk With Me 1:1 Text Coaching is right for you, send me a DM with the words “1:1 Coaching.”

I’ll share more information about how it works and how we can begin walking through this process together.

You don’t have to keep believing every thought you’ve always believed about yourself.

God’s Word gives you a different foundation.

Let’s learn to live from that truth, one step at a time.

For a long time, I struggled with anxious thoughts, feelings of inadequacy, and the pressure to keep everything together. I knew what the Bible said, but I needed to learn how to take God’s truth from the pages of Scripture and make it part of the way I actually thought.

One of the most powerful things I learned was the importance of meditating on God’s Word.

Biblical meditation isn’t about emptying your mind or trying to escape your circumstances. It’s about filling your thoughts with God’s truth and returning to it throughout the day.

When anxious thoughts come, we can learn to recognize them, examine them in the light of Scripture, and deliberately turn our attention back to what God has said.

Romans 12:2 tells us that transformation comes through the renewing of our minds.

That transformation doesn’t happen simply because we read a verse once. We need to take time to think about it, speak it, remember it, and practice living according to its truth.

This is why I encourage women to slow down and spend time meditating on Scripture. You don’t have to memorize an entire chapter or spend hours studying. Start with one verse. Let it become familiar. Return to it when your thoughts begin to wander toward fear, worry, or discouragement.

Over time, God’s Word can reshape the way you respond to the challenges you face.

Let’s Practice Together

If you know what Scripture says but struggle to apply it when anxious thoughts take over, I’d love to invite you to Walk With Me — Daily Bible Coaching.

Inside Walk With Me, I’ll guide you through a step-by-step process of recognizing unhelpful thought patterns, bringing them to Scripture, meditating on God’s truth, and learning to put that truth into practice in your everyday life.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Let’s learn to renew our minds together—one thought, one Scripture, and one small step at a time.

🌿 Ready to Walk This Out?

Knowing what God says is one thing. Learning to live from that truth is another.

That’s why I created Walk With Me—a private daily Bible coaching experience where we take what we’re learning in God’s Word and put it into practice together.

If you’re ready to go beyond simply reading about renewing your mind and begin intentionally replacing old patterns of thinking with God’s truth, come walk with me.

👉 Join Walk With Me and let’s take the next step together.

We live in a culture that is constantly looking for ways to quiet the mind, relieve stress, and find inner peace. One practice that frequently comes up is meditation [https://rosilindjukic.com/christian-meditation-beginners/].

But what do people mean when they talk about meditation? And is the meditation recommended by today’s wellness culture [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/heidistjohn/episodes/Christianity-and-Yoga-Do-They-Mix--with-Jessica-Smith-e1m2kga/a-a8brlgh] the same as the meditation God commands in His Word [https://rosilindjukic.com/what-is-biblical-meditation/]?

As Christians, we need to understand the difference.

In Joshua 1:8, God told Joshua to meditate on His Word day and night. This wasn’t about emptying his mind or searching within himself for answers. It was about filling his thoughts with God’s truth and learning to live according to it.

So how does biblical meditation [https://rosilindjukic.com/reasons-christian-meditation/] differ from Eastern meditation? And how can we make Scripture meditation a meaningful part of our daily walk with Christ?

Let’s look at six important differences.

[mv_video jsonLd=”true” key=”thx6iylu8lly5ovuzoit” ratio=”16:9” thumbnail=”https://thumbnails.scriptwrapper.com/1122/fecmrbhtyytylp31ekyy” title=”Do You Have Tools to Help With Memorizing and Utilizing Scripture?”]

1. Emptying the Mind vs. Filling the Mind with God’s Word

Biblical meditation fills the mind and spirit with God’s Word, while Eastern meditation teaches us to empty our minds.

Practices that encourage us to empty our minds or pursue spiritual experiences apart from God’s truth raise important concerns for Christians. Scripture calls us to fill our minds with what is true and to guard our hearts and thoughts.

However, the Hebrew word for meditation actually means to speak or mutter, a practice that actually does the opposite of Eastern meditation.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2 [https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/psa/1/2/s_479001]

Instead of emptying our minds, biblical meditation fills our minds with God’s Word and builds our spirit.

By speaking the Word of God out loud to ourselves, and thinking on each word as we are speaking, we are taking God’s Word and planting it deep in our hearts and spirits so it can take root and grow.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:3 [https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/psa/1/3/s_479001]

2. Looking Within vs. Fixing Our Eyes on Christ

Eastern meditation teaches us to focus inward, centering ourselves, focusing on our inner self, self-actualization, focusing on:

• How we feel

• How we’re breathing

Instead of looking within ourselves, biblical meditation turns our eyes toward Christ, taking the focus off ourselves and placing our focus on Jesus Christ:

• His power and authority

• His Word

• His character

• His promises

3. Seeking Relaxation vs. Finding Peace in God

Our culture often looks for peace by trying to quiet the mind and reduce stress. While wanting relief from stress is understandable, we need to remember that lasting spiritual peace is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus said:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” — John 14:27

The peace Jesus offers isn’t dependent on having a quiet environment or perfect circumstances. It comes from knowing Him, trusting His character, and resting in His promises.

Biblical meditation helps us turn our thoughts toward God’s truth when fear, worry, or uncertainty threaten to overwhelm us.

We don’t have to wait until life becomes calm to experience His peace. We can turn our attention to Him right in the middle of life’s difficulties.

4. Seeking Control vs. Trusting God’s Sovereignty

Some forms of Eastern meditation seek inner stillness, altered states of awareness, or spiritual experiences grounded in beliefs that differ from biblical Christianity.

As Christians, we should examine not only what a practice promises to do for us, but also the beliefs and spiritual framework behind it.

Biblical meditation reminds us that God is Almighty, and when He is in control, we can be at complete peace knowing that His purposes will prevail.

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5 [https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/psa/37/5/s_515005]

Eastern meditation dethrones God and puts fallen man in His place. Biblical meditation builds in us assurance that God is in control of every situation and will not let what comes to us destroy us.

5. Escaping Difficulties vs. Facing Them with God’s Help

Eastern meditation promises that by seeking higher levels of consciousness or altered states of consciousness, you can escape your stress and enter new realms of oneness with a deity.

However, once we have returned to our usual state of consciousness, whatever it was that brought on the stress is still there.

Biblical meditation doesn’t promise an escape from reality. It helps us remember God’s truth and depend on the Holy Spirit as we walk through difficult circumstances. Even when our problems don’t disappear, God’s Word can strengthen our faith and help us persevere.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 [https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/jas/1/2-4/s_1147002]

We don’t need to escape our troubles; by faith we walk through them, counting it all joy, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

6. Depending on a Particular Setting vs. Meditating on Scripture Anywhere

By using atmosphere, objects, silence, breathing techniques, and more, people are able to enter a meditative state.

It’s a manipulation of circumstances and atmosphere.

However, the child of God can meditate on God’s Word whenever, wherever, no matter the situation or circumstance, because we have direct access to the throne of God.

Indeed, we are the temple of God, and His Holy Spirit dwells within us.

We never need to manipulate any situation to experience peace; we simply recall the precious promises of the Word of God and place our faith and trust in Him!

How to engage in biblical meditation

The Lord spoke to Joshua and said this:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 [https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/jos/1/8-9/s_188008]

The Hebrew word for meditate used here is hagah, meaning to speak, mutter, muse, imagine or plot.

How to Practice Biblical Meditation

You don’t need special equipment, a particular atmosphere, or an hour of uninterrupted time to meditate on God’s Word. You can begin with just a few minutes.

1. Choose a verse. Start with a short passage, such as Psalm 1:2 or Joshua 1:8.

2. Read it slowly. Pay attention to the words and phrases. What does this verse reveal about God?

3. Repeat and ponder it. Say the verse quietly to yourself and think about what it means.

4. Apply it to your life. Ask yourself how this truth should influence your thoughts, attitudes, or decisions today.

5. Pray about what you’ve learned. Ask God to help you remember His Word and live according to it.

Biblical meditation isn’t merely repeating words. It’s taking time to consider God’s truth until it shapes the way we think and live.

One of the best ways to make biblical meditation part of your daily life is to become familiar with God’s Word so you can recall it throughout the day.

When you memorize Scripture, you have God’s truth ready to ponder, pray over, and apply whenever you need it.

If you’d like help getting started, download my Scripture Memorization Challenge Pack and begin building a habit of hiding God’s Word in your heart.

🌿 Ready to Walk This Out?

Knowing what God says is one thing. Learning to live from that truth is another.

That’s why I created Walk With Me—a private daily Bible coaching experience where we take what we’re learning in God’s Word and put it into practice together.

If you’re ready to go beyond simply reading about renewing your mind and begin intentionally replacing old patterns of thinking with God’s truth, come walk with me.

👉 Join Walk With Me and let’s take the next step together, and get the Scripture Memorization Pack illustrated above

Read more

For a long time, I thought the problem was my schedule.

If I could just become more organized…

More productive…

More disciplined…

Then surely I would stop feeling overwhelmed.

But eventually, I realized something surprising.

My mornings were quietly setting the tone for everything that followed.

Before I even got out of bed, I had already filled my mind with notifications, social media, work, and pressure.

By 8:00 a.m., I already felt behind.

No wonder I spent the rest of the day trying to catch up.

I didn’t need a better planner.

I needed to learn how to begin my day differently.

It wasn’t until I intentionally changed the first part of my day that everything else slowly began to change, too.

Not overnight. Not perfectly.

But little by little, my mornings became calmer. My thoughts became quieter. And my relationship with God became deeper.

Instead of waking up already exhausted, I began looking forward to the day again.

The Conversation That Changed My Mornings

Every afternoon, my husband would come into my office and ask,

“Come have tea with me.”

Part of me loved it.

The other part felt guilty.

I had too much to do.

Or at least, that was what I kept telling myself.

I knew those moments were important for our marriage. I also knew I needed someone to remind me to stop, take a break, and slow down the pace of my life.

Around that time, I was reminded of a book my brother had recommended: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.

As I read, I began to recognize some uncomfortable patterns.

My mornings weren’t peaceful because I had built them around hurry.

Without realizing it, I was training my mind to live under pressure before breakfast.

• I scrolled on my phone before I even got out of bed.

• I hurried through my devotions because I had so much work to do.

• I refused to take breaks because I wanted to get more done.

• I filled quiet moments with podcasts and YouTube videos instead of allowing myself to be still.

Breaking those habits wasn’t easy.

I constantly felt as though I was behind.

My mind was racing before breakfast.

And I struggled to slow down, even when I had the opportunity.

Looking back, it’s no wonder I felt exhausted.

I needed to make a change.

Maybe you do, too.

The good news is that you don’t have to change your whole life overnight.

Sometimes, the change begins with how you spend the first hour of your day.

The Morning Rhythms That Changed Everything

1. I Protected the First Part of My Day

If you want to establish a regular quiet time with Jesus, it helps to decide when you will meet with Him and protect that time as much as possible.

I set my alarm for two hours before the rest of my family is awake and moving around.

You may not need two hours. Perhaps thirty minutes is enough for you.

The goal isn’t to copy someone else’s routine. It’s to find a rhythm that gives you space to spend meaningful time with God.

If you wait until the house is busy, you may find yourself interrupted repeatedly. If possible, choose a time when you can be still and give your attention to the Lord.

I also stopped reaching for my phone first thing in the morning.

I know many people love using Bible apps, but I found that my phone made it too easy to become distracted.

Now, I use a physical Bible, a journal, and a pen.

For me, that simple change has made my time with God more intentional.

I begin with prayer walking. I walk around my kitchen and pray, which helps me wake up and begin moving while I talk with the Lord.

After that, I read and study the Bible. At the end of my quiet time, I sit quietly in God’s presence, reflecting on His Word and making room to listen.

The keyword here is quietly.

I don’t have other sounds playing—not even worship music. I enjoy beginning the day with silence, without another voice competing for my attention.

That quiet time helps me begin the day with a calmer heart and a more settled mind.

I’ve found that when I skip this rhythm, the rest of my day often feels noticeably different.

During this time, I try to avoid devices altogether.

• I don’t scroll through social media.

• I don’t check my messages.

• I don’t read my Bible on my phone.

Instead, I give my attention to the Lord and His Word.

2. I Found a Simple Way to Remember What I Read

Have you ever read something in Scripture that deeply encouraged you, only to struggle to remember it later in the day?

Perhaps God brought a verse to your attention or showed you something you hadn’t noticed before. You wanted to keep thinking about it, but the demands of the day quickly crowded it out.

My dad shared a simple idea that can help us carry what we’ve learned into the rest of the day.

Take a small piece of paper or an index card and write down something you learned from Scripture. Fold it up and put it in your pocket.

Then, as you go about your day, let that little piece of paper remind you to return your thoughts to God’s Word.

You could write down a verse, a truth you want to remember, a question to reflect on, or one practical way you want to respond to what you’ve read.

It takes only a few seconds, but it gives you a tangible reminder to meditate on Scripture beyond your morning quiet time.

Your time with God doesn’t have to end when you close your Bible.

You can carry His Word with you into your conversations, responsibilities, decisions, and ordinary moments throughout the day.

3. I Let Worship Fill My Home

Once my quiet time is finished, I turn on worship music and let it fill the house as everyone begins waking up.

I especially enjoy listening to these Dino Peace Series playlists:

• Majestic Peace

• Peace in the Midst of the Storm

• All Creation Sings

I love the atmosphere worship creates in our home. Sometimes, I’ll find myself with tears in my eyes as I sing along, or even raising my hands in a moment of heartfelt worship.

Music isn’t a substitute for spending time in God’s Word, of course. But worship helps me turn my attention toward the Lord as I move into the responsibilities of the day.

4. I Greet Each Family Member With a Hug

Now that I’ve spent time with Jesus and worship music is filling our home, my family begins waking up.

Someone comes into the kitchen and asks, “What’s for breakfast?”

Before I answer questions about breakfast or the day’s schedule, I try to give each member of my family a hug.

I want the first thing they receive from me to be my attention—not my distraction.

It’s easy to become so caught up in tasks that we offer a hurried “Good morning” without really connecting with the people around us.

But our families need more than a well-organized schedule. They need our presence, too.

A smile, a hug, or a few moments of genuine attention can help us begin the day with warmth rather than hurry.

Of course, not every morning goes according to plan. Some mornings are noisy, rushed, or interrupted.

The point isn’t perfection. It’s learning to make room for the people God has placed in our lives.

5. I Created a Schedule With Anchor Points

One thing I’ve learned about myself is that I need anchor points in my day.

These are routines or activities that happen at roughly the same time and give my day some structure.

Without a schedule or a routine, I can easily find myself pulled in several directions at once.

I’ve learned that peace often grows when we establish a few dependable rhythms.

Here are some of the anchor points that can help:

• Wake up at a reasonably consistent time. A regular rhythm can make it easier to prepare for the day.

• Protect a regular time for your quiet time. This helps you avoid continually postponing time with God until later.

• Choose a regular family mealtime when possible. This gives everyone a shared point in the day to work around.

• Establish a bedtime routine. Preparing for rest can help you end the day more intentionally.

Your schedule doesn’t have to account for every minute. In fact, leaving room for interruptions, rest, and unexpected needs is part of creating a realistic routine.

I simply need a few dependable points in my day to keep me grounded.

And if you’re someone who likes writing things down, a planner can help you bring those rhythms together.

I have a planner available in the Work. Create. Live. Resource Library to help you organize your days and put your plans on paper.

Explore the planner in the Work. Create. Live. Resource Library.

You don’t need to fill every page or create a complicated system. Use the pages that help you plan your priorities, organize your responsibilities, and make room for what matters most.

6. I Planned Our Meals Ahead of Time

Do you know what you’re having for dinner tonight and tomorrow, or do you figure it out as you go?

I discovered that when I don’t have a meal plan, I can spend far too much time trying to decide what to feed everyone.

Every decision I can make ahead of time is one less decision waiting for me in the morning.

Each Friday, I sit down and plan our meals for the following week. Then I write them in my planner.

That way, I know what to take out of the freezer, what ingredients I need, and what we’re having for dinner.

Having a meal plan in place has removed so much unnecessary stress from my day.

I don’t have to stand in the kitchen wondering what to make or spend time searching for ingredients at the last minute.

I already have a plan.

Of course, plans can change. But having a starting point makes it easier to adjust when life doesn’t go as expected.

And this is true of more than meal planning.

When we make a few decisions ahead of time, we free up some of our attention for the things that matter in the moment.

You Don’t Have to Change Everything at Once

These morning rhythms have made a significant difference in my life.

Not every one of them will fit your family, your season of life, or your responsibilities. And that’s okay.

You don’t need to wake up two hours before everyone else. You don’t need to follow my exact routine. You don’t need to create a perfect morning.

Instead, ask yourself:

• What tends to make my mornings feel rushed?

• What distracts me from spending time with God?

• What is one decision I could make the night before?

• What small rhythm would help me begin the day with greater peace?

Choose one change and practice it faithfully before adding another.

Perhaps you could leave your phone outside the bedroom.

Perhaps you could set aside fifteen minutes to read Scripture and pray.

Perhaps you could write tomorrow’s priorities in a planner before you go to bed.

Or perhaps you simply need to give yourself permission to slow down.

Looking back, I realize I wasn’t really looking for a better morning routine.

I was looking for a life that felt less rushed.

These habits didn’t make my life perfect. They didn’t remove every stressful day or eliminate every interruption.

But they helped change the atmosphere of my mornings.

Instead of beginning each day already feeling behind, I began starting my day rooted in God’s presence.

And that changed how I approached everything that followed.

Peace is rarely found in one dramatic change. More often, it grows through small, faithful habits repeated day after day.

So don’t despise the small beginning.

Start where you are. Invite God into your ordinary routines. And remember that the goal isn’t simply to have a more productive morning.

It’s to learn to walk with Jesus through the day He’s given you.

A Simple Daily Quiet Time Checklist

Would you like a simple reminder to help you build a more intentional quiet time?

Use the checklist below to help you slow down, spend time in God’s Word, and carry what you’re learning into your day. Adapt it to fit your season of life—you don’t need to do everything perfectly to begin growing.

A Final Encouragement

You don’t have to earn God’s presence by getting your morning right. He meets you in the middle of real life—with its interruptions, responsibilities, and imperfect routines.

Start with a little time in His Word. Take one truth with you into your day. And trust Him to keep working in you, one small step at a time.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

🌿 If you’d like encouragement and practical help as you learn to live out God’s Word in everyday life, you’re welcome to subscribe to Women Who Love Jesus. We’ll keep learning, reflecting, and walking with Jesus together.

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🌿 Ready to Walk This Out?

Knowing what God says is one thing. Learning to live from that truth is another.

That’s why I created Walk With Me—a private daily Bible coaching experience where we take what we’re learning in God’s Word and put it into practice together.

If you’re ready to go beyond simply reading about renewing your mind and begin intentionally replacing old patterns of thinking with God’s truth, come walk with me.

👉 Join Walk With Me and let’s take the next step together.

Have you ever finished your Bible reading for the day only to realize that you can’t remember much of what you just read?

You checked the box. You completed your reading plan. You moved on with your day.

But did the Word of God really make its way into your heart?

For years, I approached Bible reading as a doer. I come from a family of hard workers, and I’ve always been someone who knows how to get things done. Give me a task, and I’ll get busy.

But this year, God has been teaching me something that goes against my natural instincts: sometimes the most productive thing we can do is slow down.

And it has completely changed my quiet time.

You Don’t Have to Read Three Chapters a Day to Be Spiritual

There is nothing wrong with reading through the Bible in a year. I’ve known godly people who faithfully followed that practice, and it can be a wonderful way to become familiar with the whole counsel of Scripture.

But somewhere along the way, many of us begin to measure our spiritual lives by how much we read.

Three chapters a day. Five on Sunday. A completed reading plan. Another book checked off the list.

We can become so focused on getting through the Bible that we forget to let the Bible get into us.

This year, I’ve sometimes spent several days studying a single verse. I’ve read it, written it out, examined individual words, looked at its context, prayed over it, and returned to it repeatedly throughout the day.

And those verses have changed me.

The goal isn’t to accumulate Bible knowledge simply for the sake of knowing more. The goal is to know God through His Word and allow His truth to transform the way we think, live, and respond to the world around us.

How I Study One Verse Deeply

This year, I’ve been studying the biblical meaning of rest, beginning with the Hebrew word Shabbat and then exploring the New Testament.

One verse that has become especially meaningful to me is Matthew 11:28:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

I began by reading the verse in my Bible. Then I wrote it out by hand in my notebook.

As I wrote, I noticed words I might otherwise have passed over. I asked questions about their meaning and considered how they connected to the rest of the passage.

I also used the Blue Letter Bible app to explore the original-language words and compare their uses throughout Scripture.

One important principle guides this process: I read and study Scripture for myself before consulting commentaries or other teachers. Those resources can be helpful, but they should supplement our own careful study of God’s Word rather than replace it.

You don’t need an elaborate setup to begin. A Bible, a notebook, and a pen are enough.

Here is a simple approach you can try:

1. Read slowly. Choose a verse or short passage and read it several times.

2. Write it out. Copy the Scripture into a notebook, paying attention to individual words and phrases.

3. Ask questions. What does this passage mean in its context? Why is this word used here? What does it reveal about God?

4. Study carefully. Compare related Scriptures and consult trustworthy study tools when you need help understanding the passage.

5. Pray over what you discover. Ask God to help you understand His Word and respond to it faithfully.

6. Return to the verse. Think about it later in the day. Let it shape your conversations, decisions, and responses.

If you want to learn more about studying Scripture in context, you can explore my other articles on Bible study and understanding God’s Word.

Let Scripture Follow You Throughout the Day

One of the most beautiful changes I’ve experienced is learning to carry a verse with me long after my Bible is closed.

I write it in my notebook. I reflect on it while doing ordinary tasks. I bring it up in conversations with my husband. I return to it in prayer.

Sometimes I spend two or three days thinking about a single verse because I still have questions about what it means.

And that’s okay.

Meditation on Scripture isn’t about emptying our minds. It’s about filling our thoughts with God’s truth and returning to it intentionally.

Psalm 1 describes the blessed person as one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night.

That kind of meditation takes time. It invites us to slow down, consider what God has said, and allow His Word to shape our inner lives.

If your thoughts often wander toward worry, discouragement, or feelings of inadequacy, learning to meditate on Scripture can also become part of renewing your mind.

What Matthew 11:28 Taught Me About Rest

As I slowly worked through Matthew 11:28, I began to see myself in Jesus’ invitation.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

I know how to work. I know how to take responsibility. I know how to keep going when there is still something left to do.

But I have had to learn that being faithful doesn’t mean carrying every responsibility without stopping.

Jesus doesn’t invite the weary to prove themselves by working harder. He invites them to come to Him.

He also says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

That invitation has been especially meaningful to me because I came from a background where rules, performance, and proving one’s spirituality carried enormous weight.

Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart. He doesn’t call us to earn His acceptance through spiritual performance.

Our quiet times aren’t another opportunity to prove how good we are at being Christians.

We come to the Word because we need Him. We come to learn from Him, know Him, and be transformed by Him.

Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down

If your quiet time has become a routine that feels dry, rushed, or mechanical, consider changing your approach.

You don’t have to abandon your reading plan. You don’t have to stop reading entire chapters. And you don’t need to feel guilty if you spend several days in one passage.

Simply give yourself permission to slow down.

Read a little. Write a little. Pray. Ask questions. Meditate. Return to the passage tomorrow.

The question isn’t how many verses you can finish today.

The question is whether you are making room for God’s Word to take root in your heart.

A Simple Invitation for Tomorrow’s Quiet Time

Choose one verse. Read it slowly. Write it out. Ask God to help you understand it. Then carry that verse with you throughout the day.

Let it become part of your prayers, your thoughts, and your responses.

You might be surprised by how much God can teach you when you stop rushing to the next passage.

The goal isn’t simply to read the Word of God. It’s to let the Word of God change you from the inside out.

What would happen if you spent a little less time trying to get through your Bible and a little more time letting its truth get into you?

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Have you ever read the book of Amos?

Or any of the prophetic books of the Bible?

It’s sobering to read them right now, at this stage of American history, because the parallel lines we can draw between Israel and Judah (before they were sacked by Assyria and Babylon) and America right now are very clear and distinct.

In Amos 6, we see that Israel was prosperous.

They enjoy luxury.

Who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on your couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall

They love entertainment.

Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David

They enjoy pleasure.

Who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments,

They were also wicked and idolatrous.

Much of Amos 5 talks about the injustice and lawlessness of Israel at that time.

They despised those who had a standard of holiness.

Godly people had to censure themselves because political correctness was rampant in their culture.

They misused and overtaxed the poor while using that money to build luxury homes for themselves.

Most disturbing was that even their so-called worship of God was no longer pleasing to God.

“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.

This is a picture of America

Our culture is drowning in luxury, entertainment, and pleasure.

Idolatry has never been more rampant in American culture than it is right now. But not just celebrity and materialism; paganism and ancient cult practices are on the rise.

More and more, godly people are being censured and ridiculed for standing up for biblical truth.

The middle class is disappearing while the divide between the wealthy and the poor is growing at an astounding rate.

The poor are being oppressed by the wealthy, while the wealthy are living in gross luxury that they continue to amass off the backs of the poor, who are finding it more and more difficult to live the normal lives of their parents and grandparents.

Jobs are increasingly harder to find.

Homes and cars are increasingly harder to afford.

But most disturbing is the fact that our churches have turned into temples of idolatry.

Mega-churches (and even smaller churches) are built upon the name and personality of the pastor and worship leader.

People gather and talk about God, while in reality we are worshiping man.

So-called worship music today is largely written by enormous “Christian” conglomerates who have made worship into an industry and who tightly control what we sing and who writes what we sing.

Do a deep dive into the history of Christian music and CCLI here. Warning: it will turn your stomach.

All the while, a pagan and ungodly music industry is amassing wealth from “worship” music written for charts and Spotify plays, and not for the actual worship of God.

These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:8

Too many American Christians gather in churches each Sunday saying the name of God, while their hearts are saturated with idolatry, pleasure, luxury, and entertainment.

And God is saying, “Your worship is just noise. Just turn it off because I don’t want to listen to it. I hate your assemblies. They are a stench in my nostrils.

God has sent messengers

In the decades leading up to Israel’s and Judah’s captivity to Assyria and Babylon, God had sent prophets as messengers.

Over time, he increased the warning by sending plagues of locusts, fires, and other natural disasters.

But they would not listen.

In fact, many of their prophets would prophesy blessing and “the day of the Lord is coming” as if it were something positive.

But God said to them, “The day of the Lord isn’t actually what you think it is.

Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion,
And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him! Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light?
Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

And they preferred to listen to the prophets who were prophesying fun and positive things.

In Amos 7, Amaziah the priest tells Amos to get lost, something that had happened to many of God’s prophets in that day.

God has been sending His messengers

9-11 was a warning.

In the weeks following 9-11, churches all over America were flooded with people who didn’t normally attend church.

They were shaken and confused, and they were looking for answers.

What did they find? What they didn’t find was hope. They didn’t find a message of salvation and Jesus’ sacrifice.

Instead, they found patriotic rallies and messages of “America will rise from the ashes”.

Salvation isn’t found in “America is strong”; it is found in Jesus Christ.

So God sent more messengers:

• Katrina

• Floods

• Ravaging fires

He has sent prophets to warn the church, but the Church hasn’t take them seriously, and in some cases has told them to get lost.

Most Christians prefer to hear:

• Live your best life

• You are enough

• This is a year of favor

• This is the time of God’s blessing

Really?

We are a nation consumed with hyper-sexuality and pleasure.

We are a nation addicted to our ears in entertainment with the grossest kind of perversion and violence.

We have gorged ourselves on portrayals of immorality, adultery, and perversion as entertainment.

If you don’t believe me, just do a little research on Nickelodeon in the late 80s and early 90s and the hyper-sexualization of Disney Channel stars.

If it doesn’t make your stomach turn, that in and of itself is a warning.

How many more warnings will God send before He says enough?

There came a time when both Israel and Judah ran through God’s grace to the point where God said, “enough”.

He removed His hand of protection and allowed them to be utterly destroyed.

Behold, I am setting a plumb line [as a standard] among My people Israel [showing the defectiveness of the nation, requiring judgment]. I shall not spare them any longer. [The door of mercy is shut.] Amos 7:8 AMP

While it is true that throughout the book of Jeremiah we read that God would gather His people back and once again show His mercy, what we see is 400 years of utter silence when no prophet of God was speaking to the people.

This is the intertestamental period.

400 years.

To give some perspective, America just celebrated its 250th year as a nation. Imagine that during all of America’s existence, plus another 150 years, the voice of God was not speaking to us.

How many more warnings will God send to the American church before He will simply say, “enough”?

God will not use man to save us

Stop looking to Donald Trump to save America.

He will not and cannot save America.

Politics cannot save America.

Stop looking to TPUSA and the legacy of Charlie Kirk to save America. Organizations and men - even good men - will not save America.

And please, please PLEASE - stop looking to Bethel, NAR churches, and so-called prophets who are all over Facebook and YouTube fleecing the church and prophesying blessing and favor.

These are false prophets proclaiming “Thus says the Lord” when the Lord has not spoken.

They are hirelings who are fleecing the people of God and ravaging the church.

It is time we get our eyes off of fallen man and turn to God for our salvation and hope.

Only God can save us.

Dear sister - OPEN YOUR BIBLE.

Stop listening to fallen man telling you what the Bible says; stop listening to a prophet telling you what God is speaking.

OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO YOU THROUGH HIS WORD.

Stop believing the lie that you need a so-called apostle telling you what the Bible says through “special revelation” (ie divination and extra-biblical teaching), because this is not biblical.

God has no elites. There is no “special anointing”. He will speak to you through His Word as clearly as He speaks to anyone else.

God is not prejudiced in any way.

The hope for America is found on our knees.

When I shut up heaven, and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

For years, I thought the biggest battles in my life were the circumstances around me.

But one day, the Lord showed me something that changed the way I looked at my spiritual battles.

My biggest battles were actually happening inside my mind.

I struggled with the effects of abuse, chronic illness, fatigue, feelings of inadequacy, perfectionism, anxiety, and depression.

There were seasons when I questioned myself constantly and analyzed every conversation I walked away from.

Am I doing enough?

Why can’t I handle this?

What’s wrong with me?

What if I fail?

What if people are disappointed in me?

And the more I listened to those thoughts, the more real they seemed.

I didn’t understand then that a thought isn’t necessarily the truth simply because I think it.

The Battle for Your Mind

Scripture tells us:

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

Renewing our minds isn’t about pretending negative thoughts don’t exist.

It’s about learning to recognize the thoughts that don’t agree with God’s Word, and then replacing them with what God says is true.

I started memorizing Scripture.

I meditated on it.

I repeated God’s truth when my emotions grew toxic and negative.

When I felt inadequate, I reminded myself of who I am in Christ.

When anxiety told me I was powerless, I went back to what Scripture said about God’s strength being made perfect in my weakness.

When perfectionism told me I had to get everything right, I rehearsed the names of those in Hebrews’ “Hall of Faith” who were flawed and broken - and reminded myself that God still used them for His glory.

When circumstances made me feel defeated, I learned to bring my thoughts back under the authority of God’s Word.

And slowly, something changed.

The circumstances didn’t change. What changed was the level of peace and rest in my own heart and mind.

And when my thinking changed, my responses changed.

My emotions changed.

My confidence in God changed.

My whole entire life changed.

And I have never been the same.

That’s why I’m so passionate about teaching women how to renew their minds through Scripture.

Because I’ve experienced the freedom that comes when God’s truth overcomes the lies we’ve been told.

But Knowing Isn’t Always Enough

Here’s what I’ve discovered after years of teaching Bible studies:

We can know what Scripture says and still struggle to apply it to our everyday thoughts.

We can underline verses.

Save Bible studies.

Listen to sermons.

Read books.

And still find ourselves lying awake at night believing the same old thoughts.

Sometimes what we need isn’t more information.

We need someone to walk with us while we practice.

That’s why I created Walk With Me.

Come Walk With Me

Walk With Me is my private, paid Substack Chat where I’m personally coaching women through a step-by-step process of renewing their minds through Scripture.

Each day, we’ll take one small step.

We’ll identify the thoughts we’re struggling with.

We’ll examine them against God’s Word.

We’ll meditate on Scripture.

We’ll practice replacing lies with truth.

And I’ll check in with you throughout the process with prompts, questions, encouragement, and practical exercises.

This isn’t another intensive Bible study that gives you a mountain of material to complete.

It’s ongoing coaching for real life.

And I’ve created brand-new renewing-the-mind worksheets specifically for Walk With Me.

These are resources you won’t find on my blog or anywhere else. They’re available exclusively to paid Walk With Me members.

Because I don’t want to simply tell you that your mind can be renewed.

I want to walk beside you while you learn how.

If you’ve been struggling with thoughts that have controlled you for years, I want you to know something I wish I had understood much earlier:

You don’t have to believe every thought that enters your mind.

God’s Word is truth.

And your mind can be renewed.

One Scripture.

One thought.

One day at a time.

🌿 Come Walk With Me.

👉 Join Walk With Me and let’s take the next step together.

You don’t have to keep thinking the way you’ve always thought. God’s Word can transform the way you think—and ultimately the way you live.

Renewing your mind is not something we do once and then check off our spiritual to-do list. As we walk with Jesus, we continually encounter thoughts, fears, beliefs, and patterns that need to be brought back into alignment with God’s truth.

That’s why I’ve gathered these resources together in one place. Whether you’re just beginning to explore what it means to renew your mind or you’ve been working through the process for years, you’ll find practical tools here to help you move from knowing God’s Word to living it.

If renewing your mind is something God is working on in your life right now, I invite you to become a paid subscriber and get access to the complete Renewing Your Mind Resource Collection below.

Become a Paid Subscriber →

Read more

One of the things I’ve realized recently is that many of you probably don’t know how much is actually inside the Resource Library.

And honestly, I don’t blame you.

I’ve been adding Bible verse cards, prayer journals, Scripture writing challenges, Bible study workbooks, worksheets, bookmarks, guided journeys, and other resources for a long time.

They’re all there for you—but unless you’re regularly visiting the Resource Library, it’s easy to miss something that might be exactly what you need right now.

So I thought I’d put everything together in one place.

Think of this post as your Resource Library guide.

Below, I’ve gathered the different resource collections and linked each one so you can easily browse through them.

And I’ve pulled out a few of my favorites along the way.

🚶🏻‍♀️‍➡️Walk With Me Paid Subscriber Chat

Inside Walk With Me, I'll help you know which tools to use and when.

📖 Bible Verse Cards

One of the newest additions here is 10 Bible Verses for Freedom in Christ, which pairs beautifully with the Walk Free in Christ resources we've been working through.

🙏 Prayer Journals & Bible Study Workbooks

A special favorite of mine is the Walk Free in Christ Workbook, which was created to accompany the Galatians study and help you move beyond simply reading Scripture into actually applying what you're learning.

📝 Bible Study Worksheets & Printables

🔖 Printable Bible Bookmarks

A Few Special Resources I Don’t Want You to Miss

There are also a few resources in the Library that deserve their own mention.

🌿 Psalm 91 Scripture Writing Journal

👑 Truth for the Daughter of the King: Identity

🌸 My Identity in Christ Journey

And if you joined us live, you can always come back and revisit a day when you need that particular truth again.

Your Resource Library Is Meant to Be Used

I don’t want the Resource Library to be a place where you download something once and forget about it.

I created these resources because I know what it’s like to need something practical to help you stay in God’s Word.

Sometimes you need a Bible verse sitting on your desk.

Sometimes you need a journal to help you slow down and pray.

Sometimes you need a worksheet to help you process what you’re learning.

And sometimes you simply need someone to walk alongside you through a particular area of your Christian life.

That’s what I hope these resources can be.

Tools to help you open your Bible, slow down, think deeply, pray honestly, and apply God’s truth to your everyday life.

So if you haven’t explored the Resource Library recently, take a few minutes and look around.

You may find something there that you didn’t even know you needed.

Visit the Resource Library →

And if you’re already a paid subscriber, remember: these resources are one of the benefits of your membership. Don’t leave them sitting on the shelf!

Download the ones that speak to where you are right now—and then come back when you need something new.

I’m continually adding to the Library, so there’s always something new to discover.

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.

Earlier this year, our community walked through a 5-Day Psalm 91 Scripture Writing Challenge together. During those five days, we slowly meditated on one of the most comforting chapters in all of Scripture, discovering what it means to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in His faithful care.

If you missed the challenge—or if you’d simply like to work through it again at your own pace—this page has everything you need. Below you’ll find links to each day’s Scripture writing prompt, chat discussion, and any accompanying teachings, all gathered together in one convenient place.

To help you go even deeper, be sure to download the Psalm 91 Scripture Writing Journal from my free Resource Library. The journal includes the daily Scripture passages, journaling pages, reflection questions, and space to record what God teaches you as you meditate on His Word.

Whether you’re walking through this challenge for the first time or revisiting it as a reminder of God’s faithfulness, my prayer is that Psalm 91 will strengthen your confidence in the Lord and remind you that your safest place is always in His presence.

What You’ll Need:

You don’t need anything fancy to begin renewing your mind through Scripture. A few simple tools are enough:

• A Bible

• A journal or notebook

• Pens

• Bible highlighters

• Colored pens or pencils if you enjoy Bible journaling

• Sticky notes or tabs for marking important passages

Find all my favorite resources in one place in my Amazon Storefront

Take your time, meditate on each passage, and allow God’s promises to fill your heart with peace as you journey through Psalm 91. ❤️

Day 1 - Click Here

Day 2 - Click Here

Day 3 - Click Here

Day 4 - Click Here

Day 5 - Click Here

Day 6 - Click Here

Day 7 - Click Here

If you would like to leave me feedback on this study, please visit this form here.

Over the past three weeks, we’ve discovered one life-changing truth after another about who we are in Christ.

• We’ve seen that we are chosen.

• We are forgiven.

• We are redeemed.

• We are complete in Christ.

• We are God’s workmanship.

• We are children of God.

But knowing those truths is only the beginning.

The question becomes:

How do we live like someone whose identity has been completely changed?

That’s exactly where Paul takes us in Colossians 3.

He begins by reminding believers that because we have been raised with Christ, we are to set our minds on things above rather than on earthly things. Our lives are now hidden with Christ in God.

In other words, our identity has changed.

And because our identity has changed, our lives should begin to reflect that new identity.

Paul paints a beautiful picture by describing our old life as something we take off.

Like dirty, worn-out clothes that no longer belong to us.

• Anger.

• Wrath.

• Malice.

• Slander.

• Lying.

These were the garments of our old life.

They may have felt familiar.

They may even have seemed comfortable because we’d worn them for so long.

But they no longer fit the person we’ve become in Christ.

Instead, Paul tells us to put on something entirely different.

• Compassion.

• Kindness.

• Humility.

• Gentleness.

• Patience.

• Forgiveness.

Above all these things...

Love.

I love that picture because every morning we make a choice about what we’re going to wear.

In the same way, every day we choose whether we’ll clothe ourselves in attitudes that belong to our old identity or in those that reflect who we already are in Christ.

Notice that Paul doesn’t tell us to put on these qualities so that we can become God’s children.

He tells us to wear them because we already are.

Obedience doesn’t create our identity.

It reveals it.

As we’ve walked through this My Identity in Christ Journey, my prayer has never been that you would simply memorize more verses.

My prayer has been that you would begin believing them.

That when fear comes, you’ll remember you’re God’s child.

When shame whispers, you’ll remember you’ve been justified.

When your past tries to define you, you’ll remember you’ve been made new.

When insecurity creeps in, you’ll remember you’re complete in Christ.

Identity always comes before behavior.

We don’t strive to become someone God might accept.

We live from the acceptance Christ has already secured for us.

As we close this journey together, I hope you’ll continue returning to these truths.

The enemy will continue trying to remind you of who you once were.

But God will continue reminding you of who you are now.

So each morning, before you face the day, ask yourself:

Which clothes am I putting on today?

Will I wear the garments of my old life?

Or will I clothe myself with the character of Christ, living out the identity He has already given me?

That choice, made one day at a time, is how we learn to walk in the freedom that has always been ours.

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Have you ever felt like your past still has a hold on you?

Maybe you’ve confessed your sins and know that God has forgiven you, yet the memories remain. The enemy whispers that you’ll never really change. You replay old failures, old labels, and old regrets until they begin to feel like your identity.

Many Christians live this way.

They’ve been forgiven, but they still think like prisoners.

They’ve been set free, but they continue carrying the weight of who they used to be.

The apostle Paul reminds us that the gospel offers something far greater than forgiveness. In 1 Corinthians 6:11, he points us to a completely new identity.

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (NKJV)

Notice what Paul doesn’t say.

He doesn’t say, “You’re trying to become different.”

He doesn’t say, “One day you’ll leave your past behind.”

He says, “Such were some of you.”

Past tense.

Because of Jesus, your past no longer defines your present.

You have been washed. Your sins have been cleansed, and you no longer stand guilty before God.

You have been sanctified. You have been set apart for God’s purposes. Your life now belongs to Him.

You have been justified. God has declared you righteous because of Christ. You don’t stand before Him condemned—you stand before Him accepted.

These are not promises for someday.

They are realities for every believer today.

The challenge is learning to believe what God says more than we believe the accusations of our past.

Leaving your past behind doesn’t happen because you forget it ever existed.

It happens because you begin to see yourself through the finished work of Christ instead of through your former life.

That’s the heart of our Identity in Christ Journey.

As we renew our minds with God’s Word, those old labels begin to lose their power. We stop introducing ourselves by our wounds, our failures, or our fears and begin living from the identity God has already given us.

In yesterday’s livestream, we spent time unpacking this beautiful verse and talking about what it means to truly leave our past behind and walk confidently into our identity in Christ.

I pray it encourages you to stop looking backward and begin embracing the person God says you already are.

🔒 Paid Subscriber Replay

The replay of this teaching is available below for paid subscribers.

In this week’s livestream, we explore:

• What it means to be washed, sanctified, and justified

• Why so many Christians struggle to leave their past behind

• How Satan uses guilt and shame to keep us stuck

• The difference between remembering your past and living from it

• Practical ways to renew your mind and embrace your identity in Christ

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