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Feeding Your Spirit

I currently subscribe to a daily email devotional from Christian Women Today Devotionals and often times I don't even take the time to read it because of my busy schedule. Or maybe sometimes I just don't want to read what it says for fear of being convicted. Recently I've been down in the slumps a lot and it seems like it's been a roller coaster ride for me lately. I don't know if it's from having a baby or what, but I really need some motivation to get my act together! Some days I feel like a great parent, a great wife, a great cook, a great household organizer, and a good friend. I've got dinner in the oven by 5, dessert made, homework done by 4, the house cleaned, laundry done, and the plants watered. However, other days, I am lazy and don't take a shower until 3 p.m., right before Katherine gets home from school. I feed Matthew chocolate pudding for lunch because it's easy, and I stick Christopher in the swing so he'll fall asleep. I schedule things in my day so I won't have to deal with certain issues or tasks I've put off....I know I know. BUT today I actually decided to read the devotional that normally goes unread in my Inbox. This is what it said-
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~Feeding Your Spirit~
Do you notice how your spirit is affected by the things you feed it? We feed our spirit by the things we dwell on in our minds. When doubt, discouragement, depression or fear drag our spirits to the depths, we need to stop and look at the paths our thoughts have been running down.
God knows us so well. He knows our tendency to settle into the depths of despair. He gives us five verses in Psalm 103:1-5 to address this very thing. Turn your thoughts to God's Word and choose to lift your eyes off yourself and raise them to Heaven.
-"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name."
Sometimes it takes everything in us to turn our eyes to Heaven and to offer the sacrifice of praise from a heavy heart.
-"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits"
When our eyes move from our own state of affairs we can look at all God offers us. Listen to the refreshing, life-giving things God asks us not to forget:
-Who FORGIVES all your sins
Thank you, Lord, that I am forgiven. Fill me with the wonder of a clean heart. Help me to declare my forgiveness when I am tempted to wallow in the pit of despair over my past, my failures and my weaknesses. I am forgiven!
-And HEALS all your diseases
Lord, I bring my aching body to You and ask You to touch me with Your hand of healing. Give me wisdom and understanding of what to do physically. I also bring the diseases of my heart to you. Lord, remove all bitterness and pride and show me the things that erode my spirit.
-Who REDEEMS your life from the pit
Lord, I am amazed at the fact that You reach into the pit that I sometimes dig for myself... and You lift me up. You bring beauty out of ashes as I trust in You. You buy back all the broken pieces and give me new life! Thank you!
-And CROWNS you with love and compassion
Lord, Your care and tenderness is a constant surprise even though I know You love me. Thank You for the attention You give to the details of my life as I offer it to You.
-Who SATISFIES your desires with good things
Thank you that Your plans for me are to find my fulfillment in You as I offer myself to You. You made me and You know how to grow me into all I ever wanted to be.
-"So that your youth is RENEWED like the eagle's."
Lord, when I see how You forgive me, heal me, redeem my life, crown me with Your love and satisfy me, I am truly renewed in my spirit.
~Thank you for this wonderful view of Your desires for me.
I WILL praise You with everything that is within me.
"Praise the Lord O my soul, all my inmost being, praise His holy name."
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I just found this devotional really encouraging and thought I'd pass it on. I'm thankful that God is able to feed our Spirit with good things and bring us out of the pit when we feel there's no rope to grab onto. May you be encouraged by this...and have a great day!

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