Imagine that you see yourself in a brand new way.
Imagine that the wounds left by another person’s actions or words are made whole.
Imagine that you step into your true identity.
That’s what took place in Luke 8:40-48. [Read more…]
You are more than that lie
What’s a lie that you have believed about who you are?
That’s a hard question, but an important one to ask.
Because some of us have accepted a lie as truth, and have allowed it to define us. Some of us may even allow that lie to keep us from stepping into an opportunity that God has uniquely designed for us.
And that’s not okay. You are worth so much more than a stinking lie.
I have fought this battle of lies and God has healed my heart in a thousand different ways, but sometimes a new lie tries to tiptoe in.
When the enemy hits us with a lie, there’s a reason behind it. It’s to:
- silence us
- stunt our spiritual or emotional growth
- to hide the gifting God has placed inside of us for his purposes
So we choose truth over a lie every single time. The beautiful news is that we can find everything we need in God’s word. It’s right there, waiting for us, like a seasoned warrior ready to stand up and fight for us.
I’ve created a printable for you. It’s from my book, The Spirit-Led Heart. I know the graphic is a little small here, but the printable is frame-size and easy to read. Place it somewhere that you can see it every single day until the truth soaks in.
Rather than allowing a lie to disqualify us from anything, we disqualify that lie with truth.
So let’s remember these three things today. Speak it loud if you need.
- God’s truth is greater than any lie
- We all have gaps, but God fills them
- When we step into truth, we are freed to live the truth
Love you friends. Let’s live in freedom and truth together.
Suzie
Resources
Listen to Episode 29 of More Than Small Talk with Holley Gerth, Jennifer Watson, and Suzie Eller. In today’s episode we take this topic deeper. I share the one lie that the enemy tried to place on my heart recently. It’s a powerful, life-giving conversation. Listen on iTunes, KLRC, or your favorite podcast app.
Want a printable of the beautiful Freedom from Lies graphic shared in this blog post? It’s yours! Download it here.
How do I tell my story?
If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome! I’m so glad you are here.
A friend called. She was in a hard season. I felt prompted to share a story with her. It was one I hadn’t told very many people because it was too tender, but I knew God was leading me to share.
Later that day I received an email from her.
Suz, that was exactly what I needed to hear.
There’s power in sharing our stories, but can we be honest?
It’s also vulnerable.
What if no one listens? What if it’s the wrong thing to say? How much do you share? How do you know if it’s going to be helpful? What if we stumble over our words.
Do you know what freed me?
I finally allowed the Holy Spirit lead the conversation.
He knows the person standing in front of me. He knows the details I don’t. He knows the heart and struggles that person is dealing with.
I don’t have to craft a specific message. I don’t have to make it special or extra-exciting. I don’t have to edit out the hard parts or make myself look like a hero. I don’t have to hide the beautiful, healing parts.
When we invite him into the conversation, something beautiful takes place.
We can simply live our life and share our story as God creates opportunity.
There are two simple rules that are helpful when sharing our story:
- Listen
- Share your story, then let it rest.
It’s tempting to rush in. Allow her to tell you her story. Listen all the way to the end.
Once you share your story, let it rest.
It’s not your job to make something happen. Your story is a seed. God knows exactly how to use it to encourage, lead, direct, or comfort.
Let him take that seed and water it in his own timing.
I’m praying for you today, that a part (or all) of your story will encourage or comfort another person. That you’ll boldly and gently let your story pour over that person’s heart as God does a good work with it.
Suzie
Resource
Perhaps listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit is a new concept for you. The Spirit-Led Heart: Living a Life of Love and Faith Without Borders helps you uncover ways to listen and respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Find a free chapter and other freebies on this page.
I’m giving away a copy of The Spirit-Led Heart (plus some other free goodies) on my Instagram page. Check it out!
10 ways to be fully present
It’s almost an epidemic.
We know there’s value in experiencing what is right in front of us. We don’t want to be that person with regrets. We hear those stories that tell us what they wish they had done while there was time.
But it’s still a struggle to be in the moment.
Today I want to invite us all to intentionally choose one way to live fully right where we are. Here are 10 suggestions to get you started (and a bonus!).
Hold a real conversation
Push every every other thought out of your mind and give the person in front of you 100% attention. Listen all the way to the end without interrupting.
Let that hug linger
I know you’re tempted to pull away, but let that hug sink in.
Look for the special in a moment
What is special about an ordinary moment? Look for it. Note it. Embrace it. Savor it. Thank God for it.
Look at it from a child’s perspective
Do you notice how a child delights in the simplest things? Ask God to give you a child-like perspective when you are tempted to rush through a special event or celebration.
10 ways to be fully present with those you love. #livingfreetogether Click To TweetPut your phone down
Don’t just turn it over. Put it away. Don’t allow it to be a third-party in that conversation or gathering.
Give your to-do list less power
Sure, that list is important but is it the boss of you? It’s not. Give yourself permission to defer, delegate, or delete some of the tasks. You’ll get them done, because that’s who you are, but rolling them over to another day or allowing someone else to help with them is a strong move.
Look them in the eye
If, like me, you are easily distracted, look that person in the eye. Let them know you are there, 100%
Resist the urge to take a picture
I realize we all have six million pictures on our phones. Some of those photos are absolute keepers. Yet the memories that are most vivid are those that involve all our senses. Choose to embrace the moment in your mind, rather than on your phone.
Go for a hike or walk
Go for a walk or hike with no other agenda than to be a “noticer.” No pics. No Map-My-Run or specific pace. Take a friend, child, or loved one with you. Notice God’s creation. Celebrate the beauty you see.
Be spontaneous
Jump on the bed (seriously). Laugh. Say yes to something frivolous and fun.
Bonus: Just Breathe
You would be surprised at how often we forget to breathe. Let that breath go all the way to your belly. Take in the air you need. Do this 10 times.
Okay friends, you aren’t required to do all of them but if you choose one, practice it all week long. Share how it went for you. What you learned. What you want to do different from here on out.
Let’s live fully! We’ll arrive at “one day” and our story will be that we lived our lives exactly the way we wanted. No regrets!
Suzie
In today’s More Than Small Talk podcast (Episode 29: How to Be Fully Present), Holley Gerth, Jennifer Watson, and I take this deeper. We share all the reasons we struggle with this and some ways we are trying our best to be fully present.
The last thing we need is another list. . .
I feel out of sorts and I’m not sure why.
Should I “do” something?
That’s where my brain goes, because that’s the way we are wired. We try to fill up those out-of-sort feelings with tasks and goals — or we try to work our way out of them instead of asking ourselves what we really need.
So I pick up the Bible. The words as familiar as my heartbeat. Something fresh, something new leaps from the page into that mile-wide valley in my heart.
I read a couple of pages in a devotional. Words settle like cool rain on a scorching summer morning.
God is with you. His perpetual presence with you can be a source of joy, springing up and flowing out in streams of abundant life.
Then I simply talk to him. No agendas. No big requests. I just open my heart and talk.
Yep, that’s what I needed.
In the busyness, I let this part of me fade away. I’ve been in the Bible, studying for ministry, but not just me and God.
I sink to my knees in the carpet. I stop wrestling with that nudge that says, “I miss you, Suzie”.
That I’ve been push, pushing away.
Knowing Christ is part of who I am. I’m out of sorts because I can’t ignore that part of me and feel whole.
It’s not about what I need to do, but Who I need.
Just knowing that leads to renewal as I step into that need with him. He becomes the center of my life again, and suddenly I’m centered too.
I’m not there out of duty. Not to check off my to-do list, but simply to read a scripture, a passage. To call out his name.
And I am filled. Springs of living water, just as promised in John 7:38.
Are you out of sorts and unsure why?
Don’t start that to-do list. Don’t try to work your way out of it. Those to-do’s will be there when you get back.
He’s waiting for you.
Suzie
In today’s More Than Small Talk podcast, Holley, Jennifer, and I talk about our lists. You know, the one that’s always going on in our brain. The ones that try to take over our life.
While lists are important (I’m a huge list maker), sometimes we just need to put the lists aside. Or, if you are like me, make those lists work for you instead of be the boss of you.
I hope you’ll tune in today at KLRC.com or on your favorite podcast app. Click here to see all the possibilities available to you to listen.
Hey, let’s laugh again
When was the last time you really laughed? That deep belly laugh that goes all the way to your toes.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 says that there’s “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
To live free: Make time to laugh
That may seem like an odd concept, but if we’ve fallen out of practice, it’s time to learn to laugh again.
It begins by laughing with those closest to us.
Have you ever watched your child laugh with friends? You watch their lighthearted chatter and wish they’d do that more with you. There may be times our loved ones think the same thing. They see that smile or light-hearted banter and long for it to be aimed in their direction.
Our home is where stress can be the highest but it’s also where the people we love the most reside. If it’s been a while since you laughed, surprise your loved ones with that gift. It absolutely changes the mood of your home.
Give less of yourself to joy-robbing activities
We all have a lot of roles and responsibilities, but how much of ourselves do we offer to those tasks?
- Do they consume all of our free time?
- Do they take the place of refueling and rest?
- Is every job our job?
The answers to those questions help us as we do the best we can to carve out pockets of space just for down time with those we love best. [Read more…]
No is not a dirty word
Is it hard for you to say no — and why or why not?
That was our confession question today on the More Than Small Talk podcast.
If you are a people pleaser, saying no is your kryptonite. It may make you feel like you are letting someone down, down, down. So you say yes, even when it’s not the best choice and resentment creeps in.
If you aren’t a people pleaser, saying no can still feel hard. You might feel obliged to give a long list of excuses. Maybe they push back and that just feels awkward, or eventually wears you down. So you say yes, even when it’s the best choice and resentment creeps in.
Saying no isn’t a bad word. It doesn’t make you a bad person. In a world where there are a thousand things pulling at you, saying no allows you to say yes to those things that are your assignment.
In the podcast Holley, Jennifer, and I shared all the reasons it’s sometimes wise to say no. Not just for us, but for others involved. But we also explored why it’s so stinking hard.
Discover all the ways you can listen to the podcast right now.
I hope you’ll listen to the discussion. I want to hear what you’ve learned about saying no.
What I learned is that:
- If saying no makes me feel resentful, I may want to take a deeper look at why.
- There are gentle ways to say no, and still be firm.
- Saying no doesn’t make me a bad person.
- My “no” may open the door for someone else’s yes.
- Saying no allows me to step fully into my assignment(s).
How do you respond when the answer is supposed to be no?
Are you sucked into an unhealthy dance of pressure/power/persistence?
What is one step you can take today to break that pattern?I
For me, it was simply saying no. That sounds easy, right? It wasn’t, but the more I did it the more it felt natural. Will you join me in a simple challenge?
For the next 24 hours, give a clear no if it’s not your assignment.
If it is your assignment, by all means say yes! Give it your all.
As we learn to give a gentle, but firm, “no” to some things, we are free to run after the yes meant for us.
Suzie
Resources
Do you ever wish you had a like-minded community? There’s nothing that beats a face-to-face community, but it’s also beneficial to boost that with others who share a passion. I want to share two options with you.
The first is my Living Free Together Facebook ministry page. This community offers daily “live free” encouragement, occasional studies, and nightly prayer starters. It’s a larger group but a beautiful way to get a dose of “living free” every single day. Come join in!
The second is the More Than Small Talk Facebook group! If you already listen to the podcast, join Holley Gerth, Jennifer Watson, and me five days a week for fun conversation, giveaways, and a weekly confession question. I can’t wait to see you there!
Last, listen to today’s More Than Small Talk podcast, Episode #25. You can listen on KLRC.com or your favorite podcast app, like iTunes!
Following Jesus when the world feels chaotic (a new study)
When the world feels chaotic, we can feel chaotic.
So what can we do?
Beginning June 3rd on my Facebook page (@SuzanneEller) we’ll explore this topic together. We’ll discover how to follow Jesus when the world feels chaotic due to:
- transition or the unfamiliar
- politics, debates, and tension
- loss
- God is asking you to do something that feels big
- inner turmoil
- feeling pulled in too many directions
What is chaos? We’ll talk about that.
How do we tune out the chatter to hear God’s voice? We’ll talk about that too.
Is it possible to make a difference in the midst of chaos? It is, and we’ll dig deep into that.
What do you need to do?
Buy the book — Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Where He Leads
Join the event page on Facebook – Click here.
The study begins June 3rd, 2019 on FB. It will include live studies, mini-teachings, and practical application for a 21-day faith adventure.
I hope I see you there!
Join Suzie Eller in the 21-day faith adventure, Following Jesus when the world feels chaotic. https://tsuzanneeller.com/?p=19138 Click To TweetWhat is one thing that feels chaotic to you right now? Share how your faith plays a part as you navigate that chaos.
Suzie
Did you know that Episode 24 of More Than Small Talk is out today? It’s titled Shameless. Holley, Jennifer, and I get real about the grip of shame and what to do about it.
Check out all the ways you can listen!
While you are there, we’d love for you to leave a review or share it with a friend. <3
Living free: Shame vs. a changed heart
You know the feeling.
You just did something you promised you’d never do. But there it is. Maybe no one sees it but you.
Regret sets in. Guilt tangles. Shame follows.
This puts us at a crossroads.
When you find yourself wrestling with shame, the following can help lead you out of shame and into a changed heart.
What triggered my action/reaction?
Crazy, but we often focus on the obvious. Like, I did that because it felt good. Or I was so angry. But there’s usually something deeper. Something that needs to be recognized and addressed.
Maybe you don’t have the answer for that. Talking to a counselor can help. Talking to a friend who is wise and whose life you respect can offer clarity. But it begins with going deeper. Asking the harder questions. Being willing to go beyond the action/reaction to find that place that needs healing.
For you are worth fighting for, friend.
What can I do differently next time?
“People don’t plan to mess up their lives. They just don’t plan not to.” Andy Stanley
Once you begin to understand those trigger points (this takes time and that’s okay), make a plan. Write it down. Think it through.
Start to live it daily.
When you miss the mark, get back up and start over again.
For you are worth fighting for, friend. You are worth the hard work. The falling down and getting back up. Eventually you’ll be stronger, wiser. Keep going.
Ask for forgiveness
Many people say that we should forgive ourselves, but honestly that’s not what scripture says. It points to a place of mercy so rich and so great that our sins are cast as far as the East is from the West.
Tell God how you feel. Ask Him for forgiveness (1 John 1:9) and a fresh slate.
For you are worth fighting for, friend. Jesus stepped into the ultimate battle with you on his heart.
Make it right
Tell that person you are sorry. Then take it one step further.
Make that wrong right, if you can.
Maybe that person isn’t ready to forgive you yet, but that’s not why we forgive. That makes it about us. Do what is right while trust rebuilds and healing takes place in their heart, as well as your own.
For not only are you worth fighting for, friend, but so are they.
Suzie
To live free: Exchange shame for a changed heart (transformation)
Scripture: 1 John 1:9
Just You and God: Has regret or shame been hanging over your head? It’s a feeling that signals that something needs changed within you. Let that lead you to mercy and back to who you really are.
Resources
In today’s More Than Small Talk podcast, “Shameless,” Holley, Jennifer, and I define what shame is and how to walk in something healthier and more life-changing. To listen, check out all the apps and options here.
Sometimes we don’t have the words to pray, especially when we feel shame.
Download this beautiful 5 Prayers printable. (Just for you. <3)
God knows exactly who you are
I got really angry on the podcast today. Not at my friends, but at the word “imposter.” It makes me angry that this word dares to settle in the heart of anyone that I know. It makes me angry that it once occupied any part of my heart.
The truth is none of us show up knowing everything. There is a learning curve. There will be mistakes made.
Yet if God is the one asking us to do something, he knows what’s up. He knows the plans he has for us and it’s an adventure worth taking! I love this verse in the Message version.
He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. Romans 8:27-30 (The Msg)
In today’s More Than Small Talk podcast, Holley, Jennifer, and I shared the times we felt like a fraud, but also what God has taught us.
These are just a few of them.
- The need to be perfect is almost always tied to fear
- God knows who we are becoming
- There’s always a learning curve (embrace it!)
Will you join us on the podcast today? Share your thoughts. If you need prayer in this area, I’m happy to pray with you and there’s an amazing team of prayer warriors who will join in.
What is one thing God is asking you to do?
Take one step toward that today.
Suzie
Related Resources
Listen to today’s More Than Small Talk episode #22 – “Afraid You’re a Fraud.” (Click on the link and it will give you options of how to listen!)
- Join Holley, Jennifer, and I in the More Than Small Talk Facebook group. We’d love to see you there! In fact, today there is a giveaway. Come hang out!