Create in Me a Clean Heart

,

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10

I stood in the garage, hands on my hips, staring down the mess.

Inside were towers of boxes, old furniture, and bins overflowing with things I had meant to deal with “later.” Later had turned into never, and now the clutter had taken over.

I reached for a random box and pried it open. Inside, a tangle of old cords, a pair of faded curtain panels, and a sweatshirt I thought I had lost. I held them up, remembering the season of life they came from. So much had changed.

None of this stuff was serving its intended purpose at all. Instead of being a space for something useful, like parking our cars, our garage had turned into a storage unit for things we didn’t need. So, we got to work—sorting, tossing, and making hard decisions about what to keep.

At first, it felt overwhelming, but as we worked together, we could see the transformation taking place. The more we cleared out, the more space we created, and the more we realized how much we had been holding onto things that weren’t serving us. By the time we finished, it was like we had a whole new space.

That is when it hit me: this is exactly what God wants to do in my heart. Over time, I let things build up like worries, grudges, and distractions. These are things that crowd out what He wants for me.

But just like clearing that garage, letting God work in my life takes effort. I have to choose to let go, to make space, and to trust that He is replacing the clutter with something better.

So, what about you? What’s taking up space in your heart that doesn’t belong? What could happen if you let God in to do the deep cleaning? The process might not be easy, but the freedom that follows is worth every bit of the work.

/by

Uplift Every Day

,

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Hebrews 3:13

I was never much of a baseball person, but my nephews? They live for it.

So when my oldest nephew had a game, my husband, daughter, and I found ourselves packed into the stands at the Ruston Sports Complex, surrounded by the unmistakable sounds of spring—bats cracking, kids laughing, and parents shouting a few “helpful” suggestions to the umpire.

As my nephew stepped up to the batter’s box, I felt a surge of pride, knowing he was giving his all on the field. With each swing of the bat, we erupted into applause.

The opposing team was really good, and they gave our athletes a challenge on every play. As innings passed, the score remained neck and neck. When the game concluded, the scoreboard showed a tie, and the audience applauded from both sets of stands.

And as we gathered our things and headed home, it dawned on me. The real victory was how these families encouraged those kids.

Every day, people around us are stepping up, trying, pushing forward. Some are facing battles no one sees. And just like those little leaguers, they need someone in the stands cheering them on.

Who in your life needs to hear, “I see you. You are doing great. Keep going”? Maybe that is the most important thing you will say today.

/by

Willingness Over Perfection

,

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

1 Peter 4:10

When I first got my little red truck, I wished I hadn’t. It was small, dinged-up and had a bullet hole—not exactly the dream vehicle for a teenager trying to fit in.

At first, I was embarrassed. People would make jokes about it, and I would laugh along while secretly wishing for something a little nicer.

Then one day, my friend needed a ride to church. I hesitated, but I said yes. Then another friend needed a lift. Then someone else. Before long, my vehicle was packed with people, week after week, headed to a place where they could hear about Jesus.

The more I used it to help others, the less I cared about its dents and scratches. They did not define its worth, just like my own imperfections did not define mine. What I once saw as embarrassing became one of the greatest tools God had ever given me.

How often do we do that? How often do we look at what we have—our time, our resources, our gifts—and decide they aren’t good enough? We assume we need something bigger, better, or more polished before God can work through us. But that is never how He operates.

God doesn’t ask for perfection. He asks for willingness.

Maybe you have been holding back, waiting for something better before you step out. But what if what you have right now is exactly what God wants to use? What if the little, ordinary, unimpressive thing in your hands is the key to something bigger than you imagined?

Because in God’s hands, nothing is too small to make a difference.

/by

Letting Go of Worries

,

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

Matthew 11:28

I could feel the weight of it pressing on my chest before I even opened my eyes.

The endless list of things to do. The responsibilities. The expectations. The constant need to plan, manage, and make sure everything stayed together.

I had started this year with so much hope. I had set my goals, mapped out my plans, and committed to growing in my faith. But now? Now I just felt tired. I was doing everything I could to keep up, but no matter how hard I tried, there was always something slipping through the cracks.

Sitting in the quiet of the morning, Bible in hand, I felt the frustration rising. Lord, I’m trying. I really am. But it never feels like enough.

And then, in the stillness, a truth settled over me like a warm embrace: It was never supposed to be yours to carry.

Tears blurred my vision. I had spent so much energy trying to control things that were never mine to control. I had mistaken worry for responsibility, as if my stress could somehow change outcomes.

But God had never asked me to hold the weight of the world.

He had called me to prayer, not pressure. He had asked me to seek Him. To trust, not control.

I had been exhausting myself over things I was never meant to manage, when all He had ever asked me to do was prepare my heart for where He was leading.

And so, I let go.

Not because everything was fixed. Not because I suddenly had all the answers. But because I finally understood—peace does not come from control. It comes from trust.

Maybe you are feeling it, too. The weight, the worry, the overwhelming pressure to figure everything out. But friend, you do not have to carry this.

God is already holding everything in His hands.

Let yourself breathe again. Let yourself rest. Just seek Him.

That is all He has ever asked.

And that is enough.

 

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
/by

Saying Yes to God’s Call

,

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

“What if we stepped out in faith, together?”

That’s the question my friend and I in high school kept circling around. We had talked for months about starting a Bible study—dreaming of growing in our faith, learning from each other, and supporting one another. But the more we thought about it, the more uncertain we felt.

Were we really qualified? Would anyone even come?

But one afternoon, after another heart-to-heart about what God might be calling us to do, we made a decision. We prayed for courage and clarity, and just like that, we took the plunge.

We began meeting weekly, unsure of what we would find, but we trusted that God would be in the middle of it. Though we questioned out abilities, we clung to our belief that God doesn’t call the equipped—He equips the called.

Our first Bible study was small, just the two of us, but it felt like a great start. We discussed passages from the Bible, asked questions, and prayed for each other.

We did not have all the answers. But we were willing. Willing to show up. Willing to open our Bibles and learn together. Willing to trust that even our small, hesitant steps could become something bigger than we could see.

And they did! Week after week, our group began to grow. More friends joined. We didn’t know it then, but God was at work in our hearts—and in theirs.

Starting that Bible study taught me something I’ll never forget: God uses our small steps of obedience to do far more than we could ever imagine.

So, if there is something God is stirring in your heart today, don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. You do not need to have all the skills or the answers! You just need to say yes. Take a step, right where you are, and watch how God will use your obedience to bless others in ways you never expected.

 

/by

Covered with Kindness

,

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

1 Peter 4:8

The moment I hit the ground, I knew everyone saw it.

One second, I was running across my elementary schoolyard, the next, my foot slipped, and I crashed into a deep puddle of mud. My clothes were ruined, my hair matted with dirt. The last thing I wanted was to stand up and face the stares.

I felt humiliated.

To get cleaned up, I would have no choice but to walk through the school like this. The thought of it made my face burn.

That is when my friend, without missing a beat, took off her jacket and wrapped it around me. She did not make a big deal out of it or make me feel awkward.

She did not try to fix my mess. She just wanted to help.

And somehow, that changed everything.

The shame did not feel as heavy. The walk did not feel as long. What should have been one of my most embarrassing moments turned into a memory of kindness I have never forgotten.

Her simple act of kindness meant so much, because instead of focusing on the mess I was in, I was able to focus on her support. She gave me the confidence to walk to the office without feeling humiliated, and I’ll always remember how she stepped in without a second thought.

Now, I wonder—What if we did the same? What if, instead of looking away, we leaned in?

People around us are walking through life feeling exposed—not with muddy clothes, but with regrets, shame, and insecurity. They feel exposed and wish someone would step in and offer them dignity instead of judgment.

What if your kindness was the reason someone lifted their head instead of hanging it in shame? Like Jesus, we can meet people in their lowest moments and cover them with grace and love. You may never know. It might just be the very thing that reminds them they are never to broken, too messy, or too far gone.

/by