Have you ever gotten out of bed and known within the first five minutes that it is going to be one of those days? From the time you opened your eyes, it was like the enemy said, “I pick her.”
There is a reason for sayings like, “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Why? Because it’s not usually the big things that take us down. It is the little things that work together almost seamlessly to push us over the edge.
With the upcoming T.E.A.M. Grace retreat, God is clearly moving in a big way. We have moms and daughters represented from two states and 13 cities. We are underwriting scholarships for nearly a third of our attendees thanks to generous donors who believe in the mission of this ministry. My goal for the upcoming weekend? Encouragement. Connection. Transformation. Strengthened bonds between moms and daughters. Laughter. Fun. Uncontainable worship and fellowship that leads to forever friends.
Why would’t my name be on the enemy’s hit list? Even the most convicted and passionate of servants can feel overtaken. Today, I threw in the towel. Literally.
Small things that added up to one giant tear-fest. That was my morning. The breaking point? A glass of chocolate almond milk left on the top shelf of the refrigerator. In my irritation of the other little things, I grabbed something off the top shelf without noticing that cute little Tangled princess cup. Of course, I wasn’t nearly fast enough to catch it. Chocolate milk spilled all over my refrigerator, all over my floor and all over me. Did I mention I had just gotten out of the shower?
Chocolate milk was everywhere. I cleaned crevices in my refrigerator that I didn’t even know were there. Tears pouring down my face as I knew there was no time in my day for the hour I was taking to clean the spilled milk. Throwing the kitchen towel in the sink, I turned on the faucet only to find water leaking onto my feet from under the kitchen sink. Are.You.Kidding.Me.
At that moment, I stopped cleaning. Sobbing, I grabbed my phone and texted four of my favorite prayer warriors and asked them to begin interceding for me. I set the phone down and began to clean again.
I’m not embarrassed to share that I broke this morning. It was real. It was genuine. It was ugly. And it happens to every single one of us at one time or another. Your little things are likely different than the stressers that took me to the mat this morning, but they are just as real.
How do we fight an unseen attack? We pray, friends. Pray the armor of God daily. Pray it over your family. Pray it over your friends, your pets, and most certainly yourself. Read the Word. Memorize scripture. Say it aloud when you feel under siege.
Today, my scripture of choice was thanks to my sweet prayer warrior friend, KB.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
~ Isaiah 49:10 (NLT)
When you are serving on the front lines for God, you can expect to be wounded from time to time. I have to remind myself that it is okay to lean on my brothers and sisters serving beside me. You can’t stay on the front lines without support.
Occasionally, we need to stop, breathe and just bask in the stillness with God. Let others minster and tend to you, so that you may be healed and made ready to serve again. Pray with me today, friends. Will you please pray over the leadership team for T.E.A.M. Grace? Will you please pray for the nearly 70 moms and daughters that God has called to attend? I would cherish your prayers as we enter the final two weeks of preparations for this mom and tween daughter retreat. Thank you so very much. I pray God’s blessings of each and every one of you.
