Rise and Shine! Happy Worship Wednesday, sweet friends!

Today, as you wake up and start your day, praise Jesus in your heart and in your words.

When those worrisome thoughts come, when those fearful thoughts rise up….discipline your heart and mind to PRAISE God instead.

There was a season in my life when I would wake up and feel dread as I began my day. It was all I could do to roll out of bed.

Have you ever felt this way? It is a discouraging place to be.

When you start to read God’s Word, conviction takes place. In a big way.

I felt it recently. Word by word as I read my Bible, I was UNDONE by conviction. Not guilt, but conviction. There is a difference.

Conviction is that gentle whisper of The Holy Spirit…guilt is the loud condemning voice of the enemy.

I was convicted to forgive.

It was gradual. Very gradual.

Creeping in day after day. Slowly, but surely.

My thoughts became negative. My words became negative.

Slowly, I was drifting.

Some things had happened, and it made my heart bitter. I could NOT stop thinking of the hurt.

Betrayed is the best word for how I felt. I felt betrayed by God.

HOW could He let this happen? If God loved me, why didn’t He protect me from this?