In the journey of becoming and staying healthy, sometimes our worst enemy can be ourselves!

So…give yourself grace! 

This can definitely be challenging at times when we can be the hardest on our own selves. Can I get an Amen!

As hard as it may be sometimes to impart grace on others it can be that much harder to give our own selves the grace we need to get through some of the most challenging circumstances of life. 

Grace…it’s freely given. It’s the unmerited favor and love of God. It’s the influence of the spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate, renew and strengthen us.

I heard it said; “Grace is the empowerment to do God’s will.” Not only do we have the opportunity to impart grace to others, but we also have the ability to speak grace over our own lives. How do you do this… believe it or not…by changing your heart! 

When you and I confess with our mouths; “Jesus is Lord and we make him our Savior of our lives something so amazing and spectacular happens… we become changed from the inside out. Our thoughts, actions and words become empowered with Christ’s grace and love. 

I learned through my journey of cancer that disease is spiritual and begins in the heart. When I allowed the Lord to have my heart, I mean all my heart, every chamber of my heart… He did something that only He could do. He taught me to give my heart grace. 

I can remember early on in my cancer diagnosis when I made the decision to fight it naturally without chemo or radiation. I began working with a wonderful woman who was a Naturopathic Doctor. 

One day I went in for my check up and I thought I was doing everything right. I promise, learning a whole new system of taking care of myself was no easy task. Simple but not always easy. Kind of like learning to walk all over again… and this one day, half of the things I had been doing were not exactly correct. Well I allowed my appetite for previous old behaviors and thought to get the best of me, and I unloaded! I was fed up! Had it! I was so confused, not sure what I was doing, frustrated with myself… you know what I mean? You really just want to give up? 

Ever been there? Like, how many diets have you been on? How many have you started on Monday and stopped by Tuesday at dinner time? Or you are addicted to something? And yesterday was your last day? Or you have spent 20 of your 24 hours living vicariously through others on social media and comparing yourself to them constantly? And you say I am going to fast from it? And well as you are listening to me you are going back and forth from me to social media? 

Can I get a witness to what I’m saying?

Look at Proverbs 4: beginning in verse 20…” My son (insert your name here) give attention to my words: incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and Health to all their body.” Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” (v.23) 

v.24- “ put away from you a deceitful mouth. And put devious speech far from you.”

When you get it in your heart, you will renew your mind!

So how do you change your heart to renew your mind? First of all, go back to v. 23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life. 

The heart is the pathway to all renewing health and healing. Mind, Body, and Spirit.

And the way you change your heart is by speaking the truth, listening to the truth and holding onto the truth. The remedy so to speak is to make sure your heart is full of blessing. So fill your heart with the love of Christ so that only truth and purity can come out of your mouth. And if you allow the appetite of the old behaviors to creep in, give your heart grace. I don’t believe there is a limit on how much grace we can receive for ourselves.

God will never take you where His grace will not sustain you!

So my encouragement is to receive His grace…His strength, and stop putting so much pressure on your ability to perform.