Tag: forgiveness

What I left behind in 2025

livingbygracemlLeave a comment

I saw a quote last month that struck a cord with me. It said, “December is the month when you decide what to leave behind going into the new year.” I have never been one to consistently make New Year’s resolutions because I usually fail or give up a couple months into the year. However, I decided to set goals as an individual, as a wife, and as a family. I do not know why, but the word goals seem more attainable than resolutions, at least that is what I am telling myself. A few goals for 2026 are:

  • Read at least six books this year
  • Daily devotions and prayer with my husband
  • Plan a family night once a month

I have several more goals but lets move on from that and get to what was difficult. What did I decide to leave behind? I had to take time to think about this. I wrestled with letting go of past hurts, poor habits, and control. I have spent so many years chained to these things that I allowed them to mold me into someone I no longer recognized. Choosing to leave them in 2025 has created more space to let Jesus into my life.

First, I let go of bitterness towards ended friendships and opened up room for forgiveness. Ephesians 4:31-32 says,

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Second, I left behind poor habits such as, laziness and an unhealthy lifestyle. Both of which go hand in hand. I accepted the fact that laziness is a sin. “Boredom, procrastination and abandoned projects are obvious signs of laziness…Undisciplined sleep habits, and pride that keeps us from considering constructive criticism, can be signs of a lazy life.”1 There are several Scriptures on idleness found throughout the Bible:

Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry. ~Proverbs 19:15

Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks. ~Ecclesiastes 10:18

I love my naps, and to a degree I think naps are healthy, but second sleeps (3+ hours) makes me unproductive and is a reason to avoid responsibilities. I should also reveal my poor eating habits caused by laziness. I love a good meal, especially one that is prepared for me…like at a restaurant or fast food place. While these are fine every once in awhile, making it a routine not only harms my health, but also feeds (no pun intended) into the realization that I am too lazy to cook and I lack self-control. There are two verses that I am choosing to memorize when faced with the temptation of idleness. The first comes from Colossians 3:23,

Whatever you do , work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

Anything I do, whether it is household responsibilities or working outside the home is to be done for the Lord. This changes my mindset and can maybe even create a sense of joy in my work. Next, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20,

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Why am I feeding my body things that are affecting my health? Why am I not strengthening my body and taking care of it when my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit? These are revelations I have made when pondering what to not bring into 2026.

Finally, and this is the most difficult, letting go of control. I cannot control people in my life. I cannot force someone to change or make better choices, I can hope to model the behavior, but it is God’s job to change someones heart. I cannot control people’s opinions of me and my choices. Frankly, their personal opinions are none of my business. The only opinion and approval that matters in my life is the Lords.

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. ~Galatians 1:10

That is a brief summary of what I refuse to bring into this new year. That was my former way of living, and I want to fill that space with godly living, full of productivity, trust in the Lord, and surrounded by those I love deeply. I will keep moving forward.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ~Ephesians 4:22-24

Living by grace,

Misty

1Bucher, Meg. Why Laziness Is a Sin and 5 Ways We Can Flee from It. http://www.biblestudytools.com



Setting a Foundation In Our Marriage

livingbygracemlLeave a comment

I feel lighter. My burdens don’t feel as heavy anymore. I have a new pep in my step.

I have prayed so much for a change in my marriage. I have asked God to help us make Him the foundation for our marriage and family. I prayerfully asked the Holy Spirit to reveal my faults and what I need to do to change and become a better wife. I prayed for my husband that same prayer…

..and it is working!

Our attitudes and how we handle struggles are changing. We are learning to think before we speak (still a work in progress!) and slow to become angry.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

James 1:19

We have begun doing Bible Studies together, even though making time in-between ball practices can be trying, it is vital in order to put Jesus first in our marriage. The best choice we have made in helping our marriage grow in faith is attending church again. We think we may have found a church home where we feel like God is speaking directly to us. It happens to be the church I grew up in and was baptized. I feel like I’ve come home. It is important to have a church family and worship the Lord with other believers.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

*** I wrote the above a few days ago. Since that time, my husband and I had an argument. I am telling you this to show you that the road isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Marriage is difficult and sometimes we fail when we allow our own selfishness to supersede the fruits of the Spirit. Self-control is difficult sometimes when you are in the throws of an argument. Ephesians 4:31-32 perfectly states how we should not only treat one another, but especially our spouse.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Although we fought, we did come together and talk it out. Those conversations can be difficult. We have to actively listen to one another and extend forgiveness. Sometimes we even need to admit when we are wrong, and that is what we did.

I pray this post encourages you in your marriage. Remember we are not perfect and will make mistakes. It is what we do with those tough lessons that determines what direction our marriage will go.

Living by Grace,

Misty

Living In The Now

livingbygracemlLeave a comment

Have you ever thought about your past and it not go so well? It may start off as reliving the good memories, but then it shifts and all your mistakes start to seep through? Your filter isn’t working and by the end of it, you have torn yourself apart and the ‘what ifs’ have consumed your thoughts.That is where I was last night. My boys are vacationing with their dad and I was missing them terribly. All I wanted was to talk to them and they had been difficult to reach. I found myself thinking about the past and all the hurt my actions had caused. By the end of it I was convinced that my children didn’t miss me or love me as much as they once did. So, I cried…hard. Of course, none of that was true, but I believed it in that moment.

Once I pulled myself together, I felt the urge to read my Bible. The below verse caught my attention:

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?

Isaiah 43:18-19 Msg

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.” I was not living out this scripture. I had just spent the last several minutes beating myself up with lies and going over my history..my past. I most certainly hadn’t forgotten, but the truth is God had. In Isaiah 43:25 scripture says, “I, yes I alone-will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” If God can forgive and forget, then I should do the same.

“Be alert, be present.” The only thing I have is right now in this moment. It doesn’t do any good to live in the past. Living in the past causes blindness. It blinds me from seeing the work God is doing in my life in the present.

I can remove the blinders of my past, and re-focus thru the lenses of God’s future for me.

“I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?” How can I apply this scripture to my life in the present? I can remove the blinders of my past, and re-focus thru the lenses of God’s future for me. I am made a new creation in Christ Jesus. It isn’t about what I have done, it is about what God has done, and what He has done inside of me. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 says, “..now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone’ a new life burgeons!”

It isn’t about what I have done, it is about what God has done, and what He has done inside of me.

“A new life burgeons!” The definition of burgeons is, ‘begin to grow or increase rapidly, flourish’. Our Heavenly Father wants this for each of us. He doesn’t want us to remain chained by our past, our shortcomings, our sin. He wants us to break free through His forgiveness, so He can bless us and we can flourish right here in the now! I am ready to make this choice, are you ready to decide to not be a prisoner anymore and grasp a fresh start with Jesus?

Living in His grace,

Misty