Love just the sound of "throw off" in these times of overwhelm. I recently was reminded of how security cameras are good but at the same time "not" We want to feel secure when we leave our homes but become slaves to watching those cameras when we are away from our homes. These times of tech have enslaved us even more. It s a dilemma. Do we truly walk by faith and not by sight? Just a pondering from a recent widow trying to find her way prayerfully on the narrow road.
Yes. I have a habit that I need to let go of. There are a couple of shows that I really enjoy watching. I won’t say what shows they are, but the point is I believe I spend too much time watching them. So, please pray that I am able to gracefully let go of this and embrace the new. Thank you for your prayers ❤️
Lord God please help Latriece as they seek to surrender their viewing habits. I pray that as they let go, You will fill all the gaps left behind. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The throw off image makes me think of a marathon runner wearing layers who takes off their jacket and keeps going. It's streamlined for our good. My take is that the witnesses in the faith chapter are cheering us on.
I left behind a fitness tracker streak from my watch. I was obsessed. As long as those rings were closed each day I felt good about my effort. I was addicted to seeing the rings close and the affirmation from my WATCH that I’d done it! The first day a few weeks ago I missed that mark after 275 days of tracking, I was angry. I had lost sight of the goal for one day. But then, I realized maybe the goal all along was a habit change and not an applause thing. It’s a slippery slope of needing the glory or being faithful to yourself so you can just stay healthy. Like my new intention of drawing closer to God through my own desire not an app streak. My prayer is for the Holy Spirit to fill me with that for 2026!!
Thanks for this, Em! I recognise so much of myself in this. You should see the way I've organised my pencils and highlighters for my Bible reading plan for this year! But I, too, have recognised the heaviness of various 'shoulds' in my life. To mitigate this, I started my Bible reading plan on the twenty-somethingth of December to help me not be able to see quite so clearly what I've covered in a month/year etc. I've said no to various journalling/scrapbooking things I was tempted to start on January 1st. But we're also entering a season as a family where our routines will look quite different, but not until 22nd January, which is frustrating to me as I want to start it all NOW! All of this is requiring a letting go, especially as I'm not exactly sure what the next season will look like for me. So, thanks for these words. Helpful to me! Praying for you, too!
LOVE that you started your reading plan on the 'wrong' day intentionally. That's such a clever way of protecting your heart from pursuing the wrong things. And I hear you on the hunger to begin your 'new' set-up "right now" . . . it's going to be so exciting when 22nd January rolls around. For you all. Praying that this in-between is a beautiful time of leaning into the Lord and getting fresh insight and wisdom for how the new rhythms could (not should!) look.
Well done! I became "addicted" to Substack and realized I needed to stop and focus on more productive habits. Thanks for your wonderful words. Happy New Year! -Ray in Michigan-
This is embarrassing but FB reels take up too much precious time in my day. What seems like five minutes can easily turn into thirty minutes or more. In my life personally, I sense that the Holy Spirit is grieved and He’s asking me to step away from it. Lay it down. To be intentional with my time and to choose rest for my already busy mind.
Thanks for sharing so openly. I don’t imagine for a second that this applies to only you. I know that I can get sucked down feel-warrens far too easily as well. For me, starting to charge my phone out of my room was one way of countering the end of the day time-wasting on my phone.
You express what I have felt before and at different times have laid down reading fiction and even my rather rigid ‘quiet time’. Both things which I have then picked up again but in a new way.
This is timely. I was just thinking last night about having more breakfast conversations with the kids this year about things we can work on “putting off” each day and then what we can “put on” instead—to just consider in the mornings a couple things that we can each “put off” and then jot it down.
Em, thank you for sharing!! I love your heart and your way of communicating the difficult and uneasy. These are great cues for us to pay attention to and discern because it is soooo easy to hang onto the unhealthy or even the unhelpful. I'm saving this post so I can come back and reread as I need the reminding again. 💜💜
Again 😉 Me too, it's something that once you see it in one area of life you start to notice it in others, too. Grateful for your friendship and hunger to pursue Jesus above all else xx
Love just the sound of "throw off" in these times of overwhelm. I recently was reminded of how security cameras are good but at the same time "not" We want to feel secure when we leave our homes but become slaves to watching those cameras when we are away from our homes. These times of tech have enslaved us even more. It s a dilemma. Do we truly walk by faith and not by sight? Just a pondering from a recent widow trying to find her way prayerfully on the narrow road.
Charmaine! I love your ponderings. And I agree, technology often starts out serving us but before we know it can enslave us and take us captive.
Prayers for you as you keep pursuing the narrow road 🙏🏼
Yes. I have a habit that I need to let go of. There are a couple of shows that I really enjoy watching. I won’t say what shows they are, but the point is I believe I spend too much time watching them. So, please pray that I am able to gracefully let go of this and embrace the new. Thank you for your prayers ❤️
Thanks for sharing.
Lord God please help Latriece as they seek to surrender their viewing habits. I pray that as they let go, You will fill all the gaps left behind. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The throw off image makes me think of a marathon runner wearing layers who takes off their jacket and keeps going. It's streamlined for our good. My take is that the witnesses in the faith chapter are cheering us on.
YESSSS! Love this.
I left behind a fitness tracker streak from my watch. I was obsessed. As long as those rings were closed each day I felt good about my effort. I was addicted to seeing the rings close and the affirmation from my WATCH that I’d done it! The first day a few weeks ago I missed that mark after 275 days of tracking, I was angry. I had lost sight of the goal for one day. But then, I realized maybe the goal all along was a habit change and not an applause thing. It’s a slippery slope of needing the glory or being faithful to yourself so you can just stay healthy. Like my new intention of drawing closer to God through my own desire not an app streak. My prayer is for the Holy Spirit to fill me with that for 2026!!
Mmmmm, I so know this feeling! Thanks for sharing, and amen to the prayer to be filled with the Spirit so we can live and move in step with Him!
Such a great reminder that we get to choose how we spend the minutes and hours in our days. Thank you, Em.
Glad it was an encouragement 💛
Thanks for this, Em! I recognise so much of myself in this. You should see the way I've organised my pencils and highlighters for my Bible reading plan for this year! But I, too, have recognised the heaviness of various 'shoulds' in my life. To mitigate this, I started my Bible reading plan on the twenty-somethingth of December to help me not be able to see quite so clearly what I've covered in a month/year etc. I've said no to various journalling/scrapbooking things I was tempted to start on January 1st. But we're also entering a season as a family where our routines will look quite different, but not until 22nd January, which is frustrating to me as I want to start it all NOW! All of this is requiring a letting go, especially as I'm not exactly sure what the next season will look like for me. So, thanks for these words. Helpful to me! Praying for you, too!
LOVE that you started your reading plan on the 'wrong' day intentionally. That's such a clever way of protecting your heart from pursuing the wrong things. And I hear you on the hunger to begin your 'new' set-up "right now" . . . it's going to be so exciting when 22nd January rolls around. For you all. Praying that this in-between is a beautiful time of leaning into the Lord and getting fresh insight and wisdom for how the new rhythms could (not should!) look.
Thanks Em!
Well done! I became "addicted" to Substack and realized I needed to stop and focus on more productive habits. Thanks for your wonderful words. Happy New Year! -Ray in Michigan-
Happy New Year to you, too!
This is embarrassing but FB reels take up too much precious time in my day. What seems like five minutes can easily turn into thirty minutes or more. In my life personally, I sense that the Holy Spirit is grieved and He’s asking me to step away from it. Lay it down. To be intentional with my time and to choose rest for my already busy mind.
Thanks for sharing so openly. I don’t imagine for a second that this applies to only you. I know that I can get sucked down feel-warrens far too easily as well. For me, starting to charge my phone out of my room was one way of countering the end of the day time-wasting on my phone.
You express what I have felt before and at different times have laid down reading fiction and even my rather rigid ‘quiet time’. Both things which I have then picked up again but in a new way.
Love that there’s been the freedom to receive the ‘good’ in both without the obligation and heaviness 💛
This is timely. I was just thinking last night about having more breakfast conversations with the kids this year about things we can work on “putting off” each day and then what we can “put on” instead—to just consider in the mornings a couple things that we can each “put off” and then jot it down.
Thanks for writing this.❤️
Em, thank you for sharing!! I love your heart and your way of communicating the difficult and uneasy. These are great cues for us to pay attention to and discern because it is soooo easy to hang onto the unhealthy or even the unhelpful. I'm saving this post so I can come back and reread as I need the reminding again. 💜💜
Again 😉 Me too, it's something that once you see it in one area of life you start to notice it in others, too. Grateful for your friendship and hunger to pursue Jesus above all else xx
Thank you.
You did not mention who your publisher is. Are you self-publishing?
I have written a guide to using Lulu.com print on demand for self-publishing authors. The guide is free to download:
New year resolution: write and publish a book!
Most people have a book in them. Self-publishing your book has never been easier. Do it now! Here is a step by step guide to self-publish on Lulu.
https://hellish2050.substack.com/p/new-year-resolution-write-and-publish
I’m not self-publishing, but thanks for sharing.