There are seasons in life when growth doesnât come from adding more, but from letting go. Just as a gardener lovingly prunes a treeânot to harm it, but to help it flourish. God invites us to release habits, thoughts, and patterns that no longer serve our highest good.
Jesus taught, âEvery branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruitâ (John 15:2). Pruning can feel uncomfortable. It may look like releasing resentment, unhealthy coping habits, negative self-talk, or even good things that have begun to crowd out the best things. But the Savior reminds us that this refining is an act of love, guided by divine wisdom.
The scriptures tell us that âby small and simple things are great things brought to passâ (Alma 37:6). Letting go often happens quietlyâone choice, one prayer, one breath at a time. God does not rush this process. He walks with us through it.
This is why itâs so important for us to be aware and conscious of our soul and the power of our soul. When we can recognize the awareness that we are peaceful, powerful souls, not defined by old habits or past mistakes. When we pause in mindfulness, breathe deeply, and reconnect with God as the Supreme and divine creator of our soul. He will guide us and help us to create space and to gently release what weighs us down. In stillness, clarity comes. In surrender, our strength grows. Our father in Heaven loves us and wants to help us let go of what is not good and invite all that will help us to grow into the soul that weâre meant to become.
Christâs invitation is simple and compassionate: âCome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you restâ (Matthew 11:28). We are not meant to prune alone. Through prayer, meditation, and mindful awareness of Godâs presence, we receive divine help to loosen what binds us and nurture what brings life.
So, take a moment to think about the things that you can recognize that you need to let go of. It may be the distraction of your phone, bad food, entertainment, comparison, angerâŚwhatever it is, prune it with Gods help and see how much better you feel.
As we let go, we make roomâfor peace, for light, for joy, and for a deeper connection with God. Pruning is not loss; it is preparation. God sees not only who we are now, but who we are becoming.
Our physical goal for the week is to:
Choose one small physical habit to âpruneââsuch as limiting screen time before bed, drinking more water, or taking a short daily walk. Let this act symbolize your willingness to care for both body and soul.
Our Spiritual Goal for the week is:
Each day this week, spend 5 quiet minutes in prayer or meditation. Ask God: âWhat is one thing I can lovingly release today?â Listen without judgment, trusting that guidance will come.
Remember: when God prunes, He always does so with purposeâand with love. You can show that love for yourself by pruning and letting go as well. Trust in Gods help and know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. đ
Hope that you can make it to class tonight at 7pm. To strengthen yourself physically and to have an amazing and relaxing meditation to help you release stress and let go. Hope to see you there!
Our lives can be either driven by our schedules or by spirit. They can be driven by the constant chatter of our minds or by a place of calm. They can be driven by impulse or by wisdom.
Precious, sacred silence is one of our most essential friends. Our silent time reminds us of who we are and it gives us access to amazing wisdom from which we are guided when making our daily decisions. So why is it so difficult to write it on todayâs schedule? Why is it so hard to make time to be still?
Many of us now have a spiritual practice during which we pray for assistance, read the word of God, meditate, focus on gratitude or find ways to inspire our heart. But as we know, the world pulls ferociously in different directions. It begs us to pay attention, to divide our time, to finish tasks, to distract our focus and to be busier than itâs good for our souls.
It takes a mindful effort and awareness to revisit our priorities often, and make the time to connect with our spirit and most importantly, with God our Father. Truly, having this time is the most important thing we will do in the day. When we can set the time to do this first in our day, the rest of the day is driven by moments of intuition gained from connecting mindfully with the source of all love, peace and light.
This is not a duty or an effort. We donât work to be more spiritually connected; it is who we are. This desire to connect is already within us. All we have to do is set aside time to check in and to let the noise drop away for long enough to reveal the beauty and calm that resides within us. And if we can just hover thereâŚopen⌠For a moment without jumping in with a thought, within that stillness, is when weâre able to activate our soulâs wisdom and when we will be able to hear directly from God. âĽď¸
Having a time during the day to calm the mind and still the soul can be a challenging practice. But that is one of those things that will have lasting consequences in our lives. We deserve to create moments of internal peace for ourselves. Moments to gain higher intuition and guidance. The rewards of doing this for ourselves will reach across all aspects of our being. Every day is a good day to begin learning or to practice praying with a sincere heart and having a moment of stillness to just listen and connect to the divine.
This week Iâve had a lot on my to do list. But Iâve made it a point to set aside time to be with God. To connect to my source of peace, to open my heart to Him and to just listen. I canât tell you the amazing words that my soul, mind and heart were filled with. Words of love, encouragement, kindness and peace. I felt all of my worries and stresses completely leave my mind, because I was able to personally feel the Savior directly speaking to me. I
felt His presence. I heard in my heart and mind Him telling me that thereâs nothing greater in this world and in this life than the ability or the gift to be able to come to KNOW CHRIST. âĽď¸ To be able to be a WITNESS of CHRIST. đ
That experience, took everything that I was âpraying for or worried aboutâ completely away from me. In that instant, all of the fears left my soul. I felt completely still and at peace with God. I knew what I heard, what I felt, and I clearly saw in my mind that Jesus Christ was with me in that moment. No amount of money, power, status, popularity, or whatever else we are attached to on this earth, matters more than COMING TO KNOW CHRIST.
I want to testify to all of you, that when we truly have the desire to come to God, we can find Him in stillness. If we make the time for Him, He will quiet our minds and souls and we will be able to hear directly from Him! đ Thereâs nothing more amazing than hearing directly from the source. đHe wants to guide us, help us, give us peace, un attach us from the things that keep us stuck in this world. He wants us to come to know Him and to see and experience for ourselves how amazing this loving God is. He has a plan for each one of us and He is fully aware of all that we have in our hearts and minds.
I invite you to come to Him and experience opening your heart, mind and soul to God. Ask Him to help you find stillness in your soul and experience the love and peace of a loving God for yourself. âĽď¸đĽ°
Our goal for this week is to create more peaceful moments, to quiet our minds, be still and listen. We can ask for inspiration, breathe and take a moment to write down what we feel. As weâre able to keep those notes throughout the week, we will see that God does speak to us. Directly to our heart âĽď¸ That internal peace is always available to us. Silence and peace can become our new friend. God wants to remind us that we can create moments to be still, to Still our souls and to know that He is God. Invite more of that light and wisdom into your day and youâll feel the difference.
As we choose to make time for moments of peace and quiet. We will be better able to express our feelings to our Father in Heaven. We will be better able to find peace for our soul, we will be open to allowing the light of Christ to enter more deeply into our lives. Allowing Him to purify and remove our negative thoughts and feelings and instead inviting the healing light of the Savior to cover us completely.
I fully believe that it is part of our earthly experience to come and live in these bodies. So that we may learn to live and take care of them. But also, so that we may LEARN to go within ourselves to find the divine stillness that can only come from the presence of God. From where our spirits were born. We must learn this skill of going within and quieting the mind and the world. To really know that we TRUST GOD. To connect to Him in prayer and in spirit.
As we PRACTICE this skill, we will feel a stronger connection to Heaven. More inspiration and insights will come. We will be better able to handle our problems and we will have more trust and faith in God. We will gain a confidence that is divine and rises above any type of worldly confidence. Thereâs no degree, no amount of money, Power or no self help courses that can bring the type of confidence and peace that only the spirit of God can provide to our souls.
May we quiet our words, calm our thoughts, soften our hearts and still our souls daily, so that we may listen, be open, have faith and receive. & most importantly, let your spirit lead and remember to BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD.
Make it your goal today to come to class tonight at 7pm! The hardest thing is always showing up. So, put on your workout clothes as a sign of the promise that youâre making to yourself to be there! Turn your attention away from the world and focus on giving yourself the gift of one hour to yourself tonight. Our meditation will be focused on stillness and allowing God to speak to ourselves. So, come and give yourself the gift of slowing down. You deserve it! âĽď¸
Remember that God loves you, He wants to hear from you! Make it your priority this week to make quiet moments for Him and to strengthen yourself from within. Notice His hand in your life and thank Him for your many blessings. He will guide you on what to focus on each hour of your day. & donât forget that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. âĽď¸đĽ°đđź
As the year begins, we all have the opportunity to choose what we will focus on. We can choose what we worship and where we will find our peace throughout the year.
The reality is that we all have moments when the storms of life rage and the winds of discouragement blow. In those moments, itâs easy to feel uprootedâshaken by trials, hurt by others, or burdened by uncertainty. Yet just as a tree stands firm because its roots reach deep into nourishing soil, we too can stand strong when our roots reach deep into Christ, our Redeemer.
I love the image of being rooted in Christ. To be rooted in Him means allowing His love, His teachings, and His Spirit to become the foundation that steadies our souls. In Him, we are strong. In Him, we are nourished with peace, love, compassion, faith, and strength.
Paul taught: âAs ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faithâŚâColossians 2:6â7
When our roots are in Christ, we are not defined by the storms around us but by the strength beneath us. We are able to focus on Him and remember, âI can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth meâ (Philippians 4:13).
The Savior taught:
âWhosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them⌠is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock.ââ Luke 6:47â48
That rock is Christ.
In moments when people test our patience, when fear whispers doubts, or when our hearts ache from loss or loneliness, we can pause and remember where we are rooted. His light and love flow quietly beneath the surface, ready to sustain us as we stay connected through prayer, scripture, and stillness.
Tonight in class, we will focus on a beautiful meditation centered on being rooted in Christ. I hope youâll join tonight at 7pm. As we turn off the noise of the world and focus not only on strengthening our bodies, but also on deepening our spiritual roots in Him. đ
Here are a few mindfulness exercises you can practice today:
1. The âDeep Rootâ Breath
Sit still for a moment. Breathe deeply and imagine your breath drawing strength from deep roots reaching into Christâs love.
⢠As you inhale, say silently: âI am grounded in Christ.â
⢠As you exhale, say: âHe strengthens me.â
Allow His peace to fill your mind and body. Remain in this sacred stillness for one minute.
2. Scripture Root Reflection
Open your scriptures and read one verse about Christâs strength (for example, Philippians 4:13). Read slowly and ask yourself:
⢠What truth is Christ teaching me here?
⢠How can this truth steady me today?
Write one short sentence to carry with you, such as âChrist is my anchorâ or âThrough Him, I am strong.â Repeat it whenever challenges arise.
Here are a few anchoring scriptures to reflect on:
⢠âI can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.â â Philippians 4:13
⢠âTherefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God.â â Doctrine and Covenants 123:17
⢠âBe strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.â â Joshua 1:9
⢠âYe must build your foundation upon my rock⌠a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.â â Helaman 5:12
âThat Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.ââ Ephesians 3:17â19
Our goal for this week is to strengthen our roots in Christâto allow ourselves to feel His love in both the difficult and the beautiful moments of our lives.
That we may we live in daily gratitude for the ways we âwater our roots,â and even for the storms that ultimately help our roots grow deeper.
Letâs make it our goal to trust in God daily, to become fully rooted in Him, and feel His love no matter what we may be facing.
Remember, Christ doesnât always calm every storm immediatelyâbut when we are rooted in Him, He calms our heart and soul first. His roots of mercy, peace, and strength hold us steady when life feels uncertain. The deeper those roots growâthrough faith, prayer, and obedienceâthe more unshakable we become.
Reming yourself today:
âNo matter what comes, I will stay rooted in Christ. He is my rock, my Redeemer, my anchor and my peace.â
Love you all, and I hope to see you tonight at 7:00 pmđ
A new year begins much like a small seed placed into the soil…quiet, hopeful, and full of unseen potential. On the outside, it may look ordinary and small. But inside that seed is the promise of growth, strength, and life.
The beginning of a new year invites us to plant something new in our hearts: a desire to grow, to heal, to take care of ourselves and to walk a little closer with Christ.
Just as a seed doesnât grow all at once, neither do we. Growth begins beneath the surface, in the unseen places. When we water our seed daily, through scripture study, sincere prayer, and caring for ourselves physically, mentally, and spirituallyâwe strengthen our roots. These small, faithful acts may feel unseen, but they are powerful. They prepare us to stand firm when challenges come. They help us to keep our bodies healthy, our minds focused on good and our spirit filled with the hope of Christ.
As the seed begins to grow, it naturally reaches toward the light. Christ is that light in our lives. Reaching to Him no matter what is goi g on in our lives is truly healing.
Jesus said; âI am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.â (John 8:12)
When we align our lives to walk with Him, choosing His ways, His love, and His exampleâwe allow His light to nourish us. Like sunlight to a plant, His light brings direction, warmth, and life! We donât need to walk perfectly; we only need to walk intentionally, trusting that His light will guide each step. âď¸
Healthy growth also requires pruning. A gardener knows that pruning is not a lossâitâs an act of love. Jesus taught this same truth:
âHe cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.â (John 15:2 NIV)
This year, cutting and pruning may mean letting go of negative self-talk, unhealthy habits, past guilt, fear, or comparison. Through prayer, reflection, repentance, and grace, we can release what weakens us and make room for what strengthens us.
Pruning might look like:
⢠Setting boundaries that protect your peace.
⢠Replacing lies with truth about who you are in Christ.
⢠Making time for rest and renewal.
⢠Choosing habits that nourish rather than drain.
As we consistently water what is good, remove what no longer serves us, and remain rooted in Christâs light, growth will comeâsometimes slowly, sometimes quietly, but always purposefully.
“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day”.(Proverbs 4:18NIV)
This year we donât need to look for perfection. Only for willingness of heart to try our best to plant the seed daily for our spiritual, physical and emotional growth. God will see our daily efforts and He will help us. We just need to have hope and faith in God and in ourselves. Remembering that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. â¤ď¸
What matters is that we take care of ourselves daily. As President Russell M. Nelson has reminded us, âConsistent, small, and simple actions lead to significant spiritual results over time.âđ The little habits that we practice and incorporate will become some of the biggest blessings to us.
This year in class our focus is to strengthen ourselves even more physically, mentally and spiritually. Itâs a necessity for the world in which we live…and itâs vital for us to feel stronger, confident and aligned to God. đŞđźđĽ°
Our goals for the week are;
⢠Physical Goal: Choose one simple way to care for your body each dayâdrink more water, take a nice walk, stretch, come to class, or go to bed a little earlier.
⢠Spiritual Goal: Spend 5â10 minutes each day with the Lordâread a few verses of scripture, say a sincere prayer, or write down one thing you want to grow this year, take action and allow God to help you. â¤ď¸
Iâm so thankful for the opportunity that we all have to start a new year. I pray that 2026 will inspire us to invite Christ into our planning, into our growth. That we may have wisdom to focus on the truly important things of our lives and find joy in our journey. I pray that we maybe more rooted in the knowledge of knowing that we are loved by our creator. That we may trust in His goodness and light for our lives. That we may allow Him to help us prune and take away all that is not for our benefit and that this year we may feel the desire to come to know Christ more and walk with Him. Becoming, little by little, all that He already knows you can be đąâ¨
I hope that you can make it to the first class of 2026!!! Tonight in class we will not only release stress and strengthen ourselves, but we will also set some goals for the next 6 weeks to strengthen our body, mind and spirit!! đĽ°đ đą Hope that you can make it and invite others to come benefit as well. Canât wait to do this and leave feeling peaceful and renewed! Letâs start the new year the best way we can! Love you all and letâs do this tonight at 7! đŞđźđ
As Christmas arrives and the year gently comes to a close, we have the choice to allow the chaos to get to us or to choices to have moments to slow down. We are invited to focus on the light, gifts and blessings that we have in our lives. To not a rush, not feel the pressure of perfectionism, but to let go and focus on light instead. Even when life feels full, noisy, or uncertain, the message of this season remains beautifully simple: Christ is here. He is present and His presence can be felt is we choose to focus on His light.
The world often tells us that joy must be loud, visible, and wrapped in accomplishment. But the joy Christ offers is different. It is steady. It is peaceful. It is available even on quiet mornings, messy afternoons, and tired nights.
âThe light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.â
â John 1:5
No matter what this year has heldâgrowth or grief, clarity or confusionâthe light of Christ has never left you. And as we turn our hearts toward Him, we begin to notice that light again, gently illuminating our path forward.
Christmas reminds us that God works through the small and the humble. A baby in a manger. A quiet star in the sky. A still, small voice within our hearts. This is not a season that asks us to do more, but a time that invites us to receive more. To feel more of His light and love and live in gratitude for all that weâre blessed to have. Having that light in our lives changes us and allows us to share that light with others as well.
âJoy to the world, the Lord is come: let earth receive her King.â
To receive Christ is to receive hope. To receive peace. To receive the reassurance that we are known, loved, and never alone.
He tells us; âPeace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you⌠Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.â
â John 14:27
As the year ends, we donât need to look back with judgment. We can look forward with trust. Christ goes before us into the new year, already aware of what weâll needâand already prepared to walk with us.
Some of the ways we can invite that feeling of Christâs light into our lives are:
1. Begin the Day with Light
Each morning, before reaching for your phone, take one slow breath and say:
âToday, I walk with Christ.â
Let that intention guide your day.
2. Find Christ in the Ordinary
Choose one ordinary moment each dayâwashing dishes, driving, folding laundryâand silently thank the Savior for being present with you in it.
âIn every thing give thanks.â â 1 Thessalonians 5:18
3. End the Day with Hope
Each night, name one way you saw light that day: kindness, strength, peace, or rest. Offer it back to God in gratitude.
As we move through Christmas and into the new year, here is a simple and uplifting goal to carry with you:
⨠For the next two weeks, choose one small daily act that helps you turn your heart toward Christ.
It might be:
⢠Reading one verse of scripture
⢠Offering a sincere prayer of gratitude
⢠Serving someone quietly
⢠Pausing to breathe and remember Him
Small acts, done consistently, open our hearts to great light.
â Doctrine & Covenants 6:36
âLook unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.â
May this Christmas fill you not with pressure, but with peace. And that you may remember and feel that Christ is nearâwalking beside you, lifting you, and leading you forward with love.
And may you enter the new year carrying not the weight of what was, but the hope of what can be, anchored firmly in Christ and in the daily light that He provides.
I hope that we can all see each other tonight at 7pm to have our last class of 2025! Come ready to release stress, get stronger and leave feeling peaceful and uplifted. đ
Christmas can feel chaotic and a little crazy sometimes. The world puts so much pressure on usâpressure to buy the perfect gifts, to have a beautifully decorated home, to run around nonstop, spend money, and fill our schedules with activities.
But this season also gives us a precious opportunity to refocus on what truly matters. Instead of getting caught up in all the external, material things, we can choose to turn our hearts toward the gifts God has given us throughout the year. We can choose to be more present, to breathe and purposefully calm our minds a little more, we can choose to notice the ways weâve seen His hand in our lives, and to give in the ways He invites us to give.
The gifts God wants from us arenât always material or monetary. This Christmas, I invite each of us to think about the gifts He would want us to giveâgifts like kindness, patience, love, peace, forgiveness, friendshipâŚall the things our Savior Jesus Christ has taught us we can offer. So this season, letâs try to turn our attention a little more away from the world and instead offer God the true gifts of our hearts. â¤ď¸
One of those gifts is gratitudeâexpressing our thankfulness through prayer for all the blessings He gives us. Another is repentanceâhumbly asking for forgiveness for the times weâve fallen short or lacked love toward ourselves or others.
We can offer Him charity by being kind, mending relationships, and extending grace. We can give Him our trust. Our faith. Our loveâby loving others the way He loves us.
The scriptures teach us about some of the gifts that we can offer to Him:
âThen shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them⌠Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.â (Matthew 25:37â40)
We can feel Godâs love by serving Him and by giving to othersâbut also by being humble enough to receive help, love, and kindness from others as well.
As we center our hearts on truly celebrating Christâs birth and choose to offer these gifts to Him, weâll find that what we give to God fills our hearts with a deeper, more lasting joy than anything material ever could.
Through prayer, we connect with Himâexpressing gratitude for the gift of salvation and all He provides daily. Every act of kindness becomes an offering, reflecting the teachings of Jesus. Even the time we give in worship is a gift, acknowledging the sacredness of this season.
Letâs let our lives be living testimoniesâembodying the values of Christ, recognizing the blessings we have, and willingly offering Him our best during this beautiful time of year. When we remember the gifts our Heavenly Father has given us, especially the gift of His Son, it softens and humbles us. It turns our hearts toward Him.
Giving with a pure heart fills our souls more than anything we could ever receive. Giving truly is better than receiving. âĽď¸
So⌠which gifts will you offer to God this week?
I pray this message brings you insight and helps you feel Godâs immense love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion for you. That you may know that youâre never alone. âĽď¸ The Giver of all good gifts is with youâsupporting you, strengthening you, and helping you through anything. Trust Him, believe in Him, and give Him your best! Turn your heart a little more to Him, your thoughts to be more centered on Christ and your actions, that they may be to glorify God.
Our goal for this week is to slow down our racing minds, take a moment to feel Godâs love and focus instead on a gift that we can offer to God this week. Whatever that gift is that we choose to give Him. Just notice how your heart will fill with divine light this Christmas season. đđđđź
Unfortunately, CLASS IS CANCELLED TONIGHT. But hopefully we can all get together next Thursday the 18th to have our last class of 2025! Hope that you can join us for that. đ
For now, donât forget to honor our body, mind, and spirit this week by doing good things for yourself. I hope that your week is anchored in Christ. Love you all!
I recently read a quote that says, âEvery sunrise is a blessing, a gift just for today. Embrace it and enjoy it before it fades away.â Too often, we take the little things for granted. The gift of a new day, the ability to move, the health we haveâŚThese are blessings from above.
We donât need to carry so much stress. We can choose instead to remember the Father of Lights and acknowledge the gifts He is giving us today. I invite you to take a moment to look for the fingerprints of GodâHis love, His mercy, and His divinityâsurrounding you right now. âď¸
Some days are harder than others, but no matter what kind of day weâre having, we are invited to slow down, to focus on today, to take life one moment at a time. We can choose to be present, to ask God to help us become more aware of our blessings, and to fill our hearts with peace, love, and light. These are gifts He is always willing to give when we come to Him with a sincere heart.
God wants us to practice being present. In Matthew 6:34 we read: âTake therefore no thought for the morrow⌠Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.â He is gently reminding us to focus on the gift of this day. As His children, He allows us to choose where we place our attention and how we respond.
So we get to decide:
Do we want to invite the Spirit into this moment?
Do we want to acknowledge the gifts we have right nowâthe chance to live, love, smile, and feel peace?
There will never be another day exactly like today. We can choose to make it meaningful by focusing on what is truly important and on what draws us closer to God and His divine light.đ
Sometimes we fall into patterns of seeing life the same old way. But what if today, we choose to see the beauty around us? What if we view our day as filled with sacred sights and sounds? Even the messy, stressful, or heavy moments can become holy moments when we look for God in them.
James 1:17 teaches: âEvery good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.â
He is the giver of all good gifts. As we choose to see His light, we will feel Him more deeply. He loves us and wants our hearts lifted above the noise of the world. He wants us to trust Himâthe Father of our souls. He knows you. He LOVES you. He has a perfect plan for you. And even when life feels overwhelming, remember: You can do all things with His help. As you trust Him and come to Him, His light will increase in your life.
So today, letâs look upâto the Father of Lightsâso He can fill us with more light. His light is already within us, but it is up to us to fill our hearts and homes with even more of His presence.đŤ
Letâs not allow the adversary to pull us down. We are stronger than we realize because our strength comes from God. We can let go of what burdens us and remember that ALL things are under His control. We can reject negativity through prayer and by filling our minds and spirits with uplifting things.
So change things up today:
⢠Choose Christian music to lift your heart.
⢠Choose messages of light to inspire you.
⢠Choose to see the good in your journey.
⢠Choose to come closer to Christ.
He invites us to feel His love in the simple, daily moments of life. Enjoy them. Let your heart be peaceful. Let His light transform your day.
As we enter this Christmas season, I invite you to look for the lightâfor the gifts God gives you daily. Be a light to others and consciously choose to be filled with love, light, and peace, moment by moment. Allow God to strengthen you, help you reject negativity, and fill you with the peace that only He can offer.
I also want to challenge you to think of a gift you can give to God this season. Ask yourself:
âWhat is one gift I can offer Him this week?â
I pray that as you ask this question, He will inspire your heart and bless you with greater gratitude, abundance, and joy. That you may hear directly from Him where He wants you to focus your energy. Whom He needs you to help etc. â¤ď¸
And tonight in class, I invite you to be fully present. Enjoy the gift of moving your body and strengthening yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. If youâve been feeling stressed or overwhelmed, come. Let this time bless you. Come ready for a peaceful meditation that will re-center and re-focus you on what truly matters. This is the season when we need it most.
Love you all! Canât wait to do this together! đ
Self-mastery is one of the greatest spiritual journeys we can undertake. Our self mastery is tested constantly. What matters is what we choose to do with the opportunity to practice strengthening this self mastery within ourselves.
Self Mastery is a quiet, daily commitment to rise above impulse, discouragement, and distraction. It allows us to choose to be intentional in living more centered in Christ.
Self mastery is not about perfection. Itâs about the direction we choose to take for ourselves. Every small, faithful choice leads us closer to the person God knows we can become.
When we learn to govern our thoughts, care for our bodies, speak with kindness, and act with purpose, we begin to feel a deeper sense of peace and spiritual confidence. Self-mastery is not meant to be overwhelming; it is meant to be empowering. It is what allows us to walk hand-in-hand with the Savior.
My goal for this message is that we will try to look a little deeper into what self-mastery looks like in our thoughts, body, words, and actions and that we may have a stronger desire to practice self mastery in as many areas of our lives as possible.
First, thereâs Mastery of Thoughts and the Mastery of the mind. We can choose to train our thoughts and our mind to turn toward light rather than darkness. âď¸
Our thoughts influence our emotions, our choices, and the overall atmosphere of our day. Self-mastery starts with gently guiding the mind back to truth whenever it tries to wander toward fear, comparison, judgment or negativity.
Scriptures to Anchor the Mind đ
We can invite Gods words daily to come into our lives and allow them to change us, strengthen us, help us and invite us to grow. đ Here are a few of my favorites.
⢠âBe still, and know that I am God.â â Psalm 46:10
⢠ââŚLet the peace of God rule in your hearts.â â Colossians 3:15
One of the reasons why I love mindfulness is because it teaches me exercises that I can practice to help strengthen my mind body and soul. So, here are a few exercises that may help you as you pause and breathe.
⢠Thought Pausing: Notice the thought and ask: âIs this true? Is this helpful? Is this what God would tell me about this situation?â
⢠Replace, Donât Wrestle: Swap anxious thoughts for a scripture, a gratitude, or a truth statement.
⢠Morning Stillness: Sit for 3 minutes in quiet breathing and invite Christ to fill your mind with light.
These small practices, repeated daily, can help your mind become a place where the Spirit can dwell more easily.
Mastery of Body: Honoring the Temple God Gave Us. đ
Our bodies are sacred gifts. Developing self-mastery in how we care for them brings spiritual strength, emotional balance, and physical energy. Here are a few scriptures to remind us of the importance of this.
⢠âYour body is the temple of the Holy GhostâŚâ â 1 Corinthians 6:19â20
⢠ââŚI discipline my body and keep it under control.â â 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)
We often forget that the enemy is not just after our mind and our spirit. He is also after our body! He never got a body and therefore wants us to be miserable like himself. He wants us to speak negatively about our body. He doesnât wants us to remember that our body was given to us and created by God our Father! He wants us to defile our body with addictions, thoughts and actions that disrespect our body or make us feel that we donât care for it enough. God on the other hand, invites us to love ourselves. To respect, protect and honor our body. With food, rest, exercise and gratitude for each part of this temple we were given. To help master it and care for it. I fully believe that we will give an account at the end of our lives for what we chose to do with our God given body. đ
Our Habits Help Build Body-Mastery: We can help ourselves choose habits that are beneficial to our minds and bodies. For example;
⢠Choose one small daily habit to strengthen (water, stretching, walks, sleep).
⢠Practice body gratitude every nightâthank God for one thing your body did today.
⢠Listen to promptings: rest when the Spirit says rest; move when the Spirit nudges you to move.
Self-mastery of the body is not about pressure, comparison or appearance. itâs about honoring the gift God entrusted to each one of us.
Mastery of Words: Speaking With Purpose, love and light. đŁď¸ đ
Our words hold power. They can lift, heal, comfort, or inspire. Self-mastery in speech means slowing down long enough to choose words that align with love and truth. This is one of the ones that Iâm trying to practice the most. đ To be a little more aware to try to use words that lift how we speak to ourselves and about others. I know that as we choose words that lift and bring light to othersâŚThat is one of the best ways that we can honor God and show Him how much we love Him. â¤ď¸
Here are a few scriptures that can shape the way we speak.
⢠âLet your speech be always with graceâŚâ â Colossians 4:6
⢠âSpeak the truth in love.â â Ephesians 4:15
And in mindfulness thereâs an exercise called;
⢠The Holy Pause: Before responding, take a breath and ask, âWhat would uplift, bring peace and love to think about this situation? How would God want me to respond to this?
⢠Speak to Bless: Make it your mission to let your words be a blessing. This can be super hard to do because we all have differences in opinions and things that we donât agree with or want to gossip about etc. đ But we can all try to be a little more gentle with our words.
We can try to remember that we ourselves are very imperfectâŚjust as the people we judge are imperfect. But in Gods eyes we are all His children and what we do to others we do unto Him. đŁ So, we should try to be kinder, more forgiving, more loving and having more self mastery. đŞđźEnough to know that there are some things that we just need to LET GO & LET GOD HELP US THROUGH IT. â¤ď¸đđź & this isnât just about others, but it also applies to how we treat ourselves too. Sometimes we need to let god of some of the judgements we have with ourselves and give ourselves a little more love, kindness and compassion. đĽšđ
⢠Gentle Self-Talk: Talk to yourself the way Christ wouldâwith patience, compassion, and hope. đ
When we master our words, we become instruments of peace. As we master our thoughts, words and actions we finally begin to start living with intention. Weâre not driven by impulses, anger, etc.
Instead, we learn to recognize our power and realize that itâs better to use this power for good and not to hurt myself and others by giving away my power. So, today I invite you to find your inner power. Your opportunity to protect and strengthen yourself.
Self-mastery in action means we choose our behavior deliberately rather than reacting from emotion or stress. Christ is the perfect example of calm, purposeful livingâeven in pressure-filled moments.
He has taught us;
⢠âLet all things be done decently and in order.â â 1 Corinthians 14:40
⢠âBy their fruits ye shall know them.â â Matthew 7:20
⢠âI can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.â â Philippians 4:13
Tools To Help Us With Our Action Mastery:
⢠One-Hour Focus: You donât need to control the whole dayâjust the next hour. Take action for just the next hour and feel the difference.
⢠Act vs. React: When emotion rises, pause and ask: âWhat outcome do I want? What action aligns with the person Iâm becoming?â
⢠Evening Check-In: Spend a few minutes at night reporting your wins and struggles to God, and ask Him to help you shape your actions, thoughts, words and desires for tomorrow.
At the end of it all. Self Mastery is really just helping us to become a little more Christlike. we could call it Christ Mastery. As we strive to become better masters of ourselves, I promise that He will provide wisdom, direction and guidance on those days when youâre struggling the most.
Self-mastery is not something we do alone. Itâs something we do with Christ. Heâs the one who helps us. He fills the gaps.He strengthens our weaknesses. He blesses our efforts, no matter how small.
Self-mastery is the opportunity that we have to learn to live in partnership with the Savior. Moment by moment. And as we do, something shifts in our hearts: Weâre able to let go of things easily, We focus our energies on the things that matter most, we become calmer, more joyful, more confident, and more spiritually anchored.
This allows us to feel more capable of becoming the sons and daughters God created us to be. And He would want to remind us that we donât need to master everything at once. We can start by just choosing one area todayâand invite Christ into it.
He will do the rest.
I invite you to come to class tonight at 7pm to practice your self mastery as you choose to do something great for your Body, Mind and Spirit. Our meditation will be focused on practicing self mastery and allowing ourselves to let go of things and trust in God and in ourselves. Class will be canceled next week so, hopefully you can make it tonight! đ
Sometimes life feels heavy. Our minds race with responsibilities, worries, and endless to-do lists. But God never meant for us to carry it all alone. He invites us to rest in Him. Sometimes we think of rest as just laying down, sleeping, watching tv etc. But what if we can choose to rest in a deeper way? Allowing our mind, heart and soul to rest in Christ instead?
The Savior tells us âCome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.â Matthew 11:28
True rest doesnât always mean stopping everythingâit means finding peace within everything. Itâs that quiet knowing that Christ walks beside us, that when we feel overwhelmed or stressed we can slow down and remember to come to Him to find peace, and comfort. Itâs knowing that His strength fills the gaps where ours runs out.
When we feel overwhelmed, we can pause, breathe, and gently remind our hearts that we are safe in His hands. We donât have to figure out the whole dayâjust do our best one hour at a time.
Psalm 46:10 says; âBe still, and know that I am God.â
So, when you feel stressed or overwhelmed stop and remind yourself to be still and know in the God in whom you trust. Know His attributes. Know what He has done in the past for you and what heâs capable of doing for you right now in this very moment. Remember that each hour can be a new beginningâa small act of trust, a little heartfelt prayer offered or a deep breath that says, âLord, Iâm here. Help me to rest in You.â
Hereâs a Mindfulness Practices to help you rest in God.
1. The One-Hour Practice is a beautiful mindfulness practice where you break down your day into one-hour segments. At the start of each hour, pause for 30 seconds to take three slow breaths and say: âFather, help me do what matters most in this next hour.â This keeps your focus grounded in the present moment rather than the weight of the whole day.
Another beautiful mindfulness exercise is the Breath Prayer. As you inhale, think or whisper: âBe stillâŚâ As you exhale: ââŚand know that I am God.â Let this rhythm remind your body and spirit to release control and rest in His peace.
Another powerful way to combat our stressful thoughts and feelings is to be reminded of scriptures that help us. We can take time to pause for a few minutes and reflect on a scripture that can help us. For example you can choose a verse for the day. like Matthew 11:28 which says âCome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you restâ or Mosiah 24:14 which says; âAnd I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.â
We can remember scriptures that give us comfort we can write them down, carry them with us or set it up as a phone background. Each time you feel overwhelmed, read it slowly and let it sink into your heart.
And finally we can focus on having gratitude in the moment. When your mind starts spinning with stress, pause and notice one thingâbig or smallâthat is evidence of Godâs care right now. Gratitude gently shifts your focus from fear to faith.
In a message that I wrote at the beginning of the year, the Lord taught me that the feelings of overwhelm or stress are not feelings that come from God or His presence. The truth is that this life gives us opportunities to learn how to manage our stress if we choose to come and find rest upon the giver of all peace. To come to our Savior and find rest in Him. The more that weâre able to practice coming to Him and resting in Him the better weâll be able to manage the thoughts, stress and emotions around us.
Thereâs a quote from Corrie Ten Boom which says; âIf you look at the world, youâll be distressed. If you look within, youâll be depressed. If you look at God, Youâll be at rest.â đ
I pray that we may all find rest in Christ. Remember that you donât have to have it all together to rest in God. You just have to be willing to pause, breathe, and let Him hold whatâs too heavy for you to carry.
Try to remind yourself to take things ONE HOUR AT A TIME, ONE BREATH AT A TIME, ONE PRAYER AT A TIME. He loves you! He will strengthen you. He will help you.
âI can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.â Philippians 4:13
Hope that you can make it to class tonight to release stress, strengthen your body and allow your mind heart and soul to rest in Christ. đđĽ°đđź Join us and feel the difference. â¤ď¸
One of the greatest gifts we can cultivate in this life is the ability to protect our inner peace. Each day weâre confronted with people, circumstances and challenges that threaten to steal our peace. The peace that allows us to have that calm assurance that comes from knowing who we are, whose we are, and what truly matters. đ
Christ Himself exemplified perfect peace, even in the midst of rejection, betrayal, and suffering. He said, âPeace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraidâ (John 14:27).
Even when others misunderstood or mistreated Him, the Savior never allowed bitterness, anger, or fear to take root. Instead He chose stillness, forgiveness, and divine trust. He showed us that true peace doesnât depend on our circumstances. Itâs something we carry within when weâre anchored to God our Father. He is our shield, our anchor and our protection. âď¸đĄď¸
When we feel our peace being threatened â whether by othersâ actions, our own worries, or the noise of the world, we can choose to turn inward to protect our peace and to look upward to seek direction from God on how He would want us to handle this specific situation. This life will give us plenty of opportunities to practice whether or not we believe that protecting our peace is of more important than allowing ourselves to loose it.
The Spirit of God always whispers peace when we quiet our minds and open our hearts to the Lord.
As Philippians 4:7 promises: âThe peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.â
Here are some ideas that may help us practice protecting our peace:
đ Pause before reacting. Take a deep breath and ask, âWhat would bring me closer to Christ in this moment?â
đ Set gentle boundaries. Protect your emotional and spiritual space without resentment â you can love others without allowing their choices to steal your peace.
đ Ask yourself, âIs my peace worth more than this argument?â
đ Pray and release. Turn burdens, hurt feelings, and misunderstandings over to the Lord. As you do, the weight begins to lift and youâre able to free yourself from the thoughts and feelings that donât help you.
đ Stay present. Mindfulness teaches us to notice our thoughts and feelings without judgment â to breathe, observe, and choose peace instead of reacting on impulse.
đ Remember that you canât control how people act but you can control where you look for peace. đ When you choose to stare or focus on what hurts you, you forget who can heal you. đĽš
đ Fill your soul with light daily. Scripture study, gratitude, uplifting music, and service all strengthen your inner peace by aligning you with Godâs Spirit.
đ You can also journal, exercise and choose activities that help you release and strengthen your mind, body and soul.
Remember, Christâs peace is not fragile â itâs divine. When we stay close to Him, no storm, person, or situation can take away the calm He offers. As Isaiah 26:3 beautifully says: âThou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.â
So, guard your peace tenderly, as something sacred. Itâs not selfish â itâs spiritual stewardship. When you protect your peace, you protect your ability to love, to serve, and to hear the gentle whisperings of the Spirit. You deserve to protect your peace. As you become a protector of your peace, you will also bless and bring peace to the lives of those around you. đ
Our goal for the week is to recognize the peace that we have. Think of way to protect it and how it can anchor us to Christ, our teacher and Savior. Try practicing this week ways to be a peacemaker and to protect your peace. đĄď¸
Our physical goal for the week is to move our bodies daily and to be wise in what we choose to eat.
I pray that we will all have a safe and beautiful day. No matter what is going on remember that God LOVES YOU!! He has a beautiful and perfect plan for you. & he is present and ready to fill you with love, light and peace. Truly try to look unto Him in every thought. Doubt not, fear not. Allow the peace of Christ to rule in your heart and mind more than anything else around you & notice the difference. đĽšđđđź
Love you all and hope that you can make it to class tonight at 7pm to strengthen your body through exercise. Your mind, as you strengthen your thoughts through meditation, and your spirit as you allow God to fill your heart with peace. Hope that you can join us and feel the difference.
