Confession time…After reading today’s scripture, I guess you could say that lately I’ve been stripping. Yep, you heard it right.  I’ve been stripping!
Whew, you can always tell when God’s been working on me, because I’m silent from my journaling.  A little over a week ago, I prayed Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Well, God always says He’s listening, and He sure was.  Like David says in Psalm 66:19, “But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.” Boy oh boy, did He listened and moved forward with my request. God not only examined me, but He tested me as well.  The Lord really made me take a good look at myself and find some areas that I needed to work on.
I’ll leave the specifics between God and myself for now, but I just wanted you to know that:

• When you talk to God, He does listen.
• When you get real with God, He gets real with you. (Don’t be afraid, it’s all good in the end!)
• When you rid yourself of those things in life that are not pleasing to God, He gives you peace.
• When you rid yourself of sin, it is freeing!
• When you keep your eyes on Jesus, and not yourself, your perspective comes into focus.
• When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you realize that you are not alone. He’s been there done that and has others who have gone down that same path as you cheering you on as encouragement.
• ­­When you stick with God, you are hanging out with The Champion. He triumphed the weight of carrying every-one-of-our-sins when He died on that cross.
• When you stick with God, there is joy, abundant joy, waiting for you!

Today’s scripture: The Message translation of Hebrews 12:1-3 reads:  “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
NLT:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ³ Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
God is always working on you!  Never give up!  He’s not giving up on you.
 I pray many blessings and much joy for you! Have a wonderful day. – Stephanie