Hala Sahlman

About Hala Sahlman

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Copy of For When You're Feeling Burned-out

For When Vacation is Over

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Vacation, no matter the time of year, is meant to be: Recharging. Refreshing. Fun. A change in scenery.

Here are a few things it also inadvertently does…

– leaves us longing for more

– makes us question our career (why can’t work be more fun!?)

– gives us a temporary boost of gratitude and energy.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sick of temporary.  I don’t want my work to be the source of my emotions.  I don’t want the people around me to dictate what I think or how I feel about myself or the world.

Instead, I want to tap into the ultimate source of joy.  The ultimate source of fulfillment.  The ultimate source of what is good.

Rather than riding the vacation high, (that may only last until noon today), try meditating on this verse and praying the prayer below:

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore,” Psalm 16:11

Dear God,

YOU are the ultimate source of my joy and fulfillment.  As I go back to work, please remind me that my purpose is not in my career but in loving and being loved by you.  Please protect me from the trap of achievement and comparison.  Help me to walk in the confidence and joy of being your daughter.  Sustain me God and be my source!  I love you.  It’s in your son’s name that I pray,

Amen.

Praying with you friend.  Remember that God is with you as you step back into reality.

All my love,

Hala

3 Tips for When You're Feeling Burned-out

For When You’re Feeling Burned-Out

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We each have days, seasons or even years where we experience exhaustion, frustration, and stress in our personal or professional life (or both!).

In times of burn out, society and culture say “treat yo-self!” Take one day completely to yourself to do whatever you want.  The hard thing is, that one day might feel great, but our day-to-day real life still brings the fatigue, anxiety, and dissatisfaction.

God says,

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly,” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

Rather than waiting for that one day of freedom, here are a few things you can do today to lighten your load:

1.Share with God what is causing you to feel burned out. It doesn’t have to be polished, just tell him! He wants you to “come to me.” You can say this prayer:

Dear God,

Work is hard. Obligations at home are hard. I can’t seem to do anything well or right, and I’m tired. These are the specific things that are bringing me stress…

2. Throughout your day when you sense the stress, anxiety, fatigue, and frustrations tell God in the moment.  Try short prayers like:

God,

You say you’re walking with me and that I should watch how you work. The stress is here, show me how to manage it.

3. Start your day or end your day in the word. God wants us to keep company with him, and the best way to do that is by reading His word. 

If you are a young professional woman experiencing a season of stress and would like assistance with managing it, let’s have a conversation.  As a life and career coach, my goal is to help women fall in love with their life in a way that honors God.  I do that through courses, retreats, 1-on-1, and group coaching programs.  To see which option is best for you, you can schedule a free introduction call with me by sending me an email to halasahlman@hrslifecoaching.com.

Praying for you friend!  Remember God is with you through it all.

Peace and love,

Hala

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If you find yourself complaining a lot…read this!

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If you’re complaining about your life, your job, your relationship status, etc…

…You’re likely dissatisfied with your life.

Dissatisfied: : expressing or showing lack of satisfaction : not pleased or satisfied; discontent; not happy.

We all go through seasons of dissatisfaction.  Whether or not we stay in a season for an extended period of time is all about how we respond to the feelings of frustration, unhappiness, and discontentment.

A typical response to dissatisfaction is to look around at others we deem as happy, and copy whatever we think they’re doing right in their life.  If it’s a coworker who seems fulfilled by working late hours, taking on all the projects, and giving her all to her job then we might try to do the same.  If it’s a friend who seems fulfilled by a dating relationship we might think that’s what we need to be truly happy.  Maybe it’s a mom friend who is able to manage working from home, three kids, household chores, and all the other mom duties with joy and grace; we might think that’s what we have to do to be satisfied.

The problem with trying to do what everyone else is doing, is that you miss the opportunity to discover what will bring YOU satisfaction, joy, and fulfillment.

This January I’m giving women the opportunity to pause once a week for an hour and a half, reflect on their current life, discover the ways they have been trying to find fulfillment, tune into who they were created to be, and make a plan to actually find the satisfaction they are craving.

I’m doing this through a 5 week course called Return to You.

Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

There are SO MANY patterns of this world that we fall into on a regular basis and we need God’s word, the support from others, reflection, and stillness to renew our mind.

Comparison is one of those patterns.

Others include…

Self deprecation, or convincing yourself that you’re selfish

Believing you are unworthy of love, healing, joy, or fulfillment

Pushing down your emotions in the name of accomplishment and achievement

Allowing fear and anxiety to drive your choices, actions, and views

What are the patterns ruling you? 

How long have they been ruling you?

How much longer are you willing to let them rule you?

You do not have to live complaining and dissatisfied any longer.  God is calling you to NOT conform to the patterns of this world, so don’t.  Join us this January to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and in doing so return to you.

Join us here to Return to You- the woman you were always intended to be.

 

Why Moving Home is a Good Thing

Why Moving Home is a Good Thing, and Also How to Survive it!

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I know the initial thought of moving home can be a shocker for most, but it is actually much more common than you realize!  Many people move home at some point within five to ten years after graduating from college. Some use it as a home base to land as they are pursuing their first job.  Some use it as a way to save up for purchasing a home. Still others move home because they are trying to figure their life out, and it is helpful to do that in a space they feel safe.  Moving home is actually a good thing, even though it gives you all the cringey embarrassed feelings at first.

Here are a few pros to moving home.  The first is you can save money. Unless your parents choose to charge you a crazy amount for rent (you should take this as a hint that they want you to move out btw), you are likely to save a LOT of money by moving home.  It might be a good way to start paying off loans, or start saving for future investments. Many couples choose to move in with their parents or in laws to save up for a home of their own one day.  

Moving home can also be a way to ground yourself after or during a transitional time in your life.  For example, if you are just graduating from college you are going to experience a plethora of emotions and changes.  Having a familiar space with a community surrounding you can be a helpful support system as you learn to adjust to adulthood.  Similarly, if you are going through a break up of some kind moving home is beneficial because you are with people who love you in an environment which can help you feel like yourself again.    

While moving home has many pros, it also has a comparable amount of cons.  However, the negative aspects of moving home can be either avoided or managed by keeping the following in mind.  

You are in your parents’ (or significant other’s parents’) space.

While home will always be your home too, you have to keep in mind that it first and foremost belongs to your parents.  This can be a challenge because you remember what it was like when you lived there full time. Your parents, however, have adjusted their lifestyle to living without you home and are now needing to adjust back to you being there.  It is important that you talk to them about their new routines since you have left home. They might have evening shows they like to watch now, or morning breakfast routines that you are not aware of. Being respectful of their new schedules and ways of using their home will allow for a more positive experience for you.  You can then express your routines and schedule and find compromises.

Your schedule is important too.

Even though you are in your parents space, your schedule or routines also matter.  If you’re coming straight from college, chances are your sleep schedule is probably VERY different from your parents.  You probably either stay up late, or stay out until late. Expressing this to your parents is very important. They will likely resort back to worrying about where you are or what you are doing if you do not communicate with them from the get go how you are planning to spend your time.  It might be a good idea to have an agreed upon time when you will be home. Not as a curfew, but as a courtesy of your new roommates. Deciding on a door to come in so as not to wake them up is also a good idea. Just remember, that communication is key. It is okay for you to want to do your own thing, but remember to be respectful of your parents as well.  

Talk about who is going to do the cooking.

As weird as this might sound, food can be a major dilemma when you move home.  Parents, mom’s in particular, fall back into mama bear mode and want to cook and take care of you.  While this might be nice for a few weeks, eventually you will find that you want to eat differently and/or have a bit of your own space.  If you don’t decide this on your own, your mom might have the realization that she doesn’t have the time to take care of you as much as she would like.  Being able to gently express these thoughts and feelings to one another will make a major difference in your living environment. Telling your mom which nights of the week you would like to cook or grocery shop will not only make your life easier, but hers as well!  Use this time as a way to learn from her also. Maybe you are not comfortable grocery shopping or cooking all on your own. Ask for some nights when you can do those things together! Now is your opportunity to grow and learn so that when you are living on your own you can take care of yourself.  If you’re moving home after already having lived by yourself, taking a few nights to cook is probably a good idea. As long as you all talk about an agreed upon arrangement, and everyone is happy life will be good.   

Identify some spaces you can call your own.

Whether it’s your bedroom, your own bathroom, a small TV room, or even just an area of the backyard make sure you have some spaces within the house that you can call your own and not be bothered in.  As wonderful as family is, it is a major adjustment to go from living separately to living together again. Being able to retreat to your own room will help your mental health while living at home. Maybe have a computer or TV in your room so that you can watch your own shows too.

Have a job and activities outside of the house.

Sometimes we move home because we don’t have a job.  That’s okay! Do your best to get one, even if it’s just in a coffee shop or nannying or dog walking for a while.  Getting out of the house is vital to your survival at home. Spending all day watching TV, playing video games, or sleeping in will only make you feel worse.  Even as you look for a job, set a schedule for yourself. Have an alarm go off in the morning, get up and shower, go to a location that has WiFi and do your job searching there.  Acting as a professional will help you feel more independent and will set you up for success when you do have a job. It is also recommended that you join groups or communities in the evenings.  Maybe you have some friends who are also living at home. Perfect! Go to trivia nights together, or plan outings in the afternoons and evenings so that you have a social life and aren’t cooped up all day and night.  

Try to set a timeline for how long you will be home.

When you first move home, set a goal for when you want to move out by.  Maybe it’s a few months, a year, or a few years. Whatever your timeline is, set a goal and do your best to stick to it. Knowing there is an end in sight will help you get through the days that are hard.

No matter what, there will be ups and downs to living at home just as there are ups and downs to living with roommates.  Overall though, you’re making a good choice to move in with the rents as long as it’s just for a time 😉 If you need some help during this transitional time let me know!  I’m always just a phone call away!

Peace, love, and moving home,

Hala

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Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

Why Being Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable is so Important

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When I was coaching college lacrosse, a theme we tried to teach the girls was “being comfortable with being uncomfortable.” We had them catch while holding their sticks in awkward positions, throw passes that were too high or too wide, and we would put them in situations where they would feel uncomfortable with the ways they were catching, throwing, and sometimes moving. The point of this was to show that play during games isn’t perfect- you have to be ready for anything that comes your way, and still be able to play YOUR game. You have to get used to feeling out of place so that when it happens in a game, you know how to push through that feeling of uncomfortable-ness and continue to play to your full potential.

It’s the same thing in life.  We need to be okay with situations that make us uncomfortable, and need to get to a place where no matter what, we find comfort and confidence in who we are.  It is important to spend time with those who make us feel most like ourselves, and also in settings and/or environments where we thrive. It is just as important, however, to spend time with people who are different from us, and to go to places that we are unfamiliar with.  Maybe these places are a different town or country, maybe it’s just sitting with a new group of people at lunch. Having uncomfortable conversations about politics, gender, religion, relationships, etc. allows us to grow and learn. It also allows us to form our own opinions and prepares us for future conversations that are similar.  Being uncomfortable is actually vital to our individual growth.  

While coaching the drills to teach comfort during discomfort on the field, we taught our players that with every uncomfortable situation they found themself in at practice, they would be that much more confident and prepared for the game. With every awkward pass and catch, they grew into a more well rounded and flexible player. We reminded them they would be prepared for anything that came their way.

Learning how to manage our feelings when in an awkward situation is also important to our growth.  When you are uncomfortable here are a few things you can do to control your feelings and in turn treat the situation as a learning experience:

Breath

It sounds simple, but taking a few deep breaths will calm your nerves and give you more control over your body and emotions.  It will also give you a few moments to think and process what is happening around you.

Listen and ask questions.

A lot of times when we are uncomfortable we become defensive and argumentative.  Rather than allowing yourself to respond negatively, shift your mindset to listen to others and ask them questions.  Even if you don’t agree with everything that is being said around you, ask questions to understand where the other people are coming from.

Share who you are in a non argumentative way.

You were created with your own thoughts, opinions, strengths and passions.  Allow yourself to share who you are with others, in a non judgmental and non argumentative way.  There’s a chance other people can learn from you too. With every moment that we, as people, are open about who we are, we grow. 

Being uncomfortable is not a pleasant feeling, but it’s one we need to become accustomed to if we are wanting to mature in our understanding of people, ourselves, and the world around us.  I challenge you to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation this week, and do your best to be comfortable with it. Let me know how it goes!

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3 Affirmations to Tell Yourself Every Day

3 Affirmations to Tell Yourself Every Day

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Have you seen that YouTube video of the little girl standing on the bathroom countertop and talking to herself in the mirror?  She dances and punches the air as she tells herself what she loves about her life. She essentially gives herself a pep talk to take on the day!  After watching it I couldn’t help but think about how we all need more of these daily reminders and motivational pep talks! It reminded me of the caretaker from The Help who tells the little girl she nannies for every day, “You is smart, you is kind, you is important.”  We work hard to affirm children, but you know what! As adults we need these affirmations too! There is too much hate and negativity in this world and it can be easy to believe the lies people say. We need reminders of truths about who we are and who we are working to become (read more about Who You Are in this post).

Did you know that by choosing to focus on new thoughts, you can actually rewire your brain?  According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, “ As we think, we change the physical nature of our brain. As we consciously direct our thinking, we can wire out toxic patterns of thinking and replace them with healthy thoughts,” (Switch On Your Brain, Leaf).  Training your mind to think differently takes discipline, but is extremely doable. It is also Biblical: “ Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his pleasing and perfect will,” (Romans 12:2).

We must take charge of our thoughts and renew our minds DAILY!  Here are three affirmations to tell yourself everyday to begin rewiring your brain:

I am loved

Did that make you cringe or roll your eyes when you read it?  Well guess what, that means you need to say it and believe it even more than the average person.  To believe it, try picturing someone you know that loves you and how they make you feel. This is a truth straight from the word of God: You were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and are loved beyond all measure (Ephesians 3:19) just the way you are (Romans 5:8) and nothing can take that love away (Romans 8:35).  Say it. Repeat it. Believe it.

I am capable.  

Don’t let anyone, including yourself, tell you you can’t.  Some things take more work than others. Some take time, but know this truth: “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13)

I am intelligent.

Speaking as someone who has taught Middle School Special Education for five years, I can tell you with confidence that there is no such thing as “stupid.”  Each of us has innate intelligence, and the more confident we are of that, the more that intelligence grows. No matter what your education, or who tells you otherwise you are intelligent (Acts 4:13 and Proverbs 9:10). Trust it. Know it. Walk in it.

Start with these three daily affirmations and begin asking God what else you need to say to yourself daily.  Journal about it. Reflect on it. Talk to others about it. Believing in yourself is a key aspect to creating a life you love.

I am always here to help you process and brainstorm.  If this is an area you’d like support in, let’s set up a call.  

Peace, love and affirmations,

Hala 

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Who Do You Say I Am_

Who Do You Say I Am?

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Have you heard the song “You Say” by Lauren Daigle? I want to encourage you with her words and God’s words today.

In our society we are bombarded with lies, discouragements, words that tear down, comparisons, and negativity. People make hurtful comments to one another to make themselves feel better. It’s easy to lose sight of who we are because we have so many people trying to tell us who we should be. 

There are a few questions I want you to consider today. The first is a deep one…

Who am I?

I know, I know. It’s a loaded question but one we need to meditate on! Who you are is different from who your best friend is, or your coworker, or the barista at the coffee shop. You were knit together in your mother’s womb and were created to be uniquely you. Make a list of the qualities that make you, you. Start with titles: I am a sister/brother, I am a mother/father, I am a daughter/son, etc. List as many as come to mind. Then move on to positive characteristics that describe you: I am kind, I am joyful, I am thoughtful, etc. Again, write as many as you can think of and don’t feel guilty for the list of attributes. Remember you were created by God who is himself good, so you must be good as well.

The second question to consider is…

Who do You say I am?

“You” being God. If you believe God is the creator of the universe, a truth teller, a father, a forgiver, YOUR creator then knowing who He says you are is of utmost importance. Lauren Daigle did some of the grunt work for us and tells us who God says we are. In her lyrics she sings, “You say I am loved (1 John 4:8) when I can’t feel a thing. You say I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10) when I think I am weak. You say I am held (Psalm 34:18) when I am falling short, and when I don’t belong, oh, you say I am yours (John 1:12-13), and I believe.” These lyrics just scratch the surface of who God says you are.  Isn’t that crazy?! There is so much more He wants us to know about who we are, and the way to discover that is by learning more about who He is. 

I have two recommendations for you as you seek out the answer to “Who do You say I am?” The first is spend some time reflecting on this question. Ask God to reveal who He says you are. Write about it, pray about it, listen for answers to it. While there are general truths in His word, there are unique truths about YOU that you need to hear directly from Him. The best way to hear them is by writing or journaling about this question often. 

The next recommendation I have is to study out the character of Jesus. The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell the story of Jesus’s life and ministry from four different perspectives. I would start by reading through these and then turn to a book or devotional. A few that have been recommended to me are: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, A Case For Christ by Lee Strobel, The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey, Stop Calling me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer, The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, Desiring God by John Piper, Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldridge, and The Burden is Light by John Tyson to name a few.

If we don’t know who we are, or who we were created to be, we will begin to believe the lies thrown at us every day.  Find confidence in the truths that God tells you, and in the truths you know about yourself. Hang in there friend, and remember that you are loved.

Peace, love, and truths about you,

Hala

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How to Set a Goal

How to Set a Goal and Follow Through With it!

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Most people have a love hate relationship with “goals.”  They love the idea of having them, but hate the thought because they never follow through.  Goals can be rewarding, or frustrating depending on how you approach them, and how you write them.  Chances are, if you strongly dislike goals or goal setting, you probably aren’t doing it right. Let’s talk about the easiest way to set a goal, and follow through with it.

Ever heard of SMART goals?  It’s a bit of a cheesy acronym, but let me tell yah, it works!  When you think about setting a goal you want to think through whether it is SMART or not.  SMART stands for the following: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based.

Specific

Starting out with a specific goal is very important.  Let’s say your goal has to do with saving money. You might start out by saying “I want to save up for a house.”  While this is a great goal to have, there are some weaknesses to it. The first is that it isn’t specific enough. How much do you want to save for a house?  What kind of house do you want to save for? Including this information in your goal will help you to have a more clear picture of what you are doing. Let’s make it more specific by saying “I want to save $20,000 for a downpayment on a house.”  Now we’re getting somewhere.

Measurable

The next part of the goal to focus on is to make it measurable.  In other words, can you tell you are making progress towards, and have reached your goal?  Right now as our goal stands, we have no way to measure it: “I want to save $20,000 for a downpayment on a house.”  Cool, but how do we know we can actually do that? Let’s add in something about saving a certain amount of money each month or each paycheck.  Maybe you can afford to not go out to eat as much, or shop as much. Let’s say you want to save $1,000 a month. Your new goal becomes: “I want to save $20,000 for a downpayment on a house by saving $1,000 a month.”  Getting closer!

Attainable

This means that it’s something we can actually do.  Maybe saving $1,000 a month is realistic, and maybe there is no way you can save that much and still afford to pay all the bills.  You need to consider what is best for you, and something you can achieve. If that number needs to be adjusted, do it! Don’t make a goal that you can’t actually meet.

Relevant

You also want to think through if this goal is relevant to your life and current situation.  Is now the right time to be saving for a house, or should you be saving to pay off loans instead.  Or maybe you’re in high school and saving for a house makes zero sense. Think through the goal you are writing and make sure it makes sense to your current situation.

Time-Based

Lastly, make sure your goal has a timeline in it.  If we only saved $1,000 for two months, we would be nowhere near our goal of saving $20,000.  When do you want to buy a house by? How long do you think it will take? Add in a time line. You new goal could be something like: “I want to save $20,000 for a downpayment on a house by saving $1,000 a month for two years.”  Boom! We now have a SMART goal.

Some other examples of SMART goals could be: 

  •  I will get more fit by going to the gym 3x a week and following the workout plan designed by my trainer for the next two months.   
  • I will drink more water by bringing two full 30 oz water bottles with me to work and finishing the first by lunch and the second by the time I leave the building.
  • I will spend more time with my family by leaving work at work, plugging my phone in when I get home from work and leaving it there until the kids go to bed, and planning a family dinner twice a week for the next three months.
  • I will read more by turning the TV off at 7 each night and spending an hour reading instead.
  • I will go to bed earlier by turning the TV off at 8 each night, plugging my phone in in a different room (besides the bedroom), getting in bed by 8:30 and spending 30 minutes reading or journaling.

 

What goal do you have that you need assistance writing a SMART goal for?  Let me know below and let’s see what we can come up with!  

Peace, Love, and SMART Goals,

Hala

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5 Things To Do For You This Week

5 Things To Do For You This Week

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One of the main reasons we get stressed and anxious is because we get wrapped up in obligations, deadlines, work projects, other peoples’ problems, deadlines, family responsibilities, cooking, cleaning, and making sure everyone else’s needs are being met.  Too often we forget about our own needs. We’re so preoccupied with getting the to do list done, that we forget OUR NEEDS should be on that list as well. A little unsure of what you can do for you this week? Let me help…

Treat ‘yoself!

Maybe it’s leaving work or campus during the day to buy lunch.  Maybe it’s getting that extra caramel on your iced caramel macchiato.  What about leaving home a little early in the morning so you have time for that acai bowl or smoothie?  Change your regular routine to treat yourself to something you’re craving.

Get outside!

You’d be surprised what spending as short as 20 minutes breathing fresh air can do for a person.  Instead of driving to lunch, walk there! After or before work find a garden or beach or river way and allow your thoughts to drift away as you take in the beauty of nature all around you.  Stuck in a city? Pop in your earbuds and put on some calming music as you walk the busy streets.

Sign up for a new class!

Look into a class you could take this week!  It could be a work out class, meditation activity, or maybe a cooking class.  Not into a class? Schedule something different like a massage, manicure, or acupuncture appointment.  Think of something you’ve been wanting to try and sign up for that!

Exercise your creativity!

When was the last time you doodled, painted, sketched, danced, or journaled?  Don’t judge yourself for whatever comes out, just let the creativity juices flow.  You could even do this as a brain break throughout the work day. Set a timer for ten minutes at your desk, play some music, and get creative!

Drink more water!

You would be surprised what hydration can do for your mood.  It gives you more energy, makes your skin clearer, and improves your happiness.  Not sure how much you should drink? Take your weight, divide it by two, and your quotient is the amount of water you should drink per day in ounces.  For example, 140 / 2 = 70 ounces of water a day. Thats a little more than two Nalgene’s worth!

What other things do you like doing for you?  Let me know in the comments! Need help organizing your thoughts and finding time to take care of you?  I can help with that. 

Peace, Love, and Self Care,

Hala

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Copy of Questions to Ask Yourself When You Feel Stuck

Don’t Just Give Something Up This Lent Season, Do This Instead

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It’s Ash Wednesday which means Lent is upon us!  Lent is a season where Christians choose something to fast from, sacrifice, or give up for 40 days just as Jesus fasted and was tempted in the desert for 40 days.  It is a time where Christians are supposed to reflect on Christ’s ministry, death and resurrection. Unfortunately, for many, it has turned into a season of testing one’s will power.  Can I really give up sweets for 40 days!?

I have a challenge for you this season.  Don’t just give something up to say you did, find a replacement behavior instead, and make it something that will draw you nearer to Christ.  For example, if you are giving up some type of food or sweet (many people give up dessert or candy), every time you crave sugar, say a prayer.  Pray for friends and family. Pray for your current situation. Pray for wisdom. Pray for a deeper faith. Pray for our country. Pray for other countries.  Pray for a cause that is close to your heart. Pray that you will understand God in a new way this lent season. Replacement behaviors are important while we are learning a new habit or routine, and it is no different when we are fasting.  Choosing a replacement behavior that will bring you closer to God is what this season is all about!  

Another replacement behavior you could use is to memorize scripture or read your Bible.  Let’s say you have chosen to give up social media for 40 days. Each time you pick up your phone to scroll, because let’s be honest you will do that absent mindedly, retrain your finger and your mind to click on the Bible app.  You can choose a book of the Bible to read through, a devotional to check in on, or one scripture to go to over and over again until you have memorized it. It is possible to retrain your mind, but it will take time. Maybe even longer than 40 days.  It actually takes 60 days to turn something into a habit. Who knows! Maybe you will be inspired to keep your fast going until it has become a new spiritual practice for you.

So don’t just give something up to test yourself.  Do it to know God on a new and deeper level. Fast to draw nearer to Him, and to feel his love in a greater way.  “…Return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…” Joel 2:13.  

Happy Fasting!  

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