Happy Tuesday, my friends! If you got my Sweet Thoughts devo this morning, then you know last week was an unwelcome series of events… to put it kindly. Big picture, beyond just this past week, this season of life has been one that more than ever I have needed to go to worship in trial to combat my tendency of freaking the flip out. I can quickly dig myself into the pits of “woe is me.” Anybody else dramatic and tend to think the whole world is against them? Just me? 😉 I will share more on this season in due time.

Did you know that Satan absolutely, 10000% has to flee at Jesus’ name? It’s true! The Bible says so! James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” The way to resist the devil and his schemes is to run to Jesus and worship. If all of us began to worship when trials came rather than getting angry at our husbands or friends, or numbing ourselves with whatever it is that takes your mind off the present… my goodness. Things would look a lot different for us when we started to freak out, and I think our relationships would look a whole lot different, too.

Yesterday, I was on my way back from the gym. It was a good day, and I felt pretty freaking awesome. Hilarious how some days I feel like the world’s greatest mom while others I feel like my head is chopped off and I am the biggest failure EVER. But yesterday, dang I was nailing it. I had a great quiet time that morning, Knox napped right on schedule, I got in my workout & I was right on schedule for the day I mapped out in my planner, and Knox was feeling better after being sick for a few days. Things were going GREAT. Ugh, and then my Jeep started to overheat. I seriously was about ready to SCREAM. I was like, “Uhhh God, you’re kidding right? Like, on top of last week’s series of events… this is going to be added to the list?” I freaked for about 10 seconds, and then I COMMANDED my car to not overheat. I told it, in Jesus’ name, that this was not going to mess today up and we were NOT going to have a car that needed fixing. And, well would you believe it, the radiator gauge went back well under the halfway point. I commanded it twice, and then prayed for all green lights so that I wouldn’t have to stop (which is what would cause the car to heat). From that second on I. hit every. single. green. light. EVERY SINGLE ONE. It caused me to fall into worship. As silly as commanding my car to not overheat may sound, for me it was a reminder God cares that I feel overwhelmed. It was a reminder that if we have the faith as small as a mustard seed, then when we command the mountains to move they WILL. Praise God, right?

I was reminded yesterday that the greatest weapon we have against the enemy is WORSHIP. I am not saying that my car overheating was an act of satan. Who knows, maybe it was. But, he IS definitely lurking around to manipulate my response to crappy situations. He wants us to be angry rather than worship in times we feel overwhelmed. He wants YOU to be angry at God and run to your vices when things aren’t going as planned. Yet when I commanded my car to cool off, satan couldn’t stick around. My heart was bursting with joy that God is that present, and he had to flee. I kept singing, “I’ve seen you move, you moved the mountains. I believe I’ll see you do it again.” See, this tiny glimpse into how much God cares for me with my car reminded me that he is 10000% in the bigger things that I feel swallowed by right now. If I can see him move my radiator gauge TWICE and give me green lights, then certainly he is in the other things I keep laying down in prayer at his feet.

Gratitude in times of trial, thankfulness in moments we feel we are lacking. That, friends, is what we are created for. When we recognize the Lord is in every corner of everything we face, we can’t help but worship him. For all he has done and all that he is yet to do. A few months ago, I felt I was in a season I was called to just truly be audibly grateful. Of course, we are called to be thankful in every season, but this one particularly I felt I was supposed to say aloud what I was thankful for daily. So I would wake up every day and say, “Thank you God for this home, for my dog, for my healthy baby boy, and my husband.” I now have carried that act of obedience with me into a new season. It’s so basic. Those are four things I prayed hard for, and God responded faithfully to. As basic as this act of gratitude has been, it’s  no doubt been shaping me for this new season where I have had what feels like daggers being thrown at me left and right. But because last season prepared me for this one, my freak outs are shorter and my perspective is more narrowed in on what matters. Things are chaotic, again I will get into that in due time, but my foundation is firm. Gratitude leads me to worship, and in worship the enemy has not even a pinkie toe in my path. He can’t.

Here are scripture for YOU to cultivate a heart of thankfulness. In Christ you lack no good thing, my friend. Believe it and walk forward in that truth. 

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:9

“For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses.” Romans 11:29

“Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Colossians 3:2

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4-5

“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15

“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1

“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.” Psalm 95: 2-3

My whole outfit is from Landry Kate! This mini skirt is my favorite item in my closet right now. Actually, all three of these items (shoes, top, skirt) are my current faves. They’re all perfect for transitioning to fall! I have been wearing them since early July, and they will go clear into winter. I love me some versatile pieces.

My skirt: here | My Shoes: here |

My top is sold out right now (y’all nabbed it fast from my stories!!), but here is another flutter sleeve top I am obsessed with at the store!

My make-up is linked below! LISTEN, you CAN WEAR red lipstick. Wear it proud. I was at my lady doctor last week (LOL), and she wanted to see photos of Knox so I showed her a couple of these. Her response was, “RED LIPS! I wish I was able to wear a red lip.” And I said, “YOU CAN!!!” Be bold, rock a color on your lips. Once you do, you’ll never go back. 😉

All photos by my girl Cottonwood Road Photography