Hi Friends!
Happy Thursday to you!!
I’m so THANKFUL I made it through a LIVE radio show discussing body image, addiction, and freedom! Thank you for your prayers and encouragement! (If you missed the show, you can listen to an archived copy here)
Also, I’m thankful to announce the winner of the Priscilla Shirer One in a Million book is Jen from Big Binder. Congratulations!!
And for today’s Thankful Thursday post… John and I went for a long walk last night, and unfortunately, I struggled with my breathing and almost had to go in for a breathing treatment. Yikes! Today I am THANKING God for the gift of breath!
Enjoy this post from last summer. After last night’s episode, it’s exactly what is on my mind today…
I failed my test. My breathing test, that is.
I knew failing the test was inevitable ~ for the past few years I’ve really struggled with my breathing. I find myself wheezing and coughing all night long. I can’t walk my dog around the block without losing my breath. When I speak at events, I have to keep an emergency inhaler tucked in the podium. My kids ask if I have an inhaler before we play outside. I’ve given up running. My breathing struggles have limited and restricted my everyday life.
When I went to the doctor, he told me it was asthma. Asthma?? I’m 40. How in the world did I develop asthma? The doctor gave me specific prescriptions and instructions to manage my asthma ~ take Claritin every morning, use a Flovent inhaler every day, and only use my rescue inhaler in case of emergency.
What did I do? I used the Flovent inhaler…a couple of times. I took the Claritin…for about 3 days. And then the Flovent and the Claritin sat on the shelf. I relied on my rescue inhaler too often. I missed out on fun opportunities and adventures. I accepted my new restricted lifestyle and thought I’d be stuck this way forever.
When the day came last month to take a new breathing test, I knew the results would not be good. The doctor asked if I was following his specific instructions. Was I using the Flovent? No. Claritin? Not really. The prescriptions were filled and ready to go, but they were both sitting on the shelf unused.
I came home with a resolve this time to do what the doctor had told me to do. I put a chart by my bathroom sink. I used the Flovent. Check. I took the Claritin. Check. Soon my chart was filled with check marks ~ and low and behold, I could run! I could play! I could breathe!
As I’ve been reflecting on my breathing journey, I’ve thought about other areas in my life where I leave things “sitting on the shelf”. I wonder why I struggle with defeated thinking, or with fear, or feeling not good enough ~ but upon closer inspection…realize I’ve not followed God’s specific instructions. Truth is left sitting on the shelf.
Scripture is clear we have been given everything we need to live the full life in Christ. Everything we need. But we need to do our part too. Having the prescriptions filled isn’t the same as taking the prescribed dose each day.
I must faithfully put into practice the specific instructions given to us through the Word. I must spend time in God’s presence. I must refuse to accept a life filled with fear or defeated thinking or guilt. I must be intentional about the renewing of my mind. It’s not enough for me to have a verse written on an index card ~ I must put Truth into practice!
How about for you? Are you experiencing all that God has for you?
Or are you allowing worry or unforgiveness to steal your joy?
Are you allowing fear to rob you of peace?
Are the lies of the enemy (“you’re not good enough, or thin enough, or _______ enough”) limiting or restricting your everyday life??
May I encourage you to put Truth into practice! Please don’t leave His Words to you sitting on the shelf. Spend time daily allowing His Words of hope to bring healing to your current condition. And before you know it…you’ll be running and playing and breathing like never before!! 🙂
Can I get an Amen??
Enjoy this Thankful Thursday, dear Bloggy Friend!! What are you thanking God for today?? I’d love to hear from you!!!
"Thankful for the gift of breathing!" Me, too! Having asthma, GOD reminds me of the magnitude of this gift from time to time.Blessings,andrea
I am thankful for many things but one of the most recent, is starting a blog and 'meeting' nice moms like you!!
WOW! Did you know I needed to hear this today! I to suffer from asthma-have done so since 3rd grade-I am far from that now. I take myself off my meds quite regularly for not real good reason except I just don't want to take it-I want to be "normal" and I have been trying to work at taking it every day so that I can feel better and be normal whatever that is.
Ugh! I have so many 'prescriptions' from God sitting on the shelf! I need to get to work!
AMEN..LET IT BE DONE!!! It is SO easy to forget that "who the Son sets FREE is free INDEED". Thankfully we have our Good Shepherd to lead us through our journies:) Thanks for such a GREAT reminder!!!!Happy ThursdayDenise
I am thankful because even today was the worse day I've had in my career, God gave me strength and helped me keep my Faith that this too shall pass.
Amen on being thankful for the gift of breath/breathing!!!I said a prayer for you dear sister. I shared about your body image series in my post I wrote just a few moment ago.I am headed over to listen to the radio program.Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I'm thankful for more than I can even express in words as the LORD is GOOD!!!Love you!
I am thankful that I have a job! My husband does not right now, and the Lord blessed us by giving me back the job that I quit last year! God is good 🙂
I am thankful that I have a job! My husband does not right now, and the Lord blessed us by giving me back the job that I quit last year! God is good 🙂
Yes, Cindy, AMEN! Praise God for this illustration He has woven into your life, and I will pray for your every breath from Him. 🙂 Thanks so much for putting this into a format you can share and use to inspire … me! Blessings to you friend!
When we inhale God's Word, sometimes we just don't know how it works (like an inhaler) — we can't see all the little bits that go in to making us whole and free! But — we inhale it because we are to — and He transforms us in the process. Thanks for your post. I came over from Lisa Smith's blog. Have a blessed day!
Hi! Cindy, Just met you through Lisa's blog, Boy she was ever right; your encouragement just jumped off the page to me! I love your blog:), I love your title and scripture that goes with it, for I think just that "sparkle" makes life really fun! this post was so for me today, because I have a problem with just what you talked about with meds, not doing what I am supposed to do. Have gotten myself in trouble more than once, Thank god He is a God of second chances. so happy to meet you! will follow! HAVE A BLEESED DAY:)
Amen on the asthma/breathing/Rx!!! I was diagnosed in my mid 20s. I'm not always compliant with my treatment plan either…shame on me (and I'm an RN so I know better)!I am thankful for oh-so-many things…not least of which is a Savior Who loved me enough to leave Heaven, come to earth and die for me – long before I even existed!!But right this very minute, I'm thankful for finding your blog via the blog of my sweet sister in Christ, Lisa Smith! I'll be back…in fact, I'm going to add you to my blogroll so I don't forget!
Amen, amen!!This sounds just like my situation. I was told my daughter has asthma when she was 4. I didn't want to believe the doctors or trust what they were saying. But, she has to have her medications for her health, and we fully trust the doctors! I love the way you related trusting our doctors to trusting our Father. It is ALL about trust. I just did a post on this today actually…First comes trust, then comes peace. I enjoyed your post and as Lisa would say…you really do sparkle. :)Big Fat Mama
Hi Cindy, I just found your blog this morning and I've already been so encouraged through your writing. The Lord has truly used you as a way to speak to my heart on so many things already, and I am encouraged and excited to read more!Thank you for being faithful and reaching out to so many women like me!In and with His Love!Kelly