Get excited it’s Day #3!! My body is getting accustomed to waking up at 5:00 A.M. To be honest, I’m starting to look forward to waking up and spending time with the Lord before everyone else wakes up. I wish I could say I stay up the entire time, but I’ve been crashing around 9am. (I’m going to really try and fight that today, but we’ll see.) However, I’m grateful for a step in the right direction. I genuinely am curious what’s on the other side of my obedience. The good thing is I go back to teaching on August 7th, after 2 years of being off, so I won’t have the luxury of going back to sleep. I’m hoping that in exchange for my “ashes” of fatigue, doubt, and inconsistency that I gain energy, trust, and consistency. You see I have moments of consistency and productivity, but it’s not a way of life yet. I know it will never be perfect, but I strive to do better, because I believe God has called me to do more, but first I need to work on my foundation, by being consistent and faithful with the “little.”

So what are your ashes? What are some of the things you would like to exchange with God for His beauty. What will it take from you for that exchange to occur? It could be an addiction, bad habit, unforgiveness, or even grief. Whatever your “ashes” are you know what it is. Ask yourself what will you have to sacrifice for His beauty. For me I have to sacrifice my desire to sleep and ask God to strengthen me to get out of bed, I’m just keeping it real. I’ve tried this for 7 years. I know I need God’s help to see this through. My encouragement to you is whatever your ashes are it’s not too big for God. Give it to Him, because when we try to hold on to it, it can become crushing. Let’s keep fighting the good fight of faith. The goal isn’t perfection, because I don’t think we ever “arrive.” The goal is simply to progress little by little, day by day. Hopefully, this was an encouragement to someone, somehow <3