Some days I wake up with a smile on my face and an eagerness in my heart to spend time with the Lord. Other days, I wake up feeling extremely exhausted and dreading the day in general.

Yesterday was one of those days...

My alarm was set, so that I could wake up, do my quiet time, and get ready to go to Orange Theory. As soon as the alarm sounded, I snoozed it, regretting my decision to sign up for the 8:00am class. I continued snoozing the alarm until the last possible minute. At this point, I had just enough time to brush my teeth, get changed, and run out the door. Obviously not the best way to start your morning. I didn't spend time with the Lord before getting my day started, and I was feeling drained because of it. 

After working out, I headed home to shower and get on with my day, but I was feeling so unmotivated to do much of anything. This may sound dramatic, but it is how I felt yesterday at about 10:30am. I was grumpy, and honestly just wanted to lay in bed. I said to myself, "I just can't today...why do I feel like this?" The Lord spoke to me in the midst of those feelings, and said, "you have not spent time with me today...you know how that affects you." Those words could not be more true for me. I feel drained in every aspect when I don't spend time with the Lord to start my day. Reading His Word, journaling, and praying, refills my tank, and allows me to have a good day, because my heart is positioned towards Him and not the world or my feelings. 

So I did what anyone who knows me would expect me to do. I drove to Starbucks ;), purchased a latte, and sat in my car to do my quiet time. 

I read the verse of the day, which was Isaiah 12:2, and studied the rest of the chapter. 

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2

In my journal I wrote,

"I feel pretty drained today and just not my usual self. I pray that from this moment forward, my day and demeanor will change. Because today is a GOOD DAY! It is a day He has made and I will rejoice and be glad. I will do this because my faith is not "feelings-based," but it is based on His goodness and His love for me. It is what keeps me going."

I prayed that those words would become true for me, and that I would not allow my feelings to control how my day went. I needed His strength to keep going, because mine was failing me miserably. I love Isaiah 40:8 because it explains that though this earth is so temporary, and our feelings are so temporary, we have hope because the Word of God is everlasting and true forever and ever. Our feelings and motivation may fail us, but He never will. 

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." Isaiah 40:8 

To no surprise, my day DID get better, and I found joy in the little things. I had energy again and my feelings of dread + exhaustion went away completely. My day was not controlled by how I woke up feeling. There was a refreshing within me, that could only be explained by The One who revives us. 

We are not promised that every day will be easy or enjoyable, but we are promised that He will be with us every step of the way. When the weight of your day becomes too much for you to handle, lean on Him and ask Him for strength. We are not meant to just, "suck it up," and power through. He wants to help and He wants to open your eyes to the joy around you, even when you can't see it initially. 

My prayer for you would be that you spend time with the Lord today. That you would rejoice and be glad, because the Lord woke you up this morning, and He wants to use you today. He wants you to be a light to your school, workplace, friends, family, and even strangers. He wants you to STOP focusing on how you are feeling, and start focusing on Who He is. When we focus on Who He is, being negative and having a bad attitude becomes a lot harder to do. 

"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 

Have a great day!!!

with love, Brooke