While You Wait

If you know anything about waiting, you know that it SUCKS. Especially when what was supposed to be a season of waiting, has turned into a YEAR of waiting, or maybe even years of waiting. I think we can all somehow relate to the anxiety and pain that becomes a part of our story when we’re waiting. Yet waiting on God completely changes the narrative of our story, it gives us hope. It changes our attitude from desperate to expectant. However, this doesn’t change the fact that sometimes it gets tough and you find yourself not knowing what to do next. Which is why I invite you to pay close attention as I describe what has not only worked for me in this season, but what I know God can use when we choose to patiently wait for his promises to come to pass.

Pray While You Wait:

Growing up, the power of prayer was very real to me. I was a witness to how my grandmother’s prayers moved mountains and set several things into motion. Prayer was and always will be an action move to me. Yet as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned a couple more things about prayer and waiting. One of them being that prayer changes me, not God, and that waiting is truly a privilege. When we cry out to God, he not only hears us; he shifts our gaze towards Him. We begin to see Him and His purpose for our lives as better than our own and it actually makes waiting easier. Consequently, we begin to see our waiting season as a gift rather than a curse. We realize that if our loving, kind, and compassionate Father is making us wait it’s because there must be something we can’t see. Most of the time, the thing we can’t see is what will eventually have the biggest impact in our lives. This all begins with prayer. Communion with the Father will take your soul places it could never get to on it’s own. Be intentional with your prayer life and fervent in your pursuit of the Father’s heart. He’s waiting for you.

Practice Good Stewardship + Multiply:

When waiting on God to bless us with more, we tend to dismiss what we already have. As a result of this, we become bad stewards of what we currently hold. I speak from experience when I say that I’ve begged God for things, without realizing that I’ve completely mishandled the blessings right before me. I’ve deemed them as insignificant because I’ve been so focused on the next thing. In Matthew 25 we see a perfect example of God’s reaction to good stewardship through the parable of the talents. After he who had received two talents goes on to gain two more, his Lord congratulates him and promotes him in verse 23. He says “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.” Notice how he calls the servant “good and faithful”, he recognizes the servant’s perseverance and unwavering faith. The perseverance to go out and multiply what he already has and the unwavering faith to believe that there’s more in store for him. Can I let you in on a little secret? You will never be brave enough to multiply what you have, if you don’t truly believe that what you have currently is what you need to move forward. As you wait on God, embrace the blessings that are hidden in your everyday life and make the decision to flow in the space you’re in. Good stewardship is only a sign that you are ready for more, and when more arrives; you’ll be glad you embraced the waiting season.

Remember While You Wait:

I listened to a sermon this week titled “Don’t Forget To Remember” by Robert Madu that really brought me to a place of gratitude. When I think of all the times my life could’ve been gone in the other direction but DIDN’T because of my Jesus, I realize that He’s been faithful to me all along. Faithful on the sunny days, faithful on the rainy days, faithful on the mountaintop, faithful in the valley. All of my life, he’s been nothing but good to me. So this is my encouragement for you, when you start to wallow in frustration for what your eyes have yet to see; remember all the times you witnessed the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wallow in his goodness for at least a second and remember. It’s hard to be upset over what you don’t have, when you count what you do have. And it’s even harder to be bitter, when you think of all the times God gave you better. Better than what you expected, better than what you imagined, better than what you settled for. Therefore, let Deuteronomy 7:9 be your encouragement during this time; your God is good and he’s a faithful God. Bible verses to help you while you wait: Isaiah 40:31 “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Micah 7:7 “But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” Lamentations 3:25 “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”

Written by: Aliah Mitchell

How to Cope with Emotional Easting

Welcome Sis….

On the blog today we hope to show you that Change is necessary, it’s beneficial AND the presence of change is not the absence of Christ!

So TODAY let your intention be “I will identify how to embrace change!”

---

Inside the mind of an emotional eater and tips on how to overcome it.

For as long as I can remember, I've based my eating on my emotions. Whether I was happy, sad, mad, depressed, or lonely. I'm being completely transparent; my emotions have dictated my weight my whole life. Despite being a little thicker than most, it was always my desire to have that coke bottle shape. Growing up with weight issues I always felt inferior and alone, I was made fun of because I was different from others. Food was my sense of security - it never made me feel sad, unhappy, or alone. Food became my crutch….my addiction. I know that seems like a strong term to use but an addiction is the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity.

See, food can be an addiction. I know what you’re thinking: “but it's not like it's drugs or something that can kill you” Who says food can't kill you? When emotional eating is left untreated, it can lead to high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and major depression. When large amounts of food, specifically junk food, is consumed for comfort instead of hunger, that is considered emotional eating. Emotional eating can go by so many other names, such as: binge eating - which is defined as recurring episodes of eating significantly more food in a short period of time, more than most people would eat under similar circumstances, with episodes marked by feelings of lack of control. My emotional issues stem from the trauma in my life, low self-esteem, and from my childhood. As a result, I began to use food as an aide to fill voids in my life, failing to realize food was only a temporary fix, and not truly understanding that only God can fill those voids - “for he is the truth and the light” John 14:6. Instead of using food to temporarily comfort me, I should have been allowing the holy spirit to comfort and heal me. Only God heals and comforts you, where it does not come back void. “Who the son sets free is free indeed” John 8:36.

Society also teaches us to use food as a source of comfort. You see it in movies when the guy breaks up with the girl – the scene then flashes to her sitting on the couch/bed, soothing herself with a pint of ice cream. We also see the same sort of behaviors with funerals. Think about the repass. I know it’s supposed to be for us to come together and console one another, but can we be honest? What does food have to do with our loved one that has gone on?  The reality is we have been taught, since childhood, that food is for comfort and celebration, instead of nutritional value. We have allowed society and culture to lead us to believe that food is the only way to come together and to soothe ourselves. That’s why in Proverbs 25:16, God is telling us that he knows we like food but don’t eat too much of it because it will make you sick. Okay, I know it said honey, but anything done in excess is a sin (gluttony, which means to overindulge and over-consume food, drink, or even wealthy items). It’s a sin for people because we are overconsuming food by taking from someone else’s mouth. So, yes, I’m telling you overeating is being selfish because you are taking away from someone else’s plate. Think about quarantine, people were purchasing too much food because they were fearful, they would run out, when the thing is - a lot of people have an abundance of food, toilet paper, and water. Imagine needing these things and going to the store and can't find what you need. I bet you would think differently.

Below I’ve included a few tips on how to overcome emotional eating:

1.     I would recommend sitting down and being honest with yourself about your relationship with food. If you’re ashamed, tell God first and repent for your addiction to food. Tell him you're ready to turn away from your addiction.

2.     You must start allowing God to transform you, breaking the shackles off of your feet and mind. Start reading God's word and praying in times where you feel anxious, and experience the urge to overindulge in food, these times are the best times to meditate, read, and pray. It's showing God you're being intentional to let him deal with you emotions, instead of food.

3.     Keep a food diary. You can do a journal or download my fitness pal or the noom app - both are completely free.

4.     Tame your stress. You can do this by switching your mind off of your problem by exercising, meditating, singing, etc. Do something that brings you joy.

5.     Have a hunger check. You do this by not allowing your eyes to be bigger than your stomach. If you struggle with portion control you can google recommended portion sizes. Once you’ve identified the appropriate amount, store the leftovers (out of sight) immediately – this is important because you don’t want your mind to think you have to consume it all, simply because it’s there.

6.     Get support from someone you love, and someone who is going to hold you accountable. I know that’s kind of hard because it makes you feel like a child, but that’s not the case. You need help with managing your food portions - there is nothing wrong with leaning on a loved one for a little extra support.

7.     Fight boredom. Boredom is the enemy. Find fun things you enjoy to help you get moving. Whether it's shopping at the mall or dancing, don't be idle because that's the devil's playground.

8.     Take away temptation. You can do this by having your accountability partner order your groceries or go grocery shopping with you. Make them aware of your lifestyle change so they only make sure you’re getting what you need, and not what you want. If you do this you’re more likely to purchase based on nutritional value, and not comfort. Also, clean those cabinets and drawers with your accountability partner. Even your hiding place – we all have one.

9.     Don't deprive yourself. Create a monthly goal, once successfully completed, allow yourself a cheat meal - limiting the calories/portions - and guess what!? Your accountability partner must approve and order it.

10.  Snack healthy. I have the biggest sweet tooth but I've learned that fruits like apples, bananas, grapes and strawberries are naturally sweet and a lot healthier for you – this way, I'm getting a double bang for my buck; I'm getting that sweet taste with a healthier kick!

11.  Drink water before eating. It gives your stomach a full feeling, making it less likely to binge eat.

12.  Lastly but most importantly, allow grace for yourself. No one is perfect.

The Importance of Change

Welcome Sis….

On the blog today we hope to show you that Change is necessary, it’s beneficial AND the presence of change is not the absence of Christ!

So TODAY let your intention be “I will identify how to embrace change!”

---

The Importance Of Change

Change is hard. There’s no way to hide, downplay, or romanticize it. It’s simply hard to accept and hard to adapt to. Sometimes it hits you unexpectedly, and sometimes you see it coming. Either way, it spins your world. It shifts what was once established, it removes what was once firm. Yet as much as I’ve hated change in my own life, I’m a firm believer that I would be nowhere without it. God changes things in our lives to change US. He removes us from one place to grow us in another, and he shows us how necessary and good change is for the soul. Therefore it is my job to remind you that the reality of change is not the absence of God in your life. The Father is present in every season, and he has the ability to teach you how to manage change well.

#1: Change Is Necessary:

The woman at the well is the perfect example of someone who wasn’t aware of their need for change. The bible never says her name, yet it describes her story in a way that not many would expect. She simply believed she was going to get water, yet she had no idea her life was about to change forever. I wonder how many times we have been in desperate need for something new in our lives, yet too afraid to ask for it? How many times have we dismissed the power of change because of fear? Truth is, it’s been too many. Change is what fuels our lives, it’s what allows us to grow. You can’t grow if you’re not uncomfortable, and you can’t be uncomfortable if you’re not changing. In order to become the woman God destined for you to be, you must view change as an opportunity rather than a punishment. You must face and embrace change in every season, even when it’s most painful.

#2: Change Is Good:

The phrase “God is good and God does good” is what comes to mind when I think about the highs and lows that change brings. Sometimes the change itself is not what hurts, but it’s the fear, doubt, and emotions that come flooding in afterwards. In those moments, it’s important to remember that change is indeed a GOOD thing. Life’s greatest adventures lie on the back of change. As christian women, we tend to believe that the real celebration begins when we meet the maker (and don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be a PARTY) but that really isn’t true. The real celebration begins when you stop fearing change and begin to crave it. It begins when you choose to believe that God knows best, which is why he does best. Ephesians 3:20 is proof that God only wants to bring increase to your life, and it all starts when you welcome in change.

#3: The Presence Of Change Is Not The Absence Of God:

There have been many times in my walk with God where I’ve interpreted the change in my life as His punishment. I’ve shaken my fist at Heaven and wondered what I did to deserve such a horrible ending, rather than a happy one. I’ve taken the times where God has removed and shifted things in my life to rebel against him, simply because he didn’t meet my expectations of what I thought my life should look like. I know, I’m horrible. Change has been my biggest enemy for a long time. Yet, as I prepared to write this for you, I felt the Holy Spirit say “the fact that your life is changing doesn’t mean I’m not here.” God is still good, faithful, and sovereign. His characteristics don’t change with our circumstances, they only get better. We only get a better view of the creator, through the lens of change. He’s still here, he’s still got you.

I would be lying if I said change was easy, I would be lying because oftentimes seasons of transition are usually the end of something really beautiful. Yet, God doesn’t just want beautiful for you, he wants gorgeous. He wants to exceed your expectations and make you an even stronger woman. So whether you are starting a new job, single again, or opening up a new chapter of life, you can rest in His arms. You can deal with the emotions that come with this transition AND celebrate a new start. You don’t have to choose one or the other, you can live in the tension of both. And one day, when it’s all said and done, you’ll be thankful you welcomed in change; because it’s what ended up changing you.

Here are some scriptures to help you in the tension of what was and what’s to come:

Colossians  2:7 “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me”

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Written by Aliah Mitchel

Follow her on IG at @ALILYXO 

Better not Bitter

Welcome Back Sis…

Have you ever wondered what does bitterness look like? What does it feel like? Or maybe how can I choose to forgive?

Well we are so glad you stopped by because we know all to well…

---

Better not Bitter

Why do we pick the scabs off of our cuts, scraps, and bruises when we know that it's there to protect and help with the healing process?

Bitterness destroys our minds, souls, and bodies. John Ortberg Jr. wrote, "Bitterness is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die." Eventually, bitterness will kill us either physically - because it can contribute to physical sickness, or spiritually- by not allowing us to experience the peace God wants for us.

Most times we stay in hurt because we either haven't forgiven ourselves, so we keep rehashing/continuing to live in the hurt of the past, or we haven't forgiven the person who caused the pain, so we remain in a state of bitterness and regret.

Bitterness can take over us without warning. It is a subtle tool of the enemy that we won't see coming if we have filled our hearts with regrets and allowed our minds to stay in the broken unsettled places of our past.

Bitterness is not just a feeling, it can be acted out in our behavior and become poison to those around us. We unconsciously but actively spew it out in the biases of our ministries, our conversations, our interpretation and precautions of people's motives and intentions. We say hateful things, we mislead, we judge, we bicker, we fight. We must keep our mouths closed until healing is found. 

Hebrew 12:15 14-17 tells us we need to work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late.

Bitterness can also hide behind facades of boundaries or self-protection. We often put personal boundaries, guidelines, rules or limits in place to create safe and permissible ways for other people to behave towards us and us them. We use boundaries to hold people accountable for all the times we felt used and mistreated. 

Bitterness is a multilayered emotion that has been described as a mixture of disappointment, disgust, anger, and fear. Psychologists consider it a mood or as a secondary emotion that can be elicited in the face of insult and/or injury.

Bitterness is a tricky little devil, it hides behind smiles, congratulations, promotion parties and ministry events.

Here are some signs to help you identify bitter roots that may be forming in your life or the life of a loved one.

You have imaginary conversations in your mind with someone who wronged you.

You feel the need to slander someone to other people.

You replay a conversation or experience over and over in your mind.

You're happy when someone else fails.

You feel anger every time you hear a particular person's name.

You don't behave naturally around a person.

and You complain often.

Staying in this state feeds the plan of the enemy and blocks us from seeing and experiencing the compassionate and healing grace of the cross.

His grace is gentle and non-assuming, but nevertheless, strong enough to completely erase hurt, bitterness, misunderstanding, regret and the plan of the enemy for your life.

We have to pray against bitterness, asking God to forgive those who have hurt us and to heal us from the situations that aim to put a bitter taste in our hearts, in our life....in our purpose. Remember: from the heart flows the issues of life (prov 4:23).

Giving our heart to God means a new life, a new purpose, a new sense of self. It means washing our earthly worries and regrets away, day by day, and trusting in Him to heal us. (John10:10)

Don't let bitterness settle where joy should be residing.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you of your sins.  "Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. Isaiah 38:17

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father we thank You so much that You said in Your word You have come to give us life abundantly. Help us to claim this promise so that life won't get the best of us but we will experience the best of life, in You.

We release our hearts to once again hope and ask that You give us Your Joy in place of all the bitterness we have been harboring! 
Thank you so much for your patience and compassion towards us, Amen.

I do declare and decree that the cycle of self-inflicted pain, cherished hurt, endured strife, bitterness and misunderstanding will no longer be the practice of our life!

Written by Catherine Harris

Follow her on IG at @faithfullycat

5 Reasons Comparison Kills Purpose

5 Reasons Comparison Suffocates Purpose

Comparison is a silent killer. Do you believe that? Have you smelled the stench that comparison often leaves on so many people’s lives? Have you smelled that same odor long after you’ve realized you too have fallen into the trap? What will it take for us to realize that we were created uniquely, divinely, and solely for the purpose God assigned to our lives? I too have found myself in a relationship with this thief, but I’ve decided that it’s time we all break up with him. Comparison won’t stop stealing the best of you if you don’t make the active decision to walk in your OWN purpose, and the only way to do that is to stop it from suffocating your purpose, first.

Reason #1 why comparison suffocates your purpose: It Creates Jealousy.

When you compare yourself to another sister or brother in Christ and you are jealous of what they have/who they are, you are still worldly. I know this sounds harsh but let 1 Corinthians 3:3 be my witness. When jealousy lives inside of you, so does the world. Desiring what another person has will NEVER allow you to enjoy what God has already given you. Oftentimes, we are only seeing a glimpse of somebody else’s life when we choose to compare ours to theirs. We live in a social media age that makes comparison extremely easy. My friend, you must not let jealousy drown your purpose. Don’t let it be what you lead with. Instead, choose to celebrate what God has blessed others with and who they are. That will kill the jealousy in you.

Reason #2 why comparison suffocates your purpose: It Distracts You From Your Purpose.

“If the enemy can distract you, he can destroy you.” This quote has been an anchor of truth for my soul, a reminder that whatever I choose to give my attention to that doesn’t edify my spiritual life, has the potential to take me down a really dark path. And I know what you’re thinking, “it’s not that serious, we all get distracted”, but it is that serious. Distraction from your own purpose will have you living a mundane life, without direction and without intention. Sometimes the seasons that were meant to be the best of our lives are simply washed away with our inability to focus. What God has for you can’t be compared and it can’t be placed on the backburner. You must focus your eyes on what’s before you.

Reason #3 why comparison suffocates your purpose: It Makes You Resent Your Purpose.

Whenever I would express any type of dislike for myself, those around me would quickly remind me that to dislike the girl in the mirror would be to tell God I didn’t like what his hands created. It was a problem, a really big one. I couldn’t understand why, until now. How many times have you resented your calling simply because you’ve been too busy admiring someone else’s? How many times have you wished you were a different person, in a different season, with different gifts because of something you saw on social media? I can’t imagine how God feels when we turn away from what he gently handed us, and neglect our unique calling. Instead of resenting the gifts and attributes that were gifted to you, dig deeper into them. Find out why God gave you what he gave you and then DECIDE to never compare your gift to anyone else’s. If you spend your life resenting your gifts, you might wake up one morning and realize that you no longer have the ability to use them. You’ll end up in a place you were never supposed to be in, simply because you didn’t choose to love YOU.

Reason #4 why comparison suffocates your purpose: It Kills Your Creativity

Have you ever been super excited to make something? To try a new recipe, attempt to remodel your room, or start a new workout plan? Have you ever been discouraged by the thought that someone out there can do a way better job than you ever could? If so, that’s proof that comparison MURDERS creativity. It steals our passion when we most need it. It creeps up on us when we least expect it, and sometimes you don’t want to step out of the cycle. You’d rather live in comparison than step into your God-given ability to create. I must tell you that although many can do what you do, they could NEVER do it like you. Rest in the fact that all that you are and all that you do is worth making, seeing, and celebrating.

Reason #5 why comparison suffocates your purpose: It Makes You Think That What You Have Is Not Enough.

The enemy’s favorite line will always be “not enough.” Not enough joy, not enough gifts, not enough peace, not enough time, not enough money, not enough life. He will always try to convince us that what we currently have is not enough to make us succeed. Yet, Matthew 14:13-21 is proof that Jesus can multiply what we have if we choose not to compare others' starting amount with ours. There’s such a beauty in what we bring to Jesus, raw authenticity lies in what we choose not to prematurely judge. To compare what you have is to judge what God already gave you. It’s my job to remind you that what you have is MORE than enough, and it always will be. So many of us go through life without ever discovering all that was available to us, all that God placed on the inside of us. It’s time we stop living in comparison and live in purpose. It’s time we ditch the script where the enemy slowly kills our purpose with comparison, and write a new story. You were meant for more than this. 

Written by Aliah Mitchel

Follow her on IG at @ALILYXO 

Tips on How to Tell a Loved One You’re Battling Mentally

Welcome Back Sis…

We know often times women suffer in silence for fear of shame, guilt, and being looked at as less than but we pray by the end of this blog you will feel empowered!

So TODAY let your intention be “I will identify my needs and be liberated to ask for help! THAT is my superpower.”

Tips on talking to a loved one that is battling mental illness:

Sometimes I know it can be hard to talk about mental illness. Mental illness has become so taboo, but the reality is: it is something that we all have either dealt with ourselves or we know someone who has. According to mentalhealthfirstaid.org, in the United States approximately 46.4% of adults will experience mental illness in their lifetime. Also, in the United States only 41% of the people who had a mental disorder in the past year received professional health care or other services. That’s surprising, right? It makes you ask the question: why?  From experience, I honestly believe that a lot of people aren’t knowledgeable of what exactly mental health is. So what exactly is Mental health? Mental health is related to a person’s psychological and emotional well-being. We all know someone who has said “oh he/she is just crazy”. They say it jokingly, but it goes unnoticed that issues with mental health can lead to disability, pain, and it can even lead to death. Yes, I said death! It isn’t really a joke and according to google, 8 million people die from mental illness each year... not a decade, but a year. You may be wondering how you can help with this taboo called mental illness. Well, you're in the right place!

Realize that being a person who wants to make someone aware that psychologically or emotionally you are not well, it does not mean you are weak.  So below, I’ll be giving you tips on how to have that difficult conversation and ways to deal with mental health issues. 

So, here it goes:

1. You always want to open with prayer. If you don't know how to pray, saying this quick prayer may help,” God I’m here with (name). God I thank you for their life. God I ask that you be here in this conversation and give both of us the ability to have a loving and open conversation. Lord I thank you for appointing this time here and now. Lord have your way right now in Jesus' name Amen”. 

2. You then must allow the individual to express how they’re feeling, saving comments for once they are done expressing themselves. You want them to see that you truly care about their feelings and emotions 

3. Once they have told you their life story this would be a nice time to express to them your mental health struggles, if you have any - but remember, it’s not about you.

4. Remember this is a serious conversation and condition. Make sure not to demean or belittle their feelings and emotions. Do not say things like “you’re just having a bad day” or “you're just overreacting”. It’s their mental health and they know how they feel so respect them and their feelings.

5. It’s important that they know you're committed to helping them at this time. Together, come up with a plan to put into action. An example of this would be to agree on “check-in” days where you guys can meet for lunch/coffee to talk and find out how one another is truly doing. Another action plan would be to suggest that the person give you a call anytime they are feeling down or just need someone to speak too. That's why the word says in Habakkuk 2:2-3, to write the vision make it plain so that it will be fulfilled. You see even God knows how important it is to have a vision and to have it in plain sight! 

6. Please don’t be that person who tells everyone’s business. Dealing with mental illness is hard enough and tough on that person. So, I repeat: please be understanding and know that if they’re brave enough to tell you, that’s where it should stay. 

7. Again, I understand there are so many layers to mental illness. I encourage you to do research on the subject to get a better understanding. Please make sure it’s coming from reliable sources such as government and health agencies. Below I’ve posted a few resources available to you that will help answer questions and provide more info.

8. Good questions to ask: if they’ve planned on hurting themselves or anyone else, ask them have they been seeing things or hearing voices. In the event they have, it’s now your responsibility to reach out to a professional and let them know what’s going on. You’re not a bad person, you’re a good friend. If they are actively looking to harm themselves call 911, and their doctor. Also there’s a hotline you can reach out to that will assist you 1-800-273-talk(8255).

10. Lastly remember that they are a person with feelings and emotions. So please try to be sensitive to their time in need. 

We at the Loving Me Academy are committed to weathering this storm with you and your loved ones. If you need support, prayer, or someone to talk to, please feel free to reach out to us by email: info@lovingmeacademy.com or you can dm us directly on our social media platforms.

Scriptures to meditate on: (Philippians 4:6-71) (Peter 5:7) (Jonah 2:5-7) (Philippians 4:132) (Timothy 1:7)

Resources: National Institute for Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mentalillness.shtmlexternal 

Icon: https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/index.htm

Mental Health.govHome | MentalHealth.gov: https://www.publichealth.org/resources/mental-health/https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/02/5-surprising-mental-health-