Shalom

I’ve been hyper focused on planning and prepping for the Daniel Fast since the beginning of December. The primary reason for launching the blog in November was so that I could be ready to share the Daniel Fast with you. It’s been an extremely rewarding experience and I’ve said it a million times but I’m so grateful that I’m on this journey with all 223 (at last count) of you!

I’m pretty much a one man band with the exception of a dear friend, Takia Lamb, who not only designed my site but also took all of the pictures you see (shameless plug). Other than that, I’ve been on my own. It’s been challenging to find balance between wife, mom, work, pursing my holistic nutrition certification and the blog. As you can imagine, I’ve been doing a lot of winging it, playing catch up and learning as I go.

Last week I wrote about choosing a theme bible verse for 2019. It was something that truly blessed me last year so I wanted to share it with you hoping that it would do the same for you. But as I wrote it, I hadn’t really found the time to put much thought into the verse I would choose for 2019.

I had a loose conversation with Jesus that went something like, “Lord, what should my theme verse be for this year?” before I moved on to other pressing topics like, “Lord why does Michigan Football disappoint me every season?” I kid, I kid (but for real Lord, WHY?!). The point here is, there’s been a lot going on and I just hadn’t gotten the chance to spend the time narrowing down my 2019 theme verse.

But then ya’ll happened. In response to last week’s post, you guys commented on the blog, Facebook and Instagram with the verses that you picked for 2019. I was so inspired. A community of believers can do that for you, ya know? (*insert holy hand wave*).

I knew I needed to get on it. I prayed. The Lord spoke. What I needed for 2019 was focus. With the laundry list of hats that I’ve been called to wear daily, what I need is focus. So just like last year I went in search of verses related to focus. Finding a theme verse for this topic proved to be a bit challenging. What you’re looking for is a verse that will inspire and uplift you. Something you can lean on, memorize and speak over your life. I had to do some digging.

After searching for some time, I had a few verses but none that really felt right. This year I’m committed to flowing instead of forcing so I went on to my next task deciding that God would speak on it when He was ready. Later that day I was preparing the social media post for day 7 of the Daniel Fast, I came across John 14:27 in the Fast & Prayer Guide.

I leave you in peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.

John 14:27 (ERV)

Whew! That spoke to me, mmmkay. It’s become part of my theme verse search to look at the verse in several different translations.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27 (NIV)

Sheesh, I liked that one even better!

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27 (NLT)

Ding, ding, ding! We’ve got a winner folks. Just like that I had my verse. Right about now you may be wondering what in the world this verse has to do with focus. I’m glad you asked.

I really wanted to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “His peace.” During my search I found that the peace Jesus spoke of is derived from the Hebrew word, shalom. Shalom is defined as, a peace that encompasses completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony and the absence of strife. It truly is a gift that only Jesus could give.

It’s also exactly the reason that I found my purpose last year, started this blog and went back to school for holistic nutrition. Through surviving the worst year of my life, I found true peace. The peace that only Jesus could give had saved my life. Since then I’ve been on a mission to share that with the everyone so they can experience it too.

So when God spoke to me about focus for 2019, He was confirming everything that set me on this path. He’s given me the peace, purpose and the unique gifts to fulfill it. All I have to do is focus.

I wish you shalom, my friends.