Tag: Lysa Terkeurst

criticism Leah Dipascal | lookingjoligood.blog “When Criticism Hurts” by Lysa Terkeurst
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“When Criticism Hurts” by Lysa Terkeurst

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Isn’t it amazing when God gives us exactly what we are needing? Here is a wonderful devotional by Lysa Terkeurst that was just what I needed for today! I hope that you find it helpful as well!

criticism Leah Dipascal | lookingjoligood.blog
photo credit Proverbs 31

WHEN CRITICISM HURTS
by Lysa Terkeurst

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

“It was one of those voicemails that left me rubbing the sides of my head wondering, “Why me? Why today?” I was blindsided by the criticism and felt this would be the perfect time to find a hole and crawl into it.

Criticism hurts. No matter who you are, how many people are encouraging you, and how happy you felt before you got “that call” or “that email,” one drop of critical yuck spreads fast and furious.

Oh, how I wish I had a little “criticism antidote” to make it all better. I don’t. But I do have a little sermonette I preach to myself when criticized.

When someone criticizes, I’ve got to quickly discern if they are trying to help me or hurt me.

No criticism is fun, but it can be helpful if it is from a wise person speaking words that are truly intended to help us. Proverbs 15:2a says, “The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge …” To me, a wise person is someone who
• Cares enough about me to get their facts straight and isn’t speaking out of assumption.
• Has talked to God and reflects a gentle, caring tone in their communication.
• And wraps their criticism with grace and humility.

This kind of criticism is given with the intent of sharing helpful wisdom that is constructive rather destructive.

If the criticism is destructive and hurtful, I must remember the second part of Proverbs 15:2b, “… but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.”

The definition of folly is a “lack of understanding or sense.”

We need to remember this kind of harsh and unnecessary criticism says a lot more about their insecurities than our inadequacies.

We can’t fix whatever hurt caused them to lash out. But we can decide to stay calm and not compound the hurt. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

Proverbs 15:1 | lookingjoligood.blog
Photo Credit Bible App

No matter what kind of criticism we get—helpful or hurtful—it still stings. And we might not feel like being calm at first. When I returned the call that left my heart racing and my head pounding, I didn’t feel like being calm. I had to choose to be calm despite my feelings. I’m learning that staying calm is as much of a gift to myself as it is to the one criticizing me.

Dear Lord, I know You are not a God of condemnation and criticism. Teach me to hold my tongue and trust in You when I am hurt by those around me. I want to be able to take the criticism that is helpful and leave the criticism that is hurtful, but I know that only through You can I do this without the weight of condemnation. Thank You for Your gentle conviction and patience with me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram,  Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

getting fat | lookingjoligood.blog Ditch the Diet: I’ll Have What She’s Having…
Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ditch the Diet: I’ll Have What She’s Having…

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch The Diet~

Here is another great devotional from the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst
ade to crave Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog

I’ll Have What She’s Having

James 1:3-4
3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
“One problem with trying to eat healthily is when you sit down next to a skinny girl who wolfs down everything on her plate. It makes me want to say, “I’ll have what she’s having.” A similar frustration pops up when Ms. Petite picks up her kids in a cute tennis outfit that I could never wear.
The paradox of comparing ourselves to other people is that we become blind to what we already have in the face of what we don’t have. Our hearts are drawn into a place of assumption. We assume that everything is great for those who possess what we lack.
But here’s the kicker. Everyone has not-so-great aspects their lives, things that they will have to learn to surrender or sacrifice. Sure, my size-two friend could eat all the snacks she wanted, but she’s got other struggles for which she has to depend on God.
getting fat | lookingjoligood.blog
For instance, consider that skinny girl in your life who eats whatever she wants and makes you think, “How unfair.” Yet listen to what she might say in return, as someone once shared with me: “I am one of the skinny girls, but don’t mistake skinny for healthy. I battle depression, self-esteem issues, and verbal abuse. The list seems endless. Being little doesn’t make a person any more happy or faithful or joyful. The struggles are similar, just in a different size package.”
Life as a Christ follower will always be a learning process of depending less on our own strength and more on God’s power. James 1:3-4 says,
The testing of your faith develops perseverance, and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature, complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:3 | lookingjoligood.blog
Why not make this a daily prayer, first thing in the morning: “God, I recognize that I am made for more than the vicious cycle of being ruled by food, body image, and comparing myself to others. I am thankful that You made my body unique in ways that I can serve You and in ways that turn my reliance upon You. I need to eat to live, not live to eat. So I keep asking for Your wisdom to know what to eat and Your indwelling power to walk away from things and thoughts that are not beneficial for me.”
Oh, sweet sisters, this truth should be the cry of our souls and drown out Satan’s lie that “she has it easier.” Our taste buds crave many things to satisfy, but only persevering with God will make us truly full.”

 

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

ade to crave Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog Ditch the Diet: But I Never Feel Full…
Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ditch the Diet: But I Never Feel Full…

LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

It has been a while since I have written a ditch the diet post!

Despite the fact that I constantly preach that “ditching the diet” consists of a lifestyle of making healthy choices, I had not been following my own healthy living advice.  I got to a point where I needed to give myself a chance to rest and mentally reset.  Basically what that means is…I wasn’t exercising and was eating a diet of mostly cookies.  

While I used that time to give myself a break, I knew fully well that there was a definite end to the cookie eating spree. I’m now back on track and making healthy choices… with an occasional cookie or two thrown into the mix.

I love you more than cookies... | lookingjoligood.blog

To help myself stay focused (and stave off those tempting cookie cravings), I have been reading daily devotional excerpts from the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst  I really enjoyed this one and I wanted to share it since I found to be really helpful:

ade to crave Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog

But I Never Feel Full

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19

For years, I walked around with a little heart-shaped cup in my soul, holding it out to people or things trying to find fulfillment. Some of us hold out our heart-shaped cup and expect a husband to love us in ways that rights our wrongs and fills up our insecurities. Sometimes, we expect our kids to be successful so that we look good and feel validated by their accomplishments. Or, we hope that a successful career will confirm that we are a valuable human being.

At times, I have asked the impossible of all of these. But my consistent “friend” of choice over the years has been food. Imagine my little heart-shaped cup as a candy dish, using sweets and snacks to soothe my emotions.

However, if we are going to replace destructive cycles with lasting changes in our lives, then we have to empty ourselves of the lie that other people or things can ever fill our hearts. Instead, we have to deliberately fill up on God’s truths and stand secure in His love. Here are some examples of how we can do that:

Old lie: “I am such a failure when it comes to my diet.”
New truth: “I am not a failure. I am a lavishly loved child of God. Part of my right as a child of God is to operate in a power beyond myself. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to me. So it is possible for me to use the self-control I’ve been given.”

Old lie: “I need these Oreos!”
New truth: “The thought that these Oreos will fill me is a lie. They will taste good for just the few minutes it will take to eat them. Then that hollow feeling of guilt will rush in as soon as the chocolate high dissipates. If I truly need a snack right now, I am capable of choosing a healthier option.”

Old lie: “God seems far away and French fries are right around the corner at the drive-thru.”
New truth: “French fries don’t love me. And the only lasting thing I get from them is the cholesterol and cellulite they inevitably leave behind, which will just compound my frustration. God’s love is here in this moment and in many more to come. His love is true and carries with it only positive residual effects.”

Examine how you can replace the lies and rationalizations in your mind with the truth of God’s love. Experience the power of renewing your mind and learning that food was never meant to fulfill the deepest places of your heart. And, as Ephesians 3:19 reminds, may you understand that the only way to true satisfaction is to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

 

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

Ephesians 3:19 | lookingjoligood.blog
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19
Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog Embrace The Mundane
Lifestyle

Embrace The Mundane

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

The daily stuff,  those responsibilities that seem more like a distraction, those things we want to rush and get through to get on with the better and bigger assignments of life, those things that are unnoticed places of service, they are the very experiences from which we unlock the riches of wisdom. We’ve got to practice in the everyday places of our lives.

Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog

Never despise the mundane. Embrace it. Unwrap it like a gift. And be one of the rare few who look deeper than just the surface.

See something more in the everyday.

-Lysa Terkeurst

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram,  Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.