Let's Thrive Not Strive in 2025!

How to Find Freedom in Truth. (#50)

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Today is the 4th of July, the day we celebrate our civic freedoms here in the United States with parades, picnics, and fireworks displays. We celebrate the great American experiment and the unique freedoms codified in our founding documents, such as the freedom to assemble, the freedom of speech, and even the freedom from a state-imposed religion. Although this country is far from perfect, I am grateful for the freedoms we enjoy – products of the radical ideas of our founding fathers and the selfless commitment of men and women who have given so much for the cause of freedom. I am truly grateful.

Yet today I also remember that there is no freedom like the freedom found in Christ! This ultimate freedom is the result of the radical idea of God and His Son’s sacrificial commitment to the cause. Our spiritual freedom came at a high price to Jesus as He willingly stepped out of heaven to take on human form. He was innocent and sinless, yet He sacrificed His earthly life to reclaim ours from the grip of the grave.

Our freedom in Christ has no geographic boundaries, is available to all who would humble themselves to accept it, and it destroys the oppression from our supernatural enemies. This radical supernatural freedom is unlike any other freedom, and it is only possible through faith.

So how does one get this freedom? Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32, NIV, emphasis added) People often quote the second sentence in this passage while neglecting the first. We all want freedom, but the freedom offered by Jesus is an if/then statement.

In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Truth by definition isn’t variable. It doesn’t change or evolve. If something can change or evolve, then it is by definition something other than truth. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Jesus is the Truth, and true freedom only comes when we know Him, allow Him to disciple (teach) us, and then actually follow His teaching. I’m afraid that many believers in Christ remain in unnecessary bondage because they do not really know Him and do not hold to His teachings.

Often before coming to know, love, and follow Jesus as Savior and Lord, we search for ways to find peace in our soul and spirit. We may look to human relationships, careers, finances, and accolades. Many get ensnared to addictions such as shopping, gambling, sex or substances like alcohol, drugs, or food. But the truth is that genuine peace-producing freedom cannot be found in the desires of the flesh or obtained through human achievement. There are no gadgets, gizmos, or glam that can satisfy the soul like a genuine, faith-fueled relationship with the God of the Universe.   When we come to Jesus in faith – trusting He is who He said He is and He can and will do what He said He will do – the ultimate freedom is ours. This freedom isn’t a license to sin; it is freedom from sin and it’s eternal effects (Romans 6:1-15). It is the peace that surpasses all human understanding (Philippians 4:7). And this true freedom is only found in one place…a person, Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions:

  • Are there any areas of my life in which I do not walk in freedom (e.g. addictions, fleshly desires, pride, selfishness)?
  • What lies have I believed about myself or about God? (See this month’s free resource for finding freedom from the lie!)
  • What steps can I take this week to grow in faith through prayer, worship, and Scripture?

Note that the content of this post was originally posted at OneTenMinistries.com/blog on July 4, 2025, under the title “Put Your Best Faith Forward, for FREEDOM!”

Let's Thrive Not Strive in 2025!

When Sleep Isn’t Enough: Pursuing Soul Rest (#49)

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We are complex beings—beautifully and intricately made up of three parts: body, soul, and spirit. Last month, we explored how physical rest fuels the body and mind, helping us thrive and stay productive. But what happens when physical rest isn’t enough?

I once saw a meme that read, “Sleep doesn’t help if it’s your soul that’s tired.” I remember it well because the truth of that simple statement struck me hard, to my core. Many times in my life my soul felt tired, deeply tired. Maybe yours has been too.

Soul Fatigue Is Real

Have you ever felt like you were running on fumes, even after a full night’s sleep? Maybe your body wasn’t what needed rest. Maybe it was your soul. Our souls are made up of our minds, wills, and emotions. Sometimes, perhaps too often, we overload our lives with too much on our proverbial plate—deadlines, demands, family needs, chronic illness, or the constant hum of anxiety. We try to press on, telling ourselves to just push through one more task, one more day, one more week. All the while, our souls are crying out for rest. Friends, this isn’t sustainable. And it isn’t how God designed us to live.

Yes, life brings stress and responsibilities. But we weren’t created to white-knuckle our way through every season. We need margin—not just for our schedules, but also for our souls.

Rest for the Mind and Soul

Mental and cognitive rest isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about making space—to pause, to reset, to breathe. When our minds are constantly stimulated and our thoughts pulled in ten different directions, our souls follow. It’s not just the tasks that wear us down, but the mental load we carry. And we carry a lot these days, don’t we?

We must be intentional about protecting our mental space and refreshing our inner life. Just like our bodies need sleep, our souls need stillness and our minds need quiet.

Who Says We Have to Keep Up This Pace?

We often believe the lie that we have to keep going at this breakneck pace. But who says? Who told you that your worth is measured by your productivity? In Blog Post #24: Soul Breath, I asked, “What gives your soul breath? What is life-giving for you right now?” Have you answered that question for yourself?

There are 1,440 minutes in a day. That’s 10,080 minutes in a week. Even if our schedules are full, there is time to carve out even ten minutes of soul-satisfying rest each day.

  • Take a walk without your phone.
  • Sit in silence and listen for God’s voice.
  • Read a Psalm slowly, not for information, but for connection.
  • Breathe deeply and allow yourself to be instead of do.

To Thrive in 2025, we need more than sleep. We need mental margin and soul rest. That means making space for God to fill us, time to breathe, and permission to stop striving. Let’s be people who rest—not just because we’re tired, but because we’re created to thrive. Let’s make room every day to catch our breath and return to what gives our soul life.

Reflection Questions:

  • What is draining your mental and emotional energy right now?
  • What gives your soul breath?
  • What small change can you make this week to invite rest into your mind and soul?

Read more on this in: Blog Post #24 – Soul Breath

Enough Expectations (#40)

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Isn’t it hard Enough? Life, I mean…adulting. There are constant demands, expectations, and the never-ending cycle of bills. Everyone wants something from you. In the last post, #39, I talked about regrets – the woulda, coulda, shoulda’s from our past that we carry around. Today, I want to talk about the present and future woulda, coulda, shoulda’s – in other words: expectations.

In addition to the actual requirements of daily adulting, we are inundated with expectation after expectation. Some of those expectations come from other people – all the ways we don’t measure up in their eyes – yet most of the unrealistic expectations on our lives come from us. And we carry those expectations around like baggage in our minds and on our souls.

I should do this. I could do that. They would like me to do such and such. Do you ever want to say “Enough!”? Even if these things are good or enjoyable, we can easily become drained, stretched too thin, or find ourselves chasing someone else’s ideas of what we ought to do or be. (By the way, I have more on this in post #18, What’s on Your Bucket List?)

Do we really take the time to look at our calendars (or our wallets!) and really think about where we want to spend our precious resources: time, talent, treasure, and energy? Or do we let others dictate it to us? Do we set our priorities or do “they” (whoever “they” are)? How to “they” know what we need anyway?

I was reminded of this today at the bank. I met with a lady banker to open a new account. She was kind, beautiful, and while it was subtle, I noticed that she had not washed her hair today. She had at least day 2 hair. As I sat there, I reflected on how that cultural expectation has changed since I was younger. I notice that a lot of women now are feeling comfortable going out for the day without freshly washed hair. (Hello dry shampoo!) That’s so refreshing!

But I also know that, conversely, showing up to your kid’s soccer game (really any kids activity) is about as much pressure as the 20-year class reunion. The proverbial (and actual) soccer moms show up with hair and makeup all done up meticulously to look like they just rolled out of bed, complete with overpriced designer athletic clothing…and of course the Starbuck’s in hand. A youth sporting event in many cases is akin to a local beauty pageant, with all of the trappings of the regrettable high-school cliques. I have several nieces and nephews and I have been to many a soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, football, or volleyball game. I would observe this behavior and internally shake my head. Wow, we women really can’t escape the pressure to look a certain way, act a certain way, dress a certain way – even at little league events.

I think we need to give ourselves and each other a break! We women have been competing against one another for too long. Rather than competing against one another we should be competing for one another. Afterall, a rising tide lifts all boats. Can we agree to not put pressure and expectations on one another? Can we just give each other a break? Please.

Let’s be intentional to not give in to the expectations of other people. We have to know what we need and be ok with making our own choices, and we need to be ok with others doing the same. Had a rough week and just want to get an extra half-hour of sleep on Saturday morning before the little league game rather than arriving with freshly washed hair – go for it! Prioritize what gives you margin and allows you to be kind to yourself while still making it to the game. You Rock Mom!

I was super proud of that working mom at the bank. By the pictures on her desk, I could tell she had two kids and she mentioned she was divorced. Life is probably stressful and busy. I’m glad she chose to not wash her hair today; I was proud of her for choosing Enough. And I smiled, because today I did the same.

The next time you have an expectation for someone else, perhaps consider the weight of the load they are already carrying. Rather than heaping expectations upon them, adding guilt and shame to their already burdened back, give them the grace to take that load off instead.