Dear God,

Without you, I am ugly. This past week one of my biggest excuses to "ditch" you popped up...I wasn't feeling good and either was the rest of my family. I got trapped in self-pity and used being ugly to others as a mode of coping.

I was irritable, selfish, short-tempered, and mean to my husband.

It's really amazing that you let me keep coming back. How many times do I have to learn the same lesson, that YOU are the way, the truth, and the life ?!

It's so thickheaded of me, really! I assume I know your will and your ways because I've heard it or read it before. But, really, I don't truly know something until it comes time to put it into practice. I learned that from teaching high school chemistry. Try to teach something that you don't really know to a bunch of 11th graders... they'll set you strait in no time.

I'm realizing, with the help of First Place 4 Health, that there is no "coast" option in Christianity. Either I daily go to Jesus in prayer or I don't. If I do, I will be closer to him and I will be able to know his will. If I don't, I will get trapped in the ways of the world and probably make some bad decisions. All of this comes from my verse for the week...

Romans 12:2...Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve of what God's will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Amen!