thoughts by Mary Pinckney Archives - Page 2 of 8

Published June 28, 2023

It will be Well

“He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.” Psalm 40:2b (AMP)

2018 came in with a vengeance. On top of seeing snow in unexpected places this year, we have seen a number of tragedies, deaths, illnesses, among other life-altering challenges. It’s almost as if the bottom fell out and many of you find yourselves trying to find sure footing again. Is there a place of certainty that I can find rest? Is there hope for me, my family, and our future?

Even in this moment of transition I speak peace to the weary souls that are at a place of turmoil. I speak rest to your minds from the anxious toil. Cease striving trying to figure it all out and rest in the unfailing love of the Father; for He gives rest to His beloved.

We must learn to accept His sovereignty and receive His grace. There are situations we will never be able to understand. We are to trust that God has it all under control and He is working it all together for our good. He will also reveal His plan as time unfolds.

2 Corinthians 12:9 encourages us to rely on the grace of God; “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul wanted God to remove the problems he faced because they seemed too much for him to bear, but God knowing all too well the purpose of those trials encouraged Him that His power was all He needed.

I challenge you today as you read this to take a step back and ask God to help you see your situation through His eyes. In times like these we need Him to broaden our perspective. As He does take comfort in the rest that He has already provided; be still my friend and know that He is God. There is nothing too hard for our God to handle. When everything around you is shaking, He is a firm foundation. He is the rock of ages. He knows how to steady you and establish your footing on solid ground.

Father, teach me to rest in your unfailing love. I admit I get lost trying to find my way through life’s ups and downs. I don’t always know where to go or what to think. I don’t always know what to do, but you do. May I take comfort in knowing that Your purposes for me will be fulfilled. There is nothing that I will encounter that can separate me from Your love. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’s name Amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Never Allow Fear to Stop You

“ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
(Amplified Bible )

What are you facing today that has you considering throwing in the towel?

Do you not realize the potential that lies on the inside of you! You are destined to defeat what has tried time and time again to defeat you. Fear’s presence should serve as a reminder that your fight is worth winning. Everything in life will never be an easy “win.”

Today, gird up the loins of your mind. Put your faith into action and fight the good fight of faith. God did not raise you to be a quitter. Remind yourself that you have what it takes to do this. You are well able to complete the task before you. Remember you can do all things through Christ that infuses you with inner strength.

Father, I pray that we will put on the full armor of God today in order to defeat every enemy that rises up against us and in us. Thank you that you have already given us the victory over fear. You have given us power, love, and a sound mind. May we put into action the tools that are readily available unto us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Do You Have What it Takes?

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10

Lately, I have been focusing on persistent faith in one of my coaching groups. It is amazing how often we start our journey with God on fire! We run head first into new ventures, relationships, new career paths, etc., only to come face to face with the reality it takes to make it all work.

Persistence denotes going forward stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning. And of course we know that faith is the substance of things hoped for. In other words, faith believes in what we cannot see. So what happens when we apply persistence to our faith? It should result in a greater fervor, a greater passion, or greater determinations to believe God and to press forward to see what He has spoken come to pass. Again, this is not always the case, when we come face to face with challenges sometimes we falter in our belief. Believing becomes difficult when everything looks to be going the opposite direction that you originally hoped. We begin to realize that it will take much more than originally planned. Does this mean it is not worth fighting for? Absolutely not!

My goal today is to help encourage those of you that have found yourselves here. You have come to a place of decision. Should you continue or should you quit? I say to you today, you have come too far to turn back now. If challenges have increased regroup and find the inner strength you need to keep moving. It’s OK to make adjustments. Just don’t quit!

There is a fighter on the inside of you. Go back to God and seek further instructions. What did He say in the beginning? Did you get all the directions before moving forward? If the path you are on has been sanctioned by Him, He knows the way that you need to take; allow Him to work in you the will to complete the process.

Lord, increase my strength when I am ready to quit and throw in the towel. It’s only by your grace that I am able to keep going. Open my eyes to see the changes that need to be made, the path that You have selected for me, and the resources You have supplied. Thank you for always equipping me for every battle I face. In Jesus name amen.

Thought: Revisit your previous plans and journal the answers to the following questions. What adjustments do you need to make to stay on track with the vision? Who can assist you? What additional resources will you need? Will it require extra time? Did I hear God clearly?

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

The Pain of Letting Go

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endures forever–forsake not the works of Your own hands.” Psalm 138:8 (Amplified Bible )

The story of the Prodigal son weighed on my heart today. Watching the Father allow his youngest son to leave home and experience life reminds me of the challenges we face as parents to our natural and spiritual children. The process of growing and maturing is not always pleasant to watch. We cannot raise strong, responsible children or even spiritual sons and daughters by shielding them from all pain and hardships, especially those that come from their own decisions. Often times it is the pain that leads them to the arms of the Father.

There comes a time, as parents, we must release our control and learn to trust God in the process. Looking back at the Father in the parable, he knew that he had to allow his son to leave. But he also knew that he could trust the Lord with what was precious to him, the life of his son. We too must allow our heavenly Father to mature our children and bring them to perfect stature in Him. Just as the prodigal son came to himself realizing that he had it better with his father, our seed will as well. It may not be an easy transition but it is a necessary one.

Father, grant us the grace to trust you with the lives of those we love. Lord, teach us continually how to guide them in wisdom and truth. As we commit them to you, I ask that you reassure us daily that you will complete the work that you have begun in them.

Scriptural References

Luke 15:11-24
Psalm 57:2
Philippians 1:6
2 Timothy 1:12
Isaiah 54:13

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Be Recharged

“Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength.” Ephesians 6:10 (GW)

Ever had one of those days when you felt as though you had nothing left in you; no motivation, no passion, no desire to move forward? Feelings of worthlessness begin to surface and it seems as though you are headed backwards instead of forward. What happened to the fervor and the passion?

If this is you today, I have a word of encouragement for you. The Lord wants you to know that He is still working. Sometimes handling life’s challenges can drain us of our power and our drive to keep going.

Some of us are just in need of good refreshment. I am reminded of the passage in 1 Kings 19 wherein Elijah was on the run from Jezebel after defeating 850 prophets of Baal. This was a great victory for Elijah and other great feats followed. What caught my attention in this story however was that Elijah became fearful when Jezebel sent him a note about what she would do to him. She didn’t come to him face to face, she sent words. On that note, what has the enemy been speaking to you that has you sidetracked?

Elijah came to rest under a tree and prayed that he might die. Upon falling asleep, he was visited by the Angel of the Lord. Elijah was given bread and water and told to eat because the journey ahead of him was great. That spoke volumes to me.

As Christians, we need to stay connected to our power source. When our phone dies or our battery looks low, the first thing we do is connect to the power source. Why not do the same spiritually? Just like a battery needs to be recharged by being plugged into its power source, so do we as children of God. Our feelings and emotions begin to get out of control when we are not connected to our source of power. When I say plug in and recharge, I am referring to our need as believers to fast, pray, and spend time in the presence of the Lord. Find the time to reconnect today. Be strengthened; you have not lost your fire and passion; you are just running low on spiritual fuel. Finally my brethren, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength.

Father, I thank you for the power and the strength that you provide us. I pray that we will not take lightly what you have made available to us. May we be recharged daily so that we can accomplish the works you have given us to do. In Jesus name Amen

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission
From: Be Attitudes: A Devotional Journey To a Healthier and Happier You

The Walk of Faith

If there is a specific fear or doubt that has been grabbing hold of you recently, bring it to Jesus.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

It takes courage to face the truth about yourself — your fears, doubts, and insecurities.
It takes courage to admit you are wrong when you have hurt someone.
It takes courage to stand up for righteousness in the midst of what is popular and accepted.
It takes courage not to defend yourself when you know you are innocent.
It takes courage to love those that despitefully use and abuse you.
It takes courage to forgive others so that you can be forgiven.
It takes courage to believe in a God you can’t see.
It takes courage to trust that God is in total control when everything around you is in total chaos.

When we walk by faith, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. They walked the same walk before us. Many of them did not get to see the promises of God fulfilled on this side of Heaven. They died still believing that what God promised would be theirs.

These men and women of God faced major challenges because of what they believed, but they still believed. Their lives were shared with us in the Scriptures to encourage and inspire us not to quit in tough times. Let us therefore strip off every weight and every sin that so easily distracts us. Let us lay down our will and become heroes of faith for those that will follow us.

Father, we desire to do your will in the midst of tough situations that we face daily. We want so much to live a life that is pleasing to you. We desire to follow the example of so many others that have gone before us. Their faith walk showed us how courageous they were as they stood for what they believed. May we walk in that same courage as we continue in our journey before you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If there is a specific fear or doubt that has been grabbing hold of you recently, bring it to Jesus and pray for his courage to fill your heart as you face that challenge.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Only by His Grace

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NLT)

I have come to find that my efforts alone are worthless when it comes to achieving anything I set out to accomplish.

I fail time and time again when I try to do things on my own. If it were not for the grace of God, I would not be able to go forward successfully in what God has called me to do.

Even when I get lost in finding my way through everyday routines — fighting to remain focused on the goals I have set ? I find that I can do nothing without Him. I often struggle because I am a “doer” by nature. My works often get me wrapped up in a performance mentality. I find myself doing enough just to get by rather than producing what I am capable of through His grace. Can you relate?

We are to commit and trust our works to the Lord. As it says in Proverbs 16:3, then He will cause our thoughts to become agreeable to His will and our plans will be established and succeed. This has become one of my go-to-scriptures when I am feeling overwhelmed. It puts me back into focus and helps me get out of my own way again. I recognize that I don’t have to have everything be perfect, I just need to relax and trust Him.

I encourage you today to rest in God’s grace upon your life. Rest in knowing that He will help you overcome every challenge you will ever face.

Father, we take so much pride in doing what we know is best. We get lost in our own ability and neglect the help you have freely given. Teach us to value your grace in our everyday life. Teach us to recognize the grace you have given us to accomplish what you have called us to. I pray that every day we will commit our works to you so that you will establish our thoughts. May our eyes be open to the countless rewards that await us when we do it your way and not our own. In Jesus name, amen

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Blog: https://findingtruthwithin.com/

Steady Me, Lord

“He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.”
Psalm 40:2b (AMP)

The year came in with a vengeance.

On top of seeing snow in unexpected places, we have seen a number of tragedies, deaths, illnesses, hurricanes, among other life-altering challenges. It’s almost as if the bottom fell out and many of you find yourselves trying to find sure footing again. Is there a place of certainty that I can find rest? Is there hope for me, my family, and our future?

Father, teach me to rest in your unfailing love. I admit I get lost trying to find my way through life’s ups and downs. I don’t always know where to go or what to think. I don’t always know what to do, but you do. May I take comfort in knowing that Your purposes for me will be fulfilled. There is nothing that I will encounter that can separate me from Your love. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’s name Amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission
https://findingtruthwithin.com/

Let Gentleness Go Before You

“Let your gentle spirit be made known to all men.” Philippians 4:5 (NASB)

We live in a society that is filled with hurting people, many of whom go unnoticed on a regular basis. Have you stopped to take notice of the people around you?

We often get so consumed with meeting the next deadline, competing for the next promotion, or running to our next obligation, that we lose sight of how we treat the people around us. Sadly, our busyness can lead to harshness, critical attitudes, frustration, or just being overwhelmed to the point that we treat the ones we love unfairly.

How many of your relationships are strained because you need to make an attitude adjustment this very moment? It’s time to push pause. Take a deep breath and release the weight of what you have been carrying. Remember, as a born again believer, you have been called to be a light to those around you. People are taking note of your every move. You are to exhibit Christ’s nature that is within. I know we all have our days… but ultimately, Jesus should be seen, not us.

I encourage you today to put on gentleness, even in the midst of those moments of frustration. Slow down and begin to pay attention to what really matters. It is not the to-do lists that are waiting to be tackled. It is the people connected to you. Let gentleness go before you today. The things you accomplish will mean very little if you have no one to share them with.

Father, help us to be mindful today of our attitudes. Help us to pay close attention to the ones we hurt because we are not paying attention to the little things. May our words and our mannerisms be seasoned with grace. May we pause to take time to commune with You in order to receive the love that we need to share with those around us. Lord, let Your love flow through us like never before. In Jesus’ name, amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

How Do You Get Free and Remain Free?

“So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 (AMP)

Have you ever been set free from something only to find yourself going right back to it? It can become a chaotic cycle. I was set free when I accepted Christ; yet I kept finding myself slipping back into old patterns. It is difficult to stay free in some area of our lives if we are not being proactive in the process.

For years I struggled with emotional eating. Food was always my source of comfort until one day; the Holy Spirit told me I had an unhealthy attachment to food. Those were not words I was excited about hearing. However, at this point, I knew I needed to do something different.

How could I get free and stay free? My process began with preparing my mind for action. Upon recognizing where my problem stemmed, I had to deal with the root issues. I had to go back and renew my mind by focusing on the truth of God’s Word. The truth of what God said about me. It helped me understand that he is my true source of comfort. He is my place of peace and refuge.

Renewing my mind had to become a daily process at this point. I learned it was my responsibility to take charge of my thought life in order to break free totally. It is like bathing regularly. In order to wash away the influence of the world, reading the Bible and other inspirational materials is vital. We must also be intentional when it comes to dumping negative emotions as well as daily filtering what we allow to enter our minds.

Father, help those that are reading this today to end the constant cycles they often find themselves in. Grant them the grace to prepare their mind for action as they walk with you day by day to the place of true freedom and wholeness. In Jesus name, amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

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thoughts by Mary Pinckney Thoughts by Women

Be Still

Published August 8, 2022

Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10a (NLT)

Be still; these two words are not always comforting to a rescuer like me. It is hard sitting back and watching the ones you love suffer. Feelings of helplessness begin to take a hold of me as I sit back wanting to reach out and pull them from the hardships and the emotional pain they encounter. If I move out on what I want to do, it can hinder their growth. It can move them away from the purpose and the plan of God. The Lord has dealt with my heart on several occasions about this. I realize now that I jump to help out of fear of what may happen. Moving in fear reveals a greater problem; I don’t always trust the Lord with everything that concerns me or those I love. He has allowed me to see that my place, at times is just to pray. Oh this is not an easy task!! I want to act. I want to move, but I hear the Lord whispering steadily, BE STILL.

I have learned through various situations that we have to allow the Lord to complete the work that He began. He knows what is best for each of us and He will indeed perfect all that concerns us. If you too, struggle with running to your loved ones’ aid and playing Holy Ghost Jr, remember, you are only prolonging their process. Be still and know that He is God and He will bring them to their expected end.

Father, teach us how to trust you totally with our lives and those we love; comfort our hearts and grant us assurance as we watch you work in their lives. Help us to know that You are a faithful and a loving God and assure us that we can trust you at all times. Amen.

Take a moment and write down the situations in your life you need to trust God in. Find a scripture on trust that will help you to remember to leave it in God’s hands.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Hang in There

As hard as it seems keep believing!

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)

God is not slack concerning His promises to you. He has not forgotten about you. The very same words I have used to encourage myself time and time again, I use today to encourage you. It is not easy trusting a God that you don’t see. It is not always easy trusting that He is concerned about what concerns you. But the truth of the matter is, we serve a God that will never renege on His promises.

Paul tells us in our scripture reference not to throw away our confident trust in the Lord. Confident trust is the belief that something will happen based on God’s character. Again, He does not falter on His promises. Our reliance then should be on His ability to bring what He promises to pass.

So right now, in this very moment, as hard as it seems to keep believing, I urge you not to throw away your fearless confidence. Instead, embrace the patient endurance that helps us to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising. It is this endurance that prompts us not to give up when we are weary. We will reap the harvest that has been promised to us if we just hang in there. I challenge you today to stick it out and stick with God’s plan. Stay consistent, keep trusting, keep believing, and keep fighting until you see the promised completion.

Lord, I have failed you time and time again in this area. Help me today to continue along the path that you have laid out for me. Help me to stay true to my assignment even when my feelings get the best of me. Help me to keep the right heart attitude as I wait on you to bring your promises to fulfillment. Most of all, help me to continue trusting your heart towards me. In Jesus, name, Amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

It’s In the Waiting..

“But those who wait on 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.” Isaiah 40:31

Sometimes we just need to stop, breathe and listen to what God is saying. Life can be so busy at times that we miss the important instructions we need to go forward. Give yourself permission to sit still and enjoy the stillness of the moment.

That brief pause may hold the key to the breakthrough you have been awaiting.

Lord teach us how to be still and wait in your presence. Teach us how important it is to listen for your still small voice in the midst of our daily routine. Thank you for always being available for us. In Jesus name, Amen

Grace and Peace,
By Mary Pinckney

Courageous Living

Thought – Is there a specific fear or doubt that has been grabbing hold of you recently?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

It takes courage to face the truth about yourself — your fears, doubts, and insecurities.
·
It takes courage to admit you are wrong when you have hurt someone.
·
It takes courage to stand up for righteousness in the midst of what is popular and accepted.
·
It takes courage not to defend yourself when you know you are innocent.
·
It takes courage to love those that spitefully use and abuse you.
·
It takes courage to forgive others so that you can be forgiven.
·
It takes courage to believe in a God you can’t see.
·
It takes courage to trust that God is in total control when everything around you is in total chaos.

When we walk by faith, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. They walked the same walk before us.
Many of them did not get to see the promises of God fulfilled on this side of Heaven. They died still believing that what God promised would be theirs.

These men and women of God faced major challenges because of what they believed, but they still believed. Their lives were shared with us in the scriptures to encourage and inspire us not to quit in tough times. Let us therefore strip off every weight and every sin that so easily distracts us. Let us lay down our will and become heroes of faith for those that will follow
us.

Father, we desire to do your will in the midst of tough situations that we face daily. We want so much to live a life that is pleasing to you. We desire to follow the example of so many others that have gone before us. Their faith walk showed us how courageous they were as they stood for what they believed. May we walk in that same courage as we continue in our journey before you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thought – Is there a specific fear or doubt that has been grabbing hold of you recently? Bring it to Jesus and pray for His courage to fill your heart today

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Keeping It Together In the Midst of Chaos

How do you keep going during chaos?

I struggled with finding the answer to this question for years. As I inquired of the Lord, He began to show me answers through the life of Jesus.

“As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:13-14 NLT

Jesus withdrew to be alone after receiving the news that His cousin John the Baptist was beheaded but upon seeing the crowd He turned and had compassion on them. Compassion is defined as a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry or hurting. Jesus wanted to ensure that the crowd had what they needed even at a time He was in need. The disciples wanted to send the crowd away but Jesus commanded that they be fed, pointing out that what they needed was within their ability to handle.

Too often, God is asking us to serve others but our own selfish ambitions get in the way. We are so concerned about our own needs and focused on our own insecurities until we miss the multiplication that is possible when God is with us. It is not within our own power to always meet the needs of the crowd. The key is recognizing God is always the source. When we come to Him admitting our insufficiency, He takes what we have and multiplies it.

Jesus knowing the needs of the people did not turn them aside, He laid His own need aside to ensure the people were taken care of. After doing so, He continued to a place of solitude to pray. Why is this significant when it comes to keeping it together? We can’t give out daily and not take time to replenish. This is faulty thinking. Anyone that has ever driven a car knows after driving for miles the car will run out of gas. To get more service from that car it must be refilled repeatedly. This is the same for each of us.

Jesus making time to withdraw and pray helped to keep Him connected to His source. It gave Him the power, the grace, the instructions and the wisdom to continue doing the will of the Father. Jesus knew His assignment. He knew daily meetings with His Father were required to ensure He could continue.

The death of John the Baptist is significant because Jesus was hurt by the loss of His cousin and friend. John the Baptist knew He was the Son of God sent to save mankind. As we take this into consideration we find that Jesus had emotions. He did not allow His emotions to hinder Him from doing the will of the Father. He understood His emotions had a place but it was not to move Him from His assignment. Again, this was evident when He saw the crowd. He allowed His purpose to lead.

As we study the life of Jesus we find the answers we need to keep it together when our world turns topsy-turvy. We learn that there is a place for our emotions and a proper way to deal with our own pain in life. We learn the importance of maintaining daily intimacy with God. We learn that we cannot function in our assignment without daily connection with our Father. He holds the key to keep us together even when we are falling apart.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Category: <span>thoughts by Mary Pinckney</span>

“He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.” Psalm 40:2b (AMP)

Further Reading

What are you facing today that has you considering throwing in the towel?

Further Reading

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength.” Ephesians 6:10 (GW)

Further Reading

If there is a specific fear or doubt that has been grabbing hold of you recently, bring it to Jesus.

Further Reading

I have come to find that my efforts alone are worthless when it comes to achieving anything I set out to accomplish.

Further Reading

The year came in with a vengeance.

Further Reading

“Let your gentle spirit be made known to all men.” Philippians 4:5 (NASB)

Further Reading

“So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 (AMP)

FURTHER READING

As hard as it seems keep believing!

Further Reading

Further Reading

Thought – Is there a specific fear or doubt that has been grabbing hold of you recently?

Further Reading

How do you keep going during chaos?

Further Reading