How to See More Miracles in Your Life

What is it that you want to see transformed in your life? Have you given up on that dream? Perhaps you've uttered the phrase "It's going to take a miracle." Well, some things do, so today we are going to talk about miracles and how to see more of them show up in our lives.

Miracles are not just a thing of the movies and imaginary cartoon characters. Miracles are REAL. In fact, they happen everyday. We just don't hear about them as much because the media is fascinated with negativity, the horrific, and the hideous. For some odd reason, people are drawn to negativity. Or we attribute them to "coincidence". No, recognize that God is doing something supernatural in your life. 

Personal Testimony
So who am I to write on miracles? I feel qualified to write on this topic because I've had several of them occur in my life. Pick up a copy of my book "The Power of Faith" and check them out. In fact, I've had several more occur since writing that book including another miraculous healing, a restoration of a close family relationship that was severed, and financial provision. God is still in the miracle working business. So what it is that we can do to help things along?

First, let me remind us all that it is God's will that we prosper and be in good health. See 3 John 1:2.  There are many verses in the Bible that talk about having abundance, joy, peace, love, and healing. All of these are available to us at any time in our lives and here are some steps YOU can take to see them start happening NOW!

1. BELIEVE you deserve good things.
It all starts with having FAITH. No matter how many mistakes or poor choices we have made in the past, we can start today with a clean slate. When we turn to God, ask forgiveness and ask Jesus to help us, the windows of heaven begin to swing open wide. All good things come from God, not "the Universe" or by the law of attraction as some would have you believe. I am not going to debate these other philosophies; this is a Christian blog and I write from a Christian world-view where God and I are a team. 

2. Get crystal clear. 
I think one reason many of us don't move forward in life is because we are not clear on what we really want. Once we get clear and have a vision, God can go to work. But if we are unclear, doubtful, or wishy-washy, God waits on us to get clear. 

Like when I was house-hunting. I wasn't sure at first exactly what I wanted in a new home. Even though God presented the ideal home to me right from the get-go, I still had to think and rethink it. I spent weeks with realtors visiting other options until I realized the first option was exactly what I wanted and needed after all. Silly me. 

3. Claim the promise. 
Once we get clear, then we can start claiming the promise and by that I mean speaking out what it is that we want to show up in our lives. For example, if we want to be healed, we can claim Jeremiah 30:17 which says "But I will restore health to you and heal your wounds, says the Lord" or Mark 5:34 "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." There is power in our words and in the words of Scripture. Instead of saying things like "I'm going to end up in the poorhouse" or "I'll never be able to..." start speaking out words of faith regarding whatever miracle you want to see happen. This is an expression of faith and faith pleases God.

4. Take action. 
We cannot sit idly by and wait for things to happen. We must take personal responsibility and do our part. Whatever it is, take the first step. Read that book. Take that class. Go to the gym. Get that degree. Whatever is in your power to do - like Nike says - "Just do it!" Slowly but surely we will make progress towards our miracle.

5. Trust God to do the impossible. 
Often, situations look impossible and hopeless. We cannot see clearly how to resolve them or what to do next. These are the situations God specializes in. Does the medical report sound hopeless? Does your relationship seem doomed? Has your job ended? What seem like endings are really new beginnings when we have faith to envision a brighter tomorrow. Whatever God brings us to, God will bring us through. This is what is called Grace and it is amazing.

So there we have 5 steps to seeing more miracles in our lives. Give them a try and let me know how things turn out. You will not be disappointed. Sometimes God answers prayers in different ways from what we expect, so be open to his answer in whatever form it shows up in.

For Reflection

What is it that you want to see transformed or restored in your life? Do you believe it can happen? What steps can you take now to make it a reality?

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice".

Until next time, stay tuned for more positive and practical insights to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Live in Peace in an Anxious World

Peace. It's an elusive thing. Staying at peace is a challenge, no matter what season of life we are in or what is going on in the world. Responsibilities, relatives, problems, world events, the stock market ups and downs, Covid, and now we have the fires in California. There is always something to rattle us, but believe it or not - the choice is ours.  

The good news is there are things we can do and skills we can learn to help us keep our peace - or at least get it back quicker - despite unexpected and tumultuous circumstances. Today's post is about what we can do to enjoy more peace and stay centered despite what may be going on in our lives and in the world around us.

The Pull of the World 
The pull of the world and all it's distractions and problems as well as dealing with daily life and all our emotions can throw us off-center and make us feel stressed & anxious. It's not the way we are supposed to live. 

Then we turn outward for temporary soothing from activities, substances, or distractions but the real key to inner peace is to turn inward. As a busy single working mom, I learned that developing my spiritual life was key to being able to manage my busy and often stressful personal, business, and social lives. 

Our Spiritual Lives 

We maintain our homes, cars, computers, and bodies, but what about our spiritual lives? Do we make time to nurture our spiritual lives? Like exercise, it is crucial to  healthy and well-balanced living as well as inner peace.  When we are spiritually grounded, we are more able to handle the stressful situations that come at us often out of the blue. 

Brother Lawrence was a Carmelite monk who lived in the 17th century. His famous book, "The Practice of the Presence of God" is a collection of letters and conversations on a simple and pure way to connect with God. Brother Lawrence lived in continual communication with God, no matter what he was doing and so can we. Give it a read sometime. 

In the same way that conversation is critical to maintaining human relationships, speaking to God is critical to maintaining our relationship with the Divine. Here are some things I do to help me stay connected and I know they will help you too:

1. Start the day with gratitude and prayer. 
Before I even get out of bed, I take a few deep calming breaths to center myself. Then I give thanks for the new day "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it," (Psalm 118:24) and ask God to direct my thoughts and my steps. I give thanks to God in advance for taking care of anything that is on my mind or that I will face that day. I say "thank you" for his help, protection, and guidance. This is what Faith is all about. Believing BEFORE you see. 

After I say my morning prayers, I feel strengthened and protected enough to get out of bed and start my day, ready to face it with confidence, strength, and joy. It's a mental habit I've established over the years and it works well. How we start our day determines how our day will go and how we will handle the challenges that arise. 

The tendency for many of us is to jump out of bed thinking about all our problems, to-dos, text messages, etc. No wonder we want to hit the snooze button and pull the covers over our heads. The tasks of the day or week can feel overwhelming. It helps to ground ourselves spiritually before we tackle any of them. Don't go out unprepared spiritually. 

By changing our morning thought patterns and behaviors, we reprogram our minds to focus on God's presence, provision and power in our lives FIRST. This brings us peace which ultimately gives us the strength and the courage to meet the challenges of the day.

2. Remember that God is in control.
A lot of anxiety comes from dwelling on things that are out of our control - world events, pandemics, the elections, the weather, what other people say or do. It is important to recognize the difference between what we can and cannot control. I was just talking to my mom about this. She's been so frustrated the past few years and I couldn't understand why. Then the light bulb went on. 

"I know what's going on, " I said. 

"Yeah, what?" Mom asked. 

"You're losing control of stuff and so you are trying to control other stuff to compensate. You're frustrated because you are trying to control situations that are out of your control."

"You're so smart," she snapped. 

Taking a deep breath, I said "It's true. You can't control when they deliver your meals. You can't control when the repair guy will come to fix the leak. You're frustrated over things that are out of your control."

All of the sudden the tone of her voice completely changed. 

"You're right," she said meekly. 

"Ma, it's natural but we all have to learn to let go of control at some point. And the truth of the matter is, we really don't have control over very much at all." 

It was a breakthrough for both of us.

Remember that nothing happens without God's permission and that God is working all things out for our good in the long run. I have to remind myself - all. Even the bee sting in the pool last summer. Lesson, watch where you are swimming. 

 

So much stress can be reduced by changing our perspective and learning to trust more and stress less. We never know what we will have to face in any given day, but we do know that God knows and that he will give us the grace - say Grace - to manage it calmly and confidently. But we have to do our part and cooperate. 

3. Take a breath break. 
This is a discipline I am trying to incorporate on a daily basis. Just sit down and breathe. Slowing down our breathing slows down our minds and bodies. It helps us to recalibrate. When I feel that "rat wheel" pull or feel anxious about some matter or situation,  I immediately start to pray or if I can, sit down and meditate too. I've also incorporated tapping (EFT) to handle difficult emotions and process what I am feeling in the moment instead of ignoring it or letting it overtake me. When we sit down to breathe, we bring our minds and our emotions back to stillness. 

Just yesterday, my sister, her son, and I were having a conversation about travel plans. Her voice kept going up and up and finally I said "Let's just all take a deep breath." It made everyone laugh and broke the tension. 

4. The Pull of Busyness 

The pull of busyness puts pressure on us which can pull us into a maelstrom of anxiety, frustration, and impatience. Having too much to do can exhaust us so we don't have the patience or the energy to be the kind, loving, patient people we desire to be. One of my son's favorite phrases is "Less is more" and it is so true. 

We plan our days to the max, leaving little room for MARGIN. You know, like the space on the sides of a sheet of notebook paper. Margin makes space for stuff that takes longer, for something else to take precedence, for a mistake to be made, for somebody to forget something. 

As a single mom, I had the tendency to go go go because I always had so much on me and so little help, but then one day I realized I had to pace myself at work so I would have energy left to deal with my boys at the end of a hard work day. I didn't go out with the folks to happy hour. I drove straight home to pick up the kids from day-care before 6 pm to avoid extra fees. I prioritized time with my family over time at work. I know someone needs to hear this. Who or what do you need to reprioritize?

5. Talk to God During the Day.
This is something Brother Lawrence did all thru his day. We can talk to God anytime, anyplace. Really. We don't have to be in church, or in any other religious place. Connecting with your breath brings you into the presence of God.  

The problem is we rarely think about our breath because our heads are so preoccupied with everything else. It is a habit we can develop, just like talking to our spouse or significant other. I have learned to take a pause break after each activity, instead of rushing right from one thing to another on auto-pilot like I used to do.

I go for a walk, have a cup of tea, or just pause to breath and ask for direction. I ask God what should I do next and then I listen. 

Personal Story

Due to the cold weather, I haven't been out much lately. Today, I went to the library to pick up some books, and then sat there in the car debating what to for lunch. Thai food? Chinese food? With no clear answer, I headed home waiting for direction. As I was driving, I remembered the empanadas I had made and then I knew what I wanted for lunch. Home it was. We don't have to nor is it good to run on auto-pilot. Stop and think. What do I really want to do next? 

When I feel the prick of unease, I listen. When I feel that still small voice warn me, I listen. We need to keep the lines of communication open so we can receive the guidance God is sending us. It could be for direction, protection, or decision-making, but we have to tune in. 

6. Do something kind for someone else. 

When we take our minds off ourselves and our problems, this allows God to step in and assist. When we are constantly thinking about what is next on our agenda or worrying about stuff, God takes a seat and says "Go ahead. Knock yourself out". God wants to help us. Sometimes we just have to stop and go help somebody else.

Last week, for example, I was feeling frustrated dealing with two laptops that both had major problems, a faulty new dryer, some unknown stomach pains and software issues with OneDrive and Office. What did I do? I picked up the phone and called my elderly mother in Texas and helped her with some of her financial concerns. I felt better and so did she. When you are at wit's end, stop, and reach out to be a blessing to someone else. There is always someone in need of a call, a smile, a word of encouragement, a card or a gift. Just listen to the gentle inner prompting and you'll be surprised at what you'll hear. 

7. Call on Jesus 

Now we all like to think we can handle everything ourselves. But - some things require the supernatural hand of God. It's when you feel like throwing up your hands in resignation. When things seem insurmountable or unfair and you don't know what to do next, there is a simple act we can do and that is call on Jesus.

I've learned there is great power in simply uttering the precious name of Jesus. "Jesus, help me." is a powerful plea. Try it and see. Immediate peace will flood your being. Jesus is the next level of connection with God. Jesus is peace. Real peace. Peace you cannot get from the world or from yoga class. 

For reflection

Which of these tips can you implement this week? If you, too, would like a deeper sense of God's presence in your life, join me in these simple steps. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. Let us know if you notice a difference in your day.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my free eguide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice". You'll also receive my weekly posts to encourage and inspire you. 

Also, I am so excited to share that my newest book, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth"  is available on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, Apple Books & Smashwords. If you'd like to be more spiritually resilient, download your copy now and learn the skills to help you have more peace and calm. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within and find healing, wholeness, and harmony in the New Year. 

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

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How to Draw Closer to God During the Lonely Times

Life can get so busy, can't it? It seems there is an endless stream of distractions and challenges that show up such as taxes, car problems, weather crises, computer problems, relationship issues, sickness, to name just a few.  It is always something. If you are waiting for life to slow down to develop your relationship with God aka your spiritual practice, forget it. It will always be something. We have to prioritize spending time with the Divine, just as we would a significant other. Could it be that the organized church, imperfect as it is, has provided us with a natural season to re-calibrate, reconnect, and discover?

                                        

Lent begins during the last of the dark, cold, days of winter which is a perfect time to slow down, refocus, and reprioritize what really matters in life. As we said, life is full of distractions. How many of us are following through on our New Year's resolutions? What happened? Distractions.

Sometimes God has a way of taking us out of our normal routine just so that he can draw us closer to Him.  Let's take a look at a few biblical examples to understand how God uses times of loneliness to prepare us for our destinies. 

The Life of Moses
Let's look first at the life of Moses. Now Moses, you will recall, was raised as royalty - the son of Pharoah - in the Egyptian palace. After learning his true identity as an Israelite, he decided to leave the luxuries of the palace and go live a nomadic life in the desert where he spent 40 long years. Ever feel like you're in a dry, barren time in life? I have and I bet he did too. It's not much fun but God  has a purpose for times such as these. God uses these desert seasons to prepare us just as he did with Moses. 

What was he doing out there those 40 long years? Or rather what was God doing in him during this time? God never wastes anything in our lives. I think Moses was learning to trust, listen, & depend on God. I bet he did an awful lot of thinking and praying during those forty years. Maybe he even thought his life was over. His executive position at the palace, surrounded by servants and riches, was a distant memory and now he was a nomad surrounded by mostly sheep.

But wait, God had big plans for him, didn't he? Remember the burning bush? God sure has a way of getting our attention suddenly. God's plan was to use Moses in a BIG way, which leads us to the next example, which shows us what not to do in the desert.

A Season of Suffering 

The suffering, beaten, down-trodden people of Israel. These were the chosen ones and look how much they suffered all those years in Egyptian captivity. Have you ever suffered many long years? I have. Numerous times. 

Enter Moses, stage right, to lead the people out of bondage. How many miracles did they see? Hint: watch the movie "The Ten Commandments" or better yet, read the book of Exodus. The promise of a better life was before them, but what did they do? Complain, complain, complain; they complained about the food, the water, even the leadership. Sound familiar? FYI, God doesn't like complaining.

So they spent the next 40 years wandering the desert while God patiently waited for them to learn to trust him and accept their circumstances happily. But they didn't, and God said "Trip cancelled". The entire generation died off. But we do have a much better example of how to respond to times in the desert. Let's take a look at the life of Jesus.

The Life of Jesus
He, too, spent time alone in the desert. Forty days to be exact. Notice the pattern of 40 in the Bible. Is it a coincidence Lent is also 40 days long? What did Jesus do during his desert time? Fast and pray, that's what. Commune with God. Get quiet and alone. He wasn't out partying that's for sure.

The disciplines of solitude, fasting, and prayer, draw our attention away from food, drink, and the material distractions of this world. They open the channels to hear from God. The devil tried to tempt Jesus in his weakest moments with the promises of worldly pleasure, power, and significance. His tactics have not changed one bit since then. Have you heard of the acronym "HALT"? Never let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. These are the times when we, too, succumb to temptation. Many seek fame and fortune, power and luxury, but none of these give us the peace and fulfillment we so desperately crave.

Just as God had a plan for Moses and for Jesus, God has a plan and a purpose for your life, too. As we look at these examples, we see that by removing ourselves from the distractions and luxuries of this world, we can tune into the plan God has for our lives. During times of fasting, prayer, and quiet reflection we can hear that still small voice more clearly. We, too, can conquer the temptations that beset us and learn to trust God more fully. That, dear friends, is what Lent is all about.

For Reflection
Do you want to find your purpose and destiny? Or perhaps just the next step in life, whatever that may be. Guidance starts by learning to tune in to that still small voice and that happens by spending time in quietness, meditation, & reflection. Will you make time for spiritual disciplines this season or will it just be busyness as usual?

If you enjoyed the thoughts in this post, consider joining our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly Tuesday posts plus my free e-book entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".  Lent is the perfect time to go further in your spiritual path.

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Know When God is Speaking to You

If you're a parent, you know how frustrating it is when your kids don't listen, right? You keep repeating yourself and it seems no one is paying any attention. I think that is how God feels about me sometimes when I run from one thing to another and don't bother to tune in to that still small voice, or worse yet, ignore it. 

     
Realize God is still speaking to us today. 

So we know that God spoke to people back in the days of the Bible. But God still speaks to his children today. He wants to be in relationship with you and me and what does a good relationship require? Communication. Regularly. A relationship can only grow based on the amount of regular and healthy communication. 

God speaks to Each of us Uniquely. 

As I recently explained to my youngest son, God speaks to each of us uniquely. He speaks in ways only we will understand. It doesn't matter whether someone else understands, what matters is that you know that God is speaking to you PERSONALLY .

Personal Story 
This happened a few years ago but first, a little background. Over the years, being a pretty decent dancer myself, I have dated several men who were also good dancers but none of them turned out to be marriage material and all ended in heartache. 

So there was this one guy I had been dancing with on Friday nights who is a really good dancer. I felt like I was in heaven when I danced with him. One friday night, we danced to a particular song and those few minutes were memorable.

That weekend, the same song played on the radio, and I started dancing around my condo like Liza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady". All of the sudden, the building smoke alarm system goes off chirp chirp chirping and snapped me right out of my revelry. It was quite the rude awakening, you might say.

I knew what it meant immediately."Stop thinking about that guy. You know where it will lead if you go down that path again. Danger, danger." The message was LOUD and CLEAR. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, but I knew that the message was to protect me from making the same mistake again. Where our thoughts go, eventually, we go. 

Now you might laugh it off and say it was just a coincidence, but I know when God speaks to me. And there are no coincidences with Him. If you could have been there and heard that alarm go off, it would have scared you smack into obedience too.

Slow Down and Make Time  

A relationship with God is quite similiar to any human relationship. And that requires slowing down and making time. The problem is many of us are in way too much of a hurry to slow down and listen. We are so preoccupied with our plans and our agendas, we care little for what God's plans and agendas may be. 

God is still speaking to you, too. The best way I can describe it is a strong sense or prompting in your inner spirit. It is easy to dismiss and disregard, but God is trying to guide you and protect you. Start paying attention to that "still small voice". It's almost like a faint whisper sometimes. It's a sensing of someone speaking inaudably.

For Reflection 
Ever have something like this happen to you? What was the message? Did you listen or ignore it and what happened then? God is still speaking to us today and He will use any method to get our attention, even smoke alarms. The question is will we listen and obey, or will we not.

If you'd like to learn how to find your spiritual path my free e-guide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" will help you along.  Enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive my weekly posts. If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment and do share it with your friends. And pop on over to Pinterest to check out all the goodies I have collected there for you. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and discovering your destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Part 3: How to Hear From the Holy Spirit

Do you often ignore that still small voice and then later regret it? Are you sensitive to the vibes you get when you meet someone new or enter a restaurant? Do you trust your intuition? Many of us have been told "Oh, you're too sensitive" or "Oh, get a tougher skin". Can you relate? Our feelings and our sensitivity to that still small voice are gifts we have been given to help us navigate through life, avoid danger, and make good choices. Let's face it we live in a rough and tough world and people who are "sensitive" are often criticized. Well, this week I am writing to encourage all of us to tune out those folks who criticize and get back in touch with the Holy Spirit and her gentle guiding. So, how do we live by the Spirit in this loud and fast-paced world?

                                                      

Find Time to Get Quiet
We live in a noisy world. From the constant rings, dings, and beeps of our phones to the loud blasts of construction everywhere to the steady barrage of news and information coming at us. All this noise separates us from ourselves and from the Holy Spirit who is often trying to communicate to us. When we make time to get quiet, we allow our spirit to connect with the Holy Spirit. God is always speaking to us, the question is "Are we listening?" 

Distractions abound and it is up to us to make the decision to find stillness so we can hear that still small voice. Being still goes against our 'get it done now" culture,  but the Bible clearly exhorts us to  "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10). Did Jesus ever hurry? I don't think so. He made time daily to be still before God and if he made it a priority, so should we, don't you think?

Listen to Your Body 

Our bodies are also vehicles through which the Holy Spirit can communicate to us. I notice that my stomach churns when I am having a difficult conversation. Migraines - as horrible as they are - also have messages and it is up to us to discern what that message is. Just this past weekend, I had a terrible one. After figuring out the physiologial cause, the deeper spiritual message to me was to spend less energy on other people's problems and focus more on my health and my problems. Yes, I am a recovering codependent with an elderly mother. 

Read the Bible 

I cannot stress this enough. People have stopped going to church and many have lost their connection with God. A good way to reconnect is to spend time reading the Bible, the most copied manuscript of all time. It is the inspired word of God. In it, we can learn more about the Holy Spirit and how God wants us to live. 

There are nine fruits of the Spirit which means behaviors that show we are living not according to our flesh (ego), but more like Jesus. Do you know what they are?

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Patience

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Gentleness

9. Self control 

The more we exhibit these characteristics, the more loving person we become. We will be more tolerant of others. Have more joy, and find the peace we all seek. 

For Reflection 

Do you make time to get quiet on a daily basis? It is one of the steps to building our spiritual muscle and one way to grow spiritually. Which of the fruits of the Spirit could you need help with? If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, the next step is to ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you and then focus on one of the fruits to practice in your daily life. Sticky notes around the house are a good reminder. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts AND a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path", and remember, communication and community are a two-way street so feel free to connect with me and others on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ArielPaz08. 

In the meantime, check out my other offerings on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple. Pop on over to Pinterest and enjoy the collection I have curated for you. I just recently started posting on Instagram so follow me there too!

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned as we learn more on how to ignite the power within so you can take back your life and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Have More Peace In the Present Moment

Every day is both a gift and a challenge. We never know what the day will bring.  Some days go by smoothly and others have things that spring up out of the blue. I consider these events tests. I love a day with no tests, don't you? 

In this season of Covid-19 and heightened stress levels, the challenge to keep our peace is even more crucial so this week I am sharing some tips on how to do just that. 

If you've read my book, "The Power of Faith", you know I've been through some stuff. Since that book was written, I've been through a lot more tough stuff - losing my job, losing my health, losing members of my family. The past seven years have been a tough road to hoe, yet I'm still here and learning as I go from these experiences. 

Personal Story 
So I'm in the sauna at the gym, before Covid that is, and I start up a conversation with the gal next to me. She mentions she does mindful meditation. Interesting. Then she mentions she's done EMDR, which is another type of healing therapy using eye movements, and tells me a short list of her past traumas including sexual abuse as a child, her father killing her mother, and more. Wow. What she's been through makes what I've been through seem like a walk in the park. But she seemed happy and moving on with her life. How is that? 

Practice letting it go

I think we can all learn a lesson from this woman. We ALL go thru STUFF. Some of it ain't too pretty. But we do have a choice. Each day or rather each hour we get to CHOOSE our ATTITUDE. We don't have to dwell on the rude comment, the driver who cut us off, the jealous boss, the inept rep on the phone. Realize you are irritated and then DECIDE to LET IT GO! Keep your peace!

Resist the Urge to Visit the past

When we're young, we live more in the present moment, not thinking about the past or worrying about the future, but this mindset seems to change the older we get. We dwell on past hurts and regrets usually without even realizing we are doing it. Try to catch yourself thinking about a negative event from the past and bring yourself back to the present moment. 

Notice your surroundings

There is always something positive or beautiful to notice. The birds chirping or landing on my balcony. The color of the trees in the fall. The beauty of the clouds. The brightness of the sunshine streaming through my windows. We humans have a tendency to focus on the negative. Our brains wire that way, but we can change that wiring by learning to focus on our blessings and the beauty all around us. 

Take a deep breath 

This is such a simple but powerful tip. Simply pausing a few minutes to breathe will recalibrate our energy and our emotions. Deep breathing brings more oxygen into the body and calms the mind. Practice abdominal breathing. When we are stressed or hurried, we breathe through the chest instead of the belly. Check out this link for more on the breath. 

Say a Prayer

Never underestimate the power of prayer. I have learned that prayer is powerful. Whenever something crops up and I start to feel agitated, I say a prayer. Works every time. We were not made to handle all these stresses by ourselves. God is more than willing to step in and help out, if we let him, that is. Why? Because he wants to make himself known to us. 

A flat tire? Say a prayer. Disturbing news? Say a prayer. Worried about the virus? Say a prayer. Try it and you will see how much more peaceful you feel after. As it says in Phillipians "Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in ALL things, with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understaning will guard your hearts and minds thru Christ Jesus". (Phil 4:6) Notice the use of the word ALL. 

For reflection

What types of things upset you? How often do you dwell in the past or the future? Do you practice deep breathing and prayer? Choose a word that is calming to you. I like the word "serenity". It has a nice sound. When you stop to breathe, meditate on that word. Let it soak into your spirit. Memorize some scripture verses that resonate with you. 

If this post was helpful, do share it with a friend. Join our community by entering your email in the box provided and you'll receive my free eguide "7 steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" as well as my weekly posts. Do leave a comment and let me know how this post touched you. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practice wisdom to help us all find healing, wholeness, and harmoney so we can ignite the power within and discover our DESTINY!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Stay in Peace During Stressful Times

November is a beautiful month. The bushes and trees are all dressed in their fall finery. I love seeing the vibrant hues of red, gold, and green from my windows. When the rays of the morning sun fall on the earth, I am thankful for the glory and beauty God has created. Have you noticed lately?

This is also a very busy season of the year. The stores are gearing up extra early it seems for Christmas. The local transit buses are displaying the "Happy Holidays" sign before Thanksgiving had even arrived.

All this extra activity overloads our senses and lowers our immune systems. Many people come down with colds, allergies, and unexplainable illnesses. On top of it all, most of us have to deal with end-of-year work, medical, and tax-related demands. So what to do?

Start the day on a positive note. 
Despite our to do lists and the pressures of life, if we keep our thoughts on the positives and on God,  we will ward off much stress.  I make a conscious effort to focus on the positives and give thanks each and every morning when I first wake up. My favorite verse is "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps. 118:24) Notice the focus on personal choice - I will. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude is a choice we make which sets the tone for our day. It helps us handle the inconveniences and difficulties of the day and to have compassion for the rudeness of people.

Focus on the presence and power of God instead of your problems.
It's easy enough to let our thoughts drift onto our problems. If we're not careful we'll get ourselves into a funk about this or that relationship or issue. I have been making more of an effort to catch myself thinking. I know I have a tendency to ruminate and that is unhealthy. Isaiah 26:3 says " You will keep him/her in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." In other words, keep your thoughts on God and on his grace and mercy. Some problems are unsolvable in our own strength. If we want to stay in peace, we have to keep our thoughts on the right things. Phil 4:8 says "Think on these things: things that are true, honest, just, pure, noble, lovely and of good report."

Pray about daily needs.
Take today for example. I was walking up the hill carrying, as usual, too many heavy grocery bags. I could have started complaining and whining about the steep hill and the heavy bags -blah blah blah. Do you like listening to complainers? Well God doesn't either.  Look what happened to the Israelites. 

Instead, I prayed for someone to give me a ride up the hill and before I was a third of the way up, a neighbor on the opposite side of the road slowed to ask if I wanted a ride. She made a U turn and pulled up beside me. You can imagine how thankful I was for her! That was God!

"Which entrance would you like to be dropped at?" she asked. Wow, talk about service. She was an angel. The Lord certainly heard and answered my prayer. Now the reason I am sharing this story is to show you how God does hear and answer our prayers. He sees everything we are going through and He hears our cries and petitions but we have to do our part and ask for what we need. We also must  maintain an attitude of gratitude which shows that we trust God to work things out, help us in our times of need, and to make the path clear.

Make time to rest. 
The tendency during busy times is to move quicker, do more, and skip eating right and exercising. This is a setup for the flu bug to attack us come the new year. When we feel the tug of busyness, it is especially important to take good care of ourselves physically and emotionally. It may seem counter-intuitive, but resting frequently will help us not only get through the busy season but do so in
good health and in peace.

Not only do we need physical rest, but mental rest is even more important.  I am implementing daily meditation breaks. I set my phone alarm for 20 minutes and sit myself down on my yoga mat. Close my eyes and just let my mind rest. See my blog posts on how to meditate. I relax my body and let the stress melt away.  Neither our bodies nor our minds were built to run on fast forward.

So, friends, this season, amidst all the hustle and bustle, the irritations and the misfortunes, remember that peace, prayer, and rest are crucial to enjoying this special time.  And remember to be a blessing to someone else!

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my free eguide, "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" as well as my weekly posts. Your feedback is always appreciated.

Until next time, stay tuned for more practical and positive wisdom on igniting the power within and discovering YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Receive the Promises of God - Part 2

What is it you would like to see show up in your life? A spouse? A child? A new job? How would you like to show up today? More peaceful? Patient? Less frustrated? More joyful?

Last time, we talked about our expectations. What we expect in life is what becomes our reality. If we want good things to show up, we need to change our thinking to expect that they will show up in the right way and in the right time. Today, I am going to share the second key to receiving the promises of God.

As a single mom raising two teenage sons, life was quite a challenge. I had to deal with rebellion, addictions, cutting school, the police, expulsion, DUIs, alcohol, smoking... well, you get the idea. Through it all, I was a praying mom. Isn't it interesting how we don't usually call on God till we get in a pickle?

Now you know I am a firm believer in the power of prayer, but let's not stop there. There is one more weapon in our arsenal against things that try to come against us and that is OUR VOICE. First, we need to become comfortable with praying out loud. That's right. Not the meek quiet whisper some of us are used to. We need to speak out boldly and confidently. Here's a story that happened just today.

My sister and I were on the phone with the real estate agent who is trying to sell my mom's house. Let's just say there has been a tremendous amount of strife the past year between my mom and my sister. After not being around each other for forty years, living together is quite the adjustment. After going through all the different issues, sans Mom, who decided she was not participating, the real estate agent launches into prayer - not some lengthy, preachy-type prayer, but prayer just the same. I was like "Now, why haven't I thought of that?" She closed "In Jesus' name, amen." Poof! Powerful! The change in the atmosphere was palpable.

That's what I'm talking about using our voice. When we declare God's word out loud, God's ears perk up. All of heaven comes to attention (Rev 8:1-4).There is power in the Word of God. Instead of the usual "I'll never lose this weight" how about "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13). Instead of "I'm so tired, I don't know how I'll get through this day" try "The joy of the Lord is my strength" (Neh 8:10). Instead of "I'll never break this addiction" declare "Who the Son sets free is free indeed," (John 8:36).

Not only will our thinking be transformed, our faith will be strengthened and God will come to our assistance and work the supernatural. Give it a try and see what happens. You will be amazed AND transformed.

Now you know the first two keys to receiving God's promises. Stay tuned for next time when we'll discuss the third and final key.

If this post was helpful, consider joining our community. Enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my bi-weekly posts and a copy of my free eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

Ignite the Power Within Step 7: What to Do When God Ignores Your Prayers

Do you ever pray and wonder why God is silent? Do you ask for answers and hear nothing? Do you feel like God is ignoring you?  It may feel like God is ignoring us, but the truth is He never ignores us. He may be silent and that is what we are going to talk about today.

Recently, I was telling a friend that God speaks very clearly to us. Now you may raise an eyebrow at this but in my experience it is true and that is what I write from - my experience.

Some picture God as some distance figure with a long white beard out in the heavens someplace.
They think there is no way God is going to talk to them but God wants us to understand what He is saying so he keeps things short and simple. His three responses are: "YES", "NO" and "WAIT". Today we'll talk about the third answer, which is possibly the hardest one to accept - WAIT.

We all want an answer NOW.  We want to move on, move forward, move ahead. But God is not on our timeframe, don't ya know? Nope, He has eternity to wait for us and sometimes that is what it seems like to us, right? An eternity? Remember that patience is a fruit of the Spirit.

So, what could possibly be holding things up? Why would our Heavenly Father delay his blessings in our lives? Let's put this in human terms for a sec. Why would a parent withhold something from their child say like getting their license or a new car? Because the parent is waiting till the child is ready for it, right? Kids need to learn responsibility, how to drive, how to be obey the laws and the limits of the road.

Same thing with God. He is waiting for us to learn some things. There is always a lesson to learn.  The problem is we are slow-learners and we are stubborn which is why we keep getting the same lesson over and over.

I have noticed that often when I don't get the message, God sends it in multiple areas of my life at the same time. It's like he is saying "Well, let me put this another way." God is a good god and a good father and like a good father he wants us to learn and to grow. God says "WAIT" because we are not ready to receive whatever it is we are asking for.

What is God trying to teach us? The same things we try to teach our children: patience, responsibility, obedience, and most of all He is trying to teach us to LISTEN. That is why God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we would listen twice as much as we talk.

How are you doing at listening these days? Are you spending time with the most important person in your life and are you really listening? Are you listening with an open mind and heart? God speaks to us through various ways. Sometimes through His Word, sometimes through circumstances, and sometimes through other people. We may not like the messenger but don't miss the message. God will use whatever it takes to get through  to us.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on listening to God, answers you have heard, and even if you have a question I'm happy to try to answer it. If you'd like to join our community and receive my bi-weekly posts, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receicve a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and discovering YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

God Still Speaks

What do you do when you are faced with a challenging situation that is out of your control? Do you pick up the phone and call your friends? Run to your spouse if you have one? Do you fret, worry and talk about it every day? These are typical reactions to stressful situations, but there is a better way to manage them. Today I'm going to share a personal story about the power of prayer.

The weather channel was predicting thunderstorms, heavy rain, and high winds. I don't like to drive in inclement weather but I had an important appointment that I needed to make that was over an hour's drive away. I would be driving smack in the middle of rush hour traffic. I debated about cancelling and rescheduling but was advised to keep the appointment which was somewhat of a legal nature. After much back and forth, I decided to keep the appointment and trust God to get me there and back safely. I have learned there is power in prayer so I sent one up that went something like this:

Lord, you know I don't like to drive when the weather is bad. Please don't let it rain on my drive to this appointment. Please keep me safe and help me get home safely. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

A short while later, I was on Twitter, which as you may know is a social media network. People post all kinds of photos, quotes, and links to articles. The feed is so fast and so populated, you only see a portion of what is actually posted. Lo and behold, a tweet comes across that said.

"He will give his angels charge over you and protect you wherever you go" (Ps 91:11).

I sat there stunned. I felt like God was talking directly to me through Twitter, of all things. A wave of peace and assurance immediately came over me. I knew God was giving me confirmation of His protection. Wow, God is on social media!

The next morning, my alarm went off way too early at 6:30 am. It was dark and I listened for the sound of thunderstorms but heard nothing outside my window. As I exited the covered garage, I was prepared for the windshield wipers to go on. Nothing. It was cloudy, but no rain. Another whispered "Thank, you, Lord" and drove onto the highway.

Then the rain started.
"Uh oh," I thought. Again, I asked God to not let it rain. Persistence is one of my character traits.

Although it took me almost 2 hours to get to my destination, the rain kept to a light sprinkle the entire time. No heavy winds. No thunderstorms. On the way home, again, light sprinkles only. I arrived in my neighborhood in good time and decided to treat myself to lunch at a Mexican restaurant I had been wanting to try. When I came out of the restaurant, it was pouring down rain. I had no umbrella with me yet I was ecstatic.

"Thank you, Lord, for holding off the rain for me this morning," as I ran to my car.

That evening, the weather guy on the evening news commented on how the weather pattern expected in the early morning hours had been delayed until the later afternoon.

All I can say is how thankful I was that it didn't thunderstorm. I believe God heard my prayers and answered them. There probably were a lot of other people who were thankful the weather held off too. Now you can say whatever you want, but I believe in the power of prayer. There are so many other stories I could share with you. If you would like to read them, check out my book "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony."


Do you make use of the power of prayer? When have you seen it work in your life? Drop me a note and share with us. People need to know that God hears our prayers.

If you'd like a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path, enter your email address in the box provided.

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel