Category: Health

2019 – A Review

Posted on by Staci Mauney

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. (Ps 33:4)

It’s hard to believe another year is coming to a close. My blog posts serve as a reminder of things that have happened in my life this past year, and I believe reviewing them is helpful. I can see areas in which I’ve grown and where I still need to do more work. I note lessons I’ve learned and common themes among those lessons. I’m encouraged by God’s faithfulness, which increases my faith and trust in him. Continue reading “2019 – A Review” →

Thankful for Change? Not Really

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But [the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor 12:9)

As Thanksgiving draws near, I’ve focused on gratefulness as the theme of my blog posts. This week, I’m thinking about change and how to be thankful for those things that are, quite honestly, unwelcome and unwanted. Change is hard, and it’s often accompanied by some sort of trial. How can I turn my heart toward thankfulness in difficult times? Continue reading “Thankful for Change? Not Really” →

The Benefits of Gratitude

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Ps 28:7)

November is well underway, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This is the time of year when we think about the things for which we’re thankful. But focusing on our blessings shouldn’t happen just once a year. How can we make gratitude a part of our daily lives?

Here are four benefits of gratitude:

  1. Gratitude lowers stress levels. Focusing on feelings of contentment produces lower stress levels. When I intentionally concentrate on the good things in my life, I gain perspective. I’m more aware of my blessings – and how I can be a blessing to others.
  2. Gratitude improves overall health. In general, grateful people have fewer aches and pains than others and are more likely to go to regular check-ups, which will contribute to longevity. Those who are grateful experience more empathy and less aggression. I want some of that, please!
  3. Gratitude improves self-esteem. Did you know that grateful people are also less prone to envy or regret? An attitude of gratitude has been shown to reduce comparisons. I’ve noticed that when I focus on my own blessings, I’m less inclined to become jealous of someone else’s accomplishments.
  4. Gratitude improves my relationship with God. One of the ways I’ve learned to express gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal. While I’m not always faithful to note things in my journal every day, a quick glance through the journal shows me that God is faithful to provide. For the last few years, I’ve written down one thing for which I’m thankful that day, and then, I write out a prayer of thanksgiving to start my day off on a positive note. Writing out my prayers has made me more aware of the relationship between my blessings and my God. This process has also helped me become closer to God as it forces me to think more deeply about the things God has given me.

Gratitude is something that you can learn to express. Focus on the things that you have instead of the things that you don’t, and thank God as you remember how much he’s given you.

Dear Jesus, thank you for all the blessings that you’ve given me. Help me to develop an attitude of gratitude in all I do each day. Amen.

When Creativity Stops Flowing

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Ps 19:14)

This blog post almost didn’t happen. Writing an original blog post each week along with other fresh material can be a daunting task. Because I write in a devotional format, I don’t feel comfortable just throwing something up on my blog for the sake of meeting a deadline. I approach each entry thoughtfully and with prayer so that the Lord can use my words for his purposes.

I maintain a long list of possible blog post topics, but even though I had potential subject matter on hand, I couldn’t dredge up the words to pull it all together this week. When I prayed for guidance, I heard…silence. And then I realized that the silence, the lack of an idea, the difficulty writing a coherent blog post, was the idea for this entry. Continue reading “When Creativity Stops Flowing” →

Lessons from Year Three as a Small Business Owner

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Prov 16:3)

This month, I celebrate my three-year anniversary as a full-time professional writer and editor. Each year of this journey, I’ve looked back on the lessons I’d learned the year before. In year three, I learned the following:

  1. My health is a priority.

Continue reading “Lessons from Year Three as a Small Business Owner” →