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How are you today? No, I mean how are you—really? If you could give yourself an emotional, physical, and spiritual checkup on a scale of one to ten (with a ten rating as best), how would you rate yourself? Oh, OK, so sorry it’s that bad. Do you think it has to do with Monday? Or last week’s failures? Are you wondering why you fall short of your goals for achievement? Let’s sort this out together. I am on your team.

I love Mondays. Why? Because each time Monday rolls around, I have another chance to begin again. It’s like a restart, a fresh beginning, a do-over. Instead of beating myself up for the goals I didn’t complete, the times I cheated on my healthy eating plan, or the appointments I was unable to keep or even make a point to schedule, I confess my sin and inadequacy to God. I ask for His strength to fill me up, take me over, and enable me to complete His work. I make a new list. I set an original plan. I review my mistakes, missteps, and misgivings. I decide I will lean into the learning process, intentionally prioritize, and accept what God wants to do in me. The fruit of our lives has to do with our obedience to God’s voice and our willingness to submit to God’s plan.

I’m enjoying a summer Bible study with Kelly Minter called What Love Is. I am flying solo on this one, digging into it on my own—just because. When I reviewed it at the Christian bookstore, it looked inviting. I asked God to show me how to love in a deeper way. Wouldn’t you know that God has given me many increased opportunities to show His great love to various people in tangible ways?

First things first: God wants us to love ourselves. God wants us to love what He is doing in us. God wants us to love the finished work of Christ in our salvation. Kelly Minter talks about the concept of overcoming the Evil One in the second half of 1 John 2:14, “You are alive, and the word of God remains/lives in you.”

In What Love Is on pages 56–57, Minter says, “We can think of God’s Word as being His words, will, and way. Here we can see that living by God’s Word is inextricably connected to our strength to overcome.” I’ve enjoyed digging deeper today into selected verses from Psalm 119, so I thought I would share them with you. With each verse, consider how God’s word is connected to the choice to overcome:

Psalm 119:11: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 119:24: “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.”

Psalm 119:107: “I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word!”

Psalm 119:25: “My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!”

Psalm 119:153: “Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.”

Psalm 119:28: “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!”

Psalm 119:165: “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”

Psalm 119:92: “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”

Psalm 119:173: “Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.”

Powerful, huh? I am thankful for the mighty power of God’s word. So for today, my prayer is for you to know you are strong, you can overcome, and you can succeed in the task God has for you. You and I are strong to overcome because you have the power of God through His word living in you. Now let’s get going!

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