Good morning, beloved. Fridays always carry a little extra joy for me. They feel like a gentle exhale at the end of the week, a reminder that we’ve made it through together by the grace of God.
This week as I prayed for you, I was stirred to share three rhythms that can bring healing and balance into your days: journaling, reading, and creativity. Each one helps us slow down, hear Father’s heart, and rediscover the peace He longs to give.
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The Healing Gift of Journaling
If you already keep a journal, I’d encourage you to add this simple practice: once a week, maybe Saturday morning with coffee or Sunday evening before bed…re-read what you’ve written.
There’s something powerful about stepping back with fresh eyes and compassion. When the ink is still wet, emotions can feel raw and heavy. But when you return a few days later, you begin to hear the tender heart behind the words. You can offer yourself grace for what you were carrying and forgiveness for where you struggled.
If you don’t journal yet, don’t overthink it. Start with bullet points: a fear you felt, a small joy, a place you saw God’s hand. Then, when you re-read, listen for themes. Ask Father what He’s teaching you through your own story.
Curling Up with a Good Book
Autumn always stirs my heart toward reading. Cooler nights, shorter days — it feels like the perfect time to curl up with something nourishing.
Recently I finished Living Fearless by Jamie Winship, a book about exchanging the lies of the world for the liberating truth of God. It left me with a fresh awareness of how much freedom Father wants for us. My next book in the pile is Bill Johnson’s In the Water, a devotional meant to help us linger in the overflow of the Holy Spirit.
Maybe one of those sparks your interest, or maybe there’s another title calling your name. Either way, let this season draw you away from constant screens and into words that restore. A good Christian novel, a devotional, or even poetry that lifts your heart can become a sanctuary for your soul.
Stirring Up Creativity Again
Stress is like a thief; it narrows our thinking and keeps us locked in survival mode. When that happens, creativity often disappears, and with it, joy.
But Father created us in His image, and He is endlessly creative. When we pick up a brush, strum a guitar, doodle on paper, or even try a new recipe, something shifts inside us. Creativity opens our minds, lowers stress, improves sleep, and brings laughter back into our homes.
Maybe for you it’s watercolors. Maybe it’s woodworking, photography, or learning a new language. Whatever stirs your spirit, give yourself permission to return to it. These little acts of creation are more than hobbies — they are ways we reflect the Creator.
A Gentle Invitation
Beloved, this weekend, I encourage you to step into one of these practices. Re-read your journal with compassion. Pick up a book that breathes hope. Try something creative you’ve set aside.
Paul reminded Timothy to “stir up the gift of God that is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6). I believe that invitation is for you as well. Let this autumn be a season where you stir up what makes you whole.
As always, you are continually in my prayers and forever in my heart.
And if you’d like, come over to the Fortress 1230AM WKBO Facebook page and share what you’re reading, what you’re journaling, or how you’re creating this season. I’d love to hear.
