Sallie Dawkins

The ordinance of the Passover is not just an observance for people of Jewish faith. In Exodus 12:42 (NASB) God tells us that Passover "... is a night to be observed for the Lord, for having brought them out of the land of Egypt; this night is for the Lord, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations." This means that believers in Christ Jesus (Gentiles) have been established in faith and grafted into the True Vine with the children of Israel (Romans 11:11-24). All the blessings of God belong to us, too. Even if we don't participate in a traditional Jewish Seder, we can read Exodus 12 to remind ourselves of the goodness of the Lord and be blessed.

Maybe you’ve never gotten yourself into a cycle of dead works, but I have. Have you never felt like you lacked direction for your life, or woke up to your situation and felt alone? A recent vision of God while ministering to a friend flooding my mind with Scriptures. The Lord was ministering to me while I was ministering to my friend! What a beautiful reminder that we're not living isolated lives. We’re all in the same boat. When one side sinks, it impacts all of us.

Pain isn’t from God, but He’ll use it for our good and His glory. When I recently asked the Lord how many times He would heal me, He replied that it was once and done for Him. Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Still, He said, He’d remind me of His Word on the matter as many times as it takes for me to believe and receive the fullness of His healing. Acccording to Matthew 15:25-27, healing is the children's bread. We receive it as we sit at the Master's table. Here's what I learned after a dozen weeks of relenting pain in my muscles, bones, and joints.  

God is my refuge and strength. When I started to feel overwhelmed, I knelt down and simply prayed, "Lord, send help." 

Maintaining motivation and discipline during writing and self-publishing requires careful planning, perseverance, and an optimistic mindset. By setting clear goals, establishing a routine, seeking support, celebrating small victories, and taking care of yourself, you can keep motivated and focused to achieve success.