Sasha A. Katz

Dear Sisters, it’s time! The season is changing. It’s time for a spiritual reset! I won’t begin to list the emotions or circumstances that you’ve been walking through, but I do know that now is a good time to refresh yourself. The facts of your life may not be changing at this exact moment, but God is present and here with us to increase our peace, encourage us to growth and lead us straight to joy. Take your time reading over these nine steps. You may read them over a few days or a few weeks. And, if you’d like to download the Spiritual Reset Card, click here. Love you girls so very much and pray this Spiritual Reset is just what you need!

Wake up Hopeful

Because of God’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

In pressing, stressful times, I have found that the harder the struggle, the harder you will have to fight for your hope. Much of what makes hard times hard is that we don’t get to see the outcome in the trenches. As we fight for the people we love and work through circumstances to the best of our ability, hope can wax and wane – – not for any other reason than we are human. 

This past year, when I was walking through a long term difficulty, troubled over the future, scriptures taught me that God is not only the God of Love, but also the God of Hope. In the same way, when I look back to a season when I was suffering from depression and panic, again, it was hope that I learned to fight for. When I sit with people I love who are suffering, they also could use a showering of hope and encouragement.

May the God of Hope fill you with peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Each day that we go through hardship, we have a choice to shift our mindset from worry and anxiety to hope. We take our focus off the circumstances and turn our gaze to Him for an overflow of hope. As we cling to His promises, our hope grows and our flame does not go out. 

Even if today is excruciatingly hard, God’s mercies and compassions are new every morning. Our merciful, compassionate God is fully good. It is true that God does not always deliver as we expect or in our timing, but he always shows His  goodness. He has good outcomes for our lives, our families, and those we hold the dearest. Goodness will always prevail and His mercies are every morning. 

Challenge Yourself to Strengthen your Temple 

At the start of summer, I had such a good surprise!

A few years ago, I sat across from two good friends and told them that God had showed me that I’ve spent a lot of time growing my mind and spiritual self, but had neglected my body. God showed me a tangled bougainvillea vine as a representation of the state of my body. I had greatly overlooked how hard my body works to house my mind and soul.

Like most journeys, they begin small. I slowly stretched and moved and prayed in the darkness of the yoga room. God met me and strengthened me. He untwisted the vine and eventually showed me pretty pink blooms. Sister, your temple matters. Take some time to find something you can truly enjoy so that you can strengthen the beautiful body that God gave you. 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Honor God with your bodies. 1 Corin 1:6

EnJOY and Savor the Small Things 

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life (with the people you love) . . . Ecclesiastes 9:7-9

That’s right. Eat. Drink. Celebrate. Wear Fun Clothes. Invite People Over. Wear blue eyeliner. (I’ve been all summer.)

True, there is so much to worry about in this unjust, unpredictable world. Yes, there are dark days and grey clouds. Many things can’t be fixed. And, there is a lifetime of work to be done. But, scripture tells us to enJOY our days with a MERRY heart. So. Eat the good meal. Make a fun mocktail. Buy fresh flowers. Be festive and enjoy the small things every day. 

Find Your Sacred Spaces & Meet your Father Often

I’m not against the prayer closet. I’ve just never had one. I have a few favorite spots to spend time talking and listening to God. Here are mine. What are you sacred spots? 

My bed: I could start by saying that I’m one of those people who loves her bed. But that’s really not the whole story. Years ago, I learned what life can be like for neglected kids and trafficked kids. I also began to understand poverty and how special it is to have a safe roof over your head and a comfortable bed. From that point on, my bed became a place of gratitude. With an open, grateful heart, I spend a lot of time talking to God in my bed at night, sometimes in the middle of the night and in the early morning. This has become one of my sacred spaces.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭35‬ ‭

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ 

Love Others Through Hospitality & Invite People to Your Table

What does home feel like to you? It doesn’t have to be your actual home and it doesn’t even necessarily have to be a place. What makes you feel like home? 

I feel like home when . . .

• I’m covered with a cozy blanket on a comfy couch with a yummy drink. 
• I talk on the phone with a dear friend. 
• I’m with people who have welcoming hearts that are open to listening and giving feedback. 
• I receive a personalized present or card in the mail. 
• My mom bakes dessert from scratch or goes to a special bakery and shares with me. 
• A friend picks up the bill after an enjoyable coffee or meal together. 
• I’m invited to a special event or someone else’s family party. 

This is how you love others through hospitality. You make a list of what feels like home to you and you do that for others. No-frills, no pretense, just do it. 

I’m sharing some pics that represent a spring and summer of hospitality for me! Some are on the giving side and some are on the receiving side. (Starting from left to right/description below)

1. Spending the day with M prepping for her mom’s bday
2. Looking at pics with my grandma at the nursing home
3. Being surprised with a beautiful bday cake at my sister in laws
4. “Welcome to the Table” celebration for my daughter
5. Two girls who show up & with flowers (always)!
6. Bonding with the next generation
7. Speaking into each other after a women’s conference
8. Creating welcoming arrangements for my home
9. Our foster dog and Swiss foreign exchange student (Ha! He’s really like our nephew!)

Hospitality Verses: 
Luke 19:1-9 (Jesus’ first words to Zachaeus are let’s get together today!)
Luke 10:38-39 (Mary and Martha invite Jesus for a meal and to spend time with them) 

Find Rest, Time is on your Side when you Walk with God

I came across this quote on Pinterest. You’re probably familiar with it. 

This is actually true when you are walking with God.  

Remember the sabbath and keep it holy. Exodus 20:8

Rest isn’t only about setting apart one day of the week. Sabbath is a mindset. 

Let’s state the obvious: there are seasons when we are strapped for time with little rest. Newborns sleep deprive a mama. Tax season drains the accountants’ body and brain. Finals week is the single focus for the college kid. Overwhelming seasons exist. However, the mindset of sabbath is a way to live.

One of my favs, author John Mark Comer tells us that rest is one of the ways of Jesus. Comer shares in his books that Jesus was never too busy and he made rest an attainable rhythm in his life. 

I am going to leave your personal definition of rest and how you schedule it to you and Jesus. You know your quirks and stressors and God will help you find your way to a sabbath mindset. Here are a few things to think about:

• Define rest with your particular life and schedule in mind. 
• Your rest doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. 
• Throw off any guilt you may have about getting the rest you need.

Choose a Practice to Spark Creativity

I feel strongly about the life rhythm of creativity. My strong feelings have little to do with whether you or me can create beautiful art. Instead, creativity is a way to mirror our Father who has been creating since before time began. When we set aside time to ponder and be in awe of God‘s creation and the beautiful things of this world that he’s orchestrated through human expression, God has an opportunity to spark creativity within us. 

For me, this is the reason I always find my way back to writing. I spend time looking at God’s creation and beautiful things in this world. Eventually, I feel in awe of God and it comes out, at least in part, by writing. When I engage in creativity, the act of expression truly fills a part of my heart that feels pleasure when it speaks. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭

My Creative Sparks:

• Baking every week – – it’s fun and rewarding to make and share something good. 
• I have a mindful lettering workbook on my home desk that I occasionally practice in. I have a goal to write prettier letters to my friends.
• Beach walks so that I can look around and see what the Lord is showing me through my surroundings. 
• I create Pinterest boards in certain areas of interest. Collecting things brings me joy.

Dr. Curt Thompson tells us (in my words) that the awe of beauty and creating beauty is actually part of what rewires our brains and helps heal us from suffering and trauma. Creativity is way to connect with your Father and grow deeper in your relationship with him. If that idea feels very distant to you, then think about your childhood or a season in your life when you felt extremely free. 

More Creative Sparks:

• Try adult Legos. You can make all kinds of fun things like a succulent garden. 
• Put a puzzle on your dining room table.
• Learn how to make charcuterie boards. 
• Reinvent your closet by creating new and fun outfits with thrift or consignment pieces.
• Get a job in an industry you love, i.e. my friend Donna became a beauty consultant out of her love for the theater.
• Go to a convention or special event with a group of friends to learn and grow in an area that sparks your creativity for months to come. 

With love, God created you with the ability to have creative sparks popping in your mind and soul regularly. If you’ll make time for creativity, the Lord will meet you there and life will become lighter, sweeter and deeper.

Sleep Well, God is Singing Over You

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬

When the night falls, He is singing over you. He is present in your deep sleep. He is there when you lay awake, whether in peace or panic, or somewhere in between. Even with the best evening practice to prepare for rest, sleep can be a struggle. Even when we pray and employ all the tools for getting a good night sleep, we may not get the rest we desire. 

I don’t have a hack for sleeping peacefully, but I do know that, whatever sleep cycle you are in, He is with you, singing over you. I challenge you to worry less about the sleep cycle you are in and let the night be a time for God to minister to your body, mind and soul. In other words, if sleep escapes you, let that time serve as time with God to grow in peace. Let that time diminish the anxiety, worry or panic you may feel in the night. Of course, we all want deep, renewing sleep, but if it’s not where you are, let go of the concern and find peace while God sings over you in the night. 

Remember Truth

Finally, remember that you could very well think of yourself as a master of everything on this Spiritual Reset list. But masters, we will never be.  We have a master to follow, mirror and grow into his reflection. We have a master that will make all things new one day, but not so much today. Go and do and be all of the things. But in your heart of hearts, know that all of it will fall just a little bit short. And, that’s okay because another day is coming. Remember what your King says to you: 

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear… Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭13‬

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