For the last decade, I've struggled with high blood pressure and anxiety. My struggle was tied to one thing, and it took me too much time to figure it out. The answer was always right in front of me. I should have seen it, but I didn't.

Now, my blood pressure is consistently 130/80, or in that ballpark. It doesn't matter if it's in the doctors office or the dentist. Here's the catch, my bp should be sky high. I should be freaking out right now.

I have a lot of external stress that includes work and finances. Yet, my anxiety as at an all-time low. I've never felt greater. It wasn't medication, counseling, or therapy (not that those are bad by the way) that helped me. The external pressures haven't gone away. In fact, they've gotten worse.

The issue was surrender. I wasn't fully surrendered to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He opened my eyes. I no longer see the Bible as a "study" or a set of beliefs based on theory from a lesson. God opened my eyes from the darkness to see the light when I said enough was enough.

I'm 100% free.

Free of anxiety, worry, shame, fear, and the pressures of life that drag us down and distract us from the things that are truly important in this life.

All the stuff in the world doesn't matter. The things I held attachments to weren't mine to begin with. It all belongs to God.

I've experienced Him in ways that are not just knowledge based. Knowledge only takes you so far. A relationship includes knowledge, but it's based on understanding the character of a person and who they are... It's rooted in love, compassion, and grace.

I've seen God show up in my life in ways that I can't explain. I know it's Him. I know His comfort. I know His presence. I know when He's re-assuring me that He is with me and cares about what I'm going through.

I learned that I can endure all things. That my hope isn't in a political system, judicial system, or government. It's not a person, a president, an employer, marketing, or customers.

My HOPE is in the LORD.

Some say, it's not that simple. I know. I said that for years myself.

Yes, it is.

What's hard is the unwillingness to fully surrender. To fully embrace the not knowing and giving up control. To standing firm in His truth. And in denying myself, picking up my cross, and following Jesus.

If I can do it, you can too.

I want to show you how.

... That's why I created the Faithful Devotional model to allow you to find short bits of time while allowing you to dive deeper into Scripture and contemplate how God is working in and through your life...

... And in turn, turn your daily time with Christ into a more purposeful and meaningful life.