The Life with Justin Stephens Blog

August 10, 2024 - Discovering Your Inner Light: A Journey of Self-Reflection

August 10, 2024 - Discovering Your Inner Light: A Journey of Self-Reflection

August 10, 20249 min read

Embracing the Journey: A Reflection on Life and Faith

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to lose sight of our purpose and the light we can share with others. This blog explores themes of personal growth, community engagement, and spiritual reflection, inspired by a profound daily devotional. Through embracing our identities as dwelling places for love and light, we can inspire those around us. Join me as we delve into the lessons learned and the importance of sharing our journeys.

The Call to Worship and Holiness

Every day, we are reminded of the importance of creating a sanctuary within ourselves. The idea of making our hearts a “stronghold of worship” emphasizes the need for a protective space where only what is holy and pure can thrive. This concept invites us to cultivate a garden within our souls, where we can nurture our spiritual lives and keep negativity at bay.

  • Creating a Sacred Space: By surrounding ourselves with positivity, we can foster an environment where love and grace flourish.

  • Renouncing Darkness: In this sacred space, we can confront the lies that weigh us down and embrace the truth of our worth.

  • Delighting in Intimacy: A close relationship with the divine allows us to experience joy and purity in our lives.

As we engage in this journey, we must remember that we are not alone. We are encouraged to come closer to the divine presence, allowing it to fill our hearts with love and purpose. This connection empowers us to rise above our challenges and to see ourselves as reflections of glory.

The Power of Self-Perception

How we view ourselves is crucial to our overall well-being. The notion of being a “beautiful dwelling” resonates deeply, reminding us that our true worth is inherent and not defined by external circumstances. Embracing this perspective can transform our lives and those around us.

  • Seeing Yourself as God Sees You: Emphasizing our identity as cherished creations can shift our mindset from self-doubt to self-acceptance.

  • Living in Communion: Maintaining a continuous connection with the divine allows us to experience fullness and joy, which can be shared with others.

  • Being a Beacon of Light: Just as lighthouses guide ships safely to shore, our lives can serve as examples for others seeking direction.

Recognizing our identity as dwelling places for love encourages us to live authentically. Our actions, often speaking louder than words, can reflect the devotion we have for ourselves and others, highlighting the importance of leading by example.

Overcoming Emotional Struggles

Life is filled with ups and downs, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed at times. Recently, I experienced a moment of emotional struggle, grappling with feelings of inadequacy. It’s during these challenging times that we must remind ourselves of our inherent worth and the divine plan at work in our lives.

  • Recognizing Struggles: Acknowledging our emotions is the first step toward healing and growth.

  • Understanding Divine Timing: Trusting that we are exactly where we are meant to be can provide comfort and reassurance.

  • Believing in a Greater Plan: Embracing the idea that our past and future are part of a divine design can help us find peace in our present circumstances.

In these moments of doubt, it’s essential to turn inward and reaffirm our beliefs. We are enough, and we are equipped to face life’s challenges. This realization can empower us to rise above our struggles and continue on our journey with renewed vigor.

The Importance of Family and Community

As we navigate through life, the support of family and community plays an invaluable role. Engaging with loved ones not only enriches our lives but also allows us to share our light and love with others. Today, I am looking forward to spending quality time with my family, focusing on creating joyful memories together.

  • Building Strong Relationships: Investing time in our relationships fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens our support systems.

  • Creating Lasting Memories: Family moments are treasures that we can cherish and reflect on throughout our lives.

  • Sharing Our Journey: By involving our loved ones in our journey, we create a network of encouragement and inspiration.

In this beautiful journey of life, our goal should be to uplift and protect one another. Each interaction is an opportunity to share our light and be the change we wish to see in society.

Embracing Change and Growth

Life is a continuous journey of change and growth. As we evolve, we must embrace the lessons learned along the way. Each experience, whether a success or a failure, contributes to our development and understanding of ourselves and our purpose.

  • Learning from Failures: Embracing our failures as stepping stones rather than setbacks can lead to profound personal growth.

  • Celebrating Wins: Acknowledging our successes, no matter how small, reinforces our commitment to our goals and aspirations.

  • Documenting Our Journey: Sharing our experiences can inspire others to embark on their own paths of change and growth.

By documenting our journeys, we not only reflect on our progress but also invite others to join us in this shared experience. Life truly is a team sport, and there is room for everyone on our team.

Inviting Others to Join the Journey

As we move forward, it’s important to extend an invitation to others to join us on this journey. The more we share our experiences, the more we can inspire change within our communities. By following our passions and sharing our stories, we can create a ripple effect that encourages others to shine their light as well.

  • Encouraging Participation: Inviting others to engage in our mission fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose.

  • Sharing Knowledge: By sharing our lessons learned, we can help others navigate their own journeys with greater ease.

  • Building a Supportive Community: Together, we can create a network of encouragement that empowers everyone involved.

Through collaboration and support, we can collectively contribute to positive change in our society. The journey may be challenging, but with the right mindset and community, we can overcome any obstacle.

Conclusion: A Journey Together

As we reflect on our journeys, let us remember the importance of being a dwelling place for love and light. By nurturing our spiritual lives, embracing our identities, and supporting one another, we can create a profound impact in our communities. Each step of the journey is significant, and together, we can illuminate the path for others.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I invite you to follow along as we continue to share our experiences, learn from one another, and strive to be the change we wish to see in the world. Let’s embrace this journey together and support each other as we navigate the beautiful complexities of life.

Daily Podcast:

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Daily Video Journal:

Daily Journal Transcript:

Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

It is Saturday, August 10, 2024. We're reading out of I hear his whispers, a daily devotional. So let's dive in.

You are a beautiful dwelling place. Make your heart a stronghold of worship, a castle of praise where only what is holy and pure can dwell. To love, my holiness, is to have a wall around your garden, a wall of protection and blessing.

In this place of scared intimacy, you will find no deceit of darkness. The lies that have influenced your heart will be exposed. Surrounded by my glory, you will renounce the self absorption of your life.

Come closer to me and be lost in my love. We will delight in one another, and I will keep help you keep your garden fruitful and pure as you remain in sweet fellowship with me. Each day, sin loses its grip.

Temptation is meaningless. Righteousness and purity are the norm. You are my garden, my joy, my delight, and the reflection of my glory.

See yourself the way I see you. As you live in this place of continual communion, your fullness becomes a feast for others, a loving example of my total and unwavering devotion to them. You are my beautiful dwelling.

Loving me empowers you to obey my word, and my father will love you so deeply that we will come to you and make you our dwelling place. John 1423 that really speaks to me because I believe I am a lighthouse. And it's each of us, not just me, each of us are a lighthouse.

And it is up to us to share our light to others and show others what it means to follow Christ by the example we set by the dwelling place that we are for Christ. And so that is very poetic, especially today. Last night I was struggling emotionally, just with everything I have going on in life, feeling like I am not enough.

And at the end of the day, I am enough. I am exactly enough. I am exactly how God made me.

I'm where God wanted me to be when he wanted me to be here. I believe he has a plan for my future. I believe he had a plan for my past.

And that plan included where I sit today, all of it is according to his plan. So today I want you to remember you are a dwelling place, and your actions speak without you moving your mouth. It's pretty powerful if you think about it.

I hope everybody has a great day. Today is going to be filled with fun, with my family. I'm not going to be doing any other journal entries than this one, but it's going to be a great day.

We'll talk to you all soon. Life is a journey and we are all in it together. On this journey.

Our goal is to support and protect as many people as we can. If you believe we can do the change that we need in society, I invite you to follow the life with Justin, Stephen, Joe as we live life to do that change. Thanks for watching today's journal entry.

The best way to support my work is by following, liking, and sharing the content I create on a regular basis. I appreciate you being on this journey through time with me and have a wonderful day.

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Justin Stephens

Justin Stephens is a husband and a father of 3. He is always looking for ways to create the impact that he is chasing, changing the way employees are compensated in America.

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