Today I’m happy to introduce a friend who I made a heart connection with right away. She is real. She is genuine. And she has an AMAZING way of loving others.nShe hosted our first ever Higher Ground retreat and is also hosting Higher Ground 2018 that will open up to other bloggers. I’m confident her words will inspire you and give you hope!

Do you ever feel as though getting back up again borders along the impossible? As though your misstep, failure, or hurt is is just too big? The fall too hard?

What do you do when life knocks you down?

This weekend as I was watching my son and his team play basketball, I couldn’t help but be amazed at their tenacity. These kids play hard. It’s not a casual recreational basketball. It’s competitive-leave-everything-you’ve-got-on-the-floor kind of basketball. They run past exhaustion and they get back up time and time again after being slammed to the ground.

Honestly, it reminded me of my week.

Difficult news, challenging conversations, stressful situations, and kids that just would. not. cooperate.

Unfortunately, it didn’t end well.

It ended in a big time Mommy Fail.

I hit the ground hard and didn’t handle it at all like the athlete who can get back up and chase after the goal. Actually, I sat on the floor for awhile thinking it was way too difficult on these aging bones to resume the race.

And at first, I didn’t even handle it like a steadfast follower of Jesus.

Is anyone out there waving your hand in agreement? Or maybe just subtly nodding your head?

Like me, do you forget to cancel out every wrong thought with the truth of God’s Word? Or, do you forget to fight by dropping to your knees in prayer?

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:13-14

Believe me, I know it’s not easy. Those moments of groveling almost feel good. It’s exactly what the enemy wants us to feel! But I do know that God is fighting for us. He’s not going to let us lose if we use Him as our strength instead of our own willpower.

So friends, if it means dragging yourself up with everything you've got, do it by speaking God's Word! Share on XShout it out! Call on Him and He will lift you. It may not feel good right away, but friends, do it anyway!

The Power of Prayer

Because my hope is that you embrace the hope of Christ and experience living victoriously in Him, I love giving you prayers. Not because God doesn’t receive each and every heartfelt word you whisper to Him, but because I know when we pray Scripture, we are assured our prayers are within His will.

Therefore, today I have A Prayer for When You Need to Get Back Up Again.

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Lori is an encourager at heart. She has spent her life learning of the hope and victory available when we embrace our identity in Christ. Today, when she isn’t busy being a wife and Mom to her three children, she teaches, ministers, coaches, speaks, and writes to share that hope with others. Wherever you find yourself today – walking through the difficult, needing to get unstuck to follow your purpose, or simply experiencing a season of beautiful chaos, Lori’s blog found at www.lorischumaker.com is a place where you can get a virtual hug from someone who truly understands.  You can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest