Sarah Mae
About the Author

Sarah Mae has a past that would be her present if it weren’t for Jesus. A blogger, author, and co-author of Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe, she’s currently writing The Complicated Heart, a book for broken-hearted lovers of Jesus. Learn more at @thecomplicatedheart on Instagram or...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
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  1. Thanks Sarah Mae. I am exactly in THAT place this morning. I used to get up and do just that every single day and lately, my life has just kind of taken over my quiet time with God.
    I get up with great intentions and then…I don’t do it. I get busy or I make an excuse as to why I can’t right now.
    Thanks for the reminder about what I need to do!

  2. Thanks for that encouragement, Sarah Mae. That was definitely for me this morning. Actually, your way to get reconnected is a lot like mine. I find that if I do take that time to get up early before the kids and hubby and just spend time seeking God’s face, my day goes so much smoother.
    Sometimes instead of devotions I get up very early when the sun is just peeking over the horizon and I open my bedroom window and just sit on the floor in front of it and talk to God. I pray then I listen. It’s amazing how we hear God speak when we just sit still and listen.

  3. Definitely the encouragement I needed as well. I find myself feeling frustrated when I get up as quietly as I can only to hear the pitter-patter of footsteps. Now I’ve taught my daughter to just snuggle in quietly and sit there with my Bible. Its not quite the same as alone time, but in a small house its what works for me right now and instead of getting frustrated with the fact no matter how early I get up it seems the kids hear me and are joining me, I want to make the most of whatever time I can get with the Lord.

  4. Oh, that was awesome! You’re alot braver than I am! Thanks for being so open & honest! You’ve just reminded me… I didn’t get time to read my Bible this morning, ’cause I overslept. That’s probably why there’s laundry over the floor right now! How do I get out of my “funks”? Same thing πŸ™‚ If I don’t start a day like that, it doesn’t go so well! And, I’m finding, sometimes it dries up during the day, and I need a refill. I need to be drinking from that Fountain, all the time! Whenever I find myself getting impatient or grumpy, or even lonely, I stop and ask myself why. Often it’s because I’m seeking my own glory, rather than that of my Lord Jesus. Thanks again for posting!
    By the way… you have a sweet accent πŸ™‚ Which state are you from? I live in Australia πŸ™‚

  5. Great video, Sarah Mae! Sometimes I get out of a funk by making a quick phone call to a friend, enjoying a cup of tea, going for a walk, etc. I do not open my bible often enough and doing so is something that I always tell myself that I need to make more time for. Thank you for the reminder!

  6. Great message this morning Sarah! When life is swirling all around me and I am struggling to remain patient and joyful one of the first things I do is put on some good praise and worship music. It just works on my heart and begins to change my perspective. It’s like singing scripture. Then it’s all about getting back to basics. Morning prayer, exercise, simple meals and consciously seeking joy throughout my day, especially in the mundane tasks. I remind myself that by serving my husband and children, I am serving My GOD. After a day or two of really paying attention, I find that I am in a much better place.

  7. Thank you so much for that vlog! I needed to hear it. I wish that I could start my day that way – coffee, Bible, quiet – but my son always wakes up at 5 a.m. I’m a morning person, but getting up at 4:30 a.m.? On purpose? I just can’t make it happen!

  8. Thank you for this. I’ve been finding the very same thing true for me – no time with God = horrible day. Thank you for the encouragement!

  9. Sarah Mae, Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us! You are so right…when I start the day with God I tend to feel him more through out the day! I tend to stay closer and more focused on Him all day! When I am in a serious funk I make lists! (Yep, a little OCD) I make lists of the little things in life that make me happy and this forces me to look for things to find joy in. Some days it’s as simple as a cup of coffee at home with “fancy” creamer and other days it’s as amazing as support from my husband or a friend.

  10. A secret worth sharing! The other thing I do to get out of funks is turn on some great praise and worship music and sing at the top of my lungs. And shh, don’t tell anyone, sometimes I even dance before the Lord.

  11. I’m a single mother to three little ones = always needed by someone! My time to recharge usually comes AFTER I put them all to bed, and I’m a bit militant about getting them in bed on time. That’s when I love to retreat to the front porch rocker, read, listen to nature, watch the sunset and review my day with the Lord. I share my hurts, my gratefulness, my fears. Then I can accomplish those things which must be done and complete my day by serving in ways which will never be seen: folding laundry, cleaning floors, packing lunches, etc. The purpose found with Christ enables me to find joy in the mundane and then frees me to stop and take time for myself before bed. Sometimes just watching tv, other times a bath or novel, often calling a friend or “talking” online. Isolation becomes familiar companion as a single adult and connections are treasured!

  12. What you are describing are ‘virtuous women’ attributes as defined in Prov 31! I am still working on arising before the day…my children arise before the sun is even stirring which makes that a challenge for me.
    One thing I do to help get out of that funk is sing God-in-verse songs, especially kid ones, they are so peppy. It helps me bring the Word of God to my mind, which is designed to refresh- so it works!
    Thank you!

  13. Thank you for sharing your secret! To be honest I have never spent time in the word and I am a believer. I am not a morning person although I wish everyday that I was. I have tried to sit down with my bible in hand and I became overwhelmed with what I should read or do — like I could do it wrong. I have been so lost for the decade that I don’t know where to begin to find my joy. I think I am just used to getting through the day instead of finding the joy. I am looking forward to hearing what others do to find joy because the funk I am in has been going on for way too long!

  14. Sarah, you are SO right! Spending time with Jesus always helps.
    Also, I like finding upbeat praise & worship/Christian music and cranking it up. Some of my favorites are: pretty much anything by Third Day, Big House by Audio Adrenaline, Joy by Newsboys… anything along those lines.
    Or finding funny/sweet videos like these:
    http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150145261140048&ref=share
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3E9U3GDrmI
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4
    (Bookmark those links for when you need a pick-me-up.) πŸ™‚

  15. I’m in this exact funk you are talking about. I’m just praying for strength, that I stop making excuses and just do it. Every morning. No ifs, ands, or buts.
    ~Brenda

  16. So true! What’s worse is my husband can tell when I haven’t spent time in Bible! “Out of the abundance of heart the mouth speaketh” Matt. 12:34. If I don’t keep my heart right with God it shows and I’m not the godly woman I should be. Another thing that’s really helps when I get down and out is memorizing Scripture. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11. If I start doing something I shouldnt or thinking something wrong or even if I need encouragement and comfort, having Scripture memorized so I can remind myself that God does care about my condition helps immensely.
    Also I have 3 kids – 3.5, 28 months and 6 months. Getting up early is not always an option after being up with baby. But that is no excuse to neglect the LORD. A lot of times I use naptime to read and study or before bed.

  17. When you start talking mornings, you definitely resonate with a passion of my heart, and that is talking to the Lord as early in the day as possible and enjoying that early morning time with Him before everything else!
    How to get out of a funk? This will sound silly, but I make up a silly song and it puts a smile on my face, and I say, Lord, see, I am not staying in a funk! You have been too good to me for me to act this way today!

  18. I was praying for a friend yesterday who’s going thru the fire and God was reminding me of Paul and Silas. When they were beaten and in jail. They sang and praised God so much that the earth quaked, the jail was opened plus the jailer and his whole house was saved. So I double dared my friend to praise God and sing to Him of His goodness and mercy. Who knows maybe the earth will quake for her. Will hearts be saved and changed for eternity? Maybe the earth will quake for you & I if we take up the challenge. I double dare you! Ps. 65:1 Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Sion: and unto Thee shall the vow be performed.
    Blessings!

  19. So true. So real, and so right-on time. That is my story and I am forever slacking.
    Thanks for the confirmation.

  20. Hi Sarah,
    Thank you so muchfor your encouraging words. Ioften do not do that and I use to not start my day until I spent time wiht the Lord, now it seems like it never happens. One thing that showed me the love of God and how we can make a difference is: I went with a fried the other day as she took a little girl tothe Dr’s. I live in Mexico and my husband is ver active in volunteering at a Children’s Home. Anyway, ths little girl is very ill and she needed to have blood work done and I held her hand, then just the simple act of getting her soe juice showed me that just the little thngs make such a difference. Just getting her a glass of juice!
    Thank yo agin for sharing and showing me that spending time with my God is so very very important!
    Love ya!!

  21. KLove! I try to read my Bible and find a time to be still and pray, but if I don’t I tune in to KLove. They have great uplifting Christian stories and play Christian rock which is my fav music.

  22. I’m definitely NOT a morning person so I work through my ‘funks’ at night. Sometimes as I lay in bed, I raise my arms up toward the ceiling and give it all to the Lord and I sense Him taking it (whatever ‘it’ may be at the time). In addition to that, I try to find someone else to encourage or help—outside of my own children/family. This helps me take my focus off of myself. For me—it’s all about the focus—where am I looking? Down? Around? or UP!

  23. My first moment, before I even get out of bed, is waking up to the awe of being awake…and taking time to simply think of every single thing I can think of to be thankful for…and in that very listing of all that is around me (even my dirty clothes) I realize how blessed I am….then move on to my office chair and Bible (on the good days) and read what God has for me…and (on the best days) take time to put a verse on a post it on my computer and then write throughout the day as God speaks to me through it…just scribbles really, but so very often through those scibbles come God whispers that change my world…
    hugs! hugs! hugs!
    Sweetie!

  24. Good morning Sarah. Thanks for sharing.Spending time with God in the morning was my funk buster as well until recently when we had to move in with our son and his family. This includes 4 kids, mother-in-law and a cousin. So mornings have become less doable. So after everyone else leaves the house, My six year old grandaughter(who goes to afternoon kindergarten) and I pop in a “Go Fish” video(if you have never heard them they are funk busters extrordinaire!) I get such a high watching my grandbaby sing and dance to songs about Jesus. And yes I join her! My other funk buster is watching a sunset over the ocean-its great quiet time with the Father.

  25. I don’t know if this counts and it probably doesn’t because you are right, we need to make it an intention that we start the morning off right, with HIM! But I pray and talk to God and listen to Him, on my DRIVE to work..Horrible I know. But, it seems to be the only 35 minutes that I can do it..BUT I want to sit and enjoy the way you described it! HE DESERVE that and more… not just my half divided attention between Him and the road…I know HORRIBLE! BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING! I am now motivated to talk to the Lord in more oragnized and specific place and manner! πŸ˜€

  26. Thanks for sharing Sarah!! I agree that spending time with God is key for a successful day. Bummer for me that I am not a morning person (neither is my husband, so I have no help on the getting up early), and my kids (2 and 4) are… which means that I get up when they do. But I do find that I can spend time with my kids in the Word in the morning, and we all get our day started in the right place together. Then when they are down for a nap, I can sit quietly with the Lord in study and prayer. This is a discipline though, I have to be content to set aside all that needs to be done around the house, and my sleepiness… but when I do, the Lord sure does bless me in mighty ways!! He is so good! Thanks for you encouragement!

  27. It’s a relief to know other moms get in the “funk!” I feel as if I waffle back and forth so often. My husband was laid off last June, and as a result he was home alot, allowing me time to rest many days, which in turn gave me the ability to get up early because I was actually rested! Getting up before my children is really the only answer for this weary soul. Although I do not get up earlier than my crew every day, I should! I realized how much it changed my days. This happens to be the most difficult year we’ve experienced as a couple, yet the richest spiritually by far, and I attribute it solely to my time with Jesus!! Someone recommended Jesus Calling by Sarah Young which I have based many of my morning readings, reflecting, and journals on. As everything I knew to be “true” or comfortable was systematically stripped away these last months, God lovingly became real, fresh, and brand new to me all over again! He has been so faithful to speak to me thru His Word, even if it wasn’t what I wanted to hear! Like Sarah mentioned, His word is alive, active, and real because it is Jesus! And HE is alive, active, and real!! No earthly relationship, status, job, home, or bank account can fill my soul. Only the Word of God and my relationship with Him. ONLY!!

  28. Sarah Mae – I so needed to hear this. I’ve also found that if I don’t wake up early and spend alone time with God my whole day is off. But at the same time, I’m always burning the candle at both ends so much that when I do spend time with Him I struggle to stay on “task” without letting my mind wander. It’s something I really want to get better at, and I love your description of just sitting at the feet of Jesus. Tomorrow morning that is exactly what I’ll do!

  29. So very true! Thank you for the reminder. I need to be in God’s word every day! That is what helps us along, isn’t it? That one on one time with God, uninterrupted, alone…it is refreshing. Great video blog! Love it!!

  30. So cute.
    Tips –
    LISTENING to the kids.
    EARLY time with God (which you already covered).
    READING for myself.
    BLESSING someone else (start with your man, then your kids, then family and friends, then strangers or the lost…).