About the Author

Stephanie Bryant is the co-founder of @incourage and a podcaster at the #JesusLedAdventurePodcast. She owns a Marketing & Business Coaching company. She is passionate about guiding you to your promised land and personal brand therapy. She enjoys spending her days with her husband and their miracle daughter, Gabrielle, on #BryantFamilyFarm....

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. So, so timely for me to read this today. God has been doing a significant growth work in my heart and my life for the past week and a half, and it’s been so unique and un-orchestrated by me (control much?) that I know it’s of Him. He’s convicted me that I need to discard all my excuses that currently ride daily, hourly, on the merry-go-round in my brain and instead become the woman He created me to be, totally and completely. Writing is my passion and encouraging other women in their faith walk is my goal, and I’ve finally cleared enough floor space in my excuse-filled mind to proclaim the desire that He’s put on my heart and the way He has made that heart beat. I’ve always thought, “I’m too busy, don’t write well enough, don’t have an audience, can’t make a difference…” and we all know how those excuse lists go on and on. But no more. I’ve stopped excusing and started declaring.

    And while I’m far from having any or all of the answers, the more I look to Him to help me figure out how this is gonna go the more He unfolds before me. It comes just one day, one step at a time. I love what you said about the straight path of His plan – I am experiencing that and He makes the walking easier when you’re following Him.

  2. Thank you for sharing your lesson learned from sorting through childhood mementos. So many of us can learn valuable lessons from today by having the courage to look into the past.

  3. Hi Stephanie. Appreciated your words and sharing your spiritual gift. When you mentioned that God was using flashbacks to make His case to you, I could relate. Yesterday before bed, I was recalling to my husband a sweet memory where God granted me my heart’s desire. Each year, my primary school held an “Olympics Day.” All the younger kids (kindergarten-grades 4) were participants, but once you reached grades 5 & 6, there was an opportunity to be a leader (co-captain & captain). Now, I have never considered myself a leader, but I wanted so badly to be co-captain (helped the Captain lead the team of younger kids). I worked really hard (homeroom teacher’s choice based on academics) and the day came for her choice. It fell to myself and another girl. We had tied for first place, so our teacher put both of our names into a bowl. I had wanted this since kindergarten and I prayed to God fervently “Please God, this means so much to me. I will do You proud and take good care of the kids. Please let her choose my name from the hat.”When she announced my name, I was over the moon with joy and thanked God for the gift of being co-captain. It had been my heart’s desire and God in His amazing love for me, fulfilled that wish. It brings a few tears, every time I recall that flashback moment. We all have been given gifts, but I never thought of encouragement or courage as spiritual gifts, but I believe they have been given to me by the Holy Spirit.

    • I never saw the word courage right in the middle of encouragement. I love to encourage others and especially like the idea that courage is in the middle of my gift — it makes me want to take bigger steps to bless and encourage others. Thanks for helping me see that this morning!

  4. Stephanie,
    Thank you for sharing…. In all honestly, I have been wrestling with God about things He is calling me to do. I have found myself time and time again praying for courage. I want to do and move not just think about or leave it as a one day “I will”. I know that only in Him can I do and if he is calling then I can move. Courage……

  5. This is so timely…just last night I told my husband I wanted to clean every thing out. (He is more the pack rat than I) I (we) have stuff stored that we never look at or use. He says it’s for the ONE DAY he may need to use it. After 7 years if it hasn’t happened I think we can let go but sadly no. (ha!)

    So curious….did you toss most of the boxes after looking through them? We have boxes and boxes of old photos (from his parents when they passed) my husband doesn’t know most of them but we hold on to them just because. I am thinking its “just because” he can’t REALLY say goodbye?

    • Ms. Witi
      Your husband sounds just like my father-in-law. He won’t get rid of anything, and keeps buying more and more stuff to store in his house. He has so many items half the time he can’t find what he wants because of all the other “stuff there”!
      Blessings 🙂

  6. Stephanie,
    God has called me to a time of patience. You see I am not a patient person. Instead I’m hyperactive wanting to get things done quickly and move on. But in this season of life I quit my job and help with the care of my aging father. I visit him three days a week for about 3-4 hours at a time. It is hard as he has dementia, sundowner’s and can’t hear at all, won’t wear his hearing aid. I write out all my messages to him in hopes he can remember who is who and who lives where. He keeps misplacing items, so I try to find them for him.
    Blessings 🙂