$327,950 DONATED THROUGH CHARITY DAY SHOP TO DONATE

0

blog.elevatedfaith.com

Category: Blog

  • Friendship And Distance Bracelets

    Friendship And Distance Bracelets

    True friendship is hard to come by. Friends are like a treasure: rare and elusive; and if found, a friend becomes of great value. As such, to lose a friend becomes very painful.

    To always remember a treasured friend, our idea is to have an bracelet that will remind you of the valuable relationship shared.

    Introducing: Distance bracelets – a beautiful and sacred way to strengthen the bonds of your friendship. These are visible representations of the invisible cord between you and your beloved friend.

    Here are five reasons why these couple bracelets can help nourish yourself and your friend in Christ:

    1. These bracelets will remind you of how Jesus reached down in love and gave a tangible remembrance of Him.

    Our Master exemplified the ultimate friendship. If our Lord and Master Jesus Christ ordained a tangible representation of his friendship to us through the breaking of bread and wine, we can also do likewise. The Lord’s Supper is a blessed commemoration of his flesh and blood that he poured out to redeem His friends. He is the man with the biggest heart of friendship to the point that He left His glorious throne, embraced suffering, and sacrificed himself to death for He wants to glorify His Father and make our friendship eternal.

    This principle is also very familiar in marriage. In a matrimonial ceremony, couples exchange vows in front of witnesses. Then, on top of all the symbolism is the wearing of the covenant ring. The ring is a visible and tangible symbol of the invisible and intangible cord of marital love between the couple.

    Just like Jesus Christ’s Lord’s Supper and marriage’s covenantal ring, you and your beloved friend can also share visible and tangible reminders of your friendship. Why not consider these distance bracelets

    To keep us from forgetting. Jesus understands that we as humans have the tendency to forget. The Bible always remind us Christians to “Remember that we were once hopeless,” (Ephesians 2:11,12); “Remember that God rescued us from our enemies, did great miracle by dividing the Red Sea and miraculously provided our needs in the midst of the wilderness.” (Exodus 14-16); “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5)

    The Bible keeps on reminding us that to make us come back to God and keep us from losing our first love (Jesus Christ), we must always remember where we have fallen and where He has picked us up. The first step in igniting back our passion and love to Him is to remember how miserable our life was without Him, to remember how he plucked us out of darkness into His marvelous light, to remember what joy we had and the celebration our Father we gave when we returned to Him from our waywardness.

    Remember, remember, remember. God is so fond that we remember, not remember the things that strain us and keep us from going, but remember the things and the memories that reignite our love and passion for Him. Same is true with our friendship, these couple bracelets are a great tool to keep us from that relationship and from the promises we shared with our friend.

    2. The cross in these bracelets will remind you that following Christ and pursuing friendship and love is not easy but ultimately leads to great joy.

    Many good things don’t come easy. Good relationships, good friendships, good kids, good skills, and financial freedom among other things. Such as with our friendship with Christ: although salvation and reconciliation is free and available for those who will put their faith in Jesus, it did not come without a cost. God the Father paid a very expensive price- giving away His begotten Son. Christ paid a very expensive price- drinking the cup of God’s wrath, embracing suffering and giving up His life. Many good things, indeed, do not come easy; but the best things in this universe came easy for us, because Someone did the most difficult thing.

    The worst yet the best. The cross was the worst thing that ever happened in human history because it was the murder of the sinless Man, the Creator and the King of Kings – Jesus Christ. On the other hand, the Sovereignty of God was not thwarted because God was able to allow the evils of the cross yield the greatest and the best thing for human history. Among countless reasons, two of the greatest results of the cross was our eternal reconciliation with God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ that justified Him as the One and True Lord.

    These distance bracelets, having the cross, reminds you that when worse comes to worst, when storms escalate to categories beyond what’s bearable, since Christ is in that storm and in that situation, you can smile because you have hope. Repent and remember that God can still bring out good.

    It’s a source of joy and pain. Just like the cross, friendship is a source of one our greatest joys, but also profound pains. It can bring out the best of us, but can also break the hearts of many. Yet, with Christ in between your bonds, you are assured that your friendship will last forever.

    3. Beautiful and light colors remind us of Jesus’ offer of friendship.

    The beauty of Christ. As the colors of these friendship bracelets reflect the radiance of light, so this accessory reminds us of the glory of Christ. He is beauty because he is truth. As beauty thrives in light, so as Christ and friendship is appreciated in the light. The sum of beauty can be summarized in the words “truth” and “perfection.” A person that radiates with truth and perfection is a person that radiates beauty.

    His burden is light. The lightness of the colors in this friendship bracelet remind of Christ’s words, “Come unto Me and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Yes, following Christ is not easy- it will entail bearing a burden, bearing a yoke – but one thing Christ has promised – His burden is light. He emphasizes this because if we are outside of Christ, there is still a burden, but it’s a burden that we cannot bear. It’s so hard and difficult and even impossible. However with Christ, we have a light burden because we have Him to carry it with us. He walks with us. He is with us. Same with friendship: to have a friend is to bear his or her burdens but those burdens are being made light and easy by the love we have in Christ. With Christ in a friendship, the burdens are being made lighter and bearable because His strength becomes our strength.

    The lightness of Christ’s burden is also being reminded to us by these bracelets’ weight. It has a weight, but it is light. Bearing it radiates beauty but we have to carry it. As with friendship, there is a weight to bear but the joy and glory of God radiating through it supersedes the burden. This is a transcending truth in our friendship with Christ as captured by Paul’s words in Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

    A beautiful treasure. Jesus said, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Whatever your heart embraces, that’s what you treasure, that’s what you value. This bracelet is a treasure, not because of the material value it has, but because it has the intrinsic value of Jesus Christ to the friends that wear it.

    A friend is a piece of our soul, an extension of who we are. Whenever your friend or significant other is afar, part of you is somehow missing, but this bracelet is here to remind of you of that eternal bond you have in Christ and the intrinsic value no matter the distance.

    If you treasure someone, you always make something that will remind you in the heart. Make that reminder tangible through these distance bracelets.

    SHOP OUR BRACELET PACKS
  • How To Keep God A Priority In College

    How To Keep God A Priority In College

    If you’re in college, you know how crazy it is. With classes, homework, friends, clubs, and sporting events all vying for your attention, it can be easy to start neglecting your time with God.

    When I first came to college, I was wholly unprepared for this truth. Sure, I had seen the statistics about 70% of Christian teens losing their faith once entering college and was inundated with articles about the difficulties of maintaining your faith in such a non-faith-based atmosphere, but I always shrugged these off. I knew I would never walk away from God.

    While this is partly true, as I never did step away from God in my beliefs and decisions, my faith began to suffer in a different way. There was always a homework assignment to do when I could be reading my bible, social events to go to when I could be going to church. Before I knew it, the busyness of college had taken control of my life and pushed God to the mere corners.

    So what can we do to help keep God a priority amid the chaos that is college?

  • Remind yourself of who God is

    • When we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of college life, it’s easy to lose sight of why we need God. We may start to feel like we can handle things on our own, that we don’t really need to spend time with Him each day. But this, of course, is so far from the truth.

    In John 15:5-6, Jesus tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches – apart from Him, we can do nothing. If we want strength (Isaiah 41:10), peace of mind (Philippians 4:6-7), wisdom (James 1:5), or refuge (Psalm 46:1-3), then we must turn to God.

    “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:5-6)

  • View God as a constant amongst the change

    • For many people, college is a period of overwhelming change. From new towns to new classes, new friends to new activities, it’s almost as if nothing remains the same. But that’s where God comes in.

    You see, while everything around us might be changing, God is entirely unchanging, a steady rock that grounds us despite our external circumstances (Psalm 18:2). When we truly come to terms with this, we’ll begin to rely on Him more and more for the strength we need to navigate this transitional period of our lives.

  • Schedule your quiet time

  • From experience, I know that I’m much less likely to sit down and spend time with God when I don’t intentionally schedule it into my day. Just like you would with any other priority, try setting aside a specific time each day to commune with Christ. It might mean waking up 10 minutes earlier or going to bed 10 minutes later, but having this time dedicated solely to God is a great way to make sure He stays part of your routine.

  • Write down your prayers

  • Sometimes praying is hard, especially when we have so many other things racing through our minds. That’s why I find that transcribing my prayers works so well. I’m still praying just as I would in my head, but by putting these prayers onto paper, I can ensure that I stay focused and don’t simply zone out after a few moments. This is also a great way to hold yourself accountable and make sure you actually end up praying.

  • Practice gratitude

  • Taking time out of our hectic schedules to slow down and think about our blessings can really help us grow closer to God. When you become aware of the ways in which He is at work in your life, you’ll likely be compelled to spend more time with Him. It doesn’t have to be complicated – try simply jotting down three things you’re grateful for before going to bed or after waking up.

  • Listen to worship music

  • If the busyness of your routine has you feeling distant from God, I find that listening to worship music almost immediately helps me feel His presence again. Whether you listen while walking to class, cooking your meals, or just hanging out in your room, having it on is a great way to fill yourself with the Spirit.

  • Join a bible study or campus ministry

  • Being surrounded by other people who are eager to grow close to the Lord is an invaluable experience. Jesus expresses the importance of fellowship in Matthew 18:20 when he tells us that “for where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” So, with this in mind, look into the groups your college has to offer and make it a point to join at least one.

  • Put a bible verse where you can see it

    • On my desk, I have a mini-whiteboard that I use to display bible verses or messages from a sermon that I want to remember. It may seem silly, but seeing these scriptures/messages every time I sit down really helps them stay in my mind as I go about my days.

  • Pray

    • Above all else, pray. Pray for God to open your heart to want to commune with Him, to give you guidance in navigating your busy schedule, to help you see Him as your most important priority in life. And always remember that no matter how far you may stray, how distant you may become, God will never leave your side. He will always be eagerly awaiting your return with open arms, His love for you no less than before.

  • How To Trust God Through The Storm

    How To Trust God Through The Storm

    You lose your job. You’re failing a class. You find yourself without friends. You’re stripped of someone you love.

    In stormy seasons like these, it can be hard to maintain hope.

    We see this in the bible when Jesus and His disciples sail across the Sea of Galilee in Mark 4:35-41. Jesus was resting on the stern of the boat when a sudden storm erupted, pounding the boat with waves and nearly flooding everything inside. Terrified, the disciples ran to Jesus and hastily asked why He wasn’t doing anything to help; He responded by simply getting up, rebuking the winds, and demanding that the waves come to a stop. With the storm at a standstill, He then turned back to His disciples and asked the following:

    Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

    Like the disciples, we often become so blinded by the storms in our lives that we forget the power and the love of the God we serve. Our present circumstances take our attention away from His eternal promises – His promises to provide for us, to strengthen us, to sustain us until the end. We wind up running to him in a panic, begging for Him to do something, when in fact He’s been faithfully by our side all along.

    So how can we better trust God through the storm?

    Turn to scripture for His promises.

    When life seems to be spiraling out of control, let God’s Word be the thing that anchors you in place. Mine the bible for His promises to you and let these words become the very foundation of your days. When things get darker or more chaotic, repeat these scriptures to yourself to remind yourself of the reality of the situation and see things from His perspective. Remember that:

    He is in control and is stronger than your problems
    “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

    He loves you and has plans to prosper you
    “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

    He works all things together for good in your life, including what you’re going through now
    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

    He will give you the strength you need to get through the storm
    “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

    His timing is perfect
    “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

    He never leaves your side
    “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalm 145: 18-19)

    Take everything to prayer

    Rather than letting yourself sink deeper into fear or pain, pray. Pour out your heart to God from the moment you start your day to the moment you go to bed. Tell Him what’s worrying you and ask Him to bring you peace. Reaffirm your trust in Him and speak His scriptures back to Him. Remember the promise of Philippians 4:6-7:

    “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

    Keep your gaze above

    After searching scripture for His promises and praying for peace, don’t just return to life as it was before. Let these two things form the foundation of your days as you aim to keep your eyes upon God at all times. The storm may get fierce, but He will always be fiercer. 2 Corinthians 4:18 is great encouragement for staying focused on eternity:

    “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

    Find purpose in the trials and praise Him

    “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-3)

    It seems counterintuitive to praise God for the struggles in your life. But as James 1:2-3 explains, God puts these hardships into your life for a reason. He uses them to shape you and mold you and refine you into the person He wants you to be. He uses them to teach you trust and perseverance, to mature you and show you what dependence really means. So in the midst of your battles, focus your eyes above and thank God for the opportunity to grow and be shaped in His image. Trust that everything, even the lowest of lows, will serve to better you as a person and strengthen you as a follower of Christ.

  • 5 God Honoring New Years Resolutions

    5 God Honoring New Years Resolutions

    With the new year quickly approaching, I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on what I’d like to change about my life in the coming year. From eating healthier to exercising more to being more creative, I thought my list of resolutions was just about complete; that is, until I realized something major was missing.

    God.

    While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to eat healthy or exercise more, scripture tells us that pursuing God should be our number one goal (1 Timothy 4:8). So if our faith truly is our first priority in life, shouldn’t it also be at the top of our resolutions lists?

    With this in mind, I started to think again about the changes I could make in my life – but this time kept God at the center and used His word as the foundation. I was left with a number of resolutions that, while great to start working toward at any point in the year, are especially helpful to keep in mind as we move into the new year. Here are just a couple of ways you can resolve to live life closer to how God intended.

    Trust God

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

    Go into this year with the intention of fully trusting God with your life. Whether it be with work, school, important decisions, or anything else, let go of the desire to control things on your own and instead depend on the promise of God’s perfect control. Remember: He’s got this.

    Worry less

    “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

    If you’ve been carrying around the burden of worry for as long as you can remember, let this be the year you finally let it go. This goes hand in hand with the previous point: the more we trust God, the less inclined we are to worry. Anytime you notice an anxious thought floating around in your head, remind yourself that God’s got it under control and practice surrendering it to Him. It likely won’t come easy at first, but with time and continued prayer, these thoughts will begin to fade away.

    Love others

    “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

    Jesus tells us that the second greatest commandment of all is to love others. Not only love others, but to love them as He has loved us – a love so deep and genuine that it transcends anything we can even comprehend. This year, make it a point to treat everyone with kindness, even those who frustrate you the most. Make your relationships intentional, give a helping hand when needed, or perhaps befriend someone you would typically ignore.

    Treat your body as a temple

    “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

    God tells us that our bodies are living, breathing temples of the Holy Spirit – so don’t you think we should treat them as such? This year, make a conscious effort to treat your body with more care. Fuel it with nourishing, wholesome foods, incorporate a few minutes of exercise into your daily routine, or make it a point to drink more water. When the common New Year’s resolution of eating healthier/exercising more is centered on honoring God, we become that much more likely to achieve it.

    Make spending time with God a priority

    Spending time with God and growing in your personal relationship with Him is key to making any of these other resolutions possible. Philippians 4:13 tells us that through Christ, we can do all things. So as you head into this new year, pray that He supply you with the strength and wisdom you need to grow in your resolutions and live life as He planned.

  • God Is Greater Than The Highs And Lows

    God Is Greater Than The Highs And Lows

    One of the most popular symbols we sell on our apparel means that ‘God is greater than our ups and downs…’ It’s seldom to see apparel with such a hidden yet beautiful meaning. Since this message is so much a part of what our brand is about, I wanted to give you some insight on what this design means to us.

    As I meditate on the meaning of God is Greater Than the Highs and Lows message, this design featured on our Christian t-shirts moved my heart. I realized this isn’t just a shirt with minimalistic design but it is a tool for motivation both for myself and others- all because its meaning is backed by the Word of God – which is alive and powerful.

    G = God
    > = Is Greater
    Than the
    ^ = Highs
    v = Lows

    “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:39

    Here are three reasons why I LOVE to wear this design everywhere I go:

    It reminds me that:

    1. I Am No Longer Defined by My Successes

    Success is a good servant, but a bad master. It’s a good thing to possess, but devastating to be possessed by. Indeed, God wants us to shine “success” in the world (Matthew 5:16) but we are not to chase for them as an end, but rather a means to glorify and obey God.

    Worldly success can leave us wanting more. Why? Because success is a terrible master that’s never satisfied. He is a boss that can never be pleased. His eternal response will always be, “you will never be enough.” His slaves are trapped in a vicious cycle of dissatisfaction and endless pursuit of emptiness, unless they are set free.

    Worldly success can also be very devastating. We may spend our entire life earning prosperity but all can be taken away in an instant. One accident, one market crisis, one sickness, one controversy, one gossip, one death – any swift surprise can be as a flood that will wipe everything way. Success can be forgotten or revised. I realized that all that I have built for, if only for my own glory, can just be forgotten or revised by anyone- even by those whom I tried to please or serve.

    In Christ, however, we can have “good success” (Joshua 1:9). The success God gives is greater because it won’t leave us wanting more and won’t be gone forever.

    These Christian t-shirts also remind me that:

    2. I Am Not Defined by My Failures

    Failures without God lead to death (2 Corinthians 7:10). There are lots of failure stories both in the pages of the Bible and in the pages of my life. Judas failed his Master and he committed suicide, beyond redemption and forgiveness.

    Without God, the “downs” of our lives will lead us to hopeless despair. Our failures will seem to be undefeatable goliaths who are far bigger than what we can ever imagine.

    With God, failures are given new meaning. Peter failed Christ, but because of the grace of God, his failures built him. In Christ, failure becomes our teacher and not our undertaker. The down moments of our lives teach us to lean on God, commune with Him and cling to Him. Failure now becomes a solid ground on which God builds His work.

    With God, failures show us who really can be trusted. We realize how foolish to trust anything outside God. We agree with the prophet, “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:9).

    These Christian t-shirts remind me that:

    3. God is Greater

    Wearing this tee refreshes me with these wonderful insights:

    God is greater because he doesn’t have the deceitfulness and untrustworthiness of worldly success nor the dangers of failures. Whatever we have is grace – and grace does not make us boastful nor hopeless.

    He gives us the greater and the best – and that is acceptance by Him. In God, we are no longer slaves chasing for belongingness. Instead, we are children. In Christ, the love of God sets us free from the weariness of trying to gain for approval. In Christ, we are accepted no matter what, we are loved without condition. He runs and embraces us not by the merits of our successes but on the credits of what Christ has done for us- His perfect life, death and resurrection.

    The God is greater than the Highs and Lows design indeed carries a spiritual reminder to me that my identity is no longer based on what I have accomplished for myself nor what I have failed to do. Let’s not waste our ups and downs. Let’s trust God through them. He is building our faith. One day, it will be worth it all. In God alone I can find true and secure success. That’s why God is greater than the not only the highs and lows, but He is much, much greater than this world itself.

    Here’s a prayer for you today:

    “God, you are greater than my fears today. You are greater than my anxiety. You’re greater than my depression. You’re greater than all of this world around me. You matter more. I was made for more. I was made to love, and that’s what I’m going to do today. Help me love You more. Guide me as I go throughout this day, be with me and help me conquer my enemies. In Your name I pray, amen.”

    Shop our God Is Greater Than The Highs and Lows Collection!

  • When You Feel Distant From God

    When You Feel Distant From God

    Earlier this year, I was feeling great in my walk with God. I would awake eager to dive into His word, to pray to Him about my day, to put on worship music and just rest in His embrace. I could clearly feel His presence as I went about my days and was able to vividly see the many ways in which He was at work within my life.

    And then, suddenly, I couldn’t.

    It started when I opted to scroll on Instagram instead of read my Bible. And pushed off prayer until the wee hours of the night, falling asleep before really saying anything. Worship music began to not have the same effect on me as it used to, and my prayer journal stayed buried underneath various pens and pencils in my drawer. That burning desire I once had to commune with Christ, to spend time in God’s word – these things were now nowhere in sight.

    Feeling distant from God like this can be frustrating and discouraging. We want to go back to how things once were – to the time when there wasn’t a wall between us and Him – but for whatever reason, we just can’t. Whether it was involvement in a sinful activity that made you steer away, a new busy schedule, or simply a lack of enthusiasm, it’s hard to navigate life without God by our side.

    So what can we do?

    • Reflect on the root of the problem

    Often times I’ll feel distant from God for what seems like no reason, but after doing some introspection, I’ll realize that the problem is tied to something deeper. For instance, I may realize that I’ve consciously neglected to read my Bible over a period of time and that fear or shame is stopping me from being intimate with God. Maybe you dig deep and realize that it’s the ways you’ve been spending your Friday nights that have been keeping you from God, or that you feel he was absent in a time of need. Whatever they may be, recognizing these feelings is key to getting over them.

    • Look to the word for truth on what you’re dealing with

    The things we feel when we’re distant from God are often so far from the truth.

    Take the above example of not wanting to face God due to shame over not reading the Bible. We may feel that God will judge us if we return to Him, but scripture says that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus and that God will welcome us back with open arms no matter our sin (Romans 8:1, Luke 15:20-24). Or maybe we feel that God has abandoned us and isn’t hearing our prayers, but when we look at what scripture says, we learn that He is with us always and has a special time and place for everything in our lives (Matthew 28:20, Ecclesiastes 3:1). Aligning our ideas of God with the actual characteristics of God enables us to approach Him out of love, not out of guilt or fear.

    • Repent anything that you realize has been keeping you away

    Perhaps you realize a certain sin is driving your distance from God. Even though it’s hard, bringing this sin to Him and praying for forgiveness is so crucial in enabling you to carry on in your faith journey without its heavy weight bearing down on you.

    Maybe, though, you’ve searched and searched but can’t seem to find an answer as to what’s driving the distance and thus don’t have anything in particular to repent. That’s completely normal; sometimes we can’t figure these things out until after the fact. In this case, no matter how futile you feel your prayers may be, just continue to ask for clarity and guidance.

    • Listen to worship music

    When we feel distant from God, it can feel as though there’s just no way for us to be moved by the Spirit anymore, no way to experience God’s presence. I find that listening to worship music is the one caveat. By simply putting on the music, closing my eyes, and praying for God to help me let go and embrace the lyrics, I almost always am able to feel His presence again.

    • Journal/write down your prayers

    Feeling far from God can make it hard to pray as usual. If you’re like me, your thoughts will start to wander until you eventually zone out and return to whatever it is you were doing. That’s why I find transcribing my prayers works so well. I’m still praying just as I would in my head, but by putting these prayers onto paper, I’m able to stay focused and concentrate more fully on what I am saying. As you begin to write, ask God for assistance in breaking down any mental blocks you’ve constructed against Him and for strength to communicate freely with Him.

    • Start small: Read devotionals

    There is no replacement for spending time in the word of God as it is in the Bible, but I know how daunting this book can feel during the dry seasons of our faith. So rather than waiting around for the motivation to read your Bible to return, instead start small by reading a short devotional every day. Getting into the habit of spending even a couple minutes with God can help minimize how distant He feels and ease us back into communion with Him.

    Even if it doesn’t feel like it at the moment, know that God is always by your side. Feeling distant from Him is a struggle like all others that, with prayer and perseverance, can be overcome. As James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

  • 6 Ways Christians Can Calm Stress And Anxiety

    6 Ways Christians Can Calm Stress And Anxiety

    Have you ever thought you handle stress and anxiety well? I have. I’ve always thought that I could just push through life, ignoring my sometimes crippling anxiety and stress and times simply just because I could. I liked being busy, working and taking risks.

    This thinking is extremely dangerous, and can put you in a really dark and lonely place if you’re not careful.

    Many times people will hit a breaking point, where they literally cannot go any further living like this. This may or may not be you, but either way, there is still hope.

    If you’re still living with stress and anxiety, here are 6 ways to deal with it:

    1. Admit There is an Issue

    The first step is admitting to yourself that you are dealing with a real issue. Anxiety is not something you can simply leave alone and hope for it to go away. Admit that it’s affecting your day-to-day life, your relationship with God and other people.

    See a doctor. Find a counselor in your area. Talk to a trusted friend or family member. These are all necessary steps to deal with crippling anxiety and stress. The temptation is to keep pushing away and to deal with it on your own, but it’s so important to tackle this with others. You can’t do it alone.

    Remember that the sooner you do this, the sooner you can start the healing process and the sooner you can spare yourself and others pain.

    2. Take Care of Yourself Physically

    It’s important to recognize that physical health is directly related to mental health. Regular exercise, for example, has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. One study in particular showed that those who regularly exercise were 25 percent less likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder over the next five years.

    Start going to the gym, go on a bike ride, walk, just do something. There’s a good chance you’ve stopped doing the things you’ve loved to do previously, so start doing those things again.

    3. Stop Self-Medicating

    Many people who deal with stress and anxiety will attempt to make themselves feel better by doing things that harm themselves even more. It’s definitely easier to fall into temptation when you are feeling down and worn out. If you find yourself stress-eating, camping out in front of your TV for hours, drinking, etc., it’s time to address this head on and stop killing your soul.

    This causes a cycle that is really, really hard to stop. The sooner you stop, the easier it will be.

    4. Watch What Goes into Your Mind

    This is really important. When you’re stressed out and your anxiety is through the roof, what do you turn to? Is it that TV show you know you shouldn’t be watching? Or maybe it’s that pornography website you keep turning back to.

    Philippians 4:8 says this: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”


    Paul is letting us know that what we put into our minds has a huge effect on us. It’s not just about emptying our minds of the wrong things, but filling our mind with the good.

    5. Don’t Neglect God

    Neglecting your relationship with God can harm your entire life. Turning to Him and allowing Him to renew your mind and spirit is going to be the fastest way to get your life back on track. No, your life isn’t going to magically turn around the day you start praying and turning away from your sins. Many times, it can get worse. But knowing that you have God on your side fighting this battle with you is so encouraging.

    You must make a habit of utilizing the power of prayer, the gift of the Scriptures and the support of Christian community who can help you discern the lies you are tempted to believe and who will remind you of who you truly are in Christ.

    6. Embrace your Brokenness

    Admit that you’re a broken human being. I mean, we all are. There’s so many blessings that can come from being in a place of brokenness. We can understand things that many who don’t deal with stress and anxiety, just can’t.

    “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take this suffering away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

    Hold onto the promises of God. There will be times it will feel impossible to even get out of bed in the morning. But keep trusting and holding onto God’s word with all of your strength. If you are walking through the valley of anxiety and stress right now, there is a way out. Don’t miss out on the blessings in your valley though, God is still with you and still fighting with you.

    Highs and Lows

    Our Highs and Lows design has a meaning that is very relatable for people who struggle with stress and anxiety. It symbolizes the fact that no matter what highs or lows come our way, God is bigger than it all and His presence remains constant. No matter the valley you are in, God is by your side. No matter how down and out you are, God is for you.

    Shop the collection

    12 Bible verses to lean on

    Colossians 3:15

    Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

    2 Thessalonians 3:16

    Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

    Psalm 55:22

    Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

    Proverbs 12:25

    Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

    1 Peter 5:6-8

    Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

    Psalm 23:4

    Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

    Hebrews 13:5-6

    Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

    Psalm 56:3

    When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

    Matthew 6:25-34

    “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

    Proverbs 3:5-6

    Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

    Romans 8:38-39

    For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Philippians 4:6-7

    Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

  • How To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

    How To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

    Would you ever tell a friend that she isn’t worthy in comparison to someone else? That her skills and abilities don’t measure up to the people around her? That she looks, behaves, or works worse than everyone else?

    Of course you wouldn’t! But consider all the times you’ve looked in the mirror and disliked what you saw, or all the times in which you yearned to be like someone else. Those things that you would never dare say to anyone else probably became pretty easy to say to yourself.

    “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

    When we compare ourselves to others, we essentially let these people become the dictators of our self-worth. If we’re better than them, we feel worthy, and if we’re worse, we feel worthless. But this could not be further from the truth!

    From the day you were knit together in the womb,God gave you a purpose. The same God who created the mountains and the seas looked at you and thought you were equally worthy of creation. How incredible is that?

    “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)

    You see, our worth comes from above – not from the world. The Lord created each and every one us in His perfect image, and there’s nothing we can do to increase or decrease our value in His eyes.

    In fact, when we believe we aren’t pretty or talented enough, we believe that He didn’t do a satisfactory job creating us. Imagine if you spent all this time intricately designing something only for it to be torn down by criticism. The hurt you would feel in this situation is the same hurt God feels every time you compare yourself – His beautiful creation – to others and feel inadequate.

    “But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” (2 Corinthians 10:12)

    So next time you find yourself comparing yourself to others, take a step back and remember that you were made perfect in God’s image. Know that your strengths and weakness were specifically tailored to you and your purpose in the world, and remind yourself of your heavenly worth. Any time a comparison-ridden thought pops into your head, pray for God to help you capture and surrender it to Him. It may seem difficult at the moment, but with time and God on your side, you can find freedom from comparison’s shackles.

  • A Faith Based Guide To Fear Of The Future

    A Faith Based Guide To Fear Of The Future

    It can be scary when your future is uncertain.

    Maybe you’re heading off to your first year of college, unsure of what the future away from home holds. Or maybe you’re in between jobs, anxious about where you’ll end up. Perhaps you’ve been agonizing over the release of test results that seemingly determine your future. Whatever it is, we can all agree that not knowing where we’ll be in a month, a year, or ten years from now can be pretty worry-inducing.

    While it’s hard to simply say “don’t worry” when facing this kind of uncertainty in our future, that’s exactly what God tells us to do. He reminds us over and over again of His control over our lives, of the fact that each new day has already been crafted by His loving hands. He tells us that He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. If we believe all this is true, then what reason do we have to worry?

    You see, often times our worrying stems from the fact that we don’t entirely trust God’s ability to handle things on His own. If we truly believed in His control- in His promises to bless us (Jeremiah 29:11), to provide for us (Matthew 6:25-33), to make everything happen in His perfect timing (Ecclesiastes 3:11)- then we would be able to face the future without fear, knowing that He’s got it.

    Here are just a handful of verses that illustrate why we should trust Him:

    Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

    Matthew 6:25–27: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

    Philippians 4:6-7: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

    Psalm 100:5: “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

    So next time you find yourself trying to tighten your control over the unknown, try instead to embrace it. Take comfort in the fact that your heavenly Father rules over your life with a love greater than you can imagine, and pray for Him to strengthen and grow your trust. When the worries do creep up, recognize their futility (as they have no power to change the future- only bring you down in the present) and practice surrendering them to God. They may not be easy to let go of at first, but with time and continued prayer, you’ll notice your grasp on them beginning to loosen.

    And if things don’t end up how you planned, don’t let it discourage you from continuing to trust in God’s control. It can be easy to feel like He may have forgotten about you, but just remember that He is always present in the waiting and is at work even when we least imagine it (see Lamentations 3:25, Isaiah 40:31, James 5:7-8, and James 1:2-3). Good things will come- sometimes it just takes some waiting or trials to get there.

  • How Elevated Faith Has Impacted Lives L Real Life Stories

    How Elevated Faith Has Impacted Lives L Real Life Stories

    We asked a group of individuals how Elevated Faith has impacted their lives and these are the responses we got back. We love hearing how Elevated Faith influences lives through our apparel, jewelry and more. Our goal is to lead others to Christ by creating conversation starters.


    Estelle de Vos    :     @stelliebellieboo

    “In October 2016 my grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer. On May 13th 2017, he was taken home into eternal glory. I miss him so much, but am also encouraged by the many people whose lives he has touched. Since he left, my family has heard many stories from people who were blessed in some ways by his life. Life most certainly hasn’t been easy since his passing, but God has helped my whole family to push through. What has helped me especially is a reminder that I constantly wear on my wrist “It is well with my soul”, every time I look down I am reminded of the lyrics of the old hymn. “When leave like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.” My grandfather loved this hymn, and I will forever wear this bracelet as a constant reminder of him, and Christ’s unfailing love.”

    Mallorie Masters: @mallorie_masters

    “Elevated Faith has not only given me even more boldness to share God’s word, but has given me much more confidence in MYSELF than ever!! I’ve always dreamed of repping a faith based brand like this and it’s given me so much joy to know that God heard that and was working out this opportunity when I thought he was being silent! Sending thankfulness and praises to you, Sweet Jesus, for blessing me with my best life!”

    Alexandra Dileo: @adileo9

    “I teach 8th grade English at a junior high school in Louisiana. I enjoy wearing my Elevated Faith t-shirt and arm bands often. It serves as a great conversation piece and way to share my faith with my students. I encourage them to stand strong in their faith and remember that “God IS greater than the highs and lows.”

    Elizabeth Jewett: @ellie__bellie

    “Elevated faith has changed my life! The bracelets I wear everyday (5 of them!) and the rings I have encourage me daily. The message behind them encourage me to chase after Jesus and find joy even on the hardest days. I’ve been able to give them to others and they have said the same! I love this company and the meaning behind them!”

    Marissa Phipps: @Marissa_Phipps19

    “Elevated faith has had an impact on my life because I can wear shirts that have a quote that relates to a bible verse and is always a great reminder of the truth! People always ask me what my shirt means and I always tell them the verse that it relates to and end up telling them about Jesus!”

    Rachel Ellington: @rayrae829

    “I have found I’m more open with my faith & what Christ means to me. I use the products as a way to grow myself & share with others :)”

    Lauren Terrell: @_lct_22

    “With the bracelet i got, i’ve had several people come up to me and ask about it. it started the conversation and allowed me to share the gospel in situations where, without Elevated Faith, I couldn’t have.”


    If you have a story to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We love hearing from others about how we have helped, or how we can help, you grow in your walk with the Lord!