https://www.struggletovictory.com Focus Determines Reality Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:07:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.struggletovictory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-sun-through-woods-scaled-1-32x32.jpg https://www.struggletovictory.com 32 32 https://www.struggletovictory.com/creation-connecting-with-creation/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/creation-connecting-with-creation/#respond Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:00:42 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10217 Why Nature? Research across psychology, neuroscience, and public health shows that spending time in nature has endless benefits. Those benefits include: Improved attention and memory – better focus and less mental fatigue Less stress and anxiety – lower cortisol levels and increased calm Reduced overall depression and mood disorders Better sleep quality Emotional resilience and […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/creation-connecting-with-creation/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/stillness-2/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/stillness-2/#respond Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:00:12 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10209 Stillness is not necessarily inactivity. It’s a mindset. A state where striving – trying hard to do, reach, or achieve – ceases and directed effort begins. It’s an inner state absent of vigorous pushing, a mindset free from fear. It’s trust that God puts himself between you and that which is trying to harm you. […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/stillness-2/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/your-red-sea-moment/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/your-red-sea-moment/#respond Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:00:26 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10205 This post was inspired by Psalm 106 as well as by the story of God’s faithfulness toward his people throughout the Old Testament. It’s the moment you compare all others to. The one that reminds you of exactly who God is in your life. The time when you were trapped and being pursued by the […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/your-red-sea-moment/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/summer-challenge/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/summer-challenge/#respond Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:00:42 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10199 Repetition Means Pay Attention Repetition alerts me to a pattern. A topic brought up by different people in a relatively short time frame, even if in very different contexts. A similar struggle seen in different and unconnected people. A theme in something I read, hear in a sermon or podcast, and watch in a television […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/summer-challenge/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/be-careful/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/be-careful/#respond Tue, 20 May 2025 10:00:22 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10190 In my recent season of being too busy, I just wanted time to think. Tired of reacting and letting circumstances control my day, I felt desperate to Set the Pace of my day instead of letting the day set my pace. Slow Productivity (Cal Newport) and 12 Rules for Life (Jordan Peterson) fed my desire […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/be-careful/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/stillness/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/stillness/#respond Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:34:56 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10184 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) Sometimes, probably often, we need to be still to know God is God. It’s not that we don’t think he is otherwise, but we don’t think about him as much when […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/stillness/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/the-comforter/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/the-comforter/#respond Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:00:24 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10176 Discomfort Discomfort is essential for growth. This is obvious. However, most of us also spend a lot of time either trying to eliminate or prevent discomfort. Agree or say nothing to avoid confrontation, Tell a white lie to avoid hurt feelings. Binge instead of exercising. Eat comfort food instead far more than healthy options. Scroll […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/the-comforter/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/faithfully-guided/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/faithfully-guided/#respond Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:00:08 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10165 Self-Development For many years, my self-development revolved around several themes. Balance and simplicity helped me become more stable. Focus aimed me toward stable growth. Connection and relationships slowly became priorities. Even with the significant time spent in these areas, I’m acutely aware of my need for more balance and simplicity, more focus and growth, and […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/faithfully-guided/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/set-your-pace/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/set-your-pace/#respond Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:00:11 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10161 “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) This isn’t a do-nothing stillness. It’s an active stillness where we do what we know to do but have peace because we know God is at work. It’s an inner stillness because we know he’s directing our lives. It’s peace that comes from following that […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/set-your-pace/feed/ 0 https://www.struggletovictory.com/rereading/ https://www.struggletovictory.com/rereading/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:00:18 +0000 https://www.struggletovictory.com/?p=10155 Favorite Books There are three fiction books I’ve read multiple times from cover to cover. Charlotte’s Web began my love for fantasy with its talking animals. Narnia expanded that interest by adding new worlds, magic, and struggle between good and evil. Lord of the Rings took it to another level with its quest for the […]]]> https://www.struggletovictory.com/rereading/feed/ 0