From Exhaustion to Elevation
Brooke Ligertwood’s Tips for a Fruitful Faith Journey
Family responsibilities, pressures from work and the challenges of daily life can sometimes overshadow our spiritual journey and hinder consistency in our connection with God. But Brooke Ligertwood, renowned recording artist and worship leader, offers you some encouragement, even during life’s most trying seasons.
Life has seasons – moments of joy, periods of waiting and times of overwhelming challenges. Brooke recalls the early days after her eldest daughter’s birth, a period marked by exhaustion and feelings of inadequacy. “When my eldest daughter was born, we had a rough time for the first few months. I’d be awake at three or four in the morning. I hadn’t slept for days at that point. And I remember holding my baby and feeling like I was already failing.” Yet, even in those moments, she turned to God, saying, “Jesus, I want to spend time with you right now. And if I’m going to be awake right now, I want this time to be effective.”
Psalm 145:18, assures us that God is always accessible, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (NIV).
One of the most profound revelations from Brooke’s story is the idea of resting in God’s presence. She shares, “I just really sensed the Lord say, ‘Just sit with me. Just be with me.’”
Our relationship with God isn’t about ticking off boxes or fulfilling rituals. It’s about genuine connection. Jesus himself invites us into this rest, saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). He wants you to experience the beauty of simply being with Him, receiving His love and finding solace in His presence.
“It’s about being in with the One who loves us and is always ready to receive us.”
Consistency in our faith journey is vital. Brooke emphasizes the importance of daily practices to foster this connection. “Even beginning the day with ‘Good morning, Jesus,’ and then, you continue that with it throughout the day. You find those places, and you schedule in those practices to have deliberate time, like time in the Word every day is so important.”
1 Chronicles 16:11, encourages us to “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually,” (NIV).
The power of habits in spiritual growth is a beacon for all Christ followers. So, how do you form a habit? Brooke says, “You make a decision. You make a decision again, then you make it again and then you make it again. Sometimes you’ll fail to make the decision. So then you make the decision again, but eventually you form a habit.”
“All of us have habits that we need to get out of,” Brooke continues. “And habits are continually formed. As we go through life, once those spiritual disciplines and practices of prayer and the word become habits at our lives, they feel as natural as breathing.”
By consistently making decisions that align with faith, spiritual disciplines become a part of us, drawing us closer to God. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (NIV).
Your faith journey isn’t just personal; it has the power to inspire those around you.
Brooke and her husband prioritize making their faith visible to their children. “It’s easy for us to read the Bible on our phones. But we became aware [our children] don’t know the difference between when we’re reading the Bible on a phone, when we’re looking at Instagram or when we’re doing work. And so just even the practice of making sure our physical Bibles are around the house and they see us reading our physical Bibles.”
Matthew 5:16 instructs you to “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (NIV).
Brooke smiles, “And my child going to kindergarten just learned to use to read this year. One sweet thing for me has been, after we put her to bed at night, I’ve been finding her reading her Bible on her own, which has been so sweet. And I hope that’s because we created an environment where [Bible reading] is celebrated in her home.”
May Brooke’s story encourage you to ensure that your relationship with God remains at the forefront, no matter the challenges you face.
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