Today as I was writing a card to a friend a verse came to mind that felt timely for both them and me: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). My journey as a leader over the last several months has been a series of hills and valleys. With each slow climb out of the valley, I have found myself focusing more on the negative (my own deficiencies) rather than the joy that’s rooted in a steady focus on God. I have a tendency to look ahead at where I’m not instead of obeying what He is calling me to right now. I often miss the point that who I focus on today impacts where I am further down the trail. Today, I feel the Lord calling me to a place of freedom…not just freedom from things like stress and worry, but freedom to living in His joy and peace. This freedom only comes by the Spirit, by spending time with Him. The longer I abide in Him, the more I trust Him. The more I trust Him, the less concerned I am about what’s in this life for me. Admittedly, I am not great at following through on commitments I make only to myself (hello “I vow to eat less and exercise more”), but I will spend the next 30 days journaling about an insight God has shared with me, not focusing on myself but on His character and wisdom. Lord, please illuminate my heart and mind so that my life is a reflection of You.