I am excited to introduce today’s guest blogger, Hope Alexander. Hope is wise beyond her years, real and fearlessly herself. She loves Jesus with everything she has – it’s one of the reasons I wanted to feature her – she inspires me.
I first met Push Press Princess, aka Hope Alexander, on Instagram. I read her blog and became an immediate fan. I started following and was inspired by her encouraging posts.
When I decided to feature guest bloggers, I wanted to share writing I love and respect. People and writers whose words have touched my heart. This is God’s blog and you, readers, are important to me.
I am honored to host Hope Alexander’s words today. If you want to learn more about her, her story is additionally featured on the “Share Your Story” tab. Links to her blog and Instagram are provided at the end of this post. Let her words soak in and the Spirit speak to your heart.
I’m sitting here, trying to piece together something intelligent and kind for you. Orchestrating my thoughts into a sonnet.
My mind races at speeds that feel like 575 mph…how fast an airplane goes.
I stumbled across this picture in my photos and it fit the lighting in my soul tonight.
I felt the Lord nudging my heart.
Do you ever get that? When Jesus just tugs at your heart strings?
It felt as though I was asked, “Where are you?”
Not only that but,“Do you like where you’re sitting?”
See, the thing with Jesus is He doesn’t give us a ticket and tell us to sit in our assigned seat. He gives us a ticket and the free choice to sit wherever we like.
Sitting near or far from Him – we get that option.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the far away seats. Or after sitting so close for so long, moving back a row. And one row becomes ten. Suddenly, you don’t remember how to even walk down the aisle to sit near Jesus…or know if He even wants you close.
He does.
He wants you close.
He wants to take this plane ride of life with you.
He wants to be your life raft in the plane crash and guide you to safe shores. He wants to rub your back when turbulence makes you nauseous.
He wants you.
YOU: messy, broken, hurting, saddened, angry, lost or anything in between. He wants you. And even though you may be sitting in the farthest seats, you’re still loved.
So, what do we do when we find ourselves in the far seats, wanting to move forward but unsure how?
First – stop putting so much pressure on yourself to be some sort of perfect Christian.
I know I struggle immensely with this. “I need to do more… I need to read more… I need to prayer journal more…” I don’t know about you, but for me the list goes on and on. When this pressure is placed – the enemy uses it as a means of control. He uses it to put you into the mindset of inadequacy. Telling you what you do isn’t enough, so “why try?”
The truth: All Jesus wants is you.
If for today, that means sighing and saying, “okay, Lord, guide me today”, I promise you Jesus is smiling from ear to ear. He doesn’t expect perfection from you. He died and came back to fill that gap.
All Jesus wants is you. Click To TweetNext – speak out.
In the eyes of the world, verbalization is proven to boost confidence. In the eyes of Christianity, we know that speaking out holds hell shaking power.
Start praying out loud.
Begin to speak out in conversation with the Lord – I find myself doing this most when I’m driving.
Speak out your frustrations. Speak out your sadness. And on top of that – speak out against the enemy and his ploys in your life.
You hold the power of the Resurrected King inside of you – spill it out.
Last – Have grace.
Have grace for yourself. This ties into chaining yourself to that pressure to do more. You must walk in grace on your journey for the times when you fall. Why? Because He already does. He already washes you in grace – so why do you still view your reflection as filthy?
Washing yourself in truth and grace is a chain-breaking, heart quaking move toward closeness with Jesus.
If you would…journey with me?
His arms are open just for you.
He wants you – mess and all.
All my heart,
Push Press Princess

You can connect with Hope Alexander, aka Push Press Princess on her blog https://www.pushpressprincess.com/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pushpressprincess/?hl=en
Cathy Baker
July 13, 2018Hope, so many good things here but my favorite part is where you remind us to give grace to ourselves. Sometimes I’m the last person I extend it to and how can I share this hope with others if I don’t embrace it for myself? I enjoyed your writing!
Liz
July 15, 2018Hi Cathy! I love Hope’s heart too – thank you so much for reading and commenting. Her writing blesses me as well!
Hope
July 16, 2018Thank you so much! Grace is such a huge component of forward moving in faith. So glad you enjoyed the blog!
Emily
July 15, 2018Hi Hope (& Liz!) I read your post yesterday and appreciated it. I read it today and really needed it. Thank you for allowing the Lord to speak through you to me.
Hope
July 17, 2018That’s such a blessing to hear. He is so so good.
Lynn Blackburn
July 16, 2018Such a great visual of the airplane! The thing that got me the most was this line…
“Do you like where you’re sitting?”
I can so relate to that! And such a powerful point that we don’t have to do more (because I always tend to think that’s the solution!)
Thank you for sharing!
Grace & peace,
Lynn
Liz
July 16, 2018Hi Lynn! I related to that part too (do you like where you’re sitting?). Thank you for your great comment…Hope is an amazing young women.