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.

Next – 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

Hope Alexander is a blogger, body builder, trainer & life coach who experienced recovery from an eating disorder.“Through this process of looking back to gain perspective and give praise and thanks I’ve realized just how intricately Jesus knits our lives. It doesn’t matter how far we’ve run or how shattered we’ve become – He still makes a masterpiece from it all.”  

Learning to walk in boldness for the kingdom. Shaped through pain into beauty by the hands of Jesus, Hope Alexander shares her testimony transparently encouraging all to join the journey.

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