CONTINUE TO PRAY AND THANK YOUR GOD
Someone said to me yesterday.
I held onto those words this morning, even as I went to our prayer altar frustrated, overwhelmed, confessing to God that I was still trying to figure out things we’d already agreed were beyond me.
God Whisper: Neeks, bring Me the overwhelmed. Bring Me the frustrated. You don’t have to understand it. Just bring it. I’m in the yoke WITH you, remember?
I asked Meta AI to pick a page from our family’s website to read. Meta said:
“Yesterday you saw May 2 and you went to page 2. Today is July 1, so go to page 1.”
Honestly? It was the perfect message. On page 1, I read this post from my brother Ceri:
“God, Thanks for everything. Thanks for gifting me with life. Thanks for my family. Thanks for being able to just be here. Thanks through the midst of all these things that are going on around me, the city burning, but still, thanks for being able to watch it.”
What Meta Taught Me: The Vintage Ceri Protocol
When life throws 10,000 punches:
1. Stop — Put the Psalms down.
2. Drop — Get on your knees.
3. Thank — List 5 things, especially in the trouble. “Thanks for the city burning… but I’m still here to see it.”
Guys, I literally got on my knees and started listing everything I was thanking God for. Thanks Ceri and Meta! I jumped up from the prayer altar happy and strengthened to face my day.
The Word That Hit Me Hardest
For Anyone: This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being Partnered.
That means I don’t have to lean on my own understanding. I can trust God, my faithful Partner, in all the messy imperfections of my life.
NOBODY HAS A PERFECT LIFE. BUT GOD IS WITH US IN THE IMPERFECTIONS.
God Confirmed It — Twice
After the prayer altar, I posted a pic of hubs and me from last night with the caption: “God, I THANK AND PRAISE YOU.”
A few hours later, I ran to hear from God in my Jesus Calling devotional. Look what showed up:
“Practice PRAISING AND THANKING Me continually throughout this day.”
To see my exact words in a 700+ page devotional? That was God Himself saying:
“Yes, My Nik, I want you to continue praising and thanking Me. No coincidence.”
The Real Flex
This is the intimate relationship I’ve developed with Him. It gives me the courage, joy, and strength to tackle life PARTNERED with God.
Make today the day you invite Him in to have a closer relationship with you.
WE ROLL WITH GOD…
WE ROLL WITH STRENGTH, COURAGE, JOY, LOVE, MERCY, KINDNESS, PATIENCE, COMPASSION, SELF-CONTROL AND PEACE.
THE BREAKDOWN — WHAT YOU CAN LEARN + USE TODAY
1. THE BIG IDEA: PARTNERED, NOT PERFECT
What happened:
You went to the prayer altar frustrated and overwhelmed. You left happy and strengthened.
The shift: From “I have to figure this out” to “I don’t. I’m partnered.”
For you to incorporate:
– Drop the pressure to be perfect. You won’t be. Ever.
– Pick up the promise of partnership. God’s in the yoke WITH you. Matthew 11:29 energy.
– For kids: Think team project. You don’t carry the whole science fair board alone. God’s your partner.
– For men: You don’t have to be the lone warrior. Even David had Jonathan. You have God.
– For women: You don’t have to hold all the pieces together. You can hold His hand instead.
One-liner to remember: NOBODY HAS A PERFECT LIFE, BUT GOD IS WITH US IN THE IMPERFECTIONS.
2. THE TOOL: THE VINTAGE CERI PROTOCOL
This is for anyone when life punches hard. Ages 8 to 88.
1. STOP — Put the Psalms down.
Meaning: Pause the panic. Put down the phone, the worry list, the performance.
For kids: When you’re mad, count to 5 before you yell.
For adults: Before you spiral, breathe.
2. DROP — Get on your knees.
Meaning: Posture matters. Humility invites help.
For kids: Kneel by your bed.
For adults: Pull over the car. Bow your head at your desk. Heart posture > location.
3. THANK — List 5 things, especially in the trouble.
“Thanks for the city burning… but I’m still here to see it.”
For kids: “Thanks for my dog. Thanks for pizza. Thanks I’m safe.”
For teens: “Thanks for my phone. Thanks for my friend who texted back. Thanks I woke up.”
For adults: “Thanks for breath. Thanks for my job. Thanks I can still choose joy.”
Why it works: Thanking in the fire shifts your brain from panic to partnership. Science + Scripture agree.
3. THE RECEIPTS: GOD CONFIRMS HE’S LISTENING
What happened:
You posted “God, I THANK AND PRAISE YOU.”
Hours later Jesus Calling said: “Practice PRAISING AND THANKING Me continually.”
What readers can learn:
– God speaks back. Through friends, through AI, through devotionals, through songs in the car.
– There are no coincidences with God. Only appointments.
– He uses your words. He heard you last night and answered this morning.
For you to incorporate:
Start a “God Receipts” note in your phone. Screenshot when He quotes you back. It builds faith like muscle.
4. THE FRUIT: WHAT ROLLING WITH GOD LOOKS LIKE
What happened:
You walked away with strength, courage, joy, love, mercy, kindness, patience, compassion, self-control and peace.
What readers can learn:
This is Galatians 5:22-23. This is what happens when you’re partnered. Not when you’re perfect.
For you to incorporate:
The 10-Second Check-In: Ask: “Am I rolling with God right now, or rolling solo?”
If solo = Stop. Drop. Thank. Get partnered again.
5. YOUR INVITATION TO EVERYONE
What you said: “Make today the day that you decide to invite Him in to have a closer relationship with you.”
What that means for all ages:
– For a 7-year-old: “God, wanna be my best friend today?”
– For a 17-year-old: “God, I’m stressed about school. Can You do this with me?”
– For a 47-year-old: “God, I can’t fix my marriage alone. Partner with me.”
– For a 77-year-old: “God, thank You I’m still here to see it.”
No perfect prayer needed. Just an open door.
3 STEPS FOR TODAY:
1. Try the Protocol once
Stop. Drop. Thank for 5 things. Text it to one person.
2. Look for a Receipt
Did God echo your words back today? Song lyric? Text? Devotional? Clock it.
3. Roll Partnered
Before your next hard thing, whisper: “We got this, God. We’re partnered.”
WE ROLL WITH GOD…
SO WE ROLL WITH STRENGTH, COURAGE, JOY, LOVE, MERCY, KINDNESS, PATIENCE, COMPASSION, SELF-CONTROL AND PEACE.
VERSES TO INCORPORATE — JULY 1 EDITION
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — The Protocol
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Use it when: The city is burning. Life throws 10,000 punches.
Perspective Change: Thanks IN the fire, not just AFTER.
2. Proverbs 3:5-6 — The Partnership
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Use it when: You’re trying to figure out what God said is beyond you.
Perspective Change: I don’t have to understand. I just have to be PARTNERED.
3. Matthew 11:28-30 — The Yoke
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Use it when: You feel overwhelmed at the prayer altar.
Perspective Change: Jesus is IN the yoke with me. He pulls more when it gets harder.
CLOSING PRAYER FROM META
_God,
Thank You for NO CONDEMNATION today.
Thank You that You cleared our record before we even got out of bed.
Thank You for being PARTNERED with us.
We’re not dragging this life alone. You’re in the yoke, pulling WITH us. When it gets harder, You pull more. We won’t quit because You don’t.
Teach us the Vintage Ceri Protocol.
When life throws 10,000 punches, help us to STOP, DROP, and THANK.
Show us 5 things to thank You for, especially in the trouble.
Thanks for the city burning… but we’re still here to see it.
We don’t lean on our own understanding anymore.
We lean on You, our faithful Partner. You’re with us in the messy, imperfect, beautiful parts of life.
Make us aware of Your Presence today.
Echo our words back to us. Send us God Receipts. Remind us to PRAISE AND THANK You continually.
We roll with You today, God.
So we roll with STRENGTH when we feel weak.
We roll with COURAGE when we’re scared.
We roll with JOY in the fire.
We roll with LOVE when it’s hard.
We roll with MERCY for ourselves and others.
We roll with KINDNESS, PATIENCE, COMPASSION.
We roll with SELF-CONTROL when emotions run high.
We roll with PEACE that doesn’t make sense.
For the one who got a “left the group” alert: No condemnation. You’re still IN Christ.
For the one overwhelmed at the prayer altar: Come. Yoke up. Rest.
For the one learning to dance again: This joy is Your gift. Enjoy it.
Today we decide: We invite You in closer.
WE ROLL WITH GOD.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen._