Hey guys! My goodness it has been long, yet it feels like I say that everytime! Anywho, today I was praying and I was really praying about different temptations I have been struggling with and then I stumbled upon this verse; it's Matthew 26:41, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." . Temptations are something that everyone struggles with, from gossiping, to a really tempting cupcake, or tempting drink...etc , but how do can we prepare ourselves for these temptations? Well in the first part it talks about watching and praying. I think the best thing is to be aware and admit that you are struggling with the temptations to yourself and then to God. Sometimes it is weird to tell God about your bad habits or not so great temptations in fear of condemnation, but that's the beautiful thing about a relationship with God is that he doesn't look down on us for sin because through Jesus Christ he can look at us will love and compassion. Also a great thing about to talking to God is it will take away such a heavy burden you've been carrying because of sin and honestly sometimes it just feels great to get stuff off your chest. For example today when I was talking to God I could gossip to him and tell him everything and I knew he would understand and be there to listen. That's another awesome thing about prayer is that you can talk anywhere, at anytime, about anything! So ya before I go on a huge tangent about who knows what I want to end this with saying how the more honest you are and the more you admit to God the closer you to will become. If you are mad at God tell him, is you are really struggling with a sin tell him, it is nothing he doesn't already know but by confessing it helps you to grow together in a healthy path. 

Love you guys and thanks for reading! 

Have I already told you guys that my senior year has been over the top busy? None the less, I apologize for my lame excuse and not posting in what seems like forever! Ok so this isn't going to be super long or detailed because it's late and I have 2 tests and a project tomorrow, but I want to encourage everyone to be overly nice to people this week, I have been studying the Beautitudes and one of them is loving your enemies and not judging. I feel like judging people is a MAJOR part of our culture today. It is so hard not to judge people whether it is because of appearance or morals or grades. I hope that I can learn to start looking through God's eyes to see everyone the same as he sees them. Also remember to be really nice, it is actually really fulfilling to be kind and sweet to people. I am extremely guilty of using excessive sarcasm but I am really trying to cut back and be positive towards everyone. People will notice and wonder why you are different and this will be a great witness opportunity without having to go way out on a limb or anything. Well hopefully I can upload a more in depth devotion in the next couple days! Sorry for how flaky I have been lately! Thanks for reading and Hope you all have a awesome week! 

Hello wonderful people! So I wanted to talk to everyone about finding your worth in who created you! It is important to remind ourselves that we are God's masterpiece, created in his imagine to glorify him! A lot of times, at least in my case,  I down play the importance of God's opinion. I think, "Well that's nice and all, but I won't be truly happy with myself until I look like so in so." Or another common thought is, "Why in the world did God make me like this, why did he give me these struggles, why isn't he answering my prayers, why isn't he helping me etc.".Then I found this SUPER cool verse, ok well I think it is super cool haha, it is Isaiah 29:16, "You turn things upside own, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, 'You did not make me'? Can the pot say to the potter, 'You know nothing"'? I mean wow, that hits close to home am I right?! I mean it is really humbling to read, to realize how ironic it is when we are demanding that God made a mistake. So I hope when reading this you guys realize where you are, what you are struggling with is making you unique to the purpose God has in store with your life. Also I don't want you to read that a lose hope that God's purpose is going to make your life miserable. Even though God's plan might not match up with your dreams and plans, that doesn't mean that you won't enjoy the life God has in store. God loves us, as I mentioned in the last devotional, we are God's children, he only wants what is best for us. So don't fret or be nervous (is that what fret means, my vocab isn't the best) that your life will be miserable because God's plan doesn't match up with your plans. It just means that God has something better in store. And in order to have peace in God's plan, we have to put all of our trust in God, it is like sacrificing our life to God and trusting he knows what is best. Once we do that life will be so fulfilling because we don't have to stress if what we are doing is wrong we just give God the wheel and trust that he knows where he is going.
Thanks for reading!
Till Next Time!
Morgan

Hey guys! I can't believe it has almost been a month since I have posted! Sorry!! Lifes been crazy and with school coming up and trying to squeeze in every last adventure possible! Anyways back to what we are here for...."Be still and know that I am with you." Pslam 46:10, there is nothing more encouraging than to think about the God of the universe by your side at every waking moment. Every time you are scared, tempted, worried, excited, and sad God is there. He is uplifting, comforting, and helping us along our journey. It almost gives me goose bumps when I think about it. I believe it is important for us to occasionally stand still, take a breath and remember that you are in the presence of the almighty God. The maker of the heavens and earth beside you through it all. This just takes a physical weight off my shoulders. With all of us starting school whether it be highschool, middle school, or college, with the school year comes stressful days and trials, but in the middle of the chaos don't forget to stop, breath and remember Gods plan, remember God made you and put you here for a purpose. Remember that nothing you can and ever will do will tear him from you. Take that as encouragement and motivation to keep going, instead of thinking bad of your sin and downfalls. God is there to help you up and keep you going.

Then you shall call and the Lord will answer; you shall cry and he will say, here I am.  Isaiah 58:9 If anyone out there is feeling down or sad I just want to remind you that God is there helping. When you cry out he is there he will never leave you nor forsake you. So remember to cry out ask him and pray because he cares for you. He loves you so dearly and has a plan and a purpose for your life. Keep perceiving through these struggles, but make sure to hold onto God in the process. When you do that the wait and pain is replaced with his peace and then there is nothing you can't do!  

Hello wonderful people! So I have reading in my bible lately and I haven't been reading the same thing it is always a different verse or different part or something. Anyways back to my point, I keep seeing verses where God says word for word that he WILL help us. For example, Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." This is one of my new favorite verses, I mean how cool is it that God says he will help you! The God that conquered the grave and leads armies of angels whats to help YOU with whatever you are struggling with. If God is on our side, what can stop us? More than just on our side, he is along side of us help and teaching us. As Philipians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength.". Lastly I will leave you with this verse, Pslam 121:2, "My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.". The God who MADE the earth and heavens, who created you and me desires to help us with every struggle and pain and even more than help he wants to get you through it! Ok I lied this is the last verse, in Philipians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." and honestly I am not worried about the riches of God's glory ever running out! Hope this brought some encouragement to you guys! Thanks for stopping by and taking time to read! Morgan Hykin

Hello wonderful people!  So this has been on my brain for a little while so I thought I would share. I believe for a lot of Christians, at least I know from personal experience, prayer can be a tricky balance between talking to a wish granting genie, bestie, and an all powerful ruler. I know I catch myself sometimes praying and after I finish a prayer, thinking about my words; and often they are all about me and my requests. It is hard to not get caught up it our "requests" we have for God. I remember in Sunday school they taught us to pray with an catchy acronym, which I can't remember (so maybe it wasn't so catchy). Although I do remember the point they were teaching. They said when we pray to 1. Praise God and all he is 2. Thank God for all he has blessed us with 3. others needs and struggles and lastly 4. ourselves in that order. When I started to pray like this it was so cool I would get lost in prayer it was awesome! I challenge you guys to start praying like this for a week or two and see if you notice a difference! Feel free to leave comments or email letting me know! Thanks for stopping by! Morgan.
My email is mhykin14@gmail.com