It's Time to Soar

Written By Carol McLeod

MEET KAREN MOORE

A Note from Carol: I love giving some of my friends a voice on the Joy for the Journey blog. I can’t wait to share this post from Karen Moore. She is the author of more than one hundred inspirational and devotional books. Her most recent book, published with BroadStreet Publishing, is called Prayers to Strengthen Your Soul. This daily devotional offers prayers to help readers draw near to God and find strength in His presence. You can find the book on Amazon, and all places where Christian books are sold. Karen is available to speak to women’s groups and invites you to subscribe to her free blog called Turning Up the Light at www.karenmooreauthor.com. 

Imagine a big colorful balloon. It is perfectly designed to fly. It was created with every possibility to float high and travel far. It’s flexible and brilliant… ready to live up to its full potential. Today, though, it’s limp and empty and it can’t get off the ground. What’s going on?

It needs one more thing…air! It needs to be pumped up, and filled to the brim with possibility so it can ride on the wind.

Have you ever felt deflated, like you’ve simply run out of air? Maybe you’ve been working hard, and you’re just worn out. Maybe you feel emotionally drained by situations with your family or friends. Maybe, you don’t even know what’s wrong. If so, God has an answer and He’s ready to help you right now.

The Spirit of God is the breath of life, the Source of every possibility. It inspires your soul and pumps you up, lifting you higher and higher as you trust God to work within you.

As it says in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

You simply need to connect with Him. 

God knows what you need and wants to help you live and move and breathe in His amazing spirit. When you do, you’ll suddenly feel lighter than air, brighter than you have for a long time. You’ll be lifted up on the fresh breezes that are blowing your way and sending you into infinite possibilities. God wants you to soar.

What Are Some Ways You Can Soar?

  • You can invite God into your life every morning, spending time with Him in private conversation, sharing your heart and listening for His guidance.

  • You can look for one new way to worship Him as you do your chores, head to work, or make your plans.

  • You can share His love with one other person, telling them a story of just how God has shown up for you in difficult situations, helping you to trust Him in all you do.

  • You can ask God for a deeper measure of His Spirit so that you can feel His presence all around you as you go about your day.

  • You can pray for people who are not yet aware of God’s love and grace and mercy so that they may be awakened to His amazing presence.

  • You can give God praise that you are wonderfully, skillfully, lovingly made which means you can do incredible things to serve Him with all your heart, mind, and soul.

  • You can ask God to forgive those sins of commission and omission that keep you from being your best self, blocking your path, stealing your energy, and causing you to feel deflated.

Getting Ready to Fly

If you’re feeling a bit lifeless, barely able to navigate the ground under your feet, much less, take off and fly, then it’s time for a new direction. Align yourself more closely with God’s design, His intention for your life. How?


Trust…that God knows everything about you and loves you more than you can understand.

Trust…that God has great plans for your life and wants all things to work together for your good.

Trust…that you are designed perfectly and are fully equipped to do those things that are part of your purpose.

Trust…that God wants more for you than you want for yourself and that He will never leave you without resources and options.

Trust…that you are right where you are meant to be, surrounded by people who care about you and want you to succeed.

When you trust God with all your heart, mind and soul, His peace will fill up all your empty spaces and set you at ease. You’ll feel energized and lighthearted, stronger and more carefree. In fact, the more you embrace God’s plans for your life, the better, the brighter, the warmer, and the more dynamic you’ll feel. You’ll feel the bounce in your step and joy will color your cheeks.

Floating on the Wind

Go to God in prayer and ask Him to pump you up, and fill you with His Spirit, so you can rise up and be counted, ready to be all you were meant to be. You may not even recognize yourself, but that smile on your face will help everyone else see that something has changed. 

You’ve got something working within you that makes a difference. Do you feel it? Oh, yes, that’s it! You’ve been filled to the brim with God’s precious spirit, His love and the air of possibility. It’s your day to fly. Keep soaring! 

Scripture prayer:

I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
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