How Do You Spell????
A Story About the Battle in Our Minds and the God Who Renews Us

How Do You Spell????

Every Thursday at 2:00 was the moment my palms began to sweat.

I was in 3rd grade — hair pulled back in a ponytail, sitting on the edge of my seat, pencil sharpened and ready, mouth silent, the smell of a portable classroom in the air, ears perked up to hear my teacher.

“Number 1. Turf. The football player ran on the turf. Turf.”

(My brain chatter: Terf… Terff… Turf… Turff… ahh which one is it?! Oh no, she’s already on number

2! Think, Hannah, think!)

“Number 2. Surprise. The boy could not believe the surprise that happened that day. Surprise.”

(My brain chatter: I’ll come back to tirf… seprize… saprize… suprize… uhhh what is wrong with you,

Hannah? You studied! Why are you doubting yourself?! Stay focused…)

Okay — you get the idea.

Spelling was not my strong suit (and I'll be honest, it still isn’t), which is the irony of God

using me to communicate, write, coach, and lead others in preteen discipleship.
(God really does have a sense of humor — I truly believe it!)

Maybe you caught it, maybe you didn’t.

But in my thoughts I told myself: “What is wrong with you? Why are you doubting yourself?”

We all do this.

And if we’re honest, we still do — not once, but multiple times a day.

And if I was in third grade already telling myself these things… and I still struggle with them

today… I can only imagine what my kids are telling themselves in a world of constant technology, rapid

news, and loud outside influences.

2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds me:“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I’ve read books, listened to podcasts, gone to counseling, attended conferences, breakouts,

trainings — and I’m grateful for all of it. But honestly...

It is still REALLY hard.

The battle in my mind is a daily one.

And if I want to stay healthy and be the best version of myself for those I love and lead,
I can’t ignore it.

Maybe that battle is very real for you, too.

But here’s the good news — the good news of Jesus.

Strongholds are things we battle daily. The brokenness, the deceit, the schemes the enemy uses to

“steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10).

BUT…

Jesus.

God doesn’t leave me alone in this battle.

He sent Jesus so that through Him — by believing in Him and choosing to live according to His

ways — I am redeemed.

In September of 2024, I began a new rhythm.
A new journey.
One I am forever grateful for.
One I cannot live without.
One that has changed my life and will continue shaping my God-given days.

It has made me a better version of me — so I can be more Christ-like for those I love and lead.

I crave it.

I need it.

I desire it.

I fight for it.

I am committed to it: Every single day, I spend time with God.

My husband jokes that I look like Belle from Beauty and the Beast with my stack of quiet-time

books — and honestly, I don’t mind. I love my time with the Lord.

The rhythm looks like this:

I begin with prayer from a book I love (Prayers of Rest by Asheritah Ciuciu — highly recommend!).

I journal how I feel at the start of the day — to process what I’m carrying and place it at the feet of Jesus.

I follow with truth from Scripture — writing down what God says is true, His Word shapes my thoughts.

I note three things I’m thankful for.

Then I write out prayers I want to lift up to God and pray for the day ahead.

After that, I read a devotional passage and a Scripture to meditate on

Ending with journaling a final reflection on what God is revealing to me in this moment.

You might be thinking:

“Okay, that’s great, Hannah.”

“Good for you.”

“Do you want a gold star for being the best quiet-timer of the year?”

Ha! Far from it.

I share these habits because of how deeply they have transformed me this past few years.

I am not the same person I was — because Christ is changing me.

And my deepest desire is that He would do the same for you.

Because when Christ shapes me as a parent, that shapes how God forms my children —

especially my preteen.

This summer, the cutest thing happened.

My 5-year-old asked,

“Mommy, can you get my rocking chair out of my room and take it into your room?”

I asked, “Why??”

She replied,

“I want to take my journal and Bible in there when I wake up and do my quiet time with you.”

Cue the heart-melting mom moment.

“Of course, sweetheart.”

I will never forget the memory of us sipping coffee and milk from “real mugs,” spending time

with God — on our own, yet together. 
It starts with you.

Do it because you want a new life in Christ.

Do it because you want a Christ-modeled life for your kids.

God’s promises are true.

His faithfulness is never failing.

His love is always there.

It’s a parenting choice we all have to make.

And even though it’s hard…

It will be worth it.