About This Blog

Hi, I’m Tracy Brackett!  I started this journey several years ago but almost no one knew it.  Those close to me knew I struggled with sleep…but a scarce number knew that frequent awakenings lead me to journal under a secluded light in unplanned hours of the night.  If I’m honest, those journaling times were unwanted.  On my prayer list was a restful sleep and an abundance of energy during daylight hours.  But it wasn’t so. 

Journaling has never been my strong point but the words flowed freely during those early morning hours, my pen struggling to keep up.  I would write until the thoughts left me, and when they left, they really left.  When the flowing was done, nothing flowed.  Silence. 

I would read the journal the next day and the teachable words would pop off the page.  Without fail, there would be a command…an area I was weak in…an area in which I needed to grow.  A message I knew was for me.  Really?  How can that be when I’m the one who wrote it?

Each message was written as if God was speaking to me Himself.  Perhaps, subconsciously, I was simply self-aware of the areas I was falling short of glorifying God in my walk as a Christian.  Though never exactly the same, the “messages” were often repetitive, a consistent reminder of where I needed to focus.  Or perhaps God was speaking to me through a combination of my conscience and the Holy Spirit that He placed within me.  However I came up with them, I believe God intended these messages for my good and for my growth.

My middle of the night journaling began in Oct 2011 and the thoughts stopped flowing in March 2015.  As I continued to read through the words written on those pages, it occurred to me that I was not the only one who needed to grow in those areas.  Others could benefit from the teachable words as well. 

My initial idea (and strong desire) was to anonymously publish a daily devotional.  I wanted to share with others without others knowing who I was.  It was safer that way.  Safer because I would not be accused of doing it for the attention it might bring.  Safer because I wouldn’t need to deal with critics.  Safer because I didn’t want people to know the messages were personal…that I personally struggled in the areas in which I wrote.  These fears were powerful. 

A Pastor from church discouraged me from producing an anonymous book.  People would disregard it.  People want an author.  At the same time, the scarce few who were in the know, including that Pastor, encouraged me to share the messages via a personal blog.  What?  Share this in full transparency with others?  Now that’s humbling.  The fear paralyzed me…so I delayed. 

“Fear is a Liar” (Zach Williams).  Fear and doubt are some of Satan’s best tactics.  If I am meant to share the messages so that others will also grow from them, it should be of no consequence how they make me look.  Reality is, I’m a sinner in need of a Savior, whether others see it or not.  We humans have something in common.  We all sin.  But Jesus died for our sins, every one of us.  The punishment we deserve for our sinful human tendencies was placed on Jesus and He freely took it in our place.  The penalty is paid.  All we need to do is accept His free gift of Grace and we are forgiven, yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Through Jesus, we can choose to be cleansed from our sins, transformed into a new person and become a child of God.  And this I have chosen. 

I pray my transparency will lead others to recognize their own human frailty and turn to the only One who can rescue.  As my dear friend, Debra Burton, once told me, “Only the things we do for God will endure.”

With Love,

Tracy