Col 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
In the commentary for Col 1:17 this morning, I came across the following gem: “In this clause is attributed to our Lord, not only the creative act, but also the constant sustaining power….” This truth, that God is my center, that He holds me together, is not new, but it has me absolutely captivated this morning. I will not fall apart, no matter the situation, because He is holding me together. Thank You, Jesus!
Psalm 139:13 You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
When I reach out to people who are struggling, I always tell them that God is holding them in the palm of His hand. I mean it sincerely. But not only does He hold us, protect us, shelter and nurture us in the palm of His hand, He also holds our very being together. We won’t fall apart because He is sustaining us, holding us together. Thank You, Jesus!
Psalm 139:14 I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your love, which holds our very core together. I am a worrier, Lord, prone to fretting and anxious thoughts. Thank You for the surety that You are at my center, that You hold me together. Always. Thank You for Your constant sustaining power and for Your fierce and abiding love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You….
Have a blessed day.
Christ died for all…. (devo reflection)
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
The magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for me is astounding. The fact that, as He was being crucified, He was praying for the soldiers casting lots for His clothing, is beyond humbling. Christ died for us, not because WE are worthy but because HE is worthy. And He died for ALL of us, so that all of us have an opportunity to know Him, know His love for us, for ALL of us.
Romans 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly die.
Christ died for all—even those still in the midst of sin, those casting lots for His cloths. He died for all—even Peter, who denied Him three times, whom He KNEW would deny Him. He died for all. So why are we so quick to say who is worthy of His love and forgiveness? Jesus, Help us.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy, which surpass all human understanding. You tell us repeatedly in scripture to love one another as You love us, yet we insist on judging, qualifying, categorizing. Help us to truly love each other as You love us. Help us to serve each other as an extension of Your hands and feet, Your heart. Draw us all closer—to each other and to You. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Have a blessed day.
Always and through everything…. (devo refection)
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
I have read this section of scripture many times—in fact, I wrote a reflection centered around Phil 4:4 not that long ago—and yet, as I read this scripture this morning, I am captivated by the content, beginning with verse 7.
Phil 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
What do I need to do to feel the peace of God, which transcends all understanding? Instead of wasting time and energy with anxiety, which I’m incredibly guilty of, I need to go to God—prayerfully and with thanksgiving. I need to act with gentleness, with humility, and not forget that the Lord is near. Always. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. And I need to not get so caught up in worries, anxieties, hopes, fears, future plans that I lose sight of all I have right this minute because of my precious Savior. I need to rejoice in Him—His presence, His love, His mercy—always.
Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture, for the comfort and peace that comes from You, for the wisdom to see Your word with new eyes this morning. Thank You for all that I am and all that I have because I have You. Thank You for the ability to bring all of my hopes and fears to You, to lift them up and lay them down, to move confidently forward knowing that You are with me. Always and through everything. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Have a blessed day.
Personalizing scripture…. (devo reflection)
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers….
I have several books that talk about praying the scriptures for your children, books which recommend personalizing the scripture by putting in their names and the specific circumstances you are praying for into the scriptures you are praying. Those books came to mind when I read Romans 8:38-39 this morning, but more for me than for my children. I will tell anyone, unequivocally, that God loves them fiercely, that nothing they do—nothing—can ever change His mind about their worth and value to Him. And I mean it sincerely. But somehow, my caustic inner critic says the same does not apply to me. I know that that is a lie. Jesus, Help me.
Romans 8:39 …neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, what if I claim and personalize these verses in Romans? It might look something like this: For I am convinced that neither my errant thoughts nor my awkward actions, neither my insecurities nor my worries, neither my missteps nor my failures, neither my good intentions nor my missed opportunities, nor anything else in all creation, will change my Savior’s deep, fierce, merciful love for me. Thank You, Jesus.
Isaiah 43:1b “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the truth of Your unwavering love. We all have our quirks, Lord, our insecurities, our worries. We all struggle with feelings that love is conditional and that one mistake on our part could cause You to turn away, but we are Your deeply loved children, Lord. You have claimed us. You are with us. We are Your beloved. Help us, always, to believe, to trust, to live that truth. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Have a blessed day.
God is my strength…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 18:1 I love You, LORD, my strength.
My reading this morning took me to Psalms and this beautiful passage. I think Psalm 18:1 is the embodiment of both “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13) and “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). The verse, to me, seems a celebration of the fact that God is my strength and that I recognize and embrace that fact.
Psalm 18:2a The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer….
This verse puts me in mind of Rocky Face Park and the Vertical Mile Challenge, which has what at times feels like an interminable section straight up the side of a mountainous rock. While it takes determination and perseverance to traverse it, the rock itself is utterly solid, immovable, impenetrable. The images in this verse—my rock, my fortress, my deliverer—speak to the strength and safety that I find in my Savior. Even when the world feels like it is falling apart, I am safe in His arms. He’s got me. He’s holding me, shielding me, protecting me. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 18:2b …my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that You are my strength and my refuge. Thank You for holding me, always, especially in the midst of the chaos and storms of life. Thank You for being my strength, especially when my strength is gone. Thank You for preparing a place for me, for going before me, for never leaving me. Thank You for my rock-solid faith, for the assurance that I can always depend on You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 18:2c …my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Have a blessed day.
Regardless of my real or perceived failures…. (devo reflection)
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Growing up, I never really felt like I fit in. I wasn’t cool enough to fit in with the popular kids. I wasn’t smart enough to fit in with the intellectuals. I wasn’t athletic at all. So fitting in with the sports set was out of the question. Everywhere I turned, I felt the reverberations of being “not enough.” Help me, Jesus.
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
I’d love to say that I have shed the shame of feeling like I’m not enough, but it is something I continue to struggle with at times. The interesting difference now is that instead of not measuring up to the world’s perceived standards, it is my own caustic inner critic usually telling me I’m falling short in all the areas of my life. Thankfully, I have grown to understand that, regardless of my real or perceived failures, I am a deeply loved child of God. Right now. Exactly as I am. Thank You, Jesus.
Romans 8:39 …neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this reminder that You love me because I am Yours—not because of anything I have done or will do, not because of what I look like or what the world thinks of me. Help me to love others, all others, the way that You love me—completely and fiercely, simply because they are Your creations. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Have a blessed day.
Teach me to listen… (devo reflection)
1 Sam 3:8a A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
It would be easy for me to wax eloquently on today’s smart phone obsessed culture, to talk about those who are so wrapped up in their social media accounts or video games that they miss the Lord calling to them, and I do not think I would be totally off base if I did so, but today’s scripture hits much closer to home for me than that.
1 Sam 3:8b Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.
I begin each morning in my recliner with my coffee, my Savior, and His word. I usually spend an hour or two reading, praying, reflecting, writing. That time is crucial to my day, to my well-being, and I always feel closer to my Savior when I’ve finished. But I’m a routine kind of gal, my time with Him has a definite pattern, and if He tried to shake that up, I could definitely see myself responding, “Hang on a sec, Lord. Let me finish this thought first.” Jesus, Help me.
1 Sam 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You want to be an active, dynamic presence in our lives, that Your call should not be relegated to a comfortable routine. Thank You for the time that You spend with me each morning, Lord. Help me, always, to listen for and respond to Your call, no matter when, where, or how. Help me to hear Your voice, to heed Your direction. Teach me to listen, always, with an open mind, an open heart, and a willing attitude. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 11:15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.
Have a blessed day.
Justification…. (devo reflection)
Luke 10:29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (NIV)
I have read this section of scripture many times, but today I was struck by the fact that this lawyer wanted to justify himself. What, exactly, was he trying to justify? So I asked Google, which led me to a fascinating article on this passage written by a professor of Emory’s Chandler School of Theology. According to this professor, the lawyer wanted to justify that what he was doing—how he was acting, who he was helping—was enough. He wanted Jesus’s answer to allow him to pat himself on the back for living as his religion instructed. Instead, Jesus tells him the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Luke 10:29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (NLT)
The part of the explanation that has gripped me this morning lies in the fact that, according to this professor, Jesus wants the lawyer to see himself as the victim in the parable. I’ve always listened to the parable as an observer. Jesus wants the lawyer—and us—to see ourselves as the victim, face down in the ditch, passed by by those who should have helped, shown mercy by one who has every reason not to help. Think about lying beaten, face down in that ditch. Think about the most “undesirable,” “untouchable” person you can muster, one whom you would cross the street to avoid. In your time of need, that undesirable person, whom you would have avoided at all costs, is the only person who reached out, ministered to you, tended your wounds. That’s mercy. That’s grace. That’s love. That is how we are commanded to act.
Luke 10:36-37a Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture and commentary. The lawyer came to You seeking justification, a pat on the back. He walked away with renewed humility, a deepened understanding of mercy. I, too, walk away from this scripture with renewed humility, a deepened understanding of mercy. Help me to show Your humility and mercy to all those I meet. Draw me always closer. Amen.
Luke 10:37b Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Have a blessed day.
External trappings…. (devo reflection)
1 Peter 3:3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.
Sometimes I think we might all be better off if we could not see others before we interacted with them. We make so many snap judgements based on appearance alone. I wonder, if we spent time just talking, listening, without seeing and judging, would we be able to more clearly see into the heart? Would we be less likely to be tripped up by external trappings?
1 Peter 3:4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
These two verses from 1 Peter are specifically aimed at women, but I think the idea behind them transcends gender. God doesn’t want us so caught up in physical appearance that we neglect the heart. Sadly, so much of our culture seems focused solely on appearance and in such a destructive way—You aren’t pretty enough, skinny enough. You aren’t handsome enough, muscular enough. Jesus, Help us.
Psalm 139:14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that it’s what’s on the inside that is most important. Help us not to get caught up in external trappings. Help us not to make snap judgments. Help us to see each other through Your eyes. Help us to recognize the internal beauty that can only come from You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Eph 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Have a blessed day.
Humbling and powerful…. (devo reflection)
John 10:10 …I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Last night I went to see the Christian band Big Daddy Weave in concert. It is the second time I’ve been able to see them, the second time in a smaller, church venue, and the second time I had the distinct impression that their music comes from a place of deep love for their Savior. It was a humbling, powerful experience.
Rom 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
I was reminded during the concert that God, the Creator of the universe, the Savior of the world, loves us so deeply, so completely, that He refuses to force us into relationship with Him. He will go to the ends of the earth to find us, to save us, He sent His Son in exchange for our sins, but He will not force us into relationship. He lets us choose Him, which is both humbling and powerful.
Rom 2:4 …Don’t you know that the reason God is good to you is because He wants you to turn to Him?
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, Your deep and abiding love for us. Thank You for the heartfelt music and message from last night’s concert. Thank You for loving us so deeply, so fiercely, so completely. Thank You for going to the ends of the earth to find us, for leaving the 99 to save us, for allowing us to choose You, for the inherent beauty of that choice. Draw us closer. Amen.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Have a blessed day.