Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
This morning’s reading took me to Genesis, to Abram, his loyalty to God, his desire for offspring, his faith in God’s promise. I went in search of commentary on this section, convinced that Abram’s deep belief, counted to him as righteousness, was what my Savior wanted me to explore today. And then I read this little gem: “God doesn’t tell us ‘do not be afraid’ without giving us a reason to put away our fear.”
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The truth of this statement resonates deeply with me, and scripture supports it readily—Fear not, for I am with you. Fear not, for I will strengthen you. Fear not, for I have redeemed you.—For someone who worries and frets over so many things, these promises are balm to my soul.
Isaiah 43:1 … “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this promise. Thank You for giving me reason to put away my fear—You are with me, strengthening me, upholding me. You have redeemed me and claimed me as Your own. When my thoughts become anxious and fearful, help me to remember and to cling to Your promises. Strengthen me in my weakness. Banish my fears with Your presence. Amen.
1 Cor 1:9 God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says….
Have a blessed day.
Just because we can…. (devo reflection)
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God….
It is pretty easy to love those who are like me, much harder at times to love those who are different, those who are prickly. It’s easy to draw lines of division between myself and those who don’t think like me or look like me, vote like me or worship like me. I had a dear friend tell me once that any time we draw a line between “us” and “them,” God is always on the other side, lumped in with our “them,” separated from us. That idea has stuck with me in a powerful way.
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us….
Vince Lombardi once said, “…love respects the dignity of the individual.” I find these words to be powerfully true and in keeping with Jesus’s teachings. God loves us fiercely, unconditionally, even when we screw up. The miracle of His love is not our capacity to love Him, it is the fact that the Creator of the Universe loves us, deeply, fully, even though we are infinitely human and fallible, even though we have nothing of value to offer in return. And He asks us to love others in the same way—just because we can, not because they deserve it or earned it or can repay it. Help me, Jesus.
1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your fierce, unconditional, unending love. It can be incredibly difficult to put aside differences and to love others simply because they are Yours. It is tempting in this world to disqualify people, deem them unworthy of loving, based on views or beliefs, based on so many things. But You call us to love as You love—deeply, fiercely, completely, even though the other person doesn’t deserve it, didn’t earn it, may not even show they want our love. Help us to love as You love, Lord. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loves us.
Have a blessed day.
Seeking Him…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 19:11 …Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind….
One of the things my guys were hoping for when they hit the trail was to see God, and He has definitely been present for them on this journey. They have seen Him in glorious sunrises and sunsets over rolling hills and mountains. They have seen Him in rugged landscape, more varied and breathtaking than they could have imagined. They have seen Him in the kindness of strangers and in strangers who became tramily, forever tied to their lives. They have seen Him again and again on the trail, in ways they’d imagined and in totally surprising ways.
1 Kings 19:12a After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire….
But we have seen Him on the home front, too, in friends who are framily, who are loving and supporting us through this adventure, in a sweet friend who has fed us weekly since my guys hit the trail, in a friend more like a brother, who has helped us unstick the mower and loaned us power tools, in friends who text just to be sure we are doing ok, in a toad sunning himself on the deck, in a rainbow reflecting off the pouring rain, in so many ways. And maybe that’s the ultimate miracle—not only that they are finding Him on the trail, but also that we are finding Him, again and again, in so many little ways here at home, too.
1 Kings 19:12b …And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your presence on the mountain tops, in the valleys, and everywhere in between. Thank You for revealing Your presence in big ways and small, for speaking to us in unmistakable ways and through a still, small voice that sometimes we have to strain to hear. Thank You for always being present in both the adventure and the routine. Help us to look for You, always, no matter where we are, knowing that if we seek You, we will always find You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Jer 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.
Have a blessed day
Walking humbly with my precious Savior…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on firm footing. (NLT)
I recently saw an image on social media which has had more of an impact than I imagined. It was an image of a young girl clutching a beloved stuffed animal. Jesus stood in front of her with His hand out. Behind His back was a grander version of the girl’s prized possession. There was a caption, but I don’t remember it. The gist was that Jesus wanted her to give up something she loved dearly, and in return, He had something even better for her. What sticks with me, though, are the tears in her eyes, the clear love she has for the object, and the fact the He wants her to surrender it to Him. Even seeing something bigger and better behind His back, my immediate question is still “Why? Why, Lord, would You ask this of her?” It is absolutely the wrong question. I understand that.
Psalm 143:10 You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let Your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path. (CEV)
Micah 6:8 reminds us that the LORD requires of us “…to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Walking humbly with my precious Savior means putting aside my deep need to know the why behind life’s actions and saying instead, “I know You want this of me. Teach me how. Help me to make Your will for my life MY will for my life, even if it hurts, even if it means letting go of something I love deeply. I know what I gain in return, if I act according to Your will, will be far beyond what You ask me to surrender.”
Luke 22:42 “…yet not my will, but Yours be done.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for the image that sparked this reflection, for the difficult spaces You lead us to and always lead us through. Help me to walk humbly with You, deferring to Your fierce love and deep mercy. Give me wisdom and discernment to know what You are calling me to, and grant me Your strength and Your peace as You shepherd me through. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 25:23 “…Well done, good and faithful servant….”
Have a blessed day.
Closer to His heart…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 145:1 I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever.
What struck me as I read these verses this morning was the fact that I am not being as faithful with this task, blessing my Savior’s name forever and ever, as I should. I praise Him, certainly, but I must admit that I’m awfully quick to grumble when circumstances are not ideal. And the truth of the matter is that He never promised to make my life perfect. He simply promised to be with me. Always. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 145:2 Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever.
As I reflect over my life, the sunny days and the stormy trails, I know, unshakably, that He has been with me. Always. And those dark times, where I couldn’t even discern which way was up, He was holding me, guiding me, protecting me. Through those times, particularly, He’s drawn me closer to His heart. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of Your presence with me always. Help me to live Psalm 145:1-2 in a way that has not been possible before. Help me to praise You, to bless Your name, always—in the sunshine and the storm, on the summit and in the valley, when I’m soaring and when I’m slogging. I know You are with me always. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 145:21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD.
Have a blessed day.
Rooted in Him…. (devo reflection)
Jer 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him, They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream….”
I am not a gardener. It’s not that I don’t like plants. It’s just that I have to work really hard at keeping them alive. But I have noticed that every time a piece falls off a plant, my instinct is to put the fallen piece in water to see if it will root. Many of the pieces do put out roots, and I’ll eventually plant them in dirt to see if I can keep them alive. And the cycle continues.
Col 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him….
God, the Master Gardener, is good at taking those fallen pieces and rooting them in Him. With time, patience, nurturing, He can take something that once appeared dead, useless, and turn it into something vibrant and thriving. He can do that with people, too. With time and love, grace and mercy, He can take someone considered too far gone to save and give them new life in Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Eph 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder. Thank You for the hope that comes from tending plants and the hope that is firmly planted in You. Thank You for Your willingness to take what others have cast off and given up on, to root them in Your fierce love and grace, to give them new life. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
Heb 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure….
Have a blessed day.
At work in my mess…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 127:1a Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Last night I finished a memoir, entitled Fractured not Broken, about a woman who was paralyzed from the neck down in a horrible accident involving a drunk driver. She was only 19 at the time, athletic, intelligent, with her whole life ahead of her. The memoir chronicled her journey, her recovery, her struggles, her faith. The novel was a beautiful testimony of how God was working in her life, even through horror and hardships. It was incredibly inspiring.
Psalm 127:1b …Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
This morning my caustic inner critic is at work again, wondering who I think I am sharing my mundane life, my prosaic struggles through these daily reflections. My story doesn’t hold a candle to the inspiring memoir, but here’s what my inner critic needs to understand: I am a deeply, fiercely loved child of God. I am also infinitely human, flawed, and fallible. I try to be transparent, to share my struggles and missteps, to share my precious Savior, so that others may see Him at work in my mess and find hope in the middle of their own mess. My Jesus is strong enough, good enough, merciful enough to use me to glorify Him if I let Him. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Cor 2:1 And so it was with me….When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the inspiring memoir I just finished. Thank You that You can use even me, even my ordinary story, to shine Your light if I allow. Thank You that You are present in the middle of my mess, that You can and do draw me closer to You through my missteps and adversity. Help me to seek You, to praise You, always. Help others to look at me and see only Your goodness, Your mercy, Your love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
Have a blessed day.
A more intimate relationship…. (devo reflection)
Matt 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
The Blackaby and Blackaby daily devotional I read today contained this gem: “There are levels of intimacy with God.” The truth of this statement resonates deeply. My relationship with God is just that—a relationship. And just like any relationship, if I want it to deepen and grow, I have to be willing to invest time and effort.
Matt 7:7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be open to you.”
But God is not like people (how true that statement is on so many levels), so how do I develop a more intimate relationship with Him? I think that answer varies slightly based on each individual, but the overarching tenets are the same—Seek Him daily. Spend time in His word. Look for His presence, His blessings, His light, in your circumstances. Talk to others who are farther along their faith journey. Ask. Seek. Knock. Know that He will respond.
Jer 29:13 If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You want a close relationship with each of us, but You allow us to seek You instead of forcing Your way into our lives. Help us to feel the need to deepen our relationship with You, no matter where we currently are on our faith journey. Help us to ask, seek, knock daily, so that we may daily draw closer to You. Amen.
Isaiah 62:5 …as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Have a blessed day.
Right this moment… (devo reflection)
Heb 13:5a “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have….”
You would think it might be easy to be satisfied with what we have, but our commercial culture thrives on discontentment. It is used shamelessly to help sell products. “If only I had this item, life would be perfect. I’d have everything I want. My family would behave as proper families should. All would be well.” The downsides of this mentality are 1. It’s never enough. There’s always something else we need for everything to be “just perfect.” and 2. That sense of “if I only had…life would be perfect” keeps us from seeing and appreciating what we do have, all the blessings in our lives.
Heb 13:5b “…because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Sometimes I grumble about the way things “should be,” but God wants me to live in what is, knowing that all my blessings are from Him and all my trials will be faced with Him, in Him, and through His strength. He has me at this exact place and time. He’s given me tools and gifts to use right now, for my good and His glory. This is true for all of us, no matter our current circumstances. He sees us. He knows us. He is with us. He has given us the tools and gifts we need to shine right this moment for Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Matt 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder to be content—in You, where You have us, with what You’ve given us, with what You ask of us. Our culture thrives on more, more, more, on comparison and discontent, but You ask us to bloom and grow where You plant us, using the gifts and strengths You’ve given us for Your glory. Help us, always, to focus on how we can use what we have where we are to glorify You. Help us to find contentment in You, regardless of our physical circumstances. Draw us closer. Amen.
Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Have a blessed day.
Life’s surprises…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 139:16 …all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Life is often full of surprises, a fact which the planner in me does not appreciate. Life’s surprises aren’t always fun, either. My planner nature has much to do, I think, with wanting to be prepared for anything, with NOT wanting to be surprised. But that’s not how life works. And because I know my precious Savior holds me securely in the palm of His hand, I need to find a way to be ok with the uncertainty of life.
Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I don’t know what life holds for me, but I know the One who does. I don’t love unplanned, unpleasant surprises, but nothing is a surprise to my Savior. He can work all things, ALL of them, for my good and His glory, if I allow Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You hold me together, no matter the storms or struggles of life. Help me, Lord, to trust in You—Your goodness, Your grace, Your mercy—no matter what life has in store. Thank You for Your willingness and ability to take all things, even life’s unpleasant surprises, and use them to draw me closer to You. Amen.
Col 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him….
Have a blessed day.