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Every moment of every day…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 43 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

For my church’s daily devos, we are in 1 Kings 19 this week. Elijah is at the end of himself. God tells him to go stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for He is about to pass by. Elijah witnesses a powerful, shattering wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord isn’t in any of these things. He is in a gentle whisper.

Isaiah 43:6a I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ …

In Isaiah 43:1, God says, “Do not fear.” In verse 5, He says, “Do not be afraid.” Then He proceeds to talk about the four points on a compass, reminding us that He is for us and is with us everywhere. But sometimes we forget that everywhere doesn’t just mean the big, tumultuous moments. He is with us in the quiet whispers, too.

Isaiah 43:6b …Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

Lord, Help me to look for You in every moment of every day–the big, loud, obvious moments as well as the quiet, subdued, easy-to-miss moments. You are there. Help me to trust and not be afraid. Always. Amen.

Isaiah 43:7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Have a blessed day.

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Precious and honored…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 43:3a For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

As much comfort as the first two verses of Isaiah 43 brings me because of the reminder of God’s presence with me always, verses 3 and 4 make me a bit uncomfortable because it sounds like God is exchanging others for me. Commentary that I can find skirts around this particular exchange and focuses on the parts that bring me comfort and joy–God’s presence, His love, even in trials.

Isaiah 43:3b …I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

The God that I serve is not an either–or God. He doesn’t knock someone out of His favor to have room for me. His Son left the 99 to save the 1, I cannot fathom God making that exchange in reverse: whole countries in exchange for me. So what’s going on here? I wish I knew.

Isaiah 43:4a Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…

Lord, Thank You for the comfort that I find in Isaiah 43. Thank You for the reassurances and reminders it entails. Thank You that I can find comfort and peace even if I still have questions. Thank You for being a God who allows me to question and struggle and seek so that my relationship with You is real and solid and eternal. Thank You. Amen.

Isaiah 43:4b …I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.

Have a blessed day.

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God’s got me…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 43:2a When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…

I struggle with the fact that bad things happen to good people, bad things happen to people who don’t deserve it, bad things don’t always have an explanation, a reason, a rationale.

Isaiah 43:2b …and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…

But Isaiah 1 doesn’t hide the fact that bad things happen. Isaiah 1 simply reminds us that when bad things happen, we do not need to fear because God is with us and we are His deeply loved children.

Isaiah 43:2c …When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned…

Lord, I struggle when bad things happen for no discernible reason. Thank You for the reminder that I am Your fiercely loved child, that You are with me always, even when bad things happen, That I have no need to fear because You’ve got me, no matter what. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 43:2d …the flames will not set you ablaze.

Have a blessed day.

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Relationship and connection…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 43:1a But now, this is what the Lord says—

What I like about these verses is the relationship, the connection that the Lord expresses. This is the Lord who created us, who formed us. He is telling us not to fear. Why? He has redeemed us, called us by name. We are His.

Isaiah 43:1b …he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel…

That doesn’t mean an easy life for us without trouble. It just means that even when trouble comes, we are not alone. He is with us. Why? He has redeemed us, called us by name. We are His.

Isaiah 43:1c …“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you…

Lord, To know that You created me, You redeemed me, You claim me, You are with me….Always, is such a gift. Thank You. I believe so fully, Lord. Help me to trust. Amen.

Isaiah 43:1d …I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Have a blessed day.

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Trust and contentment…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Today’s reading said, “Accept each day just as it comes to you. Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances. Instead, trust Me enough…” On this first workday of the new school year, these words are sorely needed.

Philippians 4:11b …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  

How often have I wasted my time wishing a situation were different? As I mentioned yesterday, my attitude determines what I will find in each day. If I approach this day with dread, I’ll only find negativity. If I approach this day with trust, looking for good, looking for God, I’ll find Him everywhere I turn.

Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Precious Savior, You know I struggle with trust… But I do trust You. I do trust Your promises… that You are with me always, that You are making a way in my wilderness, that You can use me exactly where I am right this moment. Help me to stop wasting time and energy and to live fully into this day that You have made. You are with me. You’ve got me. Thank You. Amen.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Have a blessed day.

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Think about such things…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:8a Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true… 

Our thoughts are powerful. What we spend our mental energy thinking about will shape our day. Have you ever noticed that when you are in a terrible mood, when you think someone is being mean or snarky, you suddenly find negativity everywhere? That happens to me.

Philippians 4:8b …whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure… 

But when I look for good, when I look for God, when I look for blessings, they are everywhere, too. Give it a try. Look for the good in your day. Look for “Godwinks,” where God is showing you He’s present.. Look for positive things and people. Be a positive person, putting good into the world. Truly, the benefits are startling.

Philippians 4:8c …whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—

Lord, Help me to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy in this day. Help me to put good into the world and to look for the good. I know that when I look for it, when I look for You, I find You everywhere I look. Help me to be a positive force for You today. Amen.

Philippians 4:8d …if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Have a blessed day.

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All that burdens my heart…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

This morning this verse fills me with joy. Why am I rejoicing? Why am I unafraid to let my gentleness be evident to all? Because the Lord is near. He is with me. He promised never to leave me nor forsake me. How often do I lose sight of that fact?

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

When anxiety is great within me, God’s comfort brings me joy (Psalm 94:19). I allow myself to be overwhelmed and anxious at the least provocation, yet all I have to do is present my requests, my worries, my doubts, fears, resentments, all of it to God. Give them to Him. Put them at His feet. Leave them there. Be prayerful and thankful.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

Lord, I make life so difficult at times. I stew in anxiety and fear, when You are with me, right beside me, waiting, hoping, that I will turn to You, that I will give my worries and fears to You, that I will come to You with thanksgiving and prayer and give all that burdens my heart to You. Help me, Jesus. Allow me to give my burdens to You so that my heart and mind may be guarded by Your peace, which transcends all understanding. Amen.

Philippians 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.

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Have faith and hang on…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 5:6 That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: 

Today’s verses make me bitter, angry, and frustrated. Moses and Aaron tried to get time for Sabbath for the Israelites, and Pharaoh increased the work needed (make the same number of bricks, but find your own straw). The Israelites, including Moses and Aaron, are frustrated, and I don’t blame them.

Exodus 5:7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 

But God has a plan, one that they don’t know and can’t understand. One that requires some harshness and unpleasantness to be endured. God is making a way in their wilderness, even if they can’t yet perceive it. They just need to have faith and hang on. That’s often easier said than done.

Exodus 5:8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 

Lord, I want life to be fair. It’s not. I want obedience to You to be easy. Also, not. What I need is to trust You–Your plan, Your timing, Your sovereignty. Always. Help me to trust. Help me to obey. Help me to endure. Help me to shine Your light. Always. Amen.

Exodus 5:9 Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

Have a blessed day.

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Being vs Doing…. (devo reflection)

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

I often get caught up in the idea that my worth, my value is in what I do, not who I am. If you were struggling with that idea, I’d tell you it’s bananas. Your life is of worth. Period. Full stop. But for some reason, I feel like my own value is connected to my productivity and output.

Genesis 2:2a By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing…

But when my worth becomes only my output, I become a cog in the machine, easily replaceable, easily replaced. But my life, my spirit, my being cannot be duplicated. It is unique and irreplaceable. It is valuable just because it is. And so it is with you.

Genesis 2:2b …so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

Lord, It is so easy to get caught up in the hamster wheel of life, cranking out work, nose to the grindstone. And while what we do is valuable and important, it isn’t who we are. We are Your deeply loved children. Our spirits need rest. Our souls need tending. Help me never to forget that I am a human BEING, uniquely created by You, and I need to nurture my spirit, to rest, renew, and reconnect with You daily. Amen.

Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Have a blessed day.

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A time of worship, rest, and renewal… (devo reflection)

Matthew 12:9-10 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

The Pharisees in today’s scripture aren’t concerned with keeping the Sabbath. They want to trap Jesus, to arrest and kill Him. This scripture seems the ultimate example of getting so far away from the spirit of the law that you’ve totally missed the point.

Matthew 12:11-12 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Sabbath is about rest and reconnection. Mark 2:27 reminds us, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” which tells me that we are the ones who need Sabbath, who need intentional rest and reconnection so that we can be our best, most authentic selves.

Matthew 12:13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 

Precious Savior, Forgive me when I try to use Your word to ensnare instead of edify. Forgive me when I get so caught up in how others are breaking Sabbath that I neglect my own rest and reconnection with You. Help me to make my Sabbath a time of worship, rest, and renewal…whatever helps my soul to rest in and reconnect with You. Amen.

Matthew 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

Have a blessed day.