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The spirit of Sabbath…. (devo reflection)

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

My church has been focusing on the theme of the Sabbath in this week’s devotional reflections, which has always been an interesting subject to me. Of course, you don’t mow grass on Sundays, but fishing is ok, right? Golf is fine because it’s leisure. And of course I can exercise. Running/walking…that’s not work. And we’ve got to eat, so cooking is ok, right?

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

It quickly becomes clear to me that legalese won’t work for the Sabbath. Each person needs to create a Sunday culture that allows them to disengage from the world and reconnect with the Savior. Doing that requires intent and intentionality, but it is possible.

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

Lord, I want to be intentional about connecting with You on the Sabbath. I don’t want to get lost in trying to follow the world’s “Sabbath Rules,” I don’t want to get caught up in legalese, I don’t want to lose the spirit of Sabbath–rest in Your presence. Help me, Jesus. 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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Humbling myself…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 37:39a The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord…

In my mind, when I read these verses, I see two groups fighting each other–verbally, physically, doesn’t matter. Each group thinks it’s right, it’s righteous. There is righteous anger, righteous indignation. God doesn’t seem to be present anywhere, but attitudes of righteousness abound. That is not what God has in mind.

Psalm 37:39b …he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

“[S]alvation…comes from the Lord….he is their stronghold…The Lord helps…and delivers them…because they take refuge in him.” If we are to cling to His words, then it (life, the fight, whatever) can’t be about us. If there is an attitude of “how dare you treat me like this,” the fight is not for God. Humility has to come into play. God is bigger, greater, more important than our pride.

Psalm 37:40a The Lord helps them and delivers them…

Lord, I know that I must humble myself before You, and yet, my pride, my desire for acknowledgement and recognition keep getting in the way. In order for You to be my stronghold, I must take refuge in You. In order to take refuge, I must give up my pride and humble myself. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 37:40b …he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Have a blessed day.

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Only in Christ…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 37:34a Hope in the Lord and keep his way…

As I begin to set my cap for a new school year, I feel the familiar anxiety of needing to perform, of hoping that others recognize and understand all that I do for my students, how much I truly care about them, and I know that yet again I have fallen short of what my Savior is calling me to do, which is rest in Him alone.

Psalm 37:34b …He will exalt you to inherit the land…

Colossians 3:23 reminds me that, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters….” This anxiety I already feel? That is not from God. And the perfectionist in me wants to berate myself for Still. Not. Getting. It. But the beloved child of God knows that I can’t do this life without my Savior, so there is no need to even pretend I can.

Psalm 37:34c …when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it….

Lord, Once again I find myself trying to measure up in the eyes of the world. I can never measure up in that way, and I truly don’t want to. Help me to focus on You. Help me to work at all things as though working only for You. Help me to find my value, my worth, my peace–not in this world, but only in You. Amen.

Psalm 27:14 Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!

Have a blessed day.

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Stumbling through life…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 37:23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

I so desperately want to hear, when I meet my Maker, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” though when I look at myself, I see all the human, fallible, messy parts. On the one hand, I don’t think I ever have to worry about getting too far away from God because I need him so desperately. On the other hand, shouldn’t I be better able to navigate life on my own by now?

Psalm 37:24 though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Verse 24 brings me hope because it makes me feel like stumbling isn’t failure. I’ll be honest, at this point in life, I don’t consider falling failure as long as I keep getting back up. And it never takes me long to realize my need for my Savior as I stumble through life. I know I can’t do this life by my own strength.

1 Samuel 2:9 He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.

Lord, Thank You for reminding me that stumbling happens, that falling happens, but that You are upholding me, so as long as I keep getting back up, You will help me move closer to You. Help me, always, get back up–no matter how long it takes, no matter how bad the fall, no matter what. You’ve got me. You are with me. Thank You. Amen.

Psalm 40:2 He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

Have a blessed day.

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Commit, trust, be still, wait patiently, refrain, do not fret, hope…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this…

Commit, trust, be still, wait patiently, refrain, do not fret, hope…. I feel like this is a mantra I need to commit to memory. Today’s reflection began with the words “Understanding will never bring you peace.” Frustrating but true. Peace comes from committing, trusting, being still, waiting patiently, refraining, not fretting, hoping….

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…

Lord, Sometimes I cause myself such heartache by trying to understand. Help me to navigate the line between digging deeper, seeking, understanding and trusting, being still, waiting patiently, refraining, not fretting, hoping. You created me to ask “Why,” but You also created me to rest in You. Help me to understand when I’m going too far in the questioning and not resting in You as intended.

Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Lord, Thank You that Your word brings me peace. Thank You that every day I feel like I draw just a tiny bit closer to You, that I understand You and myself just a little bit better. Help me to be who You created me to be. Help me to seek and question while also trusting and hoping in You. Amen.

Psalm 37:9b …those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

Have a blessed day.

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Content in the Lord…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 37:1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;

“Do not fret…or be envious….” “Trust in the Lord….” “Take delight in the Lord….” If I could just heed those words right there, I would be able to breathe freer, rest easier. It’s not even that I’m fretting over those who are evil or envious of those who do wrong. I feel….forgotten, unnoticed, and that leads to all kinds of bad things mentally.

Psalm 37:2 …for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

A wise friend would tell me to get over myself, and she’s not wrong. I would do well to take Colossians 3:23 to heart: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” What I need is to be content in the job that I am doing, no matter what. I know I am where God wants me. I know I am doing good work for Him. That’s all I need.

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Precious Savior, It’s when I feel I need acknowledgement from human masters that I get myself in trouble. That feeling that I need recognition makes me fret and causes me to be envious. I want to trust in You and delight in You, Lord. I want to encourage others and to not be envious. Help me to focus solely on You and what You would have me do. It is enough. Amen.

Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Have a blessed day.

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You will live in joy and peace…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 55:12a You will live in joy and peace….

Verse 12 feels a little like a scene in a campy Disney movie, with singing hills and clapping trees, but the idea of living in joy and peace, resting sure in the knowledge that the Lord’s ways are different than mine, His thoughts are beyond my own, He’s in control and I can rest….that is such a beautiful idea.

Isaiah 55:12b …The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

Isaiah 43:19 has been a touchstone for me for some years. The idea that God is already making a way in my wilderness, even though all I see is dead ends? That brings me peace. But today’s verses are saying essentially the same thing. I see what is. God sees what can be, what will be. I have to trust Him.

Isaiah 55:13a Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up….

Lord, I am a firm believer in seeking You. Thank You for the reminder that just because I can’t see or imagine how You will work in a situation does mean You cannot, will not, are not already working. Help me not to limit You. Help me to trust You always so that I can live fully in Your joy and peace. Amen.

Isaiah 55:13b …These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

Have a blessed day.

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The words that I choose…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 55:10a “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth….

I love both this analogy and the fact that God desires our understanding so much that sometimes He tries to put the mysteries of the universe into comparisons we can grasp. Some of my other reading this morning talked about the impact of my own words on others, and it strikes me that this analogy is fitting there as well.

Isaiah 55:10b …They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

Positive, uplifting words are a balm. They nurture and support. Negative, bitter words (words that I find all too often on my tongue) are like acid rain. They coat and soak in just like rain, but their effect is corrosive and deadly. But I have a choice about the words that I choose, the words that I use. I am not a helpless victim to what comes out of my mouth.

Isaiah 55:11a It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit….

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that words are important, they can bring life. Thank You for the reminder that my words have impact, and that I need to be sure the words that I use edify and nourish, instead of corroding the spirit. Help me root myself in You, Lord. Always. Amen.

Isaiah 55:11b …It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Have a blessed day.

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Leaving room for amazing…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 55:8a “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD….

I am a very concrete person. I can’t really envision or imagine. As an artist in high school, I could faithfully reproduce what I saw, but I couldn’t create and draw something just from imagination. I am a huge fan of interior design shows, but again, I can appreciate the transformations after the fact, but I can’t really see the potential of a wrecked space beforehand.

Isaiah 55:8b …“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

All of this comes to mind when I read today’s verses. Because I know I can’t imagine the possibilities like those above, I understand what God is saying here, but I still have a hard time letting go and letting God have control…even though I am well aware that I lack the insight and imagination to take control myself.

Isaiah 55:9a For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways…

Lord, Thank You for showing me yet again that Your thoughts are higher, Your ways are far beyond anything I am capable of imagining. Help me to let go of my tendency to plow ahead, thinking that I have all the answers and know exactly where a situation needs to go. Help me to leave room for You to show up in amazing ways. Amen.

Isaiah 55:9b …and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Have a blessed day.

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Even in the chaos…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 55:3a “Come to me with your ears wide open.

God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. That means that even when things feel like they are falling apart, God is still firmly in control. He’s with us, even in the chaos.

Isaiah 55:3b …Listen, and you will find life….

Unfortunately, when I am in that type of situation, my posture is more accusatory (Where are You, God?!?) and less seeking (I know You are with me, God, even now. Help me to see You.)

Isaiah 55:3c …I will make an everlasting covenant with you….

Lord, Help me to approach every situation seeking You. You are always with me, even when things feel like they are falling apart. Help me seek You. Help me see You. Always. Amen.

Isaiah 55:3d …I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.

Have a blessed day.