Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.