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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.

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More present, more thankful, more grateful…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 55:1a “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money!… 

During the school year, I am a planner (with a backup plan and a contingency plan just in case). It helps me to effectively move students from point A to point B through the semester. Summers are more laid back, but today’s verses struck me because how I read them during the summer and during the school year is vastly different. Therefore, what God can show me is different.

Isaiah 55:1b …Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!

God has been teaching me to trust this summer–Trust His timing. Trust His plan. Trust His ways. So many things haven’t worked according to my plan, but I am more present, more thankful, more grateful because of it. I really hope I can learn to take this mindset with me into the new school year.

Isaiah 55:2a Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good?

Lord, Thank you for the way that You created me, fearfully and wonderfully. Thank You that You can use my gifts and strengths in so many ways for Your glory. Thank You that You’ve allowed me to experience you in a totally different way this summer than I can during the school year. Help me take that mindset shift with me into the classroom, too. Amen.

Isaiah 55:2b …Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.

Have a blessed day.

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Traveling Mercies…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

As I’m typing this, I’m sitting in the airport. We boarded a flight in Anchorage at 1am this morning, and we’ve finally made it home-adjacent….four time zones and a lot of hours later.

2 Peter 3:8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with
the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

And as I sit here waiting, I’ve thought about this long travel day and all of the blessings sprinkled throughout: a man who had an upholstery business for 40 years and fixed my bag’s busted zipper, a gorgeous pink sky as we flew our first leg, so many smooth flights, the sweet little toddler who smiled and waved as I was stewing about how stinking long it was taking to retrieve this checked bag.

Ephesians 5:16 Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Lord, Teach me to number my days. Give me a heart of wisdom. Help me spend and invest time wisely, with an attitude of grace and love. Thank You for reminding me to pay attention to You, always, because You are always there. Amen.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Have a blessed evening.

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God’s glorious handiwork…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 29:1a Honor the LORD, you heavenly beings…

I have seen some of the most amazing views this past week—mountain peaks, blooming flowers, rushing streams. I have had the time, I have taken the time, to slow down, to marvel and appreciate God’s amazing handiwork.

Psalm 29:1b …honor the LORD for his glory and strength.

Vacation often works like that—allowing me to slow down, to marvel. But God is present in my everyday life, too. Sometimes I marvel—rainbows, sunrises and sunsets, but more often, I am so busy doing that I fail to notice and appreciate like I should.

Psalm 29:2a Honor the LORD for the glory of his name….

Father of all Creation, Thank You for Your glorious handiwork on this earth. Help me, daily, to marvel and appreciate Your goodness. Amen.

Psalm 29:2b …Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Have a blessed day.

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God’s thoughts…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 139:17a How precious to me are your thoughts, a God!…

Lord, I wonder what you think about. I know from scripture that Your thoughts are nothing like my thoughts. I know that You care about things on a much larger scale than I can imagine.

Psalm 139:17b …How vast is the sum of them!

But I also know that You care about each of Your children. You’ve got Your eye on the sparrow, so I know You care about me, too.

Psalm 139:18a Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—

Lord, it’s easy to feel like I can get lost in the shuffle, like with all You’ve got on Your plate, there’s no way You have time to think about me, too. Thank You for the certain knowledge that You care deeply for me. Help me to care for Your people the way You care for me. Amen.

Psalm 139:18b …when I awake, I am still with you.

Have a blessed day.

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Grace upon grace (devo reflection)

Psalm 139:13a For you created my inmost being….

Lord, We are quirky, idiosyncratic people. Help us to give ourselves and each other grace upon grace, knowing that You created us, knit us together, that we are uniquely and wonderfully made by You.

Psalm 139:13b …you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Lord, Help us to be slow to judge, quick to love, quick to forgive. Help us to be patient, kind, and compassion towards ourselves and each other.

Psalm 139:14a I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made….

Lord, Your works are wonderful, we know that full well. And we *are* Your works, even when we forget, even when we lose patience, even when we are disgruntled and angry. Help us to love ourselves and each other the way You love us. Completely and always. Amen.

Psalm 139:14b …your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Have a blessed evening.