Luke 8:23 As they sailed, [Jesus] fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
In my recliner, with my Savior and my coffee, with quiet reigning and peace in my little world, it is very easy for me to critically judge the disciples. My mental conversation with the disciples in the boat goes something like this: ”Jesus was in the boat, people. He was taking a nap. If you truly believed He was sent to save the world (and why would you be following Him otherwise?), how can you be concerned about the storm? Jesus is WITH YOU. Get a clue, disciples.”
Luke 8:24a The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
And yet, when I am in the midst of my own storm, instead of on my safe, tranquil morning-island, with Jesus and coffee, panic is often my first response to life’s storms as well. “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matt 8:26). Help me, Jesus.
Luke 8:24b He got up and rebuked the wind and raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this perspective. Thank You for being with me in the calm, quiet moments, Lord, as well as through life’s storms. Help me to be able to tap into the calm of my daily morning time with You, even when besieged by turbulent storms. Help me to cling to You, to trust You, to know that I am safely sheltered in the palm of Your hand. Always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Luke 8:25 “Where is your faith?” He asked His disciples.
Have a blessed day.
When the going gets tough…. (devo reflection)
Romans 12:2a Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….
Sometimes God calls us to do difficult things. When the hubs and I felt His prompting for this incredible AT adventure, I don’t think we really had any concept of what He was calling us to do. It has been an amazing journey thus far, but it has had its challenges—both on the trail and on the home front. But God is good, He is with us, and He can use all things for our good and His glory. Thank You, Jesus.
Romans 12:2b …Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
There is so very much that I don’t know, don’t understand about my amazing Savior, but I know He has promised to be with me always (Matt 28:20); I know He has a plan for me (Jer 29:11), and I know I will find Him when I seek Him with my whole heart (Jer 29:13). Even when I’m struggling, I know these truths and I can trust them because the one who promised is faithful (Heb 10:23). Thank You, Jesus.
1 Thess 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for the promises of Your word, for Your fierce love and Your plan for each of us. Help us, even when the going gets tough, even when we are struggling in the present moment, to keep our eyes, minds, and hearts focused solely on You. Help us to be thankful in ALL circumstances, Lord, knowing that You are sovereign and can use all things, even the difficult things, for our good and Your glory (Rom 8:28). Draw us closer. Help us to shine Your light. Amen.
Col 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.
Have a blessed day.
Rooted in Him…. (devo reflection)
2 John 1:9 …The one abiding in the teaching [of Christ], this one has both the Father and the Son.
It is no secret that I operate by routine. The biggest part of my morning routine for the last five or more years has been rooted in bible study, prayer, reading, and reflection. This daily routine, accomplished before anyone else in my house is stirring (usually), helps me root myself, anchor my day, in my beloved Savior. Thank You, Jesus.
John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
This morning I did not stick with my routine. I had an obligation that had to be completed at a specific time, and I just didn’t set an alarm to allow for study, prayer, and reflection beforehand. The result was that my morning felt off. I was a bit on edge, a bit grumpy, a bit short tempered. Of course, there are many variables that could account for the change in mood, but I sincerely believe that NOT beginning my morning rooted in My Savior played a huge role. Help me, Jesus.
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for sitting with me quietly each morning, for whispering Your truth to my heart. Thank You for the peace that comes with abiding in You daily and for never being too busy to take time for me. Thank You for loving me more than I could ever deserve. Help me to show others Your deep love. Draw us closer. Amen.
John 15:23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching, and We will come to them and make Our home with them.”
Have a blessed day.
Handling the naysayers…. (devo reflection)
John 6:41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Jesus faced critics. He faced those who thought, derisively, “Who does He think He is?!? That’s Joseph and Mary’s Son. There’s nothing special about Him!” When I am struggling with those who are putting me down, who are questioning why I think I have a right to do something, my compassionate Savior understands because He has lived it Himself. Thank You, Jesus.
John 6:42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He say, ‘I came down from heaven‘?”
As I reread these verses this morning, I am struck by the way He handles the naysayers. I internalize everything. The doubts others express become doubts I feel I have to wade through, to justify. But not my precious Savior. He knows who He is. He knows Whose He is. His reaction is much more of a “shake the dust off your feet” (Luke 9:5) instead of a “take the doubts to heart and struggle with your identity.” Thank You, Jesus.
John 6:43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for such a positive example of how to handle doubters, especially when we are engaged in Your kingdom work. There is so much that I don’t know, Lord, so much that I don’t understand, but I know that You love me fiercely. I know that You want me to show others Your love, especially those who don’t understand it, who don’t realize they can’t earn it or be worthy of it, that Your love is Your gift to Your children, freely and lavishly given. Give me strength to tell others. Draw me closer. Amen.
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them….
Have a blessed day.
Pearls of wisdom…. (devo reflection)
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did. (NIV)
There is so much packed in this verse. The commentary* provides two pearls of wisdom I want to explore further. The first is: “To be or abide in God or in Christ implies an habitual condition….” In other words, if we are truly abiding, residing, in Christ, then it’s not just something we do when we feel like. It is a continual state, meaning that just like Jesus on the Mount of Olives, we pray, continually, “…not My will but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus, Help me.
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. (BSB)
The other pearl contained in the commentary* on this verse states: “Christian love teaches us to value our brother’s soul….” So, who is my brother? In Matt 12:50, Jesus says, “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” But Jesus repeatedly goes out of His way to tell others about His Father (Remember the woman at the well? The prisoner crucified at His right hand? The soldiers, casting lots, that He prayed for at His death?) God is love. Jesus is love. They want us to value their creation, all those with life. Jesus, Help me.
1 John 2:6 If we say we are His, we must follow the example of Christ. (CEV)
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture, for the reminder that abiding in You is a way of life, not a whim. Help me to keep my pride in check so that in every circumstance I can seek Your will instead of my own. Help me to look past my prejudices and to see You in all those around me. Help me to treat them with unconditional positive regard, to treat all others with the same loving care with which You have always treated me. Help me to follow Your example, to do as You have done for me. Draw me closer. Amen.
John 13:15 I have set an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
Have a blessed day.
*The commentary referred to in this reflection is from BibleHub.com for 1 John 2:6 and can be found by following this link. Scroll to the bottom and look at both the Pulpit Commentary and the Matthew Henry Commentary.
Spiritual maturity is a process…. (devo refletion)
Col 1:28 He is the One we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
I am not the same person I was in my youth. Physically, I have grown and matured. Mentally, I have as well. I learned, often through trial and error—mine and others—what I will accept, what I feel is the right thing to do. That’s how you mature—you end up in a situation, you figure out how to move forward, you evaluate the outcome, the positives and negatives, decide if you would do things the same way again. There is no exact formula. It is entirely an individual experience, often a process of trial and error.
Col 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him….
Spiritual maturity is a process as well, uniquely individual, full of trial and error, lots of opportunities for growth. Those situations where I feel utterly powerless to act in my circumstances are usually the ones that lead to much growth because I learn, again and again through my weakness, that God is the source of my strength, that I can lean on Him, that I can trust Him completely. Thank You, Jesus.
Col 2:7 …rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the fact that I am not the same person—physically, mentally, spiritually—that I was. Help me continue to grow in my faith, no matter my circumstances. Help me to trust You and to lean into You always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Have a blessed day.
Constant sustaining power…. (devo reflection)
Col 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
In the commentary for Col 1:17 this morning, I came across the following gem: “In this clause is attributed to our Lord, not only the creative act, but also the constant sustaining power….” This truth, that God is my center, that He holds me together, is not new, but it has me absolutely captivated this morning. I will not fall apart, no matter the situation, because He is holding me together. Thank You, Jesus!
Psalm 139:13 You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
When I reach out to people who are struggling, I always tell them that God is holding them in the palm of His hand. I mean it sincerely. But not only does He hold us, protect us, shelter and nurture us in the palm of His hand, He also holds our very being together. We won’t fall apart because He is sustaining us, holding us together. Thank You, Jesus!
Psalm 139:14 I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your love, which holds our very core together. I am a worrier, Lord, prone to fretting and anxious thoughts. Thank You for the surety that You are at my center, that You hold me together. Always. Thank You for Your constant sustaining power and for Your fierce and abiding love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You….
Have a blessed day.
Christ died for all…. (devo reflection)
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
The magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for me is astounding. The fact that, as He was being crucified, He was praying for the soldiers casting lots for His clothing, is beyond humbling. Christ died for us, not because WE are worthy but because HE is worthy. And He died for ALL of us, so that all of us have an opportunity to know Him, know His love for us, for ALL of us.
Romans 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly die.
Christ died for all—even those still in the midst of sin, those casting lots for His cloths. He died for all—even Peter, who denied Him three times, whom He KNEW would deny Him. He died for all. So why are we so quick to say who is worthy of His love and forgiveness? Jesus, Help us.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy, which surpass all human understanding. You tell us repeatedly in scripture to love one another as You love us, yet we insist on judging, qualifying, categorizing. Help us to truly love each other as You love us. Help us to serve each other as an extension of Your hands and feet, Your heart. Draw us all closer—to each other and to You. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Have a blessed day.
Always and through everything…. (devo refection)
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
I have read this section of scripture many times—in fact, I wrote a reflection centered around Phil 4:4 not that long ago—and yet, as I read this scripture this morning, I am captivated by the content, beginning with verse 7.
Phil 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
What do I need to do to feel the peace of God, which transcends all understanding? Instead of wasting time and energy with anxiety, which I’m incredibly guilty of, I need to go to God—prayerfully and with thanksgiving. I need to act with gentleness, with humility, and not forget that the Lord is near. Always. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. And I need to not get so caught up in worries, anxieties, hopes, fears, future plans that I lose sight of all I have right this minute because of my precious Savior. I need to rejoice in Him—His presence, His love, His mercy—always.
Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture, for the comfort and peace that comes from You, for the wisdom to see Your word with new eyes this morning. Thank You for all that I am and all that I have because I have You. Thank You for the ability to bring all of my hopes and fears to You, to lift them up and lay them down, to move confidently forward knowing that You are with me. Always and through everything. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 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.
Personalizing scripture…. (devo reflection)
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers….
I have several books that talk about praying the scriptures for your children, books which recommend personalizing the scripture by putting in their names and the specific circumstances you are praying for into the scriptures you are praying. Those books came to mind when I read Romans 8:38-39 this morning, but more for me than for my children. I will tell anyone, unequivocally, that God loves them fiercely, that nothing they do—nothing—can ever change His mind about their worth and value to Him. And I mean it sincerely. But somehow, my caustic inner critic says the same does not apply to me. I know that that is a lie. Jesus, Help me.
Romans 8:39 …neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, what if I claim and personalize these verses in Romans? It might look something like this: For I am convinced that neither my errant thoughts nor my awkward actions, neither my insecurities nor my worries, neither my missteps nor my failures, neither my good intentions nor my missed opportunities, nor anything else in all creation, will change my Savior’s deep, fierce, merciful love for me. Thank You, Jesus.
Isaiah 43:1b “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the truth of Your unwavering love. We all have our quirks, Lord, our insecurities, our worries. We all struggle with feelings that love is conditional and that one mistake on our part could cause You to turn away, but we are Your deeply loved children, Lord. You have claimed us. You are with us. We are Your beloved. Help us, always, to believe, to trust, to live that truth. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Have a blessed day.