Author: Beth Duncan

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Throughout my life, I have struggled with periods that I called “blue funks,” times where nothing specific is wrong, yet everything feels wrong. My default during those times is always to “Count my blessings, name them one by one.” I mentally name all the blessings I can think of: breath in my lungs, a roof over my head, family who loves me, friends who care, my precious Savior.
Deut 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you….
Even now, I sometimes struggle with “blue funks,” this past week being a prime example. They seem to happen more often when I try to relax. Relaxing seems lazy somehow. Being productive is what makes me useful and valuable to those around me. But my precious Savior is whispering to my heart, “I don’t need anything from you but your presence. I created you. I love you. And I want you to know the depth and breadth of My love, but you can only experience that by spending time with Me.” Jesus, Help me to focus on relationship with You instead of activity for the world.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your fierce love, for pursuing me relentlessly, for desiring that I spend time in Your presence, that I take time to know You better. Help me to understand that activity is useful only as it draws me closer to You. Help me to get better at being still in Your presence. Help me to praise You, always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for You….
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 30:2 Lord my God, I called to You for help, and You healed me.
It has been a week. I’m still struggling with the grumpy-whiny-s, which I despise. I’m still struggling with exhaustion—not “I’m getting sick” exhaustion or “I have a chronic condition” exhaustion, but just garden variety “I’m tired of being tired” exhaustion. Lord, I don’t like feeling this way, and I think that when I get this way, I’m not as effective for You, but here is where I am and here is where You can use me if I let You, so, please, Jesus, take the whiny, imperfect mess that I am and use all of me to shine for You.
Psalm 30:5b …weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
I need to show myself the grace that my precious Savior so compassionately lavishes on me. I’m just in a slump, a low place. I do not like it. I do not intend to stay here. But here is where I currently am, and I know my Savior is right beside me, holding me in the palm of His hand, loving me as completely and fiercely as always. I am ok, I will be ok, because He is still my precious Savior and I am still His beloved child. Thank You, Jesus. Help me continue to praise You with my whole heart.
Psalm 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your grace and mercy, for the understanding that I need to be more compassionate with myself, especially when I struggle. Thank You for Your presence, for Your encouragement, for Your steadfast love. Thank You for Your willingness and ability to use me regardless of my circumstances. Thank You for joy and peace that can only come from You. Draw me closer. Help me always to shine Your light. Amen.
Psalm 30:12 …that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise You forever.
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 4:1 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me….?”
It would be easy to spout off a looong list of weaknesses and failings in my life that should disqualify me from use by God. There are so very, very, very many reasons that He should not use me, that I am not a good choice. But our precious Savior understands that perfection is not a requirement for effective use. It is possible that those who allow themselves to be used by Him despite all the reasons why that seems an illogical choice are even more effective than those who feel perfectly capable of doing God’s will. I know that anything good that ever comes from my words is to His credit, not mine.
Exodus 4:10 Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon Your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent…. I am slow if speech and tongue.”
Allowing yourself to be used by God can be as simple as daily sharing your weaknesses and missteps and how your precious Savior is present in the midst of it all. Every morning I expose my soft underbelly, highlighting my shortcomings and failures, so that I can show how my amazing Savior is present and sovereign and loving in my life. I am completely unqualified to be used by Him, and yet I know He uses me to give others hope in the midst of life’s chaos, to point others to His love and grace. Thank You, Jesus.
Exodus 6:30 But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You don’t need us to be prefect to use us in Your service. You just need us to be willing to be used, to put ourselves out there for You. Give all those reading this reflection hope and courage, Lord. Help us, daily, to share with each other how we see You working in our lives, despite our human weaknesses. Allow us to be bold for You. Help us to shine Your light. Draw us closer. Amen.
2 Cor 12:9 … “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” …
Have a blessed day.

John 6:41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about Him….
Precious Savior, Thank You for meeting me here each morning, for loving me fiercely, for reminding me that You see me, You know me, You understand my struggles, You care, You are with me. You know that in my heart I am still grumbly, still struggling—with re-entry into the workweek, with feelings of frustration that I try so hard to reach others and it feels like no one even notices my effort. Thank You for hearing my frustration and for reminding me that I am working for You and not for human masters.
John 6:42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?….”
Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that You are holy and sovereign. I never want to reduce Your power in my life. Even when I’m grumpy and grumbly, I never want to doubt Your goodness. Thank You for the reminder that You have placed me where I am, that You have a job for me to do, that what I do daily DOES make a difference, even if I can’t yet perceive it. Thank You for taking the time to remind me of all these things.
John 6:43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.
Precious Savior, Thank You for this day and for once again calling me out on my attitude. Thank You for loving me too much to leave me where I am and for noticing my efforts for You. Thank You for seeing me, for knowing me, for reassuring me to keep on keeping on for Your sake. Create in me a clean heart, Lord. Renew a right spirit within me. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters….
Have a blessed day.

Phil 2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing….
Sometimes God’s reminders to me make me chuckle. This morning’s scripture is one such example. You’ll remember my grumpiness yesterday, my trouble shifting from vacation mode to work mode. Today’s scripture seems to be one more reminder, one more attitude check, one more assurance that He has a plan and a purpose for me and for my work and that I should park my grumpiness. 
Phil 2:15a …so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”…
It is just so easy to whine and complain, though. So many people tend to point out the negative. It seems to be the default in this life. But without fail, when I can shut off the negative noise and begin to focus on the positive, there is always so much that is beautifully positive in each day. That shift in focus is part of shining Gods light in this dark and weary world.
Phil 2:15b-16a …Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for the reminder that You are with me always and that I need to keep my attitude in check. Complaining is so easy, Lord, and so many are eager to join in. Help me to rise above the negative and shine for You, to hold firmly to Your words of life, to always be mindful of my divine purpose in You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 2:16b …And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Have a blessed day.

2 Kings 4:2 … “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”
This morning I find myself grumpy and cynical. Today is the first day back after Spring Break, and instead of being thankful for the rest, I’m greedy for more time off. My precious Savior sees me. He knows my heart, and He sent me to 2 Kings this morning as a reminder of His goodness and provision.  Jesus, Thank You for Your loving care, even when my attitude needs adjusting.
2 Kings 4:6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
Cynicism might have prompted the widow to ask, “Why am I gathering so many empty vessels? Clearly, I don’t have that much oil!” But she asked in earnest sincerity and acted out of faith. Had she had more vessels, I have no doubt the oil would have continued to flow. Because she acted out of faith, the LORD provided. Thank You, Jesus, for the reminder of all that can be done through faith.
2 Kings 4:7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the ability to relax and recharge over the break. Thank You for Your fierce love, even when I’m cranky and cynical. Thank You for the reminder of the widow’s example that I need to ask in faith and act in faith. Thank You for Your loving provision for Your children, even when we are grumpy, even when Your provision looks so different than what we imagined. Draw us closer. Amen.
Mark 9:24 … “I believe; help my unbelief.”
Have a blessed day.

1 Samuel 17:28 When Eliab, David’s older brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? ….I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
I find it absolutely beautiful that God know our hearts. He sees not only our actions but also our intentions. Other people, for various reasons, might ascribe all kinds of motives to our actions, but God knows our hearts. He understands our why. And, hopefully, He is at the center of everything we do. It is only then that He can use us most effectively.
1 Samuel 17:39 …“I cannot go in these… because I am not used to them.”
But it is vitally important that we come to Him as ourselves. He knit us together in our mother’s womb. He created us exactly as we are for a divine purpose. He can’t use us as effectively if we are masquerading as someone we are not. But it often takes great strength to say to others, even those with every good intention, “I will be much more effective if I am myself, no frills, no airs, no illusions. God can more effectively use me that way.”
1 Samuel 17:47 “…for the battle is the LORD’s….”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You created us for a divine purpose and You can and will use us most effectively when we are authentically ourselves, ignoring any negativity and not putting on airs, pretending to be something we are not. Give us the courage to be ourselves so that we can shine Your light brightly for all to see. Draw us closer. Give us strength. Amen.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Have a blessed day. I love you.

Matt 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them…..
Crows have a rather negative reputation in literature, often symbolic of death or bad luck. And if you’ve ever seen a crow, you’ve likely noticed its ugly chicken feet and beady eyes. But I had the opportunity this week to examine a crow in full sunlight, and it has changed my perspective. God spared no expense on the crow. Its glossy black coat is rich with variation—deep, shimmery blue-black at the shoulders, majestic purple-black at the crown. The crow is truly a masterpiece.
Matt 6:28-29 …See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
I’ve also had lots of opportunities to be in the car of late, and spring time is definitely in full bloom. I’ve passed fields of sunshiny yellow splendor, radiant lavender phlox, riotous colors budding, blooming, dripping from almost every surface. God is truly a master Creator and has spared no expense with His creation. Thank You, Jesus.
Matt 6:31 So do not worry….
Lord, Thank You for this day and this reminder of the love and care You have infused in all of Your creation. Thank You for the reminder that I am Your beloved child and that You see me, You know me, You love me deeply and that You will provide for me, even when I cannot see a way. Help me to trust You and Your provision and not to fear. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow….
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Lord, Thank You for providing for my every need and for so many of my wants in life. I know that I am guilty of focusing more on the gifts than the Giver, Lord. Forgive me, and help me to focus only on You. Help me to always feel deep gratitude for all of the blessings You lavish on me each day and to use Your blessings in my life to bless others in Your name.
Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
Lord, Thank You for restoring my weary soul. You want to restore me daily, but I often get so caught up in life, in what “has to get done,” that I will run myself into the ground and only seek Your restoration when I can no longer function in my own strength. Forgive me for my stubbornness and my self-reliance. Help me never to forget that You are the true source of my strength.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your fierce love and unending mercy. Thank You for walking beside me through the good times and the bad, for being steadfast and true, even when I am not, for holding me together, always, especially when life feels like it’s falling apart. Draw me closer to You daily, Lord. Restore my weary soul. Amen.
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Have a blessed day.

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Many years ago I had two index cards affixed to my computer monitor at work. The first one defined the word abide: (verb) to remain, to continue, to stay. The second said: My goal for the day: to abide in the Lord. After changes in computers and changes in classrooms, I have no clue where the index cards ended up, but I know abiding in my Savior should still be my goal for each day. I think I’ll have to remake them.
Matt 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 
The older I get, the harder downtime is for me. Abiding seems so passive. Somehow I’ve got it in my head that in order to be of value, I have to DO, not ABIDE. My precious Savior knows my faults, and this morning He sent me a reminder in one of my daily devos: “…Jesus said that it is not our activity that produces fruit, it is our relationship with Him.” Thank You, Jesus.
Matt 10:31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this reminder that all I really need each day is to abide in You. Thank You for understanding how desperately my soul needs that message. Help me to refocus my goal for each day, abiding in You so that my relationship with You can produce much fruit. Help me to shine Your light. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Have a blessed day.