Author: Beth Duncan

Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars!
Reading this verse this morning took me back 14 years to when the hubs and I were expecting our oldest. We had meticulously picked out a nursery theme (sun, moon, and stars), bathed the nursery in soothing color, and painted this scripture above the crib. We were ready to welcome our bundle of joy.
Gen 21:20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness.
Our youngest turns 12 next week and our oldest will be 14 in a month, and sometimes I still marvel at my naivety as a parent and at God’s amazing grace and provision. Life often feels much more like a tangled wilderness than sweetly singing celestial beings, but I know God’s got us, He is in control—through the wilderness of the AT, through the wilderness of middle school, through the wilderness of life. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 139:13 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reassurance of today’s scripture. You know each of us intimately, Lord. You saw us before all beginning. You created us, knitting us together with love and care. You know every hair on our heads, every breath in our bodies, every heartache and triumph we will endure. And You walk with us every step of this journey. Thank You, Jesus. Help us to never lose sight of the fact that we are Yours and that You are with us always. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Have a blessed day.

John 11:3 …”Lord, the one You love is sick.”
I have read this verse before and not thought too much of the wording, but one of the daily devos I’m reading, Max Lucado’s Grace for the Moment, gave me pause this morning. I’ve always read the verse in relation to Lazarus. “Lord, the one You love, Lazarus, is sick.” Lucado posits that the power of prayer comes not from the love of those in need but from the love of the One hearing the request, Jesus. We are all the “one He loves.” Lucado goes on to say that “We can and must repeat the phrase in manifold ways. ‘The one You love is tired, sad, hungry, lonely, fearful, depressed.’” Lord, Hear our prayer.
Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings….
I know that I am a deeply loved child of God, but sometimes I have a difficult time truly FEELING His fierce love for me. The problem isn’t Him. It’s me. I get stuck in the “not enough” rut—I’m not smart enough, not good enough, not worthy enough, etc etc. And here is the amazing truth of Christ: I don’t have to measure up to some preconceived mark. He doesn’t love me because of what I can do for Him. He loves me because I am His, because He created me, because He knows me inside and out, all my idiosyncrasies. I am the one that He loves. And so are you. Lord, Let that truth penetrate our stubborn hearts.
Isaiah 49:16 See, I have written your name on the palms of My hands….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder of my worth to You. Thank You for all the quirks in my personality and for the people I can reach for You because of those quirks. Thank You for claiming each of us as “the one You love.” Help us to never lose sight of our worth IN You and our worth TO You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Have a blessed day.

2 Chron 20:15 …For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
My first year teaching was an eye-opening experience. I naively assumed that everyone had the same stable, slightly dysfunctional yet loving upbringing that I had. Over two decades of teaching has reinforced again and again that that is not always the case. Some of these kids endure things that I’m not convinced I’m strong enough to endure. And all I can do as their teacher is love and encourage them, try to be sure they recognize their own value and worth, support them in as many ways as possible. I can’t fight their battles for them.
Mark 12:30-31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul….You shall love your neighbor as yourself….”
And I’ve found as a parent that the same is true. Even when I can provide them a stable, slightly dysfunctional yet loving upbringing, they still have battles to face, battles I can’t fight for them. All I can do as their mother is love and encourage them, try to be sure they recognize their own value and worth, support them in as many ways as possible. I can’t fight their battles for them. 
Exodus 14:14 “The LORD Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the wisdom of this scripture. Thank You for helping me to clearly see what You are calling me to do—love and encourage others, try to be sure they recognize their own value and worth in You, support them in as many ways as possible. Thank You for the clarity to understand that I can’t fight their battles for them and that that’s not what You call me to do. Help me to love, support, and encourage Your people, Lord. Help me to show them Your love and grace. Draw us closer. Amen.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.
Have a blessed day. 

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Lord, I am so incredibly thankful for the peace I have about this amazing journey the hubs and our oldest are on. I am thankful for the overwhelming peace I feel about their daily safety, our daily safety. I am a worrier by nature, Lord, as You well know, so I am absolutely certain that the peace I feel about all of this can only come from You. Thank You, Lord, so much, for blanketing me with Your peace for this hike.
Phil 4:5-6 …The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing….
Lord, I want to confess to You that I realize I am still allowing anxiety into my life—not about big things, but about lots of little, seemingly inconsequential things—like how I’m going to get everything graded in the time I have, how I’m going to have enough time to take care of the house and the dog and the youngest and myself, how I’m going to juggle all the little daily things that need doing. This anxiety is not from You, nor does it in any way help to advance Your kingdom, so I know it needs to go, Lord. Show me how to lay it down and breathe in Your grace instead.
2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for allowing me to understand that this anxiety is not from You, is not helpful or useful, and has no place in my life. Thank You for Your overwhelming peace about the big stuff going on in my life. Help me to give You all the little things that are continuing to trigger my anxiety, Lord. Exchange my anxiety for Your peace. Help me to abound in every good work for Your glory. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding….
I am a big fan of understanding things—why things work like they do, why they work out like they do. For me, understanding is often the first step to acceptance. But that is not the way of faith. Faith often for me is saying, “Lord, I do not get what is going on here AT ALL, but I know You love me. You’ve got me. You are in control. This makes utterly no sense to me, but it somehow fits into Your plan for me. I hate this, but I love You and I trust You.” This trust and acceptance has been a long road and is not easy, but God is good. Always.
Daniel 3:17-18 “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Of course, it is harder for me to trust Him when the path is dark and dangerous, terribly frightening, and heartrendingly sad, but He asks me to trust Him then, too. When answers won’t come, when everything is going wrong according to my plans, when loss upon loss upon loss adds up and the rain keeps beating down, it is so much harder to praise and trust, and yet, for me, there is no alternative. I believe in a loving, sovereign God. I believe in His goodness and mercy. And, therefore, I cling to Him, trust Him, praise Him, even when life makes utterly no sense.
Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for my faith, which has grown and matured with every blessing and heart break. Thank You for the ability to cling to You, to love You, to praise You, even when my heart is broken and I don’t understand. Thank You for being bigger and more sovereign than any pain and heartbreak of this world, for overcoming this world with Your love and mercy. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
Have a blessed day.

Matt 14:16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
I’ve read the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand countless times, and it wasn’t until this morning that one little part caught my attention. Jesus told the disciples to feed the crowd. “You give them something to eat.” The directive was clear and straightforward, not difficult to understand or interpret. “You give them something to eat.” And the disciples balked.
Matt 14:17-18 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” They answered. And He said, “Bring them here to Me.”
I wish I knew the actions that accompanied Christ’s reply to the disciples. Did He heave a frustrated sigh? Roll His eyes? Show some sign of frustration and annoyance that once again He was calling the disciples to do something He knew them to be capable of because He gave them the ability, and once again they failed to see the power they had through Him? Or was He patient because He knew they were still learning to trust, still getting their feet under them, still finding their strength in Him?
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this reminder that You know what I am capable of through Your strength. When You call me to do difficult things that are beyond my comfort zone, help me to trust You, to obey You, to lean in to You and Your strength. Help me to know that it won’t always be easy or comfortable, but that if You’ve called me to do it, You’ll give me the strength to accomplish it. Help me to trust and obey. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Lord, I stand before You today with a humble heart full of joy and praise. Thank You for the many, many blessings in my life and for the amazing people You surround me with daily. Thank You for our slightly neurotic fur babies who love us mightily and for the knowledge that it’s not possessions but relationships that matter in life.
Phil 4:12b, 13  …I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Lord, You are still working on me, teaching me to be content in all things, something I struggle with still, at times, but thank You for the growth and progress we’ve made together. I know You are the source of my joy. The fact that You are always with me, no matter what, gives me peace. Your strength carries me through. Thank You, Lord.
Heb 13:5b …God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this heart absolutely overflowing with gratitude for Your love and provision. Thank You for the ability to center myself on You each morning, to sit at Your feet and hear Your voice. Thank You for this precious and beautiful life, Lord, and for the people with whom I get to share it. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.
Psalm 118:28 You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, and I will exalt You.
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 27:13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Read anything about the Appalachian Trail and you will hear about Trail Magic. It can take a variety of forms, from a cooler of cold sodas and candy bars to fresh fruit to an active cook site where Trail Angels, those who perform Trail Magic, cook hot food for hungry hikers. Trail Magic is free, is to be shared, and usually appears just when the hikers’ spirits need a lift.  Trail Angels often just want to give back, either because they or loved ones have received Trail Magic before or just because they want to do something for others. What a beautiful gift.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
The hubs, who is only 20 days into this incredible adventure, is already talking about coming back to the trail next year to be a Trail Angel for others. I see a direct parallel to “real life” in this example. We should all seek to be Trail Angels on this journey of life. Kind words, a thoughtful gesture, there are so many ways we could set up unexpected, thoughtful Trail Magic for our fellow travelers. 
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the abundant life lessons that come from this adventure, even for those of us in “off-trail” support roles. Thank You for the ability to be Your hands and feet in this weary world, supplying light, encouragement, and hope when it’s needed most. Help us to try, every day, to perform one small act of kindness for others, just because we know how tough this world can be.  Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Have a blessed day. 

Phil 3:7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
For six years, from the time I graduated high school until the hubs and I married, I moved every year. As I was sorting, packing, donating to move each time, I was always amazed at the amount of junk I had amassed in a year’s time. And I remember telling the hubs, not really jokingly, when we bought our house, that our grandchildren could throw our junk away when we died because I was NOT moving again.
Phil 3:8a What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.
So many things, including this scripture, have me reevaluating the amount of “stuff” in my life, the fact that the hubs and our oldest are carrying all they need for six months on their backs included. This world tells us we NEED stuff. Any commercial paints a rosy picture of life if only we had their products. But Jesus whispers softly to our souls, “I am all you need. I will give you rest. Your hope is in Me, not in things.” He longs for us to hear His still small voice and to heed His call.
Phil 3:8b-9 …I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that the things of this world can never satisfy me. Help me not to place value on things, Lord, but only on my relationship with You, my ability to serve You and to be Your hands and feet. Help me to simplify my life, Lord, to cut down on the clutter and distraction that tend to get in my way. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Have a blessed day.

John 12:27-28a “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!”
Life can be difficult, but it can also be amazingly beautiful and precious. I have learned as I have lived that I have a choice when heartache and heartbreak come. I can fight it, or I can draw closer to my loving Savior. Do not misunderstand me. I do not like trouble or hard times. I don’t wish for them or seek them, but I know that God can draw me closer during trials in ways that just aren’t possible when life is sailing along.
John 12:28b Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
We all have to decide what our purpose is in life. The older I get, the more dedicated I am to drawing closer to my Creator and Savior and shining His light. Anything good that comes from these reflections? That’s because of my precious Savior. Anything good that comes from me? Strength? Wisdom? Perseverance? Once again, I cannot take credit. I will not take credit because without God by my side, drawing me closer, strengthening me, uplifting me, I am nothing, I have nothing, and I stand for nothing. Thank You, Lord for Your support and purpose. Glorify Your name again through my life.
Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder of Your will for me. You want me to seek You, to trust You, to draw closer to You, to glorify You in ALL things. Help me, Lord, to live out that goal, to never lose sight of it in this crazy world. My life means nothing without You, Lord. Draw me closer. Amen.
Eph 5:20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have a blessed day.