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.
In just under a month, the hubs and I will celebrate 22 years of marriage. It feels at once like a long time and a blink of the eye. And daily I have kids chomping at the bit, waiting for the 3:05 bell. The day drags for them, but the afternoon and evening fairly fly until they are back in desks once again, waiting on the 3:05 bell. Time is certainly interesting.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
I am bound by time. Perhaps it stems from decades of school bells, alerting me to the next block, but “What time is it?” is a crucial component in the way that I function. But God doesn’t work that way. Time for Him, with Him, in Him, doesn’t function as it does for me. That clock, which is an ingrained part of my day, doesn’t even exist for Him. It’s totally irrelevant. Jesus, Help me.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of the fickle nature of time. Time feels like such a crucial part of my life, Lord, but I’m pretty sure it’s rather irrelevant in Yours. Help me to wait patiently in joyful hope for all that You have in store. Help me to use my time on this earth, no matter how much time that may be, to shine Your light and point others to You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Have a blessed day.
With us. Always…. (devo reflection)
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.”
Lord, In a world that often leaves me feeling anxious and afraid, these verses strike a deep cord, and well they might, for in them, You are trying to prepare Your disciples for Your death, for the time when they would be without Your physical presence. Thank You that I can take comfort in those same words. Thank You that Your word is so transcendent that it still applies today.
John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever….”
Lord, Thank You for Your tremendous love for Your people, a love so great that You want Your disciples, then and now, to understand that even if You are not here physically, we are not alone. Your word is with us. Your commandments are with us. And Your Advocate, the Holy Spirit, is with us. Always. We are not alone. We do not have to be afraid. Thank You, Jesus.
John 14:23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for making Your home with me. Thank You for providing for me, for making a place for me, and for returning some day to bring me home. Thank You for Your loving care. I am so grateful. Draw me closer. Amen.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Have a blessed day.
Lost and found…. (devo reflection)
Luke 15:8 “…what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light the lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?”
This past Friday, during 4th block, I lost the key to the quiz my students were taking. I had it in my hands at the beginning of the period, and when I went to gather the completed quizzes and stick the key on top, I couldn’t find it. I retraced my steps. I looked into folders where I had placed other things. I looked on my podium and my desk to no avail. Eventually, after retracing my steps twice, I found it, without having to tear the room completely apart or make a new one. I was incredibly relieved.
Luke 15:9 “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’”
This hunt and the relief at finding the key illustrated so clearly for me the parables in Luke 15. I was missing a test key—nothing valuable or irreplaceable, and I was still incredibly relieved and thankful when it was found. I can just imagine Jesus’s joy when one of His deeply loved children—all of whom are both priceless AND irreplaceable to Him—returns to Him. He doesn’t care one bit if that life belongs to a king or a pauper. What’s important to Him is that life is HIS beloved child, and He rejoices mightily. Thank You, Jesus.
Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your fierce and unending love for Your children. Thank You that You see our value and worth because we are Yours. Help us not to define our value through the eyes of this world. Help us to see each other as You see us. Help us to understand our worth in You and to come home to You if we have wandered. Draw us all closer. Amen.
Luke 15:32 “We have to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!”
Have a blessed day.
My strength and my song…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 118:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!
It’s Saturday, and I had to set an alarm for 5 am to get one of my boys somewhere he really didn’t want to be. (Truthfully, we both just wanted to sleep in.) This could have started out as a very bad day, but as I was heading back home from the crazy-early drop off, the song “Overwhelmed” by Big Daddy Weave came on, and I realized it truly reflected my feelings—overwhelmed by God, His presence, His mercy, His grace, His goodness. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 118:14 The LORD is my strength and my song….
I have tried this semester to express gratitude before my feet even hit the floor in the mornings. Some days I forget, but most days, taking a moment to thank my Savior before I get up really gets my day off to the right start. As with any day and any life, there’s always stuff that makes me grumpy, sad, mad, scared, but the beauty is always there, too, the gifts, the blessings and joy. And when I constantly seek them, I begin to see them every where. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this attitude of thanksgiving that truly seems to be rooting me more firmly each day in Your steadfast love. Thank You for a smooth morning, even though it started earlier than I would have preferred. Thank You for this amazing family I am a part of. Thank You for an abundance of people, experiences, and blessings for which to be grateful. Help me to cultivate this grateful heart. Help me to shine Your light. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 118:28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God; I will extol You.
Have a blessed day.
The hope that I have…. (devo reflection)
1 Peter 3:15a …Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have….
Interestingly, this scripture has always filled me with trepidation. It makes me think of the call to evangelism, which puts me in mind of folks going door to door, talking to strangers, uninvited, about faith, which is such a personal topic. I also think, “Well, I can’t possibly do that because 1. I am such a strong introvert, and 2. I am not going to defend my faith to anyone, and 3. What if they ask me questions that I can’t answer because there are just so many things I don’t know.” Jesus, Help me.
1 Peter 3:15b …But do this with gentleness and respect.
It occurred to me this morning, though, that Jesus calls us all to minister in such a way that fits the strengths He’s given us. My default is not to call these daily devos—where I wrestle with issues He has placed on my heart—“ministry,” but I would also say that I know He uses my words, which can only come from Him, to encourage and uplift His people, to point others to Him. And isn’t that what ministry is? Thank You, Jesus.
1 Peter 1:8a Though you have not seen Him, you love Him….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the mystery of Your love and mercy. Thank You for my rock-solid faith in You, based on a rich history of seeing You, feeling Your presence, trusting You, through the good times and the bad. Thank You for calling me to minister through these daily devotionals, for Your presence and grace as I write and share them. Thank You for Your perfect plan for my life. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Peter 1:8b …And even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy….
Have a blessed day.
A life of freedom in Your sovereign care…. (devo reflection)
Exodus 23:1 “Do not spread false reports….”
Rules can feel incredibly restrictive and oppressive. Often those being governed by the rules chafe under their weight, wishing only to be free. As a teacher and a parent, I have seen the power and necessity of rules again and again. That doesn’t mean I always like them or that they are always easy to follow. But they are important, even when they are annoying.
Exodus 23:2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong….”
God’s rules are no different. He wants us to lead rich, full lives, he wants us to enjoy all that He has planned for His beloved. If we are weighted down by sin, we aren’t free to focus on Him, His love and mercy. It’s also important to remember the lessons learned from the Pharisees and Sadducees, who followed the laws so closely that they lost sight of the sovereign God at the root of them.
Heb 12:1 …let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your deep and abiding love for me. Thank You for loving me so much that You want to help me avoid getting tangled up in sin, so that nothing keeps my focus from You. As hard as it is to say sometimes, thank You for correcting me when I get off track and start down a dangerous road. I love You deeply, and I want to live a life of freedom in Your sovereign care. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 43:1 But now this says the LORD who created you…: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.”
Have a blessed day.
Without reserve and without reservation…. (devo reflection)
2 Cor 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort….
The last sentence of Max Lucado’s _Grace for the Moment _ today was a real zinger: “You will never be called upon to give anyone more grace than God has already given you.” This line, coupled with today’s scripture from a different devotion, has me thinking about the nature of grace and comfort, what is given to us, and what is asked of us. Help me, Jesus.
2 Cor 1:4a …who comforts us in all our troubles….
The nature of grace is unexpected. You expect punishment, you deserve punishment, but the punisher deliberately chooses not to punish. That’s grace. Comfort has a similar unexpected nature in that it can either come at an unexpected time or from an unexpected source. God freely and lavishly gives us both grace and comfort and asks us to freely and lavishly give them to others as well, without reserve and without reservation.
2 Cor 1:4b …so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for undeserved grace and unending mercy. Thank You for comfort in our time of need and for the compassion that comes from being on the receiving end of grace and mercy. Help us to freely give to others, Lord, just as You have freely given to us. Draw us closer. Amen.
2 Cor 1:5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
Have a blessed day.
Unshakable…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 16:8 …With Him at my right hand, I will never be shaken.
Yesterday I volunteered to share my devo reflection to begin a meeting at church. I stumbled when I read the following: “Yet if I keep my eyes on You, if I will center myself on Your fierce love, I will NEVER be shaken by any doubt.” The line gave me pause because anxiety, worry, and fear often crowd my mind, especially when life feels chaotic. Does that mean I’m not living my faith?
Matt 7:9-10 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
I’ve been pondering and praying about this since last night, and I was reminded by my precious Savior of when my boys were little and we had a terrible storm. We were safe inside, yet they were still afraid. As their parent, I wasn’t angry about their fears. In fact, I sought to reassure them further that they were safe and protected. And now, all these years later, they don’t struggle so.
Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you….”
Precious Savior, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for understanding my doubts and fears and for loving me and reassuring me through them. My faith is so much stronger than it was, and even when I am afraid, I KNOW You hold me securely, I KNOW that I am Your deeply loved child. Even if this world crumbles to dust, I KNOW that my eternity is with You. Those truths are unshakable, and that is solely because of You. ‘Thank You’ feels so inadequate, and yet, I know You know my heart. Draw me closer, Lord. Help me to shine Your light, so that others can understand Your unshakable truth. Amen.
Psalm 16:10 …You will not abandon me….
Have a blessed day.
Even this…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 16:8a I keep my eyes always on the LORD….
Lord, Forgive me for all those times I take my eyes off of You, fretting instead about things I cannot change or things that may or may not come to pass. Give me the strength, always, to fix my eyes solely on You, to trust Your direction and Your care, to know that You have me safely in the palm of Your hand, that You can and will, if I allow, use anything and everything I experience for my good and Your glory.
Psalm 16:8b …With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Lord, Thank You for providing me with a firm foundation, for being my rock and my shelter. The circumstances of my life sometimes whisper “Can He handle even this?” Yet if I will keep my eyes on You, if I will center myself on Your fierce, unending love, I will NEVER be shaken by any doubt. You ARE big enough, powerful enough, loving enough, and merciful enough to handle ANY circumstance that life throws at me. Help me NEVER to lose sight of that fact.
Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this truth. Thank You for being my portion and my cup, for making my lot secure (Psalm 16:1). Help me, no matter my circumstances, to keep my eyes on You, to keep my heart in line with Yours, and to close my ears to the lies and deceit of this world. Draw me closer. Fill me with joy in Your presence (Psalm 16:11). Amen.
Psalm 16:10 …because You will not abandon me….
Have a blessed day.
Bringing me to the end of myself… (devo reflection)
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds….
I’ll be the first to admit that I my default reaction when I am facing trials in my life is not to rejoice. But as I think about my faith, my ability to praise God and to cling to Him, even when it feels like life is falling apart, I know that that faith was born of the fact that He has brought me through past difficulties when I saw utterly no way out. He has blanketed me with His peace, a peace which surpasses all understanding, when I didn’t even know which way to turn. He’s held me securely through previous trials, and I have every confidence that He will continue. Thank You, Jesus.
James 1:3 …because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
I’m pretty stubborn, and self-sufficiency, in this world, is praised, so it’s hard for me to admit that I can’t handle something, but it is only when I admit my helplessness, my inability to handle a situation, that I can truly get out of God’s way so He can work through me. Trials often take me to the end of myself, which is when I can finally see, feel, and understand His fierce love and great compassion for me. Thank You, Jesus.
James 1:4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for drawing me closer to You. Thank You for bringing me to the end of myself so that I can understand in part Your overwhelming love for me. Thank You for grace, wisdom, and mercy, for peace that surpasses all human understanding. Help me to rejoice, always, in Your great love for me. Amen.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Have a blessed day.