Psalm 127:1a Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Last night I finished a memoir, entitled Fractured not Broken, about a woman who was paralyzed from the neck down in a horrible accident involving a drunk driver. She was only 19 at the time, athletic, intelligent, with her whole life ahead of her. The memoir chronicled her journey, her recovery, her struggles, her faith. The novel was a beautiful testimony of how God was working in her life, even through horror and hardships. It was incredibly inspiring.
Psalm 127:1b …Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
This morning my caustic inner critic is at work again, wondering who I think I am sharing my mundane life, my prosaic struggles through these daily reflections. My story doesn’t hold a candle to the inspiring memoir, but here’s what my inner critic needs to understand: I am a deeply, fiercely loved child of God. I am also infinitely human, flawed, and fallible. I try to be transparent, to share my struggles and missteps, to share my precious Savior, so that others may see Him at work in my mess and find hope in the middle of their own mess. My Jesus is strong enough, good enough, merciful enough to use me to glorify Him if I let Him. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Cor 2:1 And so it was with me….When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the inspiring memoir I just finished. Thank You that You can use even me, even my ordinary story, to shine Your light if I allow. Thank You that You are present in the middle of my mess, that You can and do draw me closer to You through my missteps and adversity. Help me to seek You, to praise You, always. Help others to look at me and see only Your goodness, Your mercy, Your love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
Have a blessed day.
A more intimate relationship…. (devo reflection)
Matt 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
The Blackaby and Blackaby daily devotional I read today contained this gem: “There are levels of intimacy with God.” The truth of this statement resonates deeply. My relationship with God is just that—a relationship. And just like any relationship, if I want it to deepen and grow, I have to be willing to invest time and effort.
Matt 7:7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be open to you.”
But God is not like people (how true that statement is on so many levels), so how do I develop a more intimate relationship with Him? I think that answer varies slightly based on each individual, but the overarching tenets are the same—Seek Him daily. Spend time in His word. Look for His presence, His blessings, His light, in your circumstances. Talk to others who are farther along their faith journey. Ask. Seek. Knock. Know that He will respond.
Jer 29:13 If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You want a close relationship with each of us, but You allow us to seek You instead of forcing Your way into our lives. Help us to feel the need to deepen our relationship with You, no matter where we currently are on our faith journey. Help us to ask, seek, knock daily, so that we may daily draw closer to You. Amen.
Isaiah 62:5 …as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Have a blessed day.
Right this moment… (devo reflection)
Heb 13:5a “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have….”
You would think it might be easy to be satisfied with what we have, but our commercial culture thrives on discontentment. It is used shamelessly to help sell products. “If only I had this item, life would be perfect. I’d have everything I want. My family would behave as proper families should. All would be well.” The downsides of this mentality are 1. It’s never enough. There’s always something else we need for everything to be “just perfect.” and 2. That sense of “if I only had…life would be perfect” keeps us from seeing and appreciating what we do have, all the blessings in our lives.
Heb 13:5b “…because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Sometimes I grumble about the way things “should be,” but God wants me to live in what is, knowing that all my blessings are from Him and all my trials will be faced with Him, in Him, and through His strength. He has me at this exact place and time. He’s given me tools and gifts to use right now, for my good and His glory. This is true for all of us, no matter our current circumstances. He sees us. He knows us. He is with us. He has given us the tools and gifts we need to shine right this moment for Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Matt 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder to be content—in You, where You have us, with what You’ve given us, with what You ask of us. Our culture thrives on more, more, more, on comparison and discontent, but You ask us to bloom and grow where You plant us, using the gifts and strengths You’ve given us for Your glory. Help us, always, to focus on how we can use what we have where we are to glorify You. Help us to find contentment in You, regardless of our physical circumstances. Draw us closer. Amen.
Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Have a blessed day.
Life’s surprises…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 139:16 …all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Life is often full of surprises, a fact which the planner in me does not appreciate. Life’s surprises aren’t always fun, either. My planner nature has much to do, I think, with wanting to be prepared for anything, with NOT wanting to be surprised. But that’s not how life works. And because I know my precious Savior holds me securely in the palm of His hand, I need to find a way to be ok with the uncertainty of life.
Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I don’t know what life holds for me, but I know the One who does. I don’t love unplanned, unpleasant surprises, but nothing is a surprise to my Savior. He can work all things, ALL of them, for my good and His glory, if I allow Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You hold me together, no matter the storms or struggles of life. Help me, Lord, to trust in You—Your goodness, Your grace, Your mercy—no matter what life has in store. Thank You for Your willingness and ability to take all things, even life’s unpleasant surprises, and use them to draw me closer to You. Amen.
Col 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him….
Have a blessed day.
What’s the point? (devo reflection)
Psalm 107:4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.
For reasons I can’t quite identify, I felt very unsettled yesterday, very “wilderness-y,” very “what’s the point”. I am NOT a fan of those feelings, but it reinforced something I’ve known for a very long time—life is not about stuff. Nothing physical I accumulate on this earth means anything in the long run because some day Jesus is going to call me home to heaven, and all my physical stuff will stay on earth.
Psalm 107:6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.
Given that reality, it underscores the fact that the point of my time on earth is not about what I can gain materially. So what’s the point? What do I want to leave as my legacy when my time here is over? For me, in order for it to be meaningful, to give my life direction that keeps me out of the wilderness, it has to be about my precious Savior, about shining His light and pointing others to Him.
Psalm 107:8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder. Thank You for always making a way in my wilderness, for giving my life meaning and purpose. Thank You for the reminder that material things are not what’s important in life. Help me to live a life that glorifies You, that shines Your light. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 107:9 For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Have a blessed day.
Life is all about choices…. (devo reflection)
Luke 15:12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Life is all about choices.” I say this all the time in the classroom and believe it sincerely. And choices have consequences, which is why it is so important to choose wisely, intentionally. However, I realized yesterday that I am not owning my choices. What I mean is this—when I am faced with a difficult situation, I persist, I persevere, because I feel like there is no alternative, but there is.
Luke 15:13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.”
I could quit, give up, throw my hands up in surrender. I would never do that. It’s not who I am, it’s not what I believe, but is IS a choice, a choice that I DON’T choose. I choose strength, I choose perseverance, I choose persistence because I believe that God can use ALL things for my good and His glory. So when I choose to keep slogging, knowing that God is at work and will use this, too, I need to own that choice, I need to celebrate that choice. It is not the choice of the beaten or broken. It is the hopeful, intentional choice of a deeply loved child of God.
Luke 15:19 ‘I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this reminder that life is about choices. Thank You that choices made in You are full of light and hope. Thank You that You can, will, and do use all things for our good and Your glory. Help us to make wise choices, Lord. Help us to choose love, choose strength, choose perseverance. Help us, always, to choose You and to live that choice intentionally every day. Draw us closer. Amen.
Luke 15:24 ‘For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Have a blessed day.
Devotion to Him…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 147:10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of the warrior….
Yesterday’s idea of an ounce more devotion than fear is still resonating deeply for me, still rattling around in my mind. Our culture is steeped in a love and respect, almost reverence at times, for strength, skill, beauty, cunning. To the victor—the bravest, strongest, surest, swiftest—goes the spoils.
Psalm 147:11 …He takes pleasure in those who honor Him, in those who trust in His constant love.
Except that like so many things, God flips that notion on its head. He rejects the outward trappings, He isn’t swayed by the things others revere. He looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He celebrates devotion to Him, faith in Him over fear, action in His name in spite of overwhelming odds.
Psalm 44:3a They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory….
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, the continued strength I find in Your reminder to choose You over fear, worry, weariness. Help me to continue to walk the path You set before me, even when I am afraid, even when I am worried, even when I am so very weary. Help me, even when I struggle, to choose You, to keep pushing, keep striving, in Your strength and Your will. Thank You for looking at my heart, which loves You so deeply, and not at my outward appearances, which don’t always add up in this world. Be my strength. Always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 44:3b …It was Your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from Your face that helped them, for You loved them.
Have a blessed day.
Keep taking the next step…. (devo reflection)
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Max Lucado’s daily devotional, which is one I read during my morning study, today contained this gem about the disciples: “…they were an ounce more devoted than they were afraid….” That idea, an ounce more devotion than fear, resonates deeply with me. I can never be fearless. My penchant for worry, which often manifests itself as fear, is so strong, but I CAN be more devoted than afraid, even if just by an ounce.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
God can take what seems to me a paltry thing, one more ounce of devotion, of faith, than fear, and use it in great ways. I don’t have to muster enough faith to conquer the mountain in my path, just enough to take the next step and the next and the next. God will multiply that faith, He will fuse it with His strength, and He will use it to accomplish His will. I’ve just got to muster enough faith, enough devotion, to keep moving forward.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this crucial reminder. The perfectionist in me wants to do everything You call me to exactly right, which often leads to worries, doubts, fears, and inaction. Help me to remember that what You want is for me to choose faith in You over all my fears. Help me, in every situation—worry, fear, weariness—to be an ounce more devoted, to keep taking the next step in Your name and Your power. Give me strength, Lord, to keep moving forward in You and for You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Have a blessed day.
Strength to the weary…. (devo reflection)
Matt 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
This morning finds me weary, worn down, physically and emotionally exhausted. It is a frustrating place to be, one I find myself in far more often than I would prefer, but I know what I need to do—take it to the feet of my precious Savior. Lay down my burdens. Seek His renewal, His peace, His strength. Help me, Jesus.
Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
He has set a task before me, one that He uniquely created me to fulfill. I know He has called me, and I know that He will give me strength in my weakness IF I will allow, IF I will humble myself and allow Him to work through me. Help me, Jesus. I cannot do this by myself, and You aren’t asking me too. Infuse me with Your strength.
Isaiah 40:31 …those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this reminder that You don’t expect me to do it all in my own strength. Thank You for the reminder that when I am weary, weak, worn out, exhausted, You are my place of refuge, rest, renewal. Help me to find peace, strength, and renewal in You so that I can do what You have called me to do in this life. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.
Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Have a blessed day.
Through life’s storms…. (devo reflection)
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.