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Re-centering ourselves…. (devo reflection)

1 Thess 5:19-22 Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

I am not feeling very peaceful this morning, so the “God of peace” spoke to my weary soul. It’s nothing big, just lots and lots of little things that keep piling up and piling up. Death by a thousand cuts if you will. But God’s peace can be mine even in these conditions.

1 Thess 5:23a May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.

For me, I think, the process of finding that peace at the moment is mental. I am letting these little things pile up until they feel like a huge, towering, impenetrable mass. That’s me. Not God. God can blanket me with peace in all circumstances, current annoying non-crisis included.

1 Thess 5:23b …May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that You are here, You are with me always, that You want to cover me with Your peace, but I have to allow it. Thank You for the perspective on all the little things this morning. I don’t even realize when my focus shifted from You to my mess, but I see that it has. Help me to re-center myself on You. Amen.

1 Thess 5:24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Have a blessed day.

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In all circumstances…. (devo reflection)

1 Thess 5:16 Rejoice always…

I remember the first time I truly paid attention to today’s verses. What struck me was how similar they were to a favorite of mine, Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” “Choose Joy” is a life motto of mine, and I love how both of these verses reflect that idea of choosing joy.

1 Thess 5:17 …pray continually…

And as I have grown, I have learned that even though giving thanks in all circumstances can be incredibly difficult, it is possible. Sometimes I give thanks for answered prayers, sometimes for the fact that I don’t face trials alone, that He is with me. It’s not always easy to give thanks in all circumstances, but it is a skill that can be intentionally cultivated just like rejoicing and praying.

1 Thess 5:18a …give thanks in all circumstances;

Lord, I love it when I can see You pulling the threads of my life together so clearly. Thank You for my love of these verses, for my desire to choose joy, for the realization that thankfulness in all circumstances is possible with You. Help me to center myself on You this day and to live in a way that brings You honor and joy. Amen.

1 Thess 5:18b …for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed day.

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Here’s the rub…. (devo reflection)

1 Thess 5:14a And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive,  

With school starting this week, I am squarely in “school mindset,” and I chuckled at how closely these verses apply to both school and life. Try to get the idle and disruptive back on track, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. That can be a pretty tall order, especially that last one.

1 Thess 5:14b …encourage the disheartened, help the weak… 

Here’s the rub, though (or the irony or the kicker), it is often myself that I have the hardest time being patient with. I can patiently cajole and encourage and help others all day long (more or less….) but I expect instant perfection from myself. It’s an objectively ridiculous stance, and yet I guarantee that many of you are nodding in agreement as you read. Jesus, Help us.

1 Thess 5:14c …be patient with everyone.

Lord, Thank you for the wellspring of cajoling, encouragement, help, and patience that I often have for others. Help me to treat myself with the same love and care. I am Your deeply love creation. We all are. Help us to never forget that fact. Amen.

1 Thess 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Have a blessed day.

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What can I learn today? (devo reflection)

Luke 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Two words jump out at me in today’s scripture. In verse 25, the expert is wanting “to test Jesus,” and in verse 29, he is wanting “to justify himself.” This brings to mind 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Neither testing nor justifying is designed to encourage nor build others up.

Luke 10:26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

I was reading and studying in Acts 9 earlier, specifically verse 4 where the Lord asks Saul, “Why do you persecute me?” I would say that the expert in the law in today’s verses could do with a similar question: “Why do you test Jesus? Why do you justify yourself? What are you trying to do, to prove?”

Luke 10:27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Lord, One thing I am gathering loud and clear from Your word lately is that we need to question our own motives to be sure they are pure and we need to seek You with openness and curiosity so that we can hear what You are saying to our hearts. Please help me to always approach scripture with an attitude of “What can I learn today” and not with an attitude aimed at testing You or justifying myself. Amen.

Luke 10:29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Have a blessed day.

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How God shows up…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 94:18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

I am truly awed at how God shows up in my life when I am paying attention. (He’s always there, reminding me of His presence, His love. I just don’t always notice.) This spring, as my heart cries louder and louder in worry, fear, and anxiety, God continues to show up in so many ways, reminding me that I am His, that He sees me, knows me, loves me so very much. He does the same for you, too.

Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

So I want to encourage you to pay attention to the little ways that God shows up today. This text you are reading from a hot mess on the struggle bus trying to shine His light? That’s God. The sunshine? The cool breeze? The kind word? God. And YOU can help Him shine today by passing along a kind word, a smile, an encouragement, by lifting someone up in the smallest of ways.

Psalm 94:22 But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that You are with us and in us, that we can shine Your light just by being kind to others. Thank You that when I am paying attention, I can see You, Your love, Your goodness, everywhere. Thank You that I can help lift others up in Your name. Help me to see Your love today. Help me to be Your love today. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Have a blessed day.

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Receiving encouragement and support…. (devo reflection)

2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 

We all have our struggles and burdens…days, weeks, months that are just hard. This morning has me thinking about how God uses other people in our lives–to show His love, grace, compassion, encouragement. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up….” I think community, coming together to support and uplift each other, is an important part of God’s kingdom on earth.

2 Corinthians 12:9a But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

I appreciate my ability to be self-sufficient, to take care of myself and others, to get things done. But even I need people, and for someone who is used to DOING, it is hard to sit back and receive encouragement and support. But I think that’s part of what Paul is talking about here–my weakness means I’m not completely self-sufficient. God’s grace means I’m not meant to be. As a believer in Christ, *I* am part of His power on earth for others. And *I* am also in need of that support.

2 Corinthians 12:9b …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Lord, No one likes the idea of being weak, but in You, the ability to admit that I cannot do life alone, that I need other believers–so that I can uplift and encourage them and so that they can uplift and encourage me–that ability, that admission, is a strength because it frees me from the need to try to shoulder the world alone. Thank You, not only for the people that I get to love, pray for, and encourage, but for the people who love, pray for, and encourage me as well. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Have a blessed day.

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Rock-solid foundation…. (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.

God does not want us to accept regurgitated faith. Someone else’s beliefs will not help us when we are struggling and in the pits of despair. He wants us to seek, knock, ask so that we can draw closer to Him in faith and trust.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

So how can we ask and not doubt? What I don’t doubt is God. Jesus. The Holy Spirit. Their sovereignty. Their love. Any questions I have are asked while standing on that firm, rock-solid foundation. It is that foundation that allows me to say, “I don’t understand this situation, but I know YOU, help me to trust, even when I am afraid.”

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

Lord, Thank You for giving me this strong foundation. Thank You for creating me to be curious and inquisitive. Help me to draw closer to You with every question, every breath. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:20 …Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Have a blessed day.

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Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks! (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always,

When I first “claimed” a bible verse, one I could cling to no matter the circumstances, it was Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually,

I remember how excited I was when I first came across today’s scripture because it echoes the same ideas: Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks! How much richer my life would be if I could always put these ideas into practice. But I’ll press on toward the goal….

1 Thessalonians 5:18a give thanks in all circumstances;

Lord, Thank You for the simple truth contained in these verses. Help me to always rejoice in You. Help me to continually pray to You. Help me to give thanks to You in all circumstances. Draw me closer. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:18b for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed day.

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An eternal home…. (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

Lord, Thank You that because of You, we do not grieve as those who have no hope when a loved one dies. The earthly separation is painful, but we know we will see our loved ones again. Thank You.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Lord, Thank You for the power to encourage each other with this amazing news—You have conquered death. We have an eternal home in You. Earthly death is only a temporary “See you later” until we meet again in eternity. Thank You.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Lord, Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. Thank You that because of You, I do not grieve as one who has no hope. Help me to encourage others in Your name. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Have a blessed day.

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The power of encouragement…. (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

Lord, Help us never forget the power of encouragement during trials. You created us for community. You created us to edify each other. Give us wisdom and courage to speak Your love and truth to each other in trials, as a lifeline to You.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

Lord, I know I get very afraid of saying the wrong thing when someone is hurting and struggling. And I know I’m not the only one. Help us seek You when we are trying to encourage others. Even if we make a mess of the words, help the receiver to see Your love and compassion in our bumbling attempts.

1 Thessalonians 3:13a May he strengthen your hearts….

Lord, Thank You for being our rock and fortress, our salvation, our very present help in times of trouble. Help us to encourage each other and assist each other as we walk each other through the trials of this world. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 3:13b …so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Have a blessed day.