Posted on

In You, with You, for You…. (devo reflection)

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ….

Lord, Living “in Christ,” living a life that is “not I, but Christ,” indicates a level of familiarity and intimacy with You that I want in my life. Help me.

2 Timothy 2:11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him….

Lord, When we spend our morning prayer and study time together, You are tangibly close, but as I move about my day, the world gets louder and more insistent and it’s hard to hear Your voice. Help me.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Lord, Thank You for loving me deeply and fiercely. Thank You for the reminder to live humbly, striving to understand and love Your children instead of to judge. Help me to live in You, with You, for You. Draw me closer with every breath. Amen.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God….

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

His grace isn’t about my worthiness…. (devo reflection)

2 Timothy 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Commentary says of verse 22, “The last words of Paul reflect a man who simply loved Jesus and had received His grace.” These words resonate deeply with me. I love Jesus, but I still struggle with receiving His grace.

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.

Receiving should be simple, right? It seems pretty passive. But I have all kinds of rationales about why I’m not worthy of receiving His grace. And the truth is, I’m not worthy, but His grace isn’t about my worthiness, it’s about His deep, abiding love for His creation.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Lord, I love You. I am not worthy to receive Your grace. But You don’t ask me to be worthy, You ask me to simply receive what You freely give. Help me, Lord. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

A Last Lecture of sorts…. (devo reflection)

2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,

What we have in this chapter is an apostle, a man of God, who doesn’t know how much time he has on earth. He knows that God has saved him before. He knows God can save him again. He also knows that might not be God’s plan in this situation.

2 Timothy 3:15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

What he is doing in this chapter is his own last lecture of sorts. He knows Timothy is young, but he sees so much promise there. He is trying to encourage Timothy, shore him up, reinforce for Timothy the teachings he has lived and taught, in case he is no longer around to do it in person.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Lord, Thank You for the ability to invest time and effort into others, loving them, instructing them, guiding them. Help us always strive to shine Your light and glorify You. Help us to love and encourage each other. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Pretty good life advice…. (devo reflection)

2 Timothy 2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul is giving Timothy, a young preacher, advice, but what’s here is pretty good life advice: Be strong in God’s grace (not your own). Don’t quarrel about words. It’s pointless. Don’t gossip or run your mouth for the sake of something to say. Don’t get into stupid, pointless arguments.

2 Timothy 2:14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

The advice is simple, but not always easy. However, if we employ it, I think we’d see the benefits, too.

2 Timothy 2:16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

Precious Savior, Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. Thank You that Your word is active and alive. Thank You for Your love and grace. Amen.

2 Timothy 2:23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

My defaults…. (devo reflection)

2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

I am a deeply, fiercely, completely loved child of God. He created me for a purpose. He can use all my quirks if I allow. He has a purpose for me, something I was uniquely created to do. It can be accomplished by others, but I’m uniquely suited for the task.

2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

So often I allow myself to be sad, angry, bitter, disenfranchised, but the Spirit God gave me gives me power, love, and self-discipline. However, it’s up to me to tap into those gifts, to access and use them.

2 Timothy 1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

Lord, Forgive me when I default to anger and bitterness. Help me, instead, to make Your power, love, and self-discipline my defaults. Help me to help others, especially those whose struggles are similar to mine. I know what that defeatist attitude feels like, and it’s terrible. Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time….

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Direct my thoughts to the blessings…. (devo reflection)

Ezra 2:1 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon….

Commentary on this chapter put me in mind of the idea blessings abounding when you look for them because it talked about the captives going into exile stripped of everything and now returning “abounding in the most substantial riches…. Thus we find God, in the midst of judgement, remembered mercy….”

Ezra 2:64 The whole company numbered 42,360.

Today is Monday. It is raining. It would be easy to fall into the trap of last week—fear, anger, stress. But I don’t wish to. And I know I have the power not to go there with my thoughts because my precious Savior is sovereign and in control. He has given me a spirit “of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Tim 1:7). 

Ezra 2:68 When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that You are in control and that I can direct my thoughts to the blessings in my life. Thank You for the many blessings, for Your graciousness, mercy, and love. Help me to focus on You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Ezra 2:70 The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

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.