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My refuge and strength…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 brings to mind Jesus’s words in Matthew 28:20, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus is our refuge, our strength, our ever-present help in trouble because He is with us. Always. We learn that truth in religious education, but it doesn’t really become rock-solid faith until that’s all we have left to hold on to.

Psalm 46:2a Therefore we will not fear… 

Here’s my big issue: When I ask for help, I have a really clear idea of what that help should look like. I’m a planner. I have lots of ideas about how things should be. But God’s thoughts are not my thoughts. His ways are far beyond anything I can imagine (Isaiah 55:8). So while I’m freaking out because things are not as they should be, Jesus, my refuge and strength, my ever-present help in trouble is working all things for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

Psalm 46:2b …though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Lord, There are so many things in this world that I don’t understand. But You don’t ask me to understand. You ask me to trust You. Help me to trust that You are with me always, even to the end of the age. Help me to trust that You are my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Help me to trust that the worst thing isn’t the last thing and that Your ways are far beyond anything I could imagine. Help me to trust You. Always. Amen.

Psalm 46:3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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We have hope…. (devo reflection)

Luke 24:17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 

Jesus is the only one who can take us from “we had hoped” (v21) to “We have hope.” Already, on the road to Emmaus, and even before that, on the road to the cross, Jesus defies expectations. He is making a way where there is no way, and He is doing it in a way that is totally unexpected.

Luke 24:18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 

But the Lord has been turning things on their heads for a very long time. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” When I see no way forward, God’s right there with His ways that are far beyond my imagination.

Luke 24:19 “What things?” he asked.“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 

Lord, There is so much grief and sadness in this world. There is so much pain and loss. Thank You for being the Light in the darkness, for making a way where there is no way, for seeing eternally, for taking us from “we had hoped” (v21) to “We have hope.” Help us to cling to You, to Your hope, even when we are struggling. Please, Jesus. Amen.

Luke 24:20-21 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

Have a blessed day.

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While it was still dark…. (devo reflection)

John 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

Yesterday I read a devo from The Upper Room devotional. It referenced John 20:1, specifically the phrase “while it was still dark.” The writer talked about the fact that even in the darkness, God was already at work, already making a way.

Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

This idea—that God is at work, that He’s making a way even when I can’t yet perceive it—is why I love Isaiah 43:19 and hold tight to it especially in difficult times. For all my fear and worrying, I absolutely trust that God is making a way in my difficulties, even when I can’t yet perceive it.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Risen Savior, Author of all creation, thank You for the certainty that You are at work in my circumstances, that You are making a way where there is no way, even if I cannot yet perceive it. Help me to trust to You always, “even while it is still dark.” Amen.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed day.

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I don’t understand, Lord. But I trust You with my life…. (devo reflection)

Mark 11:20-21 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

Today’s scripture is hard for me because I truly don’t understand. Jesus curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit—even though it wasn’t fig season. Why? Then He says that if we believe hard enough, if we pray without any doubt, we can have whatever we pray for. What?!?

Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

I’m pretty sure we all have things we’ve prayed fervently for that did not come to pass. I can’t believe in a God who sees fervent prayer, yet says, “Nope. She quit praying 5 minutes too soon. No granted prayer for her.” So what’s going on here?

Mark 11:23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.

Lord, You tell me to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and all these things will be given to me (Matt 6:33). Jesus teaches me by example to say, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). You assure me that Your thoughts are not like my thoughts and Your ways are far beyond anything I could imagine (Isaiah 55:8). I don’t understand, Lord. But I trust You with my life. “Not my will, but yours be done.” Always. Amen.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Have a blessed day.

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Astounding…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing and our righteousness is as filthy rags…

And yet He loves us fiercely anyway. He lavishes us with grace upon grace anyway. Isn’t it astounding the love He has for His children? It takes my breath away.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way….

And yet He sends us sunshine, blue skies, showers and rainbows, people who love and encourage us, God-moments to draw us closer. He even allows us to wrestle with doubt so that we can come to the end of ourselves and find Him.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Lord, I am not worthy, can never be worthy, and yet You tell me again and again and again that my life is of eternal worth. You invite me to know You intimately, to trust You fully. I want that, Lord, so much. Help me. Amen.

Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Have a blessed day.

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The pride of self-sufficiency…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

My need to understand the why of life causes me a lot of anguish at times because there are times when life just doesn’t make sense. And sometimes, as they say, you have to let go of what’s good to grab hold of what’s better. But that doesn’t make the pain of letting go any less.

Isaiah 55:9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

God’s thoughts and His abilities, His dreams and His plans for me, are far beyond anything I am capable of imagining, which means the road to attaining these things is far beyond my imagining as well. Again, this is where trust in Him comes in. If I cannot imagine or conceive of something, there is no way I can achieve it in my own power. Jesus, help me.

Isaiah 55:10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

Lord, Forgive me for the pride of self-sufficiency. Crack open my protective shell and help me to cling more closely to You. I don’t want to be self-sufficient if it means doing life without You. I need You, Lord. I trust You. Amen.

Isaiah 55:11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Have a blessed day.

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Trust and hope…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Lord, You promise that we have nothing to fear because You have called us and redeemed us. We are Yours. Help me to live the truth of these words, even when the world feels like it’s falling apart, even when every plan that I make fails to materialize. Help me to trust You and not be afraid.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Lord, You don’t promise sunshine and roses always. Isaiah 43:2 doesn’t say *if* buy rather *when.* Bad things happen. Difficulties happen. But You promise to be with us always, even in hard times, especially then. Help me to lean into You and trust You, Lord, especially in my trials.

Isaiah 43:18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

Lord, Isaiah 43:19 gives me such hope: You are making a way, even now, even though I can’t yet perceive it. You are doing a new thing, something You are very excited about. Help me to trust and hope always, even when I can’t yet perceive what You are doing. Help me to trust and hope always in You, Lord. Amen.

Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness….

Have a blessed day.

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Seeking, examining, questioning…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 44:24 This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself….

The biggest issue I had when reading through the Bible was actually reading the commentary, the certainty of the commentator that his ideas were THE right ideas. In my mind, that’s not God’s infallibility, that’s human pride, something I wrestle with myself.

Isaiah 44:25 …who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense….

And it reminded me of growing up in my little church. I honestly don’t know if I was TOLD that I was not to question God, but that’s certainly what I told myself. But one thing I know is that God wants a relationship with me, He wants me to draw near. And one way I do that is by seeking, examining, questioning.

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, I know that You are love, that You call me to draw near to You, that, for me, that means examining and questioning so that I can better understand. As I figure out where in Your word You are calling me next, help me to seek and question so that I can draw closer to You. Always. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Have a blessed day.

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Preconceived notions…. (devo reflection)

John 5:5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

Commentary on these verses is very eye-opening and convicting. The invalid has a preconceived notion of how healing happens and, therefore, he “…limits God’s help to his own ideas….” However, when Jesus tells him in verse 8 to pick up his mat and walk, he does so in faith, without hesitation, and he is healed.

John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

How many times have I been guilty of exactly the same thing? How many times have I told Jesus what  healing looks like in a given situation? And it is only when I surrender my will, my notions of how things should work, that I make room for His will to heal. Jesus, Help me.

John 5:7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Lord, Thank You for the fact that Your thoughts are not my thoughts and Your ways are beyond anything I can imagine (Isaiah 55:8). Thank You for working outside of what I know and understand. Help me not to limit Your power to my feeble, earthly notion of what’s possible. Help me to get out of Your way so You can work through me. Always. Amen.

John 5:8-9 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Have a blessed day.

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“Do not be afraid….” (devo reflection)

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.”
In both verse 13 and verse 30, one of the first things the angel says is: “Do not be afraid.” Worry, fear, anxiety have been such a part of my life for so long that the angel’s words are a balm to my soul. “Do not be afraid.”
Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
The other thing that strikes me about verse 13 specifically is the fact that the angel tells Zechariah that the Lord has heard his UNSPOKEN prayer for a son, the prayer that he held in the quiet of his heart, the prayer he had probably given up on. Zechariah reacts with disbelief (“How can I be sure of this?”). I feel his disbelief on a gut level as it is something I struggle with as well.
Luke 1:30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”
Precious Savior, Thank You for the repeated reminder not to be afraid. Thank You for hearing the prayers that we hold in the quiet of our hearts. Thank You for the promise to never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5), for the promise of a divine plan for us (Jer 29:11), for the promise to work all things to our good and Your glory (Rom 8:28). Help me never to lose sight of the fact that Your thoughts are not my thoughts and Your ways are beyond anything I can imagine (Isaiah 55:8). Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Luke 1:37 “For no word from God will ever fail.”
Have a blessed day.