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The power of belief in healing…. (devo reflection)

Luke 7:2-3 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

The centurion, a Roman, believed in Jesus’s healing power and wanted that healing for his servant, whom he valued. However, he didn’t feel worthy to even ask for Jesus’s help. He also didn’t feel worthy to have Jesus under his roof. But he valued his servant so much and believed in Jesus’s healing power so much that he said, essentially, “Only say the word and my servant shall be healed.”

Luke 7:4-5 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

There is much I can learn from the faith of the centurion. 1. I’m not worthy, yet Jesus’s healing power is available to me. All I have to do is ask. 2. My faith allows me to ask for healing for those I care about and allows others to ask for healing on my behalf. 3. There is incredible power in belief. The centurion’s faith in Jesus’s ability to heal allowed Jesus to heal. If there had been no faith, there could be no healing.

Luke 7:6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

Precious Savior, Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. I know that Your strength is perfected in my weakness. It is astounding to me that my unbelief can inhibit Your ability to work in my life. I believe, Lord, help my unbelief. Amen.

Luke 7:7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Have a blessed day.

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Slowly but surely…. (devo reflection)

Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Jealousy, anger, and bitterness are emotions I struggle with way more than I would like to admit. They are tied to my insecurities, which are many. And I think they are rooted in a scarcity mentality: If you get something good, that’s one less good thing that’s available for me. It’s a ridiculous mentality, but one I have to consciously fight against.

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Being aware of my tendency, being mindful of God’s grace and mercy towards me—unearned and undeserved—being mindful that I am to treat others as God treats me, even when that treatment is undeserved, especially then—these things are what help me to live a more open, loving, grace-full life. I am absolutely a work in progress, but I’m getting there, slowly but surely.

Luke 6:44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your compassion and grace for me. I don’t deserve either. I can never be worthy of the love You lavish on me. And yet, You love me fiercely simply because I am Yours. Help me to concentrate on loving others with compassion and mercy as You love me. Amen.

Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Have a blessed day.

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If you say so…. (devo reflection)

Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Imagine the scene: Simon Peter washing his nets after a long night at sea with little to show for his efforts. This Rabbi, Jesus, gets in his boat and asks him to row off shore a bit so Jesus can instruct the masses, so he does. Once Jesus finishes teaching, He tells Simon Peter to head out to deep water and put out his nets.

Luke 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

I wonder if Simon Peter actually rolled his eyes or just internally did so. I’m sure he was thinking, “I’m the fisherman here. And I’ve been at it all night with no luck. But whatever…. If you say so….” And Simon Peter is rewarded big for following Jesus’s command.

Luke 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

Lord, Forgive me when I approach You and Your guidance with the attitude of a petulant child. Forgive me when I huff and sigh and roll my eyes because I don’t see the value or importance in what You want me to do. Help me in my attitude towards situations and people whom I find difficult to love. Help me to bring You praise and glory in all things. Amen.

Luke 5:7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Have a blessed day.

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The quirky, weird parts of myself…. (devo reflection)

Luke 3:3 [John son of Zechariah] went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Commentary says of John, “Simply said, John was weird.” I love this description more than I can express. I have a soft spot in my heart for weirdos and misfits, for those who never quite feel like they fit in. I understand that feeling on a gut level. And for the herald of the Lord to be a weirdo gives me hope for the ways Jesus can use me.

Luke 3:7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Here’s the thing: We often believe that fitting in is the goal. We want to be loved and accepted. And we often feel that if we are in the least quirky, fitting in isn’t possible, which means we are destined to live on the fringes forever. Again I say, to fully realize that the herald of the Lord is a weirdo, too, gives me such hope.

Luke 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Lord, Thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. That You for the quirky, weird parts of myself that I often struggle to accept. Use me in Your service, Lord. Help me to shine Your light and bring You glory. Amen.

Luke 3:9 “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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Reassurance…. (devo reflection)

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

I have read this passage myriad times in my life, but what jumps out at me because of verses 13 and 30 yesterday is the fact that, again, the first thing the angel said was, “Do not be afraid.”

Luke 2:16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Interestingly, the shepherds went to *see* before they spread the news. I wonder why doubting Thomas got such a bad rep for not believing until he saw. I wonder why the shepherds were not similarly chastised.

Luke 2:17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child….

Lord, Thank You for the reassurance not to be afraid. I need it more than I can adequately express. And thank You for the ability to ask, seek, knock, search. Thank You for showing up, for spending time with us when we make time for You. Help me always to make You a priority. Amen.

Luke 2:18 …and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Have a blessed day. Love you.

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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.
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Even in our mess.… (devo reflection)

Jonah 3:1-2 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Yesterday I wrote a reflection on Luke 22:24-25, where after Jesus tells the disciples that He is going to suffer, that He will not eat and drink again until the Kingdom of God comes, they get into an argument with each other about which of them is greatest. At the time, I was grouching about writing a reflection when I was exhausted and done with humanity.

Jonah 3:3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.

Here, Jonah runs from God’s direction, endangers a ship full of sailors, spends time in the belly of a whale, and finally decides to listen to God’s call. My point? People have a lot of baggage—myself included—but if we will allow, Jesus can and will use us, even in our mess. But we have to show up.

Jonah 3:4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

Lord, Thank You for Your mercy and compassion. Thank You for giving Jonah a second chance to go to Nineveh to preach Your word. Thank You for giving the disciples a chance to carry on Your ministry, even after their ridiculous squabble. Thank You for a speaking to my heart again and again and again, for allowing me to reflect on Your word, even when I balk and grump. Help me to love others with the same amazing, fierce, compassionate love with which You love me. Amen.

Jonah 3:5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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To seek and listen…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 7:12 “‘Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.”
When reading verse 13, Isaiah 65:24 came to mind in sharp contrast: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” God wants relationship with His people. He wants us to talk with Him. He wants to bless us. But we must seek and establish relationship, we must trust and obey if we want to hear His voice, if we want to see His blessings.
Jeremiah 7:13 “While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.”
As I was typing this, the parable of the Prodigal Son came to mind. The Prodigal, when he returned home, finally understood all the bounty and blessing he had been surrounded with the whole time. He had been blind to it before, but now that he actively sought relationship and forgiveness, he saw it clearly. The brother, vision clouded by anger and bitterness, was still blind to the abundance around him.
Jeremiah 7:14 “Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors.”
Lord, I am guilty of being blind to Your presence, Your blessings. I am guilty of being deaf to Your voice. I am better now about seeking and listening, seeing and hearing, but I am still not where I want to be. Help me to sit quietly at Your feet, to seek and listen, to draw closer to You with every breath. Amen.
Jeremiah 7:15 “I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’”
Have a blessed day.
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A catalyst for digging deeper…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 63:1 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.”
This week the scripture for my church’s daily devotionals is in Luke 15: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, and The Parable of the Lost Son. All three parables echo this idea in Isaiah 63 of a God who is mighty to save and a people who rebel and grieve His Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 63:8 He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior.
And I have found myself of late struggling with how I deal with what I see as rebellious, grievous behavior in others. My anger at the inability of others to act with basic Christian compassion is rebellious and grievous in its own way. It’s not righteous anger from God. It’s not productive. It’s not compassionate. That makes it part of the problem.
Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Lord, I feel You calling me to task with this scripture. I can’t combat attitude with attitude. It doesn’t glorify You nor does it help any of Your people. Help me to use my anger as a catalyst for digging deeper so we can get to the root of the issue. Help us all to comfort Your people in compassion and love.  Help our end-goal to be to glorify You always. Draw us closer. Amen.
Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit….
Have a blessed day.
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A precious cornerstone…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. (NIV)
Commentary on this chapter was difficult for me to read because I know that if someone were struggling with the grip of addiction, the commentary on this chapter would leave them hopeless. However, the cornerstone spoken of in this verse and in 1 Peter 2:6 is Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of hope.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. (NLT)
It was Jesus who broke bread with Judas, even knowing that Judas would betray Him. It was Jesus who prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” as the soldiers cast lots for His clothes (Luke 23:34). It was Jesus who told the criminal, “Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Like 23:43). Jesus. Hope.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore the Lord GOD said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable. (CSB)
Dearest Jesus, Thank You for being a source of hope for the hopeless, not because You advocate debauchery but because You love us so that You want us with You, no matter how far we’ve strayed. Thank You for Your love and mercy that doesn’t shake a judgmental finger at us, preaching about all the ways we screwed up, but Who gathers us in, stinking, filthy wretches that we are, lovingly dries our tears and wipes the mud from our cheeks and welcomes us home. Thank You for being hope, compassion, and mercy personified. Amen.
Isaiah 28:16 And so the LORD says, “I’m laying a firm foundation for the city of Zion. It’s a valuable cornerstone proven to be trustworthy; no one who trusts it will ever be disappointed. (CEV)
Have a blessed day.