Psalm 16:8 …With Him at my right hand, I will never be shaken.
Yesterday I volunteered to share my devo reflection to begin a meeting at church. I stumbled when I read the following: “Yet if I keep my eyes on You, if I will center myself on Your fierce love, I will NEVER be shaken by any doubt.” The line gave me pause because anxiety, worry, and fear often crowd my mind, especially when life feels chaotic. Does that mean I’m not living my faith?
Matt 7:9-10 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
I’ve been pondering and praying about this since last night, and I was reminded by my precious Savior of when my boys were little and we had a terrible storm. We were safe inside, yet they were still afraid. As their parent, I wasn’t angry about their fears. In fact, I sought to reassure them further that they were safe and protected. And now, all these years later, they don’t struggle so.
Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you….”
Precious Savior, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for understanding my doubts and fears and for loving me and reassuring me through them. My faith is so much stronger than it was, and even when I am afraid, I KNOW You hold me securely, I KNOW that I am Your deeply loved child. Even if this world crumbles to dust, I KNOW that my eternity is with You. Those truths are unshakable, and that is solely because of You. ‘Thank You’ feels so inadequate, and yet, I know You know my heart. Draw me closer, Lord. Help me to shine Your light, so that others can understand Your unshakable truth. Amen.
Psalm 16:10 …You will not abandon me….
Have a blessed day.
Delayed gratification…. (devo reflection)
Matt 6:2 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will receive no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Delayed gratification is a difficult concept to embrace. According to britannica.com, it is “the act of resisting an impulse to take an immediately available reward in the hope of obtaining a more-valued reward in the future.” Unfortunately, like Veruca Salt, we often stand, hands-on-hips, demanding gratification NOW! And this world is happy to oblige.
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the LORD comes…. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
But God doesn’t call us to work for the accolades of this world. He knows our hearts, He sees our efforts, our setbacks, our triumphs. He’s not here to stroke our egos. He’s here to build His kingdom, a task which transcends this world, a task more important than anything the world will ever ask of us or celebrate us for achieving. Building God’s kingdom is incompatible with instant gratification. I have every hope that He will one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” but that will not happen while I walk this earth.
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though working for the LORD, not for human masters…
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that You see us, You know us, You are paying attention. The human side of me longs for recognition of my efforts, but I know that meaningful recognition can only come from You. Give me peace and hope as I continue working for You. Help me transcend the need for earthly accolades. Draw me closer. Amen.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….
Have a blessed day
Not through my own efforts…. (devo reflection)
Rev 3:10 “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently….”
I try diligently not to pull out partial scripture when I write my reflections, but as I was reading this morning, thinking about my anxiety and grumpiness in the last week, thinking about yesterday, which really was a good day, I was struck by this passage in Revelation. If I had to give myself a grade for patient endurance to God’s call for me this past week, I would definitely have failed. Thankfully, my precious Savior applies much more grace and mercy to my shortcomings than I show myself. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Cor 1:21 For God in His wisdom made it impossible for people to know Him by means of their own wisdom….
My Savior knows He created me to try to understand—why something happened, what something means, why I keep making mistakes and missteps when I want so much to please my Savior and bring Him glory. 1 Cor 1:21 helps me see the value in the seeking. I will never fully know my Creator through my own efforts, but every day, with every quest for understanding, I feel I get to know Him just a little bit better. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Cor 13:12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for my inquisitive nature, for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for allowing me to seek You daily, understanding pieces of You and of myself just a smidge better with every attempt. Thank You that You cannot be fully known, fully understood, through my own efforts. Thank You that one glorious day, when we stand face to face, that I will see everything clearly. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Have a blessed day.
The hope and promise of new beginnings…. (devo reflection)
Matt 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life….”
Lord, Thank You for understanding where I am, how nerve-wracking “new” can be, how much I want to get everything “just right.” Thank You for calling me to this work, for calling me to love, support, and encourage young people. Thank You for the many, many amazing young people I have had the opportunity to work with over the years and the newest group that starts tomorrow.
Jer 1:9 Then the LORD put out His hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, “Now I have put My words in your mouth.”
Lord, Thank You for this particular mix of students. I know with certainty that You’ve placed this particular group in my care for a purpose, that I have wisdom to share with them and they have wisdom to share with me. Help us to be open to listening to and learning from each other. Help me never to forget that You walk with me, even when the going gets tough.
Matt 28:20 “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the hope and promise of new beginnings. Thank You for Your loving reassurance, for Your wisdom, and for Your direction. Help me to be the teacher that You designed me to be. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow….”
Have a blessed day.
A purpose for me here…. (devo reflection)
Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Lord, I know that You have called me to this space, this place, that You have a purpose for me here. Help me, every moment of every day to seek Your will and Your purpose for my life. Help me to ask what You would have me to do, to seek Your presence, Your grace, Your heart, and to knock on Your door, inviting You into every moment of my life so that I can draw closer to You.
Matt 7:8 “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Lord, You want us to have deep, rich, fulfilling relationships with You. You want us to seek to know You better, to spend time in Your presence and in Your word. You want us to be Your hands and feet in this life. Help me, daily, to seek to draw closer and to know You more—at home, at work, in the car, at the store. Everywhere.
Matt 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the invitation to know You better and to walk with You more closely. Thank You for the care You used to create my being, for the plan You have for my life, for walking this road right beside me. Draw me closer to You. Always. Amen.
Phil 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.
Have a blessed day.
Focused on my Savior…. (devo reflection)
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Currently, I have three devotions I read along with my morning bible study. This morning, two of the three dealt with staying focused on Christ, ironic since I found my mind constantly wandering to my laundry list of things to do today. To stay focused on my Savior this morning took way more effort than it should have, which is a clear sign I need to reorder my priorities. Jesus, Help me.
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith….
My morning prayer and study time is crucial for so many reasons, focus chief among them. But the nature of the world is intrusion, insistence that this thing, no this one, no this, is so critical that it must be dealt with NOW. The frenetic pace of the world’s demands makes it dangerously easy to shift our focus away from our Savior and onto the “whack-a-mole” demands of life. Jesus, Help me.
Matt 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of the need to stay focused—first and foremost—on You. This world is loud and insistent, and it wants my full attention, but I can never find true peace, Your peace, peace that passes all understanding, unless I keep my eyes, my mind, my heart focused on You. Help me, Lord. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 26:4 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You.
Have a blessed day.
The present moment…. (devo reflection)
Matt 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.
I am an admitted worrier. I tend to stress and fret about all manner of things that 1. tend to work out fine anyway, 2. don’t amount to much, and 3. rob me of joy in the present moment. This morning my precious Savior is showing me another tendency that needs adjusting. It is my tendency to get stuck in “if only,” as in “If only I had another week of vacation instead of going back to work tomorrow.” or “If only this thing had happened (could happen) instead of this one.” Jesus, help me.
Phil 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Just like with worrying, the trap of “If only” robs me of the joy of what is. And just like with worrying, the solution is to trust my Savior for His daily provision and to trust the truth of Romans 8:28, “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Thank You, Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder to trust You daily, that You will provide what I need, give me strength for what I need to handle, that where You have me is exactly where I need to be right this moment. Thank You for showing me how living in the mindset of “If only” is robbing me of the joy and beauty You have for me today. Help me to place my burdens at Your feet, to live fully in this moment, and to love what is. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life….”
Have a blessed day.
Walking humbly with my precious Savior…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on firm footing. (NLT)
I recently saw an image on social media which has had more of an impact than I imagined. It was an image of a young girl clutching a beloved stuffed animal. Jesus stood in front of her with His hand out. Behind His back was a grander version of the girl’s prized possession. There was a caption, but I don’t remember it. The gist was that Jesus wanted her to give up something she loved dearly, and in return, He had something even better for her. What sticks with me, though, are the tears in her eyes, the clear love she has for the object, and the fact the He wants her to surrender it to Him. Even seeing something bigger and better behind His back, my immediate question is still “Why? Why, Lord, would You ask this of her?” It is absolutely the wrong question. I understand that.
Psalm 143:10 You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let Your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path. (CEV)
Micah 6:8 reminds us that the LORD requires of us “…to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Walking humbly with my precious Savior means putting aside my deep need to know the why behind life’s actions and saying instead, “I know You want this of me. Teach me how. Help me to make Your will for my life MY will for my life, even if it hurts, even if it means letting go of something I love deeply. I know what I gain in return, if I act according to Your will, will be far beyond what You ask me to surrender.”
Luke 22:42 “…yet not my will, but Yours be done.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for the image that sparked this reflection, for the difficult spaces You lead us to and always lead us through. Help me to walk humbly with You, deferring to Your fierce love and deep mercy. Give me wisdom and discernment to know what You are calling me to, and grant me Your strength and Your peace as You shepherd me through. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 25:23 “…Well done, good and faithful servant….”
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.