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.
Strength to the weary…. (devo reflection)
Matt 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
This morning finds me weary, worn down, physically and emotionally exhausted. It is a frustrating place to be, one I find myself in far more often than I would prefer, but I know what I need to do—take it to the feet of my precious Savior. Lay down my burdens. Seek His renewal, His peace, His strength. Help me, Jesus.
Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
He has set a task before me, one that He uniquely created me to fulfill. I know He has called me, and I know that He will give me strength in my weakness IF I will allow, IF I will humble myself and allow Him to work through me. Help me, Jesus. I cannot do this by myself, and You aren’t asking me too. Infuse me with Your strength.
Isaiah 40:31 …those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this reminder that You don’t expect me to do it all in my own strength. Thank You for the reminder that when I am weary, weak, worn out, exhausted, You are my place of refuge, rest, renewal. Help me to find peace, strength, and renewal in You so that I can do what You have called me to do in this life. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.
Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Have a blessed day.
Through life’s storms…. (devo reflection)
Luke 8:23 As they sailed, [Jesus] fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
In my recliner, with my Savior and my coffee, with quiet reigning and peace in my little world, it is very easy for me to critically judge the disciples. My mental conversation with the disciples in the boat goes something like this: ”Jesus was in the boat, people. He was taking a nap. If you truly believed He was sent to save the world (and why would you be following Him otherwise?), how can you be concerned about the storm? Jesus is WITH YOU. Get a clue, disciples.”
Luke 8:24a The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
And yet, when I am in the midst of my own storm, instead of on my safe, tranquil morning-island, with Jesus and coffee, panic is often my first response to life’s storms as well. “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matt 8:26). Help me, Jesus.
Luke 8:24b He got up and rebuked the wind and raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this perspective. Thank You for being with me in the calm, quiet moments, Lord, as well as through life’s storms. Help me to be able to tap into the calm of my daily morning time with You, even when besieged by turbulent storms. Help me to cling to You, to trust You, to know that I am safely sheltered in the palm of Your hand. Always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Luke 8:25 “Where is your faith?” He asked His disciples.
Have a blessed day.
When the going gets tough…. (devo reflection)
Romans 12:2a Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….
Sometimes God calls us to do difficult things. When the hubs and I felt His prompting for this incredible AT adventure, I don’t think we really had any concept of what He was calling us to do. It has been an amazing journey thus far, but it has had its challenges—both on the trail and on the home front. But God is good, He is with us, and He can use all things for our good and His glory. Thank You, Jesus.
Romans 12:2b …Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
There is so very much that I don’t know, don’t understand about my amazing Savior, but I know He has promised to be with me always (Matt 28:20); I know He has a plan for me (Jer 29:11), and I know I will find Him when I seek Him with my whole heart (Jer 29:13). Even when I’m struggling, I know these truths and I can trust them because the one who promised is faithful (Heb 10:23). Thank You, Jesus.
1 Thess 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for the promises of Your word, for Your fierce love and Your plan for each of us. Help us, even when the going gets tough, even when we are struggling in the present moment, to keep our eyes, minds, and hearts focused solely on You. Help us to be thankful in ALL circumstances, Lord, knowing that You are sovereign and can use all things, even the difficult things, for our good and Your glory (Rom 8:28). Draw us closer. Help us to shine Your light. Amen.
Col 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.
Have a blessed day.