Posted on

Excessive planning…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

The daily devo I read each morning (Sarah Young’s _Jesus Calling_) began today, “You will not find my peace by engaging in excessive planning….” I’ve mentioned before that I am a planner. I have a plan, a back up plan, and a contingency plan for the back up. And I can attest that that way leads to even more anxiety as I continue to think of contingencies that might need planning for. There is never an end.

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

But I am learning–oh so slowly, I’m learning–to trust more and plan less. I still have a plan. I’ve at least pondered what to do if it starts going sideways, but the contingency back-up plan never quite comes to fruition anymore, and I can attest that there is definitely less anxiety involved, and sometimes, there is even excitement about the possibilities.

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

Lord, I love when You speak so clearly to my heart about matters that I know I still need to turn over to You as You did this morning. Thank You for the progress I’ve made in the area of planning and anxiety and trusting You. Thank You that I am Your deeply, fiercely loved child even when I struggle. Thank You, Jesus. 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.

Posted on

Living in joy and peace…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Verse 4 today reminds me of John 15:11, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” We can rejoice in the Lord, we should rejoice in the Lord, always. It is what He wants for us–peace that surpasses all understanding and joy that overflows in a world that is often lacking in both.

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

But how do we go about that in a world that is often chaotic? Verse 6 gives us a guide: Don’t be anxious. Instead, pray and petition, give thanks, and present your requests to God. The same Lord who told us in John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” He wants us to bring everything to Him. He wants us to channel everything through Him. He wants us to live in joy and peace. He is for us. Always.

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

Lord, Sometimes I let the world get into my head. Sometimes I forget just how close You are. Verse 5 reminds me that You are near. The world tells me You are so very far away. Forgive me when I forget the truths You tell me. Help me to bring everything to You–the joy, the pain, sorrow, weariness, every single thing. Help me to rejoice in You, always. Draw me closer. 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.

Posted on

Trust and contentment…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Today’s reading said, “Accept each day just as it comes to you. Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances. Instead, trust Me enough…” On this first workday of the new school year, these words are sorely needed.

Philippians 4:11b …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  

How often have I wasted my time wishing a situation were different? As I mentioned yesterday, my attitude determines what I will find in each day. If I approach this day with dread, I’ll only find negativity. If I approach this day with trust, looking for good, looking for God, I’ll find Him everywhere I turn.

Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Precious Savior, You know I struggle with trust… But I do trust You. I do trust Your promises… that You are with me always, that You are making a way in my wilderness, that You can use me exactly where I am right this moment. Help me to stop wasting time and energy and to live fully into this day that You have made. You are with me. You’ve got me. Thank You. Amen.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Think about such things…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:8a Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true… 

Our thoughts are powerful. What we spend our mental energy thinking about will shape our day. Have you ever noticed that when you are in a terrible mood, when you think someone is being mean or snarky, you suddenly find negativity everywhere? That happens to me.

Philippians 4:8b …whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure… 

But when I look for good, when I look for God, when I look for blessings, they are everywhere, too. Give it a try. Look for the good in your day. Look for “Godwinks,” where God is showing you He’s present.. Look for positive things and people. Be a positive person, putting good into the world. Truly, the benefits are startling.

Philippians 4:8c …whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—

Lord, Help me to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy in this day. Help me to put good into the world and to look for the good. I know that when I look for it, when I look for You, I find You everywhere I look. Help me to be a positive force for You today. Amen.

Philippians 4:8d …if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

All that burdens my heart…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

This morning this verse fills me with joy. Why am I rejoicing? Why am I unafraid to let my gentleness be evident to all? Because the Lord is near. He is with me. He promised never to leave me nor forsake me. How often do I lose sight of that fact?

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

When anxiety is great within me, God’s comfort brings me joy (Psalm 94:19). I allow myself to be overwhelmed and anxious at the least provocation, yet all I have to do is present my requests, my worries, my doubts, fears, resentments, all of it to God. Give them to Him. Put them at His feet. Leave them there. Be prayerful and thankful.

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

Lord, I make life so difficult at times. I stew in anxiety and fear, when You are with me, right beside me, waiting, hoping, that I will turn to You, that I will give my worries and fears to You, that I will come to You with thanksgiving and prayer and give all that burdens my heart to You. Help me, Jesus. Allow me to give my burdens to You so that my heart and mind may be guarded by Your peace, which transcends all understanding. 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.

Posted on

Focused on Christ…. (Devo reflection)

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

This morning’s devo was about keeping our thoughts focused on Christ. These days—this time of year? This season of life?—I’m not doing so well with that. It’s definitely an area I need to surrender more fully to Him.

2 Corinthians 10:5 …take every thought captive to obey Christ….

When I allow my mind to drift toward the negative, when I don’t surrender those thoughts to Christ, when I allow myself to wallow in the negative….nothing true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, or commendable comes from that. Ever.

Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Lord, Thank You for reminding me of this issue. Help me to lay the negative, unproductive thoughts at Your feet so that I can be useful in Your service. Amen.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Relax and enjoy the present moment…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I woke up this morning worrying about something utterly inconsequential. And while I understood the inconsequential nature of the worry, I was unable to put it aside. It gnawed at me. And then my morning reflection (Jesus Calling) included this much needed gem: “If you trust that My plans are to prosper you and not to harm you, you can relax and enjoy the present moment.”

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…

Worry consumes so much of my time. To relax and enjoy the present moment sounds wonderful. The ability to trust Him with my future, to relax from All. The. Worry, that’s something *I* have complete control over. So why is it so ridiculously hard for me to let go of control, to give up the worrying, fretting, fearing and trust that God has got me? I *know* He’s got me. Truly. So why do I struggle so with letting go and trusting Him?

Proverbs 3:6 …in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder once again that You have got me, that I can trust You and Your plan for me. Help me to relax, to let go of worry and control so that I can enjoy this precious life You have given me. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

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

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Graduation Day…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

My oldest graduates from high school today. I am so incredibly proud of that kid because of the growth and maturity that I see in him. When I look at where he was in 6th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, I can see how far he’s come. He has a good, compassionate heart, a sound brain in his head. He loves God. He loves people.

Philippians 1:9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

I know that I have done what I could to give him a firm foundation, but I understand in a new light the protective mama instinct. I also understand in a new light the fact that my children are God’s, not ours. The hubs and I, our village, can’t truly protect them from life. All we can do is love them, root them in God, pray for them (A LOT), trust God with them.

Philippians 1:10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Lord, It has been an honor and a privilege to raise the young man who will walk across the stage this evening. Help him to know that You are with him, that we love and support him, that it’s ok to fail as long as you get up and try again, that You can use all things for his good and Your glory. Thank You for the village that continues to help us love, support, and nurture him. Thank You for the plans You have for him. Help him to know You are with him every step of the way. Amen.

Philippians 1:11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Do not be anxious about anything… (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:6a Do not be anxious about anything….

Lord, You know I struggle with change, and everywhere I look at the moment I see so much change. But I trust You. I believe You. I know You are in control, even with so much change in store. Help me to live that belief. Help me to lay aside my anxiety and fear.

Philippians 4:6b …but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

Lord, I know You are with me. You shower me with blessings daily. Help me to focus on You—Your presence, Your blessings, Your people—instead of focusing on my fear. Help me to lift my voice in Your praise. Help me to be so focused on You that I can’t focus on my fears.

Philippians 4:7a And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding….

Lord, Blanket me with Your peace. Help me to be still, to know that even in all the change that You are still God, still in control. Guard my heart and mind, guard those I love and all Your children, help us all to rest in Your peace. Amen.

Philippians 4:7b …will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

Posted on

The larger goal…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Today is the official end of my Spring Break. Tomorrow starts the final push to graduation. Teachers and students both are tired, and now we’ve had a taste of freedom, so these final weeks are hard. Ultimately, at this time of year, I have to remind myself that I do this job not to make it to summer vacation but because all those years ago, God called me to be a teacher.

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Finishing the race doesn’t mean finishing the school year, or my career, it is about the larger goal. And while, as a public school teacher, I can’t preach my faith, God shows me His presence with me in the classroom every single day in myriad ways. And so it is with you. He’s with you, guiding you, incorporating you into His ministry wherever He has you currently planted. Trust Him.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Lord, Thank you for time to rest and renew. Thank you for unexpected opportunities and beach sunrises and time with family. As we head into this last eight weeks of the school year, give us all the strength and the will to finish strong. And help all of us, no matter what we do in life, to remember the larger end game–eternity with You. Thank You for the hope of eternity. Amen.

Philippians 3:14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Have a blessed day.