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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….
This verse became incredibly meaningful to me in the spring of 2017. In early March that year, the hubs suffered a heart attack, and I prayed Isaiah 43:19 all the way to the hospital and beyond. In April 2017, my mom passed away unexpectedly. In May, same year, my oldest attempt to take his own life and spent two months in a wilderness therapy program. I clung to Isaiah 43:19 as I slogged through a wilderness I could not fathom, trusting He was making a way, even when I could not perceive it.
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. 
In just over two weeks, the hubs and our oldest will embark on the journey of a lifetime—they will begin their thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. And this morning, my precious Savior solidified that He is taking me and our youngest on a journey as well—a journey of faith and trust, a journey where we can’t plan and we don’t know what to expect, so we’ll need to cling more closely to the One who sees and knows, the One who is holding, guiding, sheltering all of us.
Psalm 56:4 In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You are making a way through every wilderness, even when we can’t yet perceive it. Thank You for the opportunity of this Appalachian Trail adventure. Be with all of us—both on the trail and at home—help us to trust You, help us to lean into You. Always. Blanket us with Your peace and protection. Draw us closer to You and closer as a family. Amen.
Psalm 56:10-11 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
I sincerely believe that God can reach us through trials, difficulties, and heartache in a way He can’t when life is good. I don’t think He causes them, but I think He uses everything for our good and His glory (Rom 8:28). We are fickle creatures. He knows that we listen and seek more earnestly through trying times. It doesn’t mean I like the trying times any better, but I understand they help draw me to Him and refine me in Him in a way nothing else can. 
Jer 24:7 I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart.
He created us for relationship with Him. He wants us to seek Him, to sit with Him, to know Him. He has placed a heart to know Him within us. All we have to do is seek Him, look for Him, and He is right there, waiting for us. Thank You, Jesus.
Deut 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this reminder that You want us to seek You, to know You. Thank You for being ever present, especially in times of trouble and sorrow. Thank You for calling us to You, for sending us seeking You, for always being right there with us. Draw us closer. Amen.
Jer 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.
Have a blessed day.

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Trying to please those of this world is a fruitless act because the people of this world are fickle. I was reminded of that this morning as I was reading Luke 4:21-30. The people went from speaking well of Jesus and being amazed by His gracious words (v22) to being filled with rage and wanting to hurl Him off a cliff (v29).
1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world.
It seems that not much has changed. People are still incredibly fickle. Trying to please them will only bring heartache and pain. Thankfully, while we know we will have troubles in this life, God has already given us access to what we need to be able to rise above the trouble—His peace, His grace, our faith in Him. Thank You, Jesus.
1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the knowledge that we will have trouble in this life, but that You have already overcome the world, so we are already more than conquerors through You. Help me, when I bump up against the trials of this life, to lean into You, to claim Your peace, to keep the earthly trials in eternal perspective. You have overcome the world. Therefore, I am more than a conqueror. Thank You, Jesus. Draw me closer. Amen.
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 139:12 …even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light to You.
Darkness can be incredibly difficult to navigate—spiritual darkness, physical darkness. Noises that don’t cause a second thought in the day can strike terror in the night. Fever, aches and pains, self-pity, which can usually be kept in some sort of perspective during the day, often run rampant at night. Worries and fears, which can be examined and rationalized during the day, often turn insidious at night, invading the mind in a way that’s impossible when light is present. 
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
I would do well to remember that in God there is no darkness. When physical darkness settles, with mental darkness often on its heels, that is my signal to draw closer to my Savior, to draw closer to His light. I’m getting better. When sleeplessness plagues me as it so often does, my default is becoming prayer instead of irritation at the inability to sleep. But I need to continue to strive to actively seek His light. Always. Especially in my times of darkness.
1 John 1:5 “And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your light. Thank You for this innate desire to seek You, to know You, to praise You. Help me always to seek Your light. Banish any darkness that tries to cover me. Help me to shine Your light for all to see. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 36:9 For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 61:2 From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
I have a picture in my classroom of the rock face of Rocky Face Park. On the picture, I have written the last part of Psalm 61:2. It is intended to be a reminder that God is my rock and my refuge, the one I stand on always, especially when I don’t understand. 
Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”
When I think of Rocky Face, in my mind’s eye, I see myself climbing the Vertical Mile Challenge. It’s a tough climb, but the higher I go, the farther I can see. Here’s where I have to be careful with this analogy. Trusting God does not mean climbing higher so I can see/understand more. It means trusting that the foundation I stand on is firm, solid, trust worthy, even when I DON’T understand, especially then. It means soaking in His peace and strength, even when nothing makes sense. It means trusting that He’s holding me securely, even when nothing seems sure. It means rock-solid trust in Him.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this reminder that You are my rock, my fortress, my shelter. Thank You for the reminder that standing on Your promises and trusting Your provision does not mean I will understand. It simply means that I know You’ve got me, You are in control, even when I don’t understand, especially then. Help me to trust You always. Surround me with Your strength and peace. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 71:1 In You, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
Have a blessed day. 

Psalm 139:13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Like many people, I have always been hyper-critical of my own body—my belly roll, my Shrek foot, my crooked teeth, my acne-prone, crepe-y skin. I could go on and on. However, if I did, I would be doing myself and my Maker a huge disservice.
Psalm 139:14 Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
I am a masterpiece because my Creator is the Master of the Universe. My womb has nurtured the miracle of life. My feet and legs have run half marathons and climbed mountains. My arms have rocked babies, dried tears, supported and encouraged others, built up and created things that give hope and encouragement. 
Psalm 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the gift of another year of life. Thank You for this amazing body, fearfully, wonderfully, uniquely made by You. Thank You for the gift of perspective. Help me always to view myself and others through Your eyes, which see, support, and celebrate. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Have a blessed day.

1 Cor 12:15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
Yesterday, as I was proofing my devo before posting, a thought struck me related to 1 Cor 12:15. Just because the foot disavows the body does not make it any less a part of the body. It made me think of our amazing Savior who loves us deeply. Just because we disavow Him—because we think we don’t need Him or because we think we’ve screwed up so badly that there’s no way He can still love us—our disavowal does not affect the way He sees us. We are His. Always.
Psalm 139:7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
The Christian band Rend Collective put out a song some time ago, with the chorus: “You will never run away/You’re forever mine.” It used to crack me up because it sounded a tad bit creepy, but the promise inherent in the lines is lifesaving, not creepy. God loves us fiercely. Always. Even if we turn our backs on Him, even if we think we’re too far gone for Him to love, He’s right there, waiting for us to return to Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says… “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for laying this message on my heart. Thank You for creating me, for loving me, for redeeming me. Thank You for the lengths You will go to to bring me back to You. Help me to shine Your light for all to see. Draw me closer. Amen.
Jer 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.”
Have a blessed day. 

1 Cor 12:15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
Discontent seems an unavoidable part of the human existence, and I believe we were created that way for a divine purpose. That part of ourselves that is discontent with our circumstances is God’s way of ensuring that we realize how much we need Him. We were intended to be discontent because we are incomplete. That discontentment was intended to send us seeking Him. But the world wants us to believe that our discontent is because we don’t have something material. The world wants us to search for things instead of a relationship with our Savior.
1 Cor 12:16 And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
God endowed us each with specific strengths and gifts to serve a specific purpose for Him. The trials that we have been through prepare us for the role He has for us. Every job can be done with dignity. But humans are fickle creatures, and it is easy for us to become discontent, especially if we feel our role isn’t enough—big enough, good enough, important enough. We aren’t wired for contentment, but God wants us to seek Him, not the things of this world.
1 Cor 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your presence with me this morning. I am guilty of feeling the discontent intended to bring me closer to You and seeking the things of this world instead. I am guilty of feeling the discontent and thinking that I need to do something else instead of drawing closer to You. Thank You for loving me through my discontent. Help me to make my home in You, to seek contentment in You only. Help me to be Your hands and feet. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Cor 12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose.
Have a blessed day.

Song of Solomon 4:7 You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
Once again, this is a verse that has been open on my desktop for quite some time. I adore this image of how Christ feels about us, His beloved children. For me, today, this verse, all these verses, represent the “full armor of God,” so that I can take my stand against the devil’s schemes (Eph 6:11). The devil knows my self-esteem is a weak point. He knows the crazy high standards I hold for myself and my ridiculously critical inner voice. But my precious Savior knows, too, and He whispers sweet balm to my soul—You are enough because you have Me. You are perfectly imperfect, and my perfection completes You as it was designed to do. You are precious and beautiful because You are Mine. 
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.”
The devil wants me to doubt my worth to my Savior. He wants to capitalize on my insecurities. But a beautiful truth that I am learning and trusting is that if I lean into my Savior, my insecurities can be a tremendous source of strength. Hear me out. I know without a doubt that my faith is strong, despite my doubts and fears. In fact, my weaknesses and insecurities help me to be ever mindful of my deep need for my Savior, who is my only source of strength. I cannot do this life without His help, presence, and guidance.
Isaiah 49:16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that I am Yours, deeply loved, perfectly imperfect. Thank You for these words of truth to help me fight the devil’s schemes. Help me to trust beyond a shadow of a doubt that You’ve got me, You are holding me, I am Yours. Help me reject the devil’s attempts to sidetrack me from Your work. Help me to shine Your light brightly for all to see. Draw me closer. Strengthen me. Amen.
Psalm 46:5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day.
Have a blessed day.

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds….
My students will tell you that I say the phrase “Life is all about choices,” sometimes with startling regularity. I usually follow that up with some variation of “but choices have consequences, so choose wisely.” For me personally, the reminder, posted everywhere in my classroom, is “Choose Joy.”
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Charles Swindoll said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” My attitude is my choice. Life is often not smooth—sometimes it’s little things and sometimes it’s life-altering things that do not go the way we hope or plan. But God is always at work, and He can use all things if we let Him, He can draw us closer to Him through the darkest, most painful circumstances, and while the darkness and pain isn’t something to celebrate, drawing closer to Him absolutely is.
1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances….
Lord, Thank You for this day and the reminder to choose joy in our circumstances. Thank You for Your ability to draw us closer, shape and mold us, through all circumstances. Help me remember that I am always in charge of my attitude. Help me to choose joy. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
Have a blessed day.