Category: Uncategorized

My church is doing an Advent devotional, and I volunteered to write two of the reflections. The first one flowed easily. I studied the scripture verses, read several commentaries and sermons on those verses to be sure I understood, prayed for God’s guidance as I wrote, and had a moment of clarity that started the words flowing. The next thing I knew, that devotional was complete. I love it when God works through me like that.

The second reflection has not been as smooth. I completed the same preparation—reading, studying, praying fervently to glorify God through my words, but my thoughts continue to be jumbled. The one thing I know without a doubt is that I want to honor God through my words, words that I know He has given me. And I know that because of my eagerness to glorify Him, even though this reflection isn’t smooth or beautiful, He will use it for His purposes. That’s all He wants from us, really—to hold nothing back from Him, to keep nothing as “off limits” for His use.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for devo reflections that flow so easily and for reflections like today’s that seem to frustrate me at every turn. You want all of me, Lord, not just the parts that I think are good enough. And perhaps that is Your ultimate lesson here—when my goal is to hold nothing back as I glorify You, You can and will use that gift in ways I can’t even imagine. Use all that I am and all that I have, Lord. Help me to hold nothing back from You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day

Lord, Help me to place my life solely in Your hands, so that when I think of myself, it is only in terms of how I can accomplish Your will and further Your kingdom. Help me to let go of the earthly side of myself, the part of me that is wrapped up in my schemes, dreams, and plans. Empty me of myself and fill me with Your Spirit.

Lord, I know You have a job for me. Help me to live my life so that, no matter what I am doing presently, it works to fulfill Your ultimate goal for me, which is completing the work You have given me. There is still so much of the world in me, Lord. Root that out so that there is more room for You.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for allowing me to be a partner in Your kingdom work. Thank You for all the ways I’ve gotten better at listening, drawing closer, aligning myself with You. I want Your peace in my life, Lord, the peace that surpasses all understanding. Help me to lay down my own desires so that there is more room for Your Spirit. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

It is often hard for me during my prayer time to quiet my heart and mind, to be calm and still before the LORD. The world often tries to horn in on any quiet time with thoughts of what needs to get done or get done next, what was left undone, what wasn’t done well, etc. To be still before the LORD, to breathe in His presence, to contemplate His mercy and grace, takes willful action on my part, but it is absolutely necessary if I am to know His will for me.

And what exactly does He want from me? Sometimes that’s hard for me to discern as well, but there are givens that I can always cling to. He wants me to love others. He is focused on our eternal future, and He wants all of us with Him. Micah 6:8, …And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God, sums it up succinctly. He wants us attuned to Him—His love, His mercy, His grace.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your will for my life. Sometimes it feels tremendously difficult to discern what You are calling me to do in a given situation. Help me to seek Your will always. Guide my steps, my actions, and my words. Help me to comfort Your people and shine Your light. Help me to be still before You and to align my life with Your purpose. Draw me closer to You. Always. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

I try really hard to be positive and uplifting, but there is a tiny pessimist deep within me who always points out what could go wrong. This small voice is incredibly vocal, especially when I mess up or when things aren’t going the way I’d hoped. So when I woke up at the crack of dawn today and began tossing and turning restlessly, the pessimist was quick to chime in, “Oh great. It’s the middle of the night and you can’t sleep. Looks like it’s going to be a great day.” That voice is fluent in snarkiness and sarcasm.

I’ve been working on retraining myself, on silencing that inner pessimist, with my daily time with my Savior. That voice is not from Him nor of Him. It speaks the world’s truth and not my precious Savior’s. So I truly was thrilled when on the heels of the snark, Psalm 118:24 came quickly to mind: “This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Thank You, Jesus.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for guiding me ever closer to You. Thank You for the awareness that my inner pessimist does not speak Your truth in my life. Thank You for Psalm 118:24, which helped me to circumvent negativity this morning and led me to praying and praising You instead. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

My scripture reading this morning took me to Psalm 132, and I was captivated by verse 5 about not resting “until I find a place for the LORD.” That sentiment aligns so completely with what I try to do each day with my reading and devotional reflection, and I feel fairly adept at rooting myself in His love, mercy, and grace each morning.

But my sweet Savior knows I still have work to do as I try to align myself to Him completely throughout my day. While He and I share a close, intimate connection for the first hour of my day, once alarm clocks start barking at 6am, the world constantly tries to pull me from Him with the noise and haste of life. Jesus, help me.

Lord, Thank You for this day and the connection that we share each morning. Thank You for the awareness that I still have work to do when it comes to aligning myself to You so securely that the world and its insistent chaos cannot intervene. Help me to always find a place for You at the core of my being. Draw me always closer, Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

For a long time, I did not understand how people could be sad around the holidays. Yes, it could be a stressful time with all that family in a confined space, but with food, gifts, and loved ones, I just didn’t get what wasn’t to love. Now I do. Loved ones gone way too soon, loved ones who have chosen to be absent from our lives, loved ones who show up, wrapped in a protective layer of anger and resentment, attitudes of elitism and entitlement. Now, I absolutely I get it.

For a long time, I have been enamored of the expression “Choose Joy.” Sometimes choosing joy is effortless, but sometimes it has to be an intentional, deliberate, and willful act. It doesn’t mean putting on a smile and pretending to be happy when you aren’t. It is, for me, about being honest with where I am, yet choosing to praise Him for His abundant blessings anyway.

Lord, I am broken and hurting. I miss those who have gone on to be with You, I am sad about relationships that have been damaged or have fallen into disrepair, but I am thankful for so many things, Lord, including the fact that You understand my brokenness and love me, fiercely, anyway. Help me to willfully choose Your joy today. Help me to see and acknowledge Your blessings in my life, which are abundant and ever present. Thank You for Your Son, for my life, for the ability to touch the lives of others, for so many loving and supportive people. Thank You for the ability to be real and honest and broken. Thank You for the understanding that it is only through Your love that I can be made whole. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

My devo reading this morning took me to Psalm 13, which resonated deeply with me. Many times in my life I have cried out to God—Why this? Why now? Why isn’t it getting any better? Why can’t I feel Your presence? Where are You? Sometimes, instead of answers, there’s only silence.

Thankfully, I am (mostly) at a place where, even when it seems like God is nowhere to be found, I can cling to the fact that He loves me unconditionally, that He promises never to leave me. Even when I have worn my knees out, pleading with Him to show up, act, move, yet it seems nothing is changing, I KNOW He is there, working, even when I don’t feel it. I know because He promised He would never leave me, never forsake me, and He always keeps His promises.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your presence, Your salvation, and Your promises. Thank You that even when my heart aches over loss, grief, injustice, I know that You are with me, drawing me closer, making a way I can’t yet perceive. Help me, no matter the trials or heartaches, to cling to You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

Lord, I want to know You better and more each and every day. That is one of the chief reasons I sit at Your feet and read Your word each morning. I want to understand Your heart. I want to see others through Your eyes. The pull of this world is powerful and seductive. I want to steep myself in You so that I can resist the world’s siren song.

Lord, When I am in my recliner with my bible and my coffee, it is so very easy to immerse myself in You. But when I go about my daily routine, life always intrudes, pushing You aside, clambering for my time and attention. Give me the strength and peace to recognize and reject the world’s intrusion, Lord. Help me to draw so close to You that I cannot be separated by anything.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for this thirst to know You more. Draw me closer every day. Help me to love like You love. Help me to use my deep desire to know You and to follow You and my imperfect knowledge of Your word and this world to shine Your light always. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

Lord, I know that every good and perfect gift comes from You. Teach me to value what is valuable to You and not the things of this world. Help me to focus on Your eternal purpose for my life. Help me never to forget that all the good in my life begins and ends with Your grace, Your mercy, and Your love.

Lord, It is so easy to get distracted by the things of this world. Make known to me the path of life and help me to walk it well. Help me always to be mindful of Your presence with me, and help me to intentionally and willfully choose Your joy, even when the world tries to separate me from it.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for these verses. Thank You for my strong faith, which allows me to cling to You, to trust You, even when life makes no sense. Thank You for the knowledge that this world is not my home and that nothing here will bring me eternal peace and joy. Draw me closer, Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

My readings this morning were diverse, but the way that both Hannah and Joseph handled accusation and mistreatment  really struck me. Had I been accused of being drunk when I was earnestly pouring out my heart to my Savior over a subject that brought me much pain, I’m not sure I would have reacted as Hannah. Of course, time, place, and cultural shifts were in effect, but many folks, I think, would have reacted defensively instead of seeking to be understood. Jesus, Help me!

And how many of us understand injustices, real or perceived slights and grievances, within families? Joseph’s injustices were quite real, yet he saw a greater purpose and a higher power orchestrating events, and he forgave his brothers and urged them to forgive themselves.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for continuing to work on my heart in the area of bitterness and forgiveness. Help me to forgive others as you forgive me and to let go of any bitterness. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.