Archive for the ‘Devotionals’ Category

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5 Reasons to Trust God

Friday, May 24th, 2013

John 14:1 NLT

I realize this post’s title doesn’t do justice to my heavenly Father. In reality, it should probably read, “Infinite Reasons to Trust God.” Heaven knows the list is endless. Our time to read, however, is not. Therein lies the only reason for a mere five.

Jesus’ words—“Don’t let your hearts be troubled,” remind us that we have control over worry and fear’s role in our lives. We can choose to let them run rampant and then bear their negative consequences. Or we can choose to trust in God and walk in confidence instead.

Personally, I choose the latter. I’d much rather trust and experience peace than struggle with fear, sleeplessness, negativity, and a knotted stomach. And so, here are five reasons for why I choose to trust the Lord:

  • God promises His presence. No matter what happens in the course of a day, He is with me. I am never alone. Why, then, should I be afraid or anxious?
  • God promises to give me wisdom, and lots of it. When I face circumstances that baffle me, I can ask Him for insight, and He will answer.
  • God promises victory. I belong to Him, therefore He’s on my side. Who can stand against me?
  • God promises to turn negative situations into something good. He specializes in transforming the bad into beauty, the sad into splendor.
  • God promises joy. Sorrow may last for a night, He says, but joy comes in the morning. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. God knows what He’s doing even when I don’t understand.

How about you? What would you like to add to this list?

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5 Strategies for Adopting a Godly Perspective When People Treat Us Unfairly

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Has anyone ever treated you unfairly? Maybe your spouse walked out and left you hanging financially. Perhaps your employer promised a promotion but hasn’t fulfilled. Maybe a family member refuses to carry his share of responsibility for an elderly parent’s needs. Whatever the case, you feel burned. How should you respond?

Humanly speaking, David had every reason to feel burned. God had already anointed him as the future king, but Saul was still on the throne and obviously feeling threatened by David’s reputation as a valiant warrior. And so, Saul hunted him…and hunted him…and hunted him.

One night, as Saul and his henchmen slept, David and Abishai had opportunity to sneak into their camp. Abishai, convinced that God had put Saul into their hands, tried to convince David to let him kill the king that moment. But David refused.

“No!” said David, “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one? Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday or he will die of old age or in battle. The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed!” (1 Samuel 26:9,10).

Rather than end Saul’s life and reign so he could assume the throne, David took Saul’s spear and water jug. Then he let it be known that, although he’d had the chance to seek revenge, he’d respectfully declined. He chose, instead, to let God deal with Saul in His timing and His way.

Others may hurt or take advantage of us, and our human nature resists such treatment. We want to declare ourselves innocent, or seek revenge, or do something…anything to stand up for our rights and seek fairness.

We don’t need to allow others to treat us like doormats. We do, however, need to exercise godly attitudes and actions. David did so by refusing to get even with Saul. He walked in integrity and trusted God to deal with the bad guys.

We can do the same. It’s not easy, but it’s possible as we…

  • Ask God to see the offender through His eyes. He may be insecure or hurting from unresolved issues.
  • Ask God to soften the offender’s heart towards Him.
  • Ask God to help us walk in integrity—no badmouthing the offender, no negative retaliatory actions.
  • Ask God to come to our defense.
  • Ask God for patience to wait as He works out His purposes in and through our situation.

God’s ways are much higher than ours. When we feel burned by others, let’s let Him work in His ways so He receives the glory and we can walk in freedom.

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God Wants to Show His Power Through Us

Friday, May 17th, 2013

This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. (John 9:3 NLT)

My husband and I recently escaped for six days to rest and recover from the plethora of health issues we’ve experienced since the New Year. One afternoon we shared the hotel hot tub with a couple and their young teenage daughter. I would have loved to have heard their story. Unfortunately, other people were in the tub, too, and conversation didn’t lend itself to that opportunity. One thing’s for sure—they’ve experienced more than a few challenges.

The daughter’s arms and legs were stiff, bent and locked at the joints. Her neck was immovable, too. But that didn’t hinder her from zipping down the waterslide in her mom’s arms. Neither did it stop her from laughing as she watched her mom ride the slide a second time.

The girl gazed up at her dad’s bearded face as she lay cradled in his arms, her legs bobbing in the tub’s jets. Her brown eyes sparkled as she listened to him talk about their dinner plans and about watching a movie afterwards.

My spirit immediately connected with these folks; they felt like old friends. My hunch is that they were Christ followers. They radiated strength, peace, joy, and warmth. Even their eyes smiled when they spoke.  Their interaction with each other and those around them inspired me.

John 9:1-38 tells the story of a man born blind. Onlookers suspected that his physical challenges resulted from his parent’s sin. But Jesus said otherwise: “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” And then He did the miraculous and restored the man’s sight.

If the man had been born with sight, this miracle wouldn’t have happened. People would not have witnessed the power of God displayed in this manner, and many would not have believed in Him.

I don’t profess to understand all of God’s ways. His purposes are often far beyond my limited understanding. But one thing I do know: the challenges we face provide opportunity for His power to be seen.

Sometimes that happens when God miraculously fixes the problem. Other times, it happens through our response to the ongoing hardship. Admitting our weakness and trusting Him to fill us with His strength one day (sometimes one moment) at a time changes us, refines us, removes the dross and self-absorption from our lives. His strength, peace, and joy fill us. And others see His power demonstrated through us.

God wants to show His power through me and you. I’m trusting for this to happen as I continue to recover from my leg injuries. How might He show His power through your circumstances?

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Nothing Hinders God

Monday, May 13th, 2013

Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few. (1 Samuel 14:6 NLT)

Saul’s son, Jonathan, represented courage. He saw an opportunity to pull a sneak attack on the Philistines and rose to the challenge with the help of his trusty armor-bearer. Together they climbed a cliff, attacked and killed nearly two dozen enemies, and then sent the survivors running.

The secret to his courage and their win? It certainly wasn’t massive manpower. Nor was it brilliant human strategy. It was their faith in a present and all-powerful God who, by the way, sent an earthquake and confusion into the enemy camp to secure the victory.

Simply put, they trusted in the Lord and He helped them when they moved into action (v. 23).

This story makes faith look so easy. In reality, it ought to be considering the object of our faith—God. Trouble is, we make it difficult by focusing on our faith-testing circumstances rather than on Him.

What battle are you facing today? Are you dealing with a difficult marriage? Parenting a strong-willed child? Fighting health issues? Trying to stay afloat financially?

When faith-testers come your way, remember and apply Jonathan’s attitude. Trust the Lord to help you. Nothing can hinder Him. He can win the battle as you do whatever’s necessary on your part.

Know you are loved!

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Keep Praying!

Friday, May 10th, 2013

“Don’t stop pleading with the LORD our God to save us from the Philistines!” they (the Israelites) begged Samuel. So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the LORD as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the LORD to help Israel, and the LORD answered him” (1 Samuel 7:9-9 NLT).

Every night I pray for an ever-growing list of friends and family struggling with chronic or terminal illness. When the Boston marathon bombing happened, I added the victims who lost limbs. And then the Bangladesh factory collapsed, so I began praying for the families of those who died.

In years past, I prayed for our kids’ unsaved friends and their families. I’ve prayed for persecuted believers around the world. And I’ve interceded on behalf of women and children, unknown to me, trapped in abusive situations.

Prayer makes a difference. It can change everything, especially for those in desperate situations. “Don’t stop pleading to the Lord on our behalf,” the Israelites begged Samuel when fearful of the approaching Philistine army.

And so, Samuel prayed. And God answered.

Let’s do as Samuel did and pray for those in need. Let’s plead on behalf of family and friends, but let’s carry it further and pray for those we don’t know, too.

Let’s plead on behalf of unborn children and the mothers who are sitting in abortion clinics awaiting their appointment today.

Let’s plead on the behalf of seniors sitting alone in nursing homes. And for the caregivers of those with special needs.

Let’s plead for our government leaders and decision makers.

Let’s plead on behalf of school teachers, police officers, and our military.

“Don’t stop pleading to the Lord to save us,” a voice cries. The needs are endless; let’s be faithful to do what we can and trust God to answer.

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Wisdom Wednesday

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

Sometimes life’s rush hinders us from hearing God. Do you find that’s true? If so, what intentional action do you take to rectify that?

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A Promise and a Prayer for Our Families

Monday, May 6th, 2013

Those who fear the LORD are secure; he will be a refuge for their children. (Proverbs 14:27 NLT)

I spent yesterday with family—my son, his wife, and their four youngsters. What fun to watch the kids (big and little) splash in a lake and play on its sandy beach, plastic buckets and shovels in hand.

My family means more to me than anything this world offers. I want God’s best for them. I want His favor and protection to rest on them. I want His power and presence to be evidenced to them and through them.

Unfortunately, I can neither control their circumstances nor guarantee that all will be well from my perspective. However—there is something I can do: I can grow my relationship with the Lord, become more familiar with His character, promises and principles, and then pray these things on their behalf.

Here’s an example taken from Psalm 103:1-5: “Heavenly Father, You are worthy of all our praise. Please remind my children of this truth. Remind them of all the good things You do for them—You forgive their sins, heal their diseases, redeem them from death, and crown their lives with love and tender mercies. Please fill their lives with good things so that their youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

I fear the Lord, therefore He will be a refuge for my children, says Proverbs 14:27. As I cry out to God on my kids’ behalf and then trust Him to answer, He will respond by working in their lives. In some cases, this takes longer than I wish. Or it looks different than I might imagine. Regardless, I know He’s working in answer to my prayers. This truth greatly encourages me and helps me not worry about my loved ones’ well-being.

How about you? How does this principle encourage you today?

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The Key to Life Without Regrets

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

God's truth teaches us what is right.

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6)

There’s a big difference between doing what seems right in our own eyes and actually doing what’s right. Sometimes we humans confuse the two. Here are a few examples:

  • We think we deserve to be happy at all times. That might not be achievable if our spouse makes life miserable. Therefore, we do what’s right in our own eyes and kiss our marriage goodbye.
  • We’re miffed with a family member’s behavior. In our eyes, it’s healthy to “get it off our chest” so we verbalize our frustrations about that person to whoever will listen.
  • We make an honest but costly mistake at work. Fear tells us it’s okay to lie about what happened. After all, we need the job, and we want to protect our reputation.

Get the picture? No doubt the list could be a long one.

Being the self-centered beings we are, we can easily assume that whatever’s right in our own eyes is honestly what’s right. Trouble is, our emotions are fickle, and when we want something badly enough, we can justify nearly anything to get it. We convince ourselves that what we’re doing is okay, and advice that says otherwise falls on deaf ears.

That’s why we need God’s word as our standard. His word is truth, and it doesn’t change based on our emotions, our circumstances, or on society’s shifting standards. Following it may not always be easy. It might even make us chafe when it goes against our natural bent. But it teaches us what is truly right and it’s written with our good in mind.

As we process decisions, let’s ask ourselves, “Am I doing what’s right in my own eyes, or am I doing what’s right based on God’s word?” Then let’s choose the latter. Doing so frees us to live without regrets and assured of God’s blessings.

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How to Move From Fear to Freedom

Monday, April 29th, 2013

Last weekend I spoke at a women’s conference. The theme was “Fearless Faith.” The first three sessions dealt with how to overcome the fear of inadequacy, the fear of the storms of life, and the fear of facing the ghosts of our past. Yes, fear is real and it impacts nearly everyone but it needn’t hold us captive.

Jesus offered a wise directive to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection. His sudden and unexpected presence terrified them. Acknowledging their fear, He said, “Why are you frightened? Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet….” (Luke 24:38,39 NLT).

Christ’s words addressed the disciples’ specific situation then, but they also apply to our lives today. Perhaps we struggle with the fear for our kids’ safety when they’re learning to drive. Maybe we struggle with fear over teaching a class or participating on a short-term missions trip. Maybe we wrestle with fear of financial insecurity and the unknown future when we put our house on the market and then prepare to relocate.

Any number of things can strike fear into our hearts, but we can overcome by applying Christ’s words to our situation:

  • “Why are you frightened?” Fold a piece of notepaper in half. On the left side, write those things that make you fearful. Ie: I’m afraid my house won’t sell for the asking price and we won’t be able to afford a suitable replacement.
  • “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?” Do you believe God is a capable and faithful provider? If so, then why does financial insecurity haunt you? Doubt creeps in when we allow our circumstances to overshadow the truth about who God is. Whatever your specific situation, ask yourself, “What aspect of God’s character am I doubting?”
  • “Look at my hands. Look at my feet.” Where does our gaze linger longest? Rather than focusing on what-ifs and fears, let’s focus on God’s character and promises. Let’s focus on the truth that He loves us enough to die for us, therefore we can trust Him. Take your paper again and write a couple of relevant Scripture promises on its right side—directly opposite the reason for your fear. Choose to dwell on the truth rather than on the circumstances.

Next time you feel afraid, consider Christ’s words to His frightened disciples. Apply them to your situation, and you’ll move from fear to freedom.

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The Key to Experiencing God’s Rest in the Midst of Difficulty

Friday, April 26th, 2013

And so my saga continues. First the Achilles ruptured in January. Then the opposite knee required surgery. Just as things began to turn—the cast came off and my legs began learning to walk again—shingles nailed me. And so, I’m dealing with yet another major physical challenge. All the while, I’m learning and relearning wonderful spiritual truths.

This morning I read the psalmist’s familiar words, “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care” (Psalm 95:6-7). Beautiful words, they are. Words that invite us to acknowledge God as sovereign King and gentle Shepherd.

But this morning as I continued reading, I noticed something I hadn’t seen when reading this passage at other times. The last half of verse 7 says, “If only you would listen to his voice today!” The passage goes on to say, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did…They refuse to do what I tell them. So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest’” (vv. 10-11).

These words caught my attention. They remind me how easy it is to know spiritual truth in one’s head but lack spiritual reality in one’s heart, to give mental assent to God’s greatness while spurning His commands. The consequence? We bypass the opportunity to possess the rest of soul and peace of mind He longs for us to experience.

As I navigate deep waters of a physical nature, it’s easy for me to say that God is sovereign, good, and loving. But will I do what He says and give thanks in the midst of my circumstances? Will I worship Him and count every difficulty as an opportunity for joy? Or will I worry about the possible outcomes and resent the inconvenience and pain?

If you’re experiencing hardship, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Doing the latter only breeds hardened hearts, negativity, and fear. But kneeling before the Lord and worshiping Him in the midst of pain brings hope. And doing what He says—giving thanks despite the pain, for instance—rewards us with inner rest and peace.

Whatever difficulties we face, let’s honor God with our response. Let’s kneel before Him in worship, and let’s obey His command to give thanks in everything and choose joy. Then we’ll experience the rest He longs to give us.

Photo courtesy: Elizabeth Michel – http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrintersDaughter

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