Devotions

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Meditate on God’s Word While You Work
August 14, 2023
by Glenna Marshall

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

Have you ever had one of those extra-busy days when you don’t stop working from the moment you wake up until you go to bed?

I had a day like that recently. And as I turned out the light that night, it dawned on me that I had barely thought about Jesus since my quiet time early that morning. Immersed in my to-do list, I’d gone a full day without praying or thinking about what He might want.  It’s easy to walk away from your designated time of prayer and Bible reading without a backward glance. But I’ve learned there is a way to get through my to-do list and keep my heart and mind close to Jesus.  Meditating on Scripture is a spiritual discipline we can practice throughout the day, even when our hands are busy with urgent tasks. Thinking about God’s Word bridges the gap between our time studying His words and living them out.  The Apostle Paul tells us, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

If you have believed in Jesus for salvation from your sins, you belong to Him. You are secure in His love, and your life is to be lived through Him and for Him. Every small, seemingly insignificant moment of your day belongs to Jesus. Staying connected to Him throughout the day will help you live your ordinary days with an eternal perspective.  But how can we stay connected to Christ in the middle of laundry, phone calls and deadlines?

Paul tells us: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3, ESV).

When we fill our hearts with God’s words, we can live focused on Christ in the here and now. Our to-do lists may be long and necessary, but Jesus is our very life (Colossians 3:4).  To set our minds on what is above, we must fill them to the brim with the good, true words of the Lord, returning to Scripture again and again. Tethering our minds to God’s Word roots us in eternity, anchors our hearts to our forever home with the Lord, and points others to hope in Christ.  One of the most practical ways we can do this is to memorize Scripture. It might seem intimidating, but it is doable and rewarding! Choose a passage of Scripture that turns your heart to God’s character and purposes. Write it out on a notecard, put it where you’ll see it throughout the day, and begin hiding the verses in your heart phrase by phrase. Utilize the moments in your day when your hands are busy but your mind isn’t.  You may have to tackle that to-do list, but you can set your mind on what is above by attaching your work to Scripture memorization whispering God’s Word aloud to yourself over and over as you’re washing dishes, commuting to work, or folding a pile of laundry. Your ordinary moments are opportunities for delighting in God’s Word and staying connected to Him all day long.  Memorizing God’s Word is crucial for shaping how we live our lives here on earth because it changes how we think and respond. As you hide Scripture in your heart, you will become more and more like Jesus, the One who is your very life.

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If You’re Afraid You’ll Make the Wrong Decision
August 15, 2023
by Abby McDonald

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

We weren’t on the trail for long before we had to make a decision. A fork in the path presented two different options: If we turned to the right, a steep incline of steps and uneven rocks greeted us. But if we stayed left, the incline was more gradual and smooth.  Since my husband and I had dogs and this was our first time hiking the trail together, we chose the easier way without hesitation. Later, we discovered that both paths converged at the top of the mountain, leading to the same vista. No matter which way we had turned at the beginning, we would have reached the same view.  Although I made the hiking choice with confidence, my spiritual life is sometimes the opposite. In life, I face thousands of decisions, and I’m sure you do too. Some of them are minor, and others may be life altering, but each of them requires guidance and intention.  Every now and then, I encounter a major life decision where there are two choices, like the fork in the trail, and I must decide which way to turn. The problem is when both of them appear to be God-led. This happened to me several months ago when I had job opportunities at two companies, both with values I respected.  In situations like this, I often approach God’s will as though I’m taking a multiple-choice test. I think there is one correct answer, and if I don’t choose it, my life will be thrown into turmoil.  But if we look at Scripture, we rarely see God work in this way. Yes, some decisions dishonor God, and sin is always the wrong answer. But when we approach His will like a test, we forget one of the most faith-building gifts He gives us: the ability to make good decisions.  In our key verse, we see God speaking through the prophet Isaiah to the Israelites, who had wandered from Him numerous times:  “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21).

But do you notice something?

The promise doesn’t say God's people would hear from Him only if they turned to the right or only if they turned to the left. It says that in each direction, they would hear God's voice of guidance.  Sometimes we encounter decisions where multiple paths honor God. Each will grow our faith in new ways and cause us to use our God-given gifts. God wants us to seek Him in prayer and make a choice. Either way, He’ll show us the next step He wants us to take.  You may be thinking, I’ve stepped out in faith before, and it didn’t turn out well.  Friend, I get it. The fear of putting ourselves out there again is real. While the outcome is not guaranteed, God does guarantee His continual presence.  After a lot of hesitation and prayer, I finally made the career decision. I looked at my family’s needs, the time required and other factors. Afterward, I felt peace. Even after a challenging first week on the job, I knew I was in my sweet spot, and confidence that could only come from God covered me. Expectant of the future, I haven't looked back.

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The Best Way To Lighten Your Load
August 30, 2023
by Alicia Bruxvoort

“Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (CEB)

She smiled like a lovestruck teenager the first time she laid eyes on that shimmery pink backpack. “It’s the one I’ve been wishing for!” my kindergartener declared as she excavated it from our pile of school supplies.

On the first day of school, she flung the bag over her shoulders and pranced to the bus stop like a princess. But as time passed, her delight faded.  Finally, the day came when my kindergartner dropped her beloved pink pack on the ground and plopped down beside it. “I can’t carry this anymore,” she whimpered. “It’s too heavy.”

I opened the bag and began to empty every pocket. Oddly, when I handed it back to my daughter, the backpack still felt heavy.  Upon closer inspection, I discovered a hidden pouch near the bottom of the bag. Intended to house wet boots or sweaty gym clothes, the pocket brimmed, instead, with dusty stones.  “I didn’t know I was carrying all that!” my daughter exclaimed when I dumped the rocks onto the floor with a clank.

I soon learned her favorite recess pastime was hunting for “treasure” in the rock beds that lined the playground. While this daily treasure hunt was a benign amusement, the bag’s bursting seams were a quiet admonition. Neither my girl nor her precious pack were crafted for such a heavy load.  From that point on, we developed a new routine. At bedtime, my daughter brought me her backpack and climbed onto my lap then I removed each hidden stone.  The load that had once pushed my girl to tears now propelled her into my arms. Best of all, when she greeted a new day, her cargo no longer eclipsed her capacity.  Of course, children aren’t the only ones who may stumble beneath the weight of an unseen load. We, too, grow weary from the burdens we carry. Left unchecked, our concealed concerns and hidden hurts can deplete our strength and plunder our joy. And like a kindergartner I once knew, we may find it hard to keep pressing on. After all, it’s difficult to embrace the gift of a new day when we’re still laden with the weight of the old one.  That’s why I love the invitation in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.”

With one simple word “come” Jesus reminds us we need not bear the weight of life alone. Just as my daughter climbed on my lap to unload the cargo she carried, we can create daily rhythms that help us shift our burdens to Jesus.  The Bible doesn’t offer a formula for this supernatural exchange, but for me, it involves acknowledging Christ’s presence and articulating my need. Sometimes that looks like telling Jesus my concerns while I drive across town. Other times, it looks like reciting Scripture aloud to shift my focus from the wail of my worry to the hope of God’s Word. Now and then, it even looks like soapy hands raised in surrender as I wash the dishes with worship music blaring and tears streaming silently down my cheeks.  This disencumbering of my heart may look different each day, but it always entails drawing near to Jesus. Because we have a Savior who sees the invisible things we carry. And in His presence, we can trade the load that weighs us down for the love that holds us up.

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The God Who Comes To Find You When You’re Hiding
September 1, 2023
by Elizabeth Laing Thompson

"There [Elijah] came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'” 1 Kings 19:9 (NLT)

It had been a difficult season, with new crises coming on so fast they rear-ended each other: Anxious kids. Work stress. Relationship drama. I’d been on edge for a while, but a strained conversation with a friend finally pushed me over the edge.  At that point, as a woman who relies on God in times of trouble, I ran from God and went into hiding. I shut down and shut people out, doing everything I could to avoid my problems.  The Holy Spirit nudged me with gentle suggestions, which I batted away:  You could pray.  Or I could eat chocolate.  You could read the Bible.  Or I could escape inside this novel.  You could reach out to a friend.  Or I could reach for a blanket and hide under it.  Maybe you’ve been there. You’re hurting, and you know all the “right” things to do, the emotionally and spiritually healthy choices: pray, read Scripture, invite God and others to support you. But those steps sound tiring, vulnerable and risky, so instead, if you’re anything like me, you retreat into a cave of seclusion.  But you and I aren’t the only believers to attempt the “if I hide in my room with my feelings, maybe they’ll disappear” technique.

Many centuries ago, the mighty prophet Elijah did something similar. After 40 days on the run from an enemy, Elijah felt so overwhelmed he hid in a cave. Not a metaphorical cave an actual, literal cave!  But God didn’t leave Elijah alone. He didn’t wait for Elijah to “get it together” on his own. When Elijah didn’t come to God, God came to Elijah.  “There [Elijah] came to a cave, where he spent the night.

“But the LORD said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'

“Elijah replied, ‘I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.’

“‘Go out and stand before me on the mountain,’ the LORD told him” (1 Kings 19:9-11a, NLT).

Then a great and powerful wind tore through the mountains. After the wind there was an earthquake, after the earthquake came a fire, and after the fire came a gentle whisper.  “And a voice said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:13b, NLT).

The Lord’s almighty power was announced by wind, earthquake and fire, but when God Himself arrived, He came in the comforting sound of a gentle whisper: soft rain on spring leaves, cool breath on a fevered forehead.  As He did with Elijah, so the Lord seeks us when we’re hiding, calling us out of our caves perhaps through a text from a friend checking on us, perhaps through a Bible verse that keeps coming to mind perhaps through the words you are reading right now.  God is whispering, What are you doing here? He longs to know your heart and hear your hurt.  Once Elijah shared his feelings with God, God gave him some action steps, most of which involved relationship with people who could ease his load (1 Kings 19:15-18). You may still have heart-work ahead processing emotions, inviting support from friends, family or a counselor but responding to God’s call is a key first step. Poking your head out of your cave to share, saying, “This is what I’m feeling and why I’ve been hiding,” is a significant start.

It allows you to receive love and care from God and others. To move toward healing instead of staying stuck in your hurt.  If you’ve been hiding from your problems, I pray you respond to God’s tender call today. You can take His hand and let Him lead you out of your dark cave and into His wondrous light.

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Pressing On When You Feel Like Giving Up
September 7, 2023
by Sharon Jaynes

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'” Mark 9:24 (NIV)

I had been praying for a family member for over four decades, yet I’d seen little or no progress.  Part of me wanted to give up. Another part of me knew to press on.  If you’ve been praying about something for years and have not seen any hint of an answer, I want to give you a holy hug right now dear sister, I’ve been there. But what I want to tell you is that God is always working behind the scenes in ways we may never know on this side of heaven.  It’s natural to feel discouraged and disheartened when someone we love is facing a challenge and we feel helpless to do anything about it; however, that challenge could be the very detour God uses to draw our loved ones into a deeper relationship with Him. Praying for someone doesn’t mean that person will never struggle. It means we are calling on God to work miraculously even in the struggle.  There may be days, months, even years, when you feel discouraged because of the lack of fruit you see from your prayers. Your prayer might be, God, just give me one glimpse of hope! Show me something to let me know my prayers are really making a difference!  If so, friend, let God's Word remind you of what Jesus says: “My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working” (John 5:17, AMP).

Our limited vision doesn’t always allow us to see how God is working in our lives, but we must have faith that He is. In fact, it may be in the moments when we sense Him or understand Him the least that He is working the most.  In the Bible, there’s a story about faith that starts with a distraught father whose son was possessed by a demon. The boy suffered greatly, throwing himself in fire and then in water, rolling on the ground, foaming at the mouth, and losing his ability to talk. His father even took the boy to Jesus' disciples for healing, but nothing seemed to work (Mark 9:17-22).  Then one day, the father boldly brought the boy to Jesus and, with desperation surely in his voice, cried, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22b, NIV).

And Jesus answered, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23b, NIV).

Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Upon that profession, Jesus healed the man’s son (Mark 9:25-29).  Oh, how this story stirs my heart. Can’t you feel the father’s pain?

How desperate he must have felt every time his child, under the influence of the impure spirit, threw himself into water or fire. Why? he must have asked.

I don’t understand.  Imagine the humiliating stares and the whispers this man and his son may have heard as they walked down the streets. Don’t you know there were probably many days when this dad wanted to give up?

Instead, his faith offers us a beautiful picture of the ultimate act of surrender in parenting: handing our children over to God.  Parenting, and life in general, comes with exhilarating highs and excruciating lows. At times we find ourselves at the end of our mental and emotional resources. Sometimes we feel we’ve done everything humanly possible and don’t know the best action to take. That’s exactly where God wants us to be in a position where we depend not on our own limited strength and ability but on His limitless power and divine sovereignty.  Prayer is an extraordinary, powerful force. So let’s not give up! Keep praying. God is always working. I believe some of our most magnificent moments with God will happen when, in His perfect timing, we get to see the connection between our prayers and His answers.

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Victims or Overcomers?
September 13, 2023
by Abbie Halberstadt

“... we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NIV)

Many aspects of motherhood require us to overcome.  We overcome our need for eight hours of sleep so that we can provide sustenance 5,678 times a night during those days of bleary newborn bliss (and, yes, pain).  We overcome our fear that something terrible will happen to our precious kiddos. (Or at least we overcome it enough not to keep them locked up at home, where they’re honestly just as capable of hurting themselves.  Fireplace corners! Electrical outlets! Crib jumping!)  We overcome the difficulty of disciplining disobedient children.  As mothers, if we desire to do more than spend our days in the fetal position, we must overcome! The good news?

If you are in Christ, you are more than an overcomer. In fact, Romans 8:37 tells us “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Through TV, music, social media and magazines, we are bombarded with messages like “you’re enough” and “motherhood gives you superpowers.” But the truth of Romans 8:37 says something very different from, “If you are a mother, you are a superhero.”

It is true that motherhood grants many women a special dispensation of grace and grit they’d not yet possessed, but it only takes one round of frantically Googling pictures of hand, foot, and mouth disease to realize you don’t feel like enough. And you are literally powerless to make your baby “all better” immediately.  At this point, it’s all too easy to fall into “victim motherhood.” This mindset manifests in the deluge of social media posts that paint children as our captors and our bullies, using “helpful” captions like, “If you think your kid is a pain now, just wait. It gets worse.”

I saw a particular little phrase on a recent post that exemplifies for me how subtle victim motherhood can be: “Wouldn’t it be nice?”

“Wouldn’t it be nice if my child didn’t get sick so easily?”

“Wouldn’t it be nice if my toddler obeyed the first time?”

The answer is a resounding YES! It would be nice!  But the problem is there’s no promise of “nice” in motherhood (or in life, for that matter). Joy?

Yes. Purpose?

Absolutely. Growth?

Amen! But a false expectation of “nice” mires us in self-pity and resentment against our lot in life or against anyone who seems to have it easier. There is no easy escape from this pit.  Notice I said “easy” not “simple.” I know from personal experience how hard it is to revive my downcast spirit on those really challenging days. But it really is as simple as a daily return to this truth: We serve the God “who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT).

The uncomplicated fact is that I have a choice every single day to praise God for the discipleship opportunities provided by a child’s disobedience. I have a choice to praise God for the ministry opportunities tucked into the extra snuggle time that comes with an under-the-weather kiddo. You do too!  Mamas, you do have a superpower, and it’s available to every Christian who believes the Bible is true and effective (Hebrews 4:12). It’s ready for the taking for every believer who knows that an indwelling of the Holy Spirit is so much more empowering than any pep talk or slogan.  Your superpower lies not in approaching motherhood struggles with an attitude of “it would be so nice if …”

No, your superpower as a mom is the ability to acknowledge that nothing befalls us without God’s knowledge and that He has promised to keep doing a good work in us until its completion at the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).  Friends, it’s easy to stay a victim of our circumstances. But it’s not better.  It’s hard to overcome. But it brings so much goodness.

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An Unexpected Gift for Your Broken Heart
September 14, 2023
by Lysa TerKeurst

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

Do you ever find yourself defining life by “before” and “after” the deep hurt?

The horrific season. The conversation that stunned us. The shocking day of discovery. The divorce. The wrongful death so unfathomable we still can’t believe they are gone. The breakup. The day our friend walked away. The hateful conversation. The remark that now seems to be branded on our soul. The day everything changed.  That marked moment in time. Life before. Life now. Is it even possible to move on from something like this? Is it even possible to create a life that’s beautiful again?

I deeply understand this kind of defining devastation in such a personal way.  I also know different seasons of life, anniversaries, and even social media can magnify all of the pain. We miss the people who are no longer a part of our lives. Memories that were once sweet now only serve to widen the chasm between what was and what is.  Like you, I wish I didn’t have such an intimate understanding of those feelings. But I do.  When your heart has been shattered and reshaped into something that doesn’t quite feel normal inside your own chest yet, a word like “forgiveness” feels a bit unrealistic to mention.  But, friend, can I whisper something I’m learning?

Forgiveness is possible, but it won’t always feel possible.  It’s a double-edged word, isn’t it?

Forgiveness is hard to give. It’s amazing to get. But when we receive it so freely from the Lord and yet refuse to give it to others, something heavy starts to form in our souls.  It’s the weight of forgiveness that wasn’t allowed to pass through. And for me, that’s mainly because I’ve misunderstood something so incredibly profound about forgiveness.  Forgiveness isn’t something hard we have the option to do or not do. Forgiveness is something hard-won that we have the opportunity to participate in.  Our part in forgiveness isn’t to muscle through desperately with gritted teeth and clenched fists. It isn’t sobbing through the resistance of all our justifications to stay angry and hurt and horrified by all the other person did. This is what I once thought forgiveness was, and after already being hurt, I couldn’t imagine having yet another painful process to work through.  But when I wrongly think forgiveness rises and falls on all my efforts, conjured maturity, bossed-around resistance, and gentle feelings that feel real one moment and fake the next, I’ll never be able to authentically give the kind of forgiveness Jesus has given me.  My ability to forgive others rises and falls on leaning into what Jesus has already done, which allows His grace for me to flow freely through me (Ephesians 4:7).  Forgiveness isn’t an act of my determination.  Forgiveness is only made possible by my cooperation.  Cooperation is what I’ve been missing. Cooperation with what Jesus has already done makes verses like Ephesians 4:32 possible: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Forgiving one another just as Christ forgave you. God knew we couldn’t do it on our own. So He made a way not dependent on our strength. A forgiving way. A way to grab on to Jesus’ outstretched arms, bloody from crucifixion and dripping with redemption. He forgives what we could never be good enough to make right. He makes a way for us simply to cooperate with His work of forgiveness for us to receive and for us to give.  What if this is actually the kindest, most unexpected gift you can give to yourself today?

That person or those people they’ve caused enough pain for you, for me and for those around us. There’s been enough damage done. And you don’t have to be held hostage by the pain. You get to decide how you’ll move forward. If you’re knee-deep in pain and resonate with the feelings of resistance I have felt, let me assure you: Forgiveness is possible. And it is good.  So I just want you to sit here for a moment today and consider the possibility around this double-edged word "forgiveness." Not because your pain doesn’t matter. Not because what they did was right. Not because it fixes everything. But because your heart is much too beautiful a place for unhealed pain. Your soul is much too deserving of freedom to stay stuck here.

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Appointed for Such a Time as This
September 22, 2023
by Binu Samuel

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

I was seven months pregnant, sitting on the sofa in my family room, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Two planes had just crashed into the World Trade Center on purpose.  My baby will be here in two months, I thought. What kind of evil world is he about to enter?

Will he even have a chance?

I called a friend. She was as stunned and heartbroken as I was. We processed our thoughts out loud and we prayed.  Fast-forward about 10 years, and smartphones became the newest thing. Suddenly, the internet was literally in the palm of our hands, and so was our access to sin. The thought of raising my boys in this technology-obsessed age began to overwhelm me.  I called my friend (the same one I called after 9/11). She understood my fears and allowed me to process my thoughts out loud again.  “Even if my boys aren’t trying to look up something inappropriate, what if a classmate jokingly shows it to them? And then they’re hooked. What then? In what kind of world are we raising our children?” I asked her. “Will my boys even have a chance?”

My friend reminded me that perversity and temptation are nothing new. (Just read through the Old Testament!) But God always gives His children strength to overcome. Remember Potiphar’s lustful wife?

She wouldn’t leave Joseph alone, but God gave Joseph the wisdom and discernment to run away (Genesis 39).  God knew we would face the challenges we face today. My friend and I had faith that if we continued to pray and stand on the principles found in His Word, God would give us the same wisdom and favor He gave Joseph.  We ended our conversation by praying for our children.  Fast-forward another 10 years, and it was 2020. I was driving home from work, still trying to process what I'd just seen. Empty milk, meat and toilet paper aisles, not to mention checkout lines winding halfway through the store. It felt apocalyptic.  What in the world?

A pandemic?

I called my friend (yep, the same faithful one). I voiced my thoughts: “In two months, my baby is supposed to graduate from high school. What kind of world will he enter?”

We reminded one another of this truth: God knows all things. He knew this was going to happen and that we would all be a part of it.  In Jeremiah 1:5, God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Before Jeremiah was even born, God knew Jeremiah would be the “weeping prophet” and speak out against evil during crazy times in Israel’s history.  God also created Esther knowing full well that her plight would not be easy. He knew she would become an orphan and that she’d one day be forced into a contest to compete for the title of queen. But as Esther’s uncle reminded her, she was born “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14, NIV) and so are we.  God knew my oldest son would be two months away from his high school graduation, and my youngest son would be one lesson away from getting his driver’s license, during a pandemic.  God knew our plans, and He knew they would be ever changing.  Still, God has given us and our children everything we need not just to make it through whatever season we’re in but to thrive and be His voice of hope.  As I pulled up to my house that evening after work, my friend and I did what we always do during uncertain times. We closed in prayer.  Nothing the world throws at us can change God’s plan.  Before He created you and me, He knew us and what was in store for us. We have been appointed for such a time as this.

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Don’t Grow Weary in Doing Good
September 26, 2023
by Amy DiMarcangelo

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people ...” Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)

I got in the car and cried. My friend had just had a baby that part, of course, was exciting. But after spending the week helping her family in various ways after they'd just moved to the country as refugees, I was overwhelmed by the hardship they’d endured and continued to experience. My inability to lift their burdens was crushing.  It wasn’t the first time I’d felt this way, and maybe you've felt it too. The world is so full of suffering that sometimes just a few minutes spent reading the news can tempt us to despair. We may want to bury our heads in the sand just to forget about all the sadness.  It’s not like we can fix the world anyway.  But that’s when we need to remember that the hope of redemption doesn’t depend on us in the first place. There’s only one Savior, and we can trust His good plan.  When Jesus came, He made a way to rescue us from our sins and to restore our fallen world. Despite how it sometimes seems, He hasn’t abandoned creation to destruction. He’s going to finish the good work He started.  Because of what Jesus has done and because of all He’s promised to do I can get up, wipe my tears, and not grow weary of doing good, “for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (Galatians 6:9-10).

Sure, I can’t end wars, but I can befriend families displaced by them.  I can’t eradicate poverty, but I can find ways to be generous.  I can’t save anyone from their sins, but I can tell them about Jesus.  Satan wants to push us toward apathy and inaction. He wants to weaponize any sense of hopelessness to suffocate our compassion. But the gospel ensures we have enduring, unwavering and immovable hope.  Where there is brokenness, the gospel offers healing.  Where there is pain, the gospel offers comfort.  Where there is oppression, the gospel offers deliverance.  Where there is despair, the gospel offers joy.  And, sisters, that changes everything. Remembering the hope of the gospel helps us confidently join God’s redemptive work in whatever small ways we are able. The accomplishment of the mission rests on God’s faithfulness, not ours. Nothing can stop Him from building His Kingdom.  So forget the big numbers and statistics and government policies and all those enormous problems that are out of your scope. They’re not too big for God. But He has placed you in a specific place for a specific purpose.  Who has God called you to reach in your neighborhood, church or community?

How can you extend His compassion, love and generosity?

Is it the lonely widow across the street?

Go visit her.  Is it the child with special needs whom you teach at school?

Continue to advocate for him.  Is it a loved one trapped in addiction?

Pray for her.  We have limitations, but our God doesn’t. He brings healing, restoration and redemption to our world. In the places where the world is darkest, may our light shine brightest.

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If You’re Feeling Lonely … Read This
September 28, 2023
by Lysa TerKeurst

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.” Psalm 25:16-17 (ESV)

There were many feelings I expected to have at an event I’d been looking forward to attending. Acceptance. Fun. Camaraderie.  These were my people: They lead organizations. I lead an organization. They are vulnerable. I am vulnerable. Like me, they know the stresses of deadlines, trying to balance family with ministry, and the fact that we use all those meal delivery apps for dinner more than we’d like to admit.  Yes, I couldn’t wait to be with these people.  And I couldn’t wait for the deep friendships that would surely bloom as a result of our time together.  Walking into the meeting room, I quickly located the table of the people I was excited to meet. Every seat had a name tag attached, so I circled the table looking for mine. As I got to the last chair and realized my name wasn’t there, my heart sank.  I milled around the room, feeling increasingly out of place. Finally, at a table on the opposite side of the room, I found my name. The Lord must have a special plan for me to meet and connect with the others assigned to my table, I thought. Taking my seat, I pulled out my cell phone and waited nervously for my tablemates.  I waited.  And waited.  And waited.  As the prayer for the meal concluded and the event got underway, it became painfully apparent to me that the others assigned to my table weren’t able to come for some reason. So I’d be seated alone. Very alone.  In reality, I don’t think anyone else really noticed my predicament. After all, by this time everyone in the room was busy passing rolls and salad dressings.  In my head, I started to have a little pity conversation: Well, self, would you like a roll?

Or 10, perhaps?

And that’s when a very clear sentence popped into my head: You aren’t set aside, Lysa. You are set apart. It wasn’t audible. And it wasn’t my own thought. I knew it was a thought assigned by God that I needed to ponder.  To be set aside is to be rejected.  That’s exactly what the enemy wanted me to feel. If he could get me to feel this, then I’d become completely self-absorbed in my own insecurity and miss whatever reason God had for me to be at this event.  To be set apart is to be given an assignment that requires preparation.  That’s what I believe God wanted me to see. If He could get me to see this, I’d be able to embrace the lesson of this situation.  Have you been feeling set aside recently?

I understand this feeling. Not just at the dinner that night but in entire seasons of my life, even when I've had people around, I have sometimes felt quite alone in my calling.  If that’s you today, I would love to give you three thoughts that might encourage you.

1. Look for the gift of being humbled.
Proverbs 11:2 reminds us that “with humility comes wisdom” (NIV). In this set-apart place, God will give you much-needed, special wisdom for the assignment ahead.

2. Look for the gift of being lonely.
This will help you develop a deeper sense of compassion for others. You better believe when I walk into a room now, I look for someone sitting alone and make sure they know someone noticed them.

3. Look for the gift of silence.
Had I been surrounded by the voices of those people I was so eager to meet that night, I surely would have missed what God wanted to tell me. You see, God is in the quiet. And sometimes, silence is His invitation away from distraction. The next time you’re acutely aware of silence, whisper, God, what might You want to say to me right now?

I’m listening.  I know it can be painful to be alone. And I know the thoughts of being set aside are loud and overwhelmingly tempting to believe in the hollows of feeling unnoticed and uninvited.  But as you pray through your feelings, ask God exactly what the psalmist does in Psalm 25:16-17, our key verse: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.”

Then see if maybe your situation has more to do with you being prepared than overlooked.  Friend, you may feel the stinging pain of loneliness, but you are not alone. The God of the universe knows you, accepts you and loves you right where you are. Remembering this may not fix the ways you feel left out, but it does remind you who you are so very loved.

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The Way Out of Worry
October 4, 2023
by Lynn Cowell

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24 (NIV)

I wonder if we can pull off this big financial leap?

For years, my husband, Greg, and I pondered and prayed about a financial decision that would profoundly impact our lives. We would talk about it and fantasize about what the outcome would look like if we went for it. As the time got closer, we created spreadsheets, documenting exactly where we were spending our money and how much we were taking in. We considered each decision we made and how those choices were impacting not only our today but our tomorrow too.  Yet no matter how much planning we did, all the preparation never truly took the worry away.  I’m guessing Jesus’ followers were also experiencing some sort of worry about their financial future because He chose to address it in Luke 12. First, Jesus told a story of a rich fool who found his confidence for the future based on the material wealth he was amassing. This rich man was in awe of himself and what he had acquired but did not revere God (Luke 12:15-21).  Moving on from this story, Jesus began His next teaching with the word “therefore.” What He was about to say reflected back on the story He just told. “Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear’” (Luke 12:22, NIV).

Jesus went on to explain how not to worry: “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:24, emphasis added).

He repeated the word "consider" again a few verses later: “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even [King] Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” (Luke 12:27, NIV, emphasis added).

Jesus was teaching His followers to make a practice of considering a habit of noticing and thinking carefully about God’s faithfulness. He called them, and He calls us, to take into account all that God does to care for birds and wildflowers. These creations don’t even know how to ask the Father to take care of them, yet He does.  As my husband and I tried to make a wise decision, taking the time and effort to consider our financial position was valuable to us. But what was even more valuable was considering all the ways our Father had been faithful to us.  I keep a prayer journal where, in black ink, I write down the things I need; then when the Father meets that need (even if it is not how I expected or wanted), I write out the date and how He took care of me in red ink. When worry and anxiety attempt to strangle my faith, I pull out those journals and read the red writing. Considering the times God has been faithful to me, my family and my friends builds my faith to trust Him again.  When we actively and frequently reflect on the times our Father has been faithful to us, we are storing up in our hearts the faith we will need when our trust is put to the test.  Greg and I took that leap and while it has not looked exactly as we thought it would, we have certainly seen the faithfulness of our Father.

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Ever Get Bored With Reading Your Bible?
October 5, 2023
by Kristen Wetherell

“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” Isaiah 55:2 (ESV)

This place I’m in feels familiar. As I open Scripture, it occurs to me that I’ve been here before, many times. It’s called “being bored with my Bible.” Sound familiar to you?

I would be lying if I said I never (or rarely) felt this way. Boredom with the Bible is a common struggle. The question is: What do we do with it when it comes? I have found three things to be helpful.

1.  It’s helpful to remember what a privilege the Bible is.

The God of the universe, who is holy and awesome, has spokento us in a book. That is an astounding gift! The Bible is God’s breathed-out Word, the very voice of our Creator and Savior printed on paper pages with ink. Our God wants to talk with us!  We don’t deserve this. We can’t earn this. We simply rejoice in it with awe and wonder, receiving God’s gracious invitation when He beckons us, “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (Isaiah 55:2b). Scripture is a sacred privilege.

2.  It’s helpful to remember our dependence on God’s Spirit.

When we read our Bibles (or hear a biblical sermon), a supernatural miracle is happening: an encounter with Jesus Christ. The whole Bible points to Him because He is the point of the whole Bible.  But this encounter isn’t something we can make happen through our own efforts. Engaging with the Bible isn’t about checking off a to-do list, earning brownie points with God, or even just gaining knowledge about Him. (I’m guilty of believing all of these things.) It’s about knowing and loving an actual, living person: Jesus.  It’s easy for me to forget that I can’t possibly come to Scripture in my own strength and wisdom but only because of Christ and through His Holy Spirit. We are entirely dependent on God to open our eyes to love His words and see His wonders in Scripture.

3.  It’s helpful to remember to be creative.

There isn’t one right way to engage with God’s Word. The Bible doesn’t give us a prescriptive reading plan but gives us wonderful freedom to be creative! If you’re bored with Bible reading, one remedy might be to switch things up and make a change.  For example, instead of following the same reading plan (again!), try a new one. Read alongside a friend, and talk about what you learn. Engage with an in-depth Bible study or a book that centers on Scripture. Listen to an audio Bible while you do chores, exercise or commute. Read a devotional with your kids. The possibilities are numerous, and we are free to be creative with them.

The good news for bored people like you and me?

God doesn’t want us to stay there.  In His Son, Jesus, He has purchased for us the privilege of drawing near to Him. When we were once estranged from God, searching to satisfy our spiritual hunger anywhere else, He rescued us. Now He wants to satisfy us with Himself and He does this through His life-giving, sustaining words.  What a delight!

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If You Feel Like You're Bad at Life, Read This
October 10, 2023
by Emily Jensen

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

After a long day of giving the kids free play and a bit too much screen time, I looked up from my phone and felt defeated. I couldn’t really identify what I’d gotten done.  I hadn’t exercised or taken a shower. I remembered asking my oldest kids to start the laundry and clean their rooms, but did they ever do that? Walking by the dishwasher, I paused to look at the clean load and kept walking. The hours were slipping away, but I couldn’t seem to find enough motivation to do something about it.  At that moment, my heart was heavy. I longed to be a more naturally motivated, task-driven, productive person. Maybe that would make all of my responsibilities seem easier.  Have you ever felt this way?

Like you have everything to do but you feel scattered and unmotivated to make progress on any of it? Sometimes, these feelings can be symptoms of a deeper struggle. But other times, these feelings are simply an unhelpful guest we invite in for an extended stay.    We’re tired of having to try so hard.  We’re tired of facing obstacles in everyday life.  We’d prefer for things to be easy and delightful.  We want heaven now.  As I search the Scriptures, I see that every person has different capacities, life circumstances, resources, gifts and personality traits. Some people are able to do more or have a bent toward productivity. Maybe due to their upbringing and the way they’re wired, facing roadblocks and failures or even just feeling tired doesn’t cause them to plop onto the couch and give up.  But while my personality and capacity might account for some of my frustrations with this type of weakness, deep down I know it’s about something else too. I harbor a flesh-fueled resistance to humbling myself before God, entrusting Him with my needs, and believing He will help me do the good works He’s prepared for me to do.   “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

God does want us to be hard workers who serve humbly (Philippians 2:14-15; Colossians 3:23).  He means for us to grow beyond spiritual infancy into maturity (Ephesians 4:14-15). He doesn’t want us to stay stuck in old habits He wants us to experience freedom and new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17).  This list might feel overwhelming or convicting, but that’s because none of us are able to persevere in our own strength. We constantly fall short of perfection.  But God planned for our lack, and He’s not expecting us to get there in our own strength. No matter how weak and insufficient you’re feeling today, know that Jesus measured up on your behalf He is enough where you are not enough. Through Christ, you’re loved, made new, and you’ve met God’s standards.   Knowing and believing these truths is what motivates you to keep moving forward in things God has given you to do. You don’t have to spend any more time fretting about what you’ve done in the past or paying back the time you’ve lost; you can rest your heart in Christ. Thank the Lord for what He provides, and ask for help to do the next thing.  In our lack lack of energy, motivation, self-discipline, perseverance or fresh ideas we can look to Christ’s sufficiency and provision (2 Peter 1:3).  In our need need of stronger desires and resources to serve with Christlikeness we can have faith in God’s promise to “graciously give us all things” (Romans 8:32, ESV).

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Resting in God’s Goodness When Your Story Shifts
October 17, 2023
by Sarah Frazer

“... I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’” Exodus 33:19a (ESV)

“This wasn’t part of the plan.”

I sat on the bed in the hotel room in the middle of China and whispered those words. As my husband and I held our newly adopted daughter, we realized that her physical needs were much more severe than we had originally thought.  The first day I held her, I cried. I didn’t understand what God was doing. I didn’t feel prepared to be a mother who had a child with special needs. Suddenly, my story had shifted. There were so many questions and no answers. Would she go to school?

Who would take care of her after I was gone?

Could I really do this?

I was not equipped!  I’m the type of person who wants solid answers because I want to prepare and make plans. Through our daughter’s adoption, God was starting to teach me that certainty cannot be found in my plans or in the ability to predict the future. God has shifted my story many times since that day in March with our daughter. He is still teaching me because when this happens, I’m often still quick to question God’s goodness.  Your life has probably shifted over the years, too, and maybe you just want to know what to expect. I’m sorry I can’t tell you what your future looks like. But I can tell you who holds your future.  Our daughter has thrived these past eight years, but some aspects of her future are still unknown. Will she live on her own?

What kind of care will she need three years from now, or 10, or 20? Those questions remain unanswered, but God’s goodness has never left her or the rest of our family, and I know He never will.  God is so incredibly good. In the Bible, the story of Moses has shown me how God’s goodness isn’t necessarily tied to my plans but to His glory. Before heading toward the promised land with the Israelites, Moses said to God, “Please show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18, ESV). God’s response was, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD’” (Exodus 33:19a).

God’s glory is tied to His goodness, and God’s goodness is tied to His name, which reveals His character. Moses had met this Lord at the burning bush (Exodus 3:15), and even through plagues and wilderness wandering, God continued to be good to Moses and His people Israel, just like God has been and will continue to be good to you and me.    God might lead us on a path we didn’t plan for, but God’s goodness never leaves us. Moses didn’t need a detailed plan before heading to the promised land; he needed to be reminded of God’s goodness. The thing about this goodness is that it passed before Moses. All Moses had to do was rest in it, and so do we. Our life won’t come with a map, but it comes with a promise: If we follow God, His goodness will follow us all of the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6).

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Taking on the Identity of Christ
October 18, 2023
by Karen Wingate

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)

Several times, when I’ve needed a costume to wear to a party, I’ve written the names of fellow party-going friends on name tags and then plastered them over a black shirt. Add a black ski mask, and I become an “Identity Thief.”  It’s a fun costume but not so fun in real life. Each of us wants to be known for who we are an individual with a customized set of fingerprints, personal passwords, a unique personality and special abilities. A package like no one else. That’s the way God created us to be: one of a kind.  Yet secretly, when I masquerade as the “Identity Thief,” each person represented on my shirt has something I’d like to have. Their ability to say just the right thing whereas my tongue so easily slips into knots. Their organizational skills whereas my home desk is a mess. Their knack for buying just the right gift whereas I grab the first thing I see, and it ends up oh so wrong.  I fail miserably when I try to redraw my life to look like other people’s. That’s because I need to be me, the way God designed me to be.  The only person God wants me to imitate is Him. That’s what our key verse says: “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children” (Ephesians 5:1).

The Genesis 1 creation record says God made people in His image. But sin has marred us. While we are still made in the image of God, our quest as growing Christians is to transform back into His likeness Christlikeness through sanctification and our imitation of God.  Paul, the writer of the book of Ephesians, goes on to list what we should imitate about God: His way of love and truth, His holiness, goodness and righteousness (Ephesians 5:2-8).  But wait aren’t we also called to examine and imitate the lives of mature believers? After all, 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” (NLT).

Isn’t Paul asking his readers to imitate him?

The key phrase in Paul’s directive is “as I imitate Christ.” Other English translations render “imitate” as “follow the example of” (NIV). We can aim to be like faithful followers of Jesus without wishing we could be them. We can watch the in-the-flesh example of other believers how they put their faith in action, how they serve with love, and how they are able to endure through tough times because of the hope they have in Jesus but our final guide is Jesus as represented in the Bible.  We may admire qualities someone else has and see them as superior to our own. But our best strategy is to follow the example of the only perfect human being Jesus Christ. His life teaches us what character traits and behaviors are most important. He shows us how to center our lives around an eternal perspective and how to live out the concepts of love, holiness, purity and righteousness based on our faith and trust in God.  If Jesus is the best example of all, why would we want to become like anyone else?

The exciting part is this: When we move toward becoming like Jesus and exercising the gifts He has custom-made for each of us, we find that we really are one of a kind, with a unique identity others can’t help but notice and admire.