Devotions

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The Name You Call Yourself
February 7, 2024
by Sharon Jaynes

“... Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1b (ESV)

I held Harper’s hand as we walked into the restaurant to place our name on the waiting list. Actually, I walked; my 7-year-old grandniece skipped.  I gave the hostess the number in our party, expressed the desire for an outside table, and told her yes, crayons, please. Then the hostess asked my name. I replied, “Sharon.”

Harper quickly corrected me: “No. It’s Aunt Sharon.”

Smiles and giggles went all around. Harper had no idea what was so funny.  All through life, we are known by different names. Some lovely. Some laughable. Some loathsome. Some others call us. Some we call ourselves.  In the Bible, there is a story of a woman named Naomi who changed her name. She and her family left their home in Bethlehem and moved to Moab, but over the next 10 years, her husband and two married sons died. When she decided to return to Bethlehem, only her daughter-in-law Ruth joined her.  Naomi was broken. She must have looked very different as she trudged into town forlorn.  “Is that Naomi?” her friends asked.

She said, “Don’t call me Naomi,” which means “pleasant” in Hebrew. “Call me Mara [bitter], because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me” (Ruth 1:20-21, NIV).

A time or two, I have changed what I call myself according to the circumstances of my life. Failure. Unwanted. Inadequate. Loser. But you know what? None of those names is true. Those are not names God calls me or you.  No matter what’s on your birth certificate, what others have called you, or what you have called yourself, God calls you His dearly loved child. If you have placed your faith in Jesus, He also calls you:

Anointed (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
Appointed (John 15:16).
Accepted (Romans 15:7).

Reconciled (Romans 5:10).
Righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Redeemed (Galatians 3:13).

Forgiven (Ephesians 1:7).
Free (Romans 8:1).
Friend (John 15:15).

Chosen (Ephesians 1:4).
Holy (Colossians 1:22).
Dearly loved (Colossians 3:12).

Justified (Romans 5:9).
Qualified (Colossians 1:12).
Jesus’ bride (2 Corinthians 11:2).

Those are the names we need to remember.  Eventually Ruth married Naomi’s relative Boaz and had a son. Naomi's friends then encouraged her, “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer.  He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age” (Ruth 4:14-15a, NIV).

Let’s learn from Naomi that our identity and dignity is given to us by God, our Redeemer. And let's make sure we don’t change what we call ourselves according to ever-changing circumstances. Instead, may we listen to God's voice: “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

Father, forgive me for seeing myself as less than how You see me. Regardless

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God Rejoices Over You
February 12, 2024
by Carrie Zeilstra, COMPEL Training Member

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

A deep sigh escaped my lungs, sounding loud in my dark living room. Why can’t you get it together?

I chided myself with a familiar narrative. You’re such a mess. You didn’t even make your family a decent dinner. The house is cluttered. What is wrong with you?

Tears rolled down my face. I should have been exhausted, but my inner critic kept me awake again.  I cried out, Father, I am always so behind and scattered. I feel like a failure.  In the silence, God reminded me of a Bible verse that a friend had shared with me years earlier. I couldn’t remember all the words. Feeling hopeful, I turned on a lamp, grabbed my Bible, and turned the thin pages until I found it.  “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

A memory flashed across my mind. I was driving, with my toddler in the back seat. In the rearview mirror, I could see my son’s head bobbing side to side as I sang to him. I often sang familiar melodies but replaced the lyrics with his name. My son’s face was lit up with joy, despite the tears on his eyelashes from a tantrum moments earlier. My heart swelled with love.  The picture in my mind shifted. It was the same scene but with God in the driver’s seat, loudly singing a beautiful melody over me. My mind quieted.  I read the verse again and whispered a prayer of gratitude. Thank You that You are in my midst. You sing over me because I am Your child. You rejoice over me with gladness. That night, God’s song drowned out the negative narrative I spoke to myself.  My worth does not lie in check marks on my to-do list or even in how I perceive myself. My weaknesses don’t define me the God of the universe does!  Sometimes my mind is still unkind to my heart. But when I choose to focus on the Lord’s presence, I picture Him singing over me. Singing my name because He knows me. His love song quiets my mind.  God reminds me that even when I am wrestling with my thoughts, I am worth saving. Even when I think I am lacking, I am His child. Even when I can’t see past my shortcomings, He is rejoicing over me in song.  My ears may never hear the notes on this side of eternity, but oh, what a beautiful melody it is.

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What Does It Mean To Walk With God?
February 28, 2024
by Elizabeth Laing Thompson

“Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:24 (NIV)

When I was a teenager, if I looked out my bedroom window to watch the waking sun paint the treetops gold, I’d often see a bundled figure disappearing into the trees behind our house: my dad, off for his morning walk with God. As he walked, Dad admired God’s creation, shared his worries, and simply basked in his Father’s presence.  Thousands of years before my dad started walking with God, another man did the same. Genesis 5:24 describes Enoch, a descendant of Adam: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

We don’t know if Enoch was outspoken or charismatic, musical or athletic. We know only one thing: Enoch walked with God. Some believe this scripture (along with Hebrews 11:5) shows that God and Enoch were so close that God did not let Enoch die; rather, God simply “took him away” to be with Him always (Genesis 5:24). Whatever the meaning, one thing is clear Enoch’s life was all about relationship with God. Friendship with God. What a legacy!  Friendship with God sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?

And yet many of us aren’t sure how to cultivate it. We long to enjoy prayer, but it can feel intimidating. Formal. And if we’re totally honest, maybe even boring. Even though I grew up admiring my dad’s vibrant prayer life, my prayers have sometimes felt more like holy duty than close friendship.  When my prayers grow distant or stale, I draw inspiration from Enoch’s example and my dad’s. If you, too, are longing for more, more emotion, more connection what if you took your prayers out of whatever holy box they live in? What if you stopped trying to say the right words and just spent time with God?

What if you stepped outside, into His glorious creation, and turned your “walk with God” into actual walks with God?

And as you walked, what if you simply shared your gratitude, your burdens, your insecurities your heart with your Father?

You might pray the Lord’s Prayer, quote a psalm, or simply walk in His presence, commenting on the beauty around you, asking for guidance, even chuckling over life’s mishaps.  When we draw close to our heavenly Father, we can enjoy His friendship wherever we go. We don’t have to be on a prayer walk: We can live in constant communion with God, sharing laughs, seeking guidance and giving thanks all throughout each day.  My dad has dementia now, and though he doesn’t remember our old house or how he loved trees, he still remembers prayer walks. Whenever Dad comes to visit, I ask, “Hey, Dad, do you want to walk and pray together?”

He lights up, and off we go me and Dad and our heavenly Dad. We walk, we pray, and God’s love holds us close.

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That the Works of God Might Be Displayed
March 11, 2024
by Alice Matagora

"'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'" John 9:3 (NIV)

Maybe it’s because I put my career first for so long that’s why I can’t get pregnant.  Maybe it’s because I wanted the promotion too much that’s why the door was shut.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been too eager for a relationship that’s why I’m still single.  Throughout my life, I’ve gone through several seasons of wondering. Wondering why things haven’t turned out the way I wanted them to. Wondering why my life seemed stuck while everyone else’s seemed to be moving along just fine. Wondering why others seemed to have it so much easier than me. This wondering can quickly turn into looking for someone to blame. For me, that “someone” is usually myself  Is there something wrong with me? Did I do something wrong?

I feel small, like a child who is confused and afraid.  In John 9, Jesus and His disciples met a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples responded in a way many of us do when we encounter some misfortune: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2, NIV).

In other words, Who is to blame?

We may be surprised by the response of the Son of God, the only One who sees and knows the sins of all humankind: “‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him’” (John 9:3, emphasis added).

There was more to the story than the disciples could see. The Son of God had yet to fully reveal His works in the man’s life.  Perhaps there is more to your story than what you can see right now, more that God has yet to reveal.  Sin does have consequences, and sometimes our own choices can create or worsen hard situations in our lives. Even then, Jesus always gives us grace (James 4:6). It’s equally important to realize that not all suffering is caused by our personal sin. Sometimes we may suffer for reasons we can’t explain yet “the works of God might be displayed” (John 9:3).

So when we are quick to jump to conclusions and blame ourselves when things don’t go as planned, and when we feel like that confused, scared child, Jesus gently and compassionately releases us from our self-condemnation.  No, daughter. There’s nothing wrong with you. You may feel confused right now, but I will show up here.  Although it may not happen when or how we expect, Jesus reassures us that His works will be displayed in our lives and that He can do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). We only need to trust in Him and wait.

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The Miracle of Forgiveness
March 20, 2024
by Charaia Rush

“Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Luke 17:4 (NIV)

Growing up, I didn’t spend much time with my grandmother so I nervously stumbled over my words when asking her if my kids and I could stay with her while we moved back to Colorado.  I had believed my husband and I were in a season of reconciliation, only to discover it was all an illusion.  So when my grandmother offered me a matter-of-fact “yes,” as if my question held a foregone conclusion, I let out a sigh of relief.

That was just my grandmother. But what she lacked in warmth she possessed in wisdom.  While I wasn’t at my grandmother’s house for long, it was long enough to understand that I was living in the legacy of her faith. She could be heard humming hymns as she scooted around the kitchen in her wheelchair.  It didn’t come as a shock to me, then, when her only advice to me in the middle of my sea of suffering was to forgive the father of my children. “It’s the only way to be free,” she said, with her eyes glued to her crossword puzzle.

My grandma never brought it up again. There was no need because what she said was what she meant. Forgiveness was simple it was that simple.  I struggled with how she called me to the same resolve. To me, forgiveness felt anything but simple.  In Luke 17, Jesus taught His disciples about forgiveness, and He said the truth openly: The hurt is bound to happen. In this life, we will always experience something that needs to be forgiven. And to follow Jesus requires that we place our feet on the path of forgiveness again and again.  Jesus said, “Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them” (Luke 17:4).

It’s clear from this verse and from many others where God speaks of forgiveness — that forgiving is not optional. To forgive is to obey what God has asked of us. Yet try as we may, we cannot manufacture the miracle of walking in forgiveness on our own.  The disciples’ honest reaction when they heard Jesus’ radical call to forgiveness was that they couldn’t do it. They cried out, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5, NIV).

Jesus quickly assured them that all they needed was the smallest measure of faith imaginable, “faith as small as a mustard seed,” for the miracle of forgiveness to take place in their hearts (Luke 17:6, NIV).

God gives us a hard command paired with tremendous grace. The type of grace that gives us the bravery not just to hear what Jesus said but to believe it’s what He meant and respond accordingly.

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Jesus Never Loses Sight of Us
March 21, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst

"Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land." Mark 6:47 (NIV)

When life gets messy, it can feel like our Messiah has gone missing.  That's exactly the kind of situation we find Jesus' disciples in as we read Mark 6. Right after Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 people, the 12 disciples got in a boat to travel to their next city. But strong winds caused the water to get very rough. The disciples were “straining at the oars” as the realities of life beat against them (Mark 6:48, NIV).  A deeper study of the Greek word basanizo (pronounced bas-an-id-zo) that is translated as “straining” in Mark 6:48 reveals just how distressing their circumstances were. Basanizo can also mean “to torment.” It’s a word we see used in the context of the torment caused by disease in Matthew 8:6 and demon possession in Mark 5:7. Mark clearly wanted to emphasize the serious turmoil and struggle these men were facing.  This storm was terrifying for them. The waves weren’t just cresting and crashing like you’ve probably seen if you’ve ever been in rough waters. These waves were exploding all around them in unpredictable ways. They couldn't brace themselves or their boat. They were completely helpless and swallowed up by fear.  I certainly can’t blame them for being afraid at that moment. Sometimes it’s hard not to be completely consumed by fear, isn’t it?

Oh, how thankful I am that even when our storms cause us to lose sight of hope, Jesus never loses sight of us.  While the disciples were in the boat straining, Jesus was on the mountainside praying. From where He was, Jesus saw the disciples in the middle of the lake. “Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them” (Mark 6:47-48a, NIV).

I want us to notice Jesus’ response to the disciples, who cried out in fear, not faith, when He walked toward them on the water. The Scripture says “immediately” He spoke to them and said, “Don't be afraid” (Mark 6:50, NIV).

He didn’t criticize them for being afraid. He climbed into the boat with them.  He’s saying the same thing to you and me. He’s not running from us in our fears. He’s climbing in to be right there with us.  And with His presence comes peace. The same God who willingly revealed Himself to people in the Bible wants to reveal the fullness of His peace and the power of His presence to us as well.  In the midst of whatever hurts and heartbreaks you’re facing today, I pray you will see Him. Friend, the Lord is near. We are safe. We are loved. We are seen.

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Lord, Do You Care?
March 22, 2024
by Jodi Harris

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)

I was grateful for the dark worship auditorium that concealed my running makeup and shame-filled soul.  Events and behaviors earlier that year had led to a broken relationship and failed attempts to repair it. I was ashamed of my inability to make things right, no matter how hard I tried. I wanted to do better. To be better.  In this moment in church, as we belted out praise, I wondered, Lord, do You care?

This was my repeated question during summer walks as the sun set behind the Rocky Mountains. The brilliant colors God painted across the sky with His finger were awe-inspiring. If He cared about that, did He care about me?

The writers of the Old Testament often spoke about God’s finger to communicate His creative power and authority over His creation. God’s finger was also known for sending destructive plagues and inscribing the Ten Commandments (Exodus 8:19; Exodus 31:18). But recently I discovered something else.  In John 8:1-11, Jesus was teaching in the temple courts when teachers of the law brought in a woman caught in adultery. As they accused and sentenced her to death, Jesus bent down and wrote in the dirt. How many times have we wondered what Jesus was writing?

And why did John even mention it in his Gospel?

John didn’t just say Jesus bent down to write in the dirt. He said, “Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger” (John 8:6b, NIV, emphasis mine).

God’s finger is the finger that created the heavens and us.  It’s the finger that inscribed the perfect law.  And now this finger wrote in the dirt.  Oh, to be face to face with Rabbi Jesus, who holds the power in His finger to put sinners to death, but instead He set the accused woman free from sin and shame (John 8:10-11).  God has all power in His finger, yet He chooses to forgive us. To bend down low and write in the dirt. Dirt He used to create us (Genesis 2:7).  He first wrote His law on stone tablets; in Christ, He now writes His love on our hearts.  “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

Sweet sister, what shame or sin might you carry today that keeps you stuck?

Picture yourself in the place of the woman in John 8, your accuser bringing you to Jesus to condemn you. Turn your eyes to His face as He stoops down where you are crumpled on the ground in shame. As He kneels in front of you, He says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more” (John 8:11, MEV).

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Leaning Into the Power of Asking Questions
March 26, 2024
by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

“Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’” Matthew 21:24 (NIV)

Editor’s Note: Today’s devotion is part of a special series for Holy Week! From March 24 (Palm Sunday) to March 31 (Easter Sunday), each devotion will focus on the events leading up to Jesus’ resurrection. We pray these words will prepare your heart and mind for the celebration of our risen Savior.  My daughter was recently struggling with a decision a teacher made. All the confusion, frustration and misunderstanding came tumbling out as she unpacked the details for me. This decision came at a cost to my daughter and other students.  My instinct was to call the teacher and defend my daughter. However, I decided it was more important to coach my girl on how to articulate her concerns respectfully and ask good questions.  Jesus was a master at asking purposeful questions. He used questions to teach, defend, challenge, make people think, meet people in their grief, and help center the stories of those who were often treated as outsiders.

*  Jesus asked a lonely Samaritan woman at a well, “Will you give me a drink?” (John 4:7, NIV) and engaged her in conversation, revealing Himself for the first time as the Messiah.

*  Jesus asked a chronically sick man, “Would you like to get well?” (John 5:6, NLT), having him consider what he believed before receiving healing.

*  “But what about you?  Who do you say I am?” Jesus asked Peter in a poignant moment with His disciples before facing His death on the cross (Matthew 16:15, NIV).

*  After His resurrection, Jesus asked two unassuming men on the road to Emmaus: “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” (Luke 24:17a, NLT).

Jesus modeled how to use thoughtful questions to foster understanding, build relationships and deepen faith among the people around Him.  During Holy Week, the chief priests and elders came to Jesus and challenged His authority to turn the tables in the temple and teach the gospel. Jesus didn’t argue but responded to their questions with a pointed question:  “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” (Matthew 21:24-25a, NIV).

The leaders were stumped. They knew if they answered that John’s baptism was from heaven, Jesus would ask why they didn’t believe him. They also knew if they answered “human origin,” then their own people, who believed in John the Baptist as a prophet, would turn against them. They had maliciously hoped to trap Jesus with their challenges, but instead He trapped them in their questioning.

Friend, can you think of a time in your life when you were unsure of how to handle a situation?

When you experienced something frustrating or witnessed an injustice?

When you longed to overcome a rift in a relationship?

Jesus isn’t scared of our questions or doubts; in fact, He welcomes them. Questions are a powerful way to engage, respectfully challenge and even care for others. Don’t underestimate the power of a question.

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Silent Saturday Wasn’t So Silent
March 30, 2024
by Dr. Joel Muddamalle

“When a person dies, will he come back to life? If so, I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes.” Job 14:14 (CSB)

Editor’s Note: Today’s devotion is part of a special series for Holy Week! From March 24 (Palm Sunday) to March 31 (Easter Sunday), each devotion will focus on the events leading up to Jesus’ resurrection. We pray these words will prepare your heart and mind for the celebration of our risen Savior. 

You may be faced with something so difficult at this very moment that it seems hopeless. It may seem like a closed door or a flat-out rejection.  In the midst of this, you’re wondering if the silence of God is evidence of His absence. Even worse, you may be wrestling with the truth of His goodness.  This is probably how the disciples felt as they watched Jesus die. This must have been the heavy burden of their hearts as they buried Him. These feelings must have been their only companion on the day after Jesus died the day before He rose again from the grave a day we’ve come to know as “Silent Saturday.”  All they knew was what they had seen: the death of the One they believed was the Messiah. The sudden end of any hope of Israel’s liberation from Rome. Every minute of silence was a reminder of their hopelessness.  But things are not always what they seem. There’s always an earthly and cosmic reality to everything.  And, friend, the disciples of Jesus were not the first to feel hopeless in the waiting. Long before they walked the earth, there was a faithful servant of God named Job. And he struggled just as we do. Job lost everything. He sat in silent agony, wondering why.  This is the tension Job faced: He knew that death was a reality for everyone. And when a person died, he thought, they would never rise again (Job 14:12).  “When a person dies, will he come back to life? If so, I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes” (Job 14:14).

What Job questioned, only Jesus could answer.  Jesus did come back to life after He was laid in the grave.  Jesus defeated death through death.  Jesus is victorious.  Even when He seems not to be working, He’s always working for our good!  If you find yourself today in a place of silence wondering if God is working dealing with doubts about His activity in what seems to be an echo of divine dormancy remember that what we see in an earthly context is but a shadow of the cosmic context. For two days, Jesus’ disciples mourned the death of their Messiah. But in a cosmic context, this time was preparation, developing patient endurance, for when they would celebrate His victory on the third day.  The victory of Christ gives us full assurance and confidence that the pain, heartache, suffering and torment of this sinful world are not the full story. Jesus is always working in our waiting. In the meantime, we pray that our eyes will be opened to the cosmic reality of Christ’s victory that we live in today.

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Handling Your Hard Emotions
April 4, 2024
by Kendra LeGrand

"Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image …'" Genesis 1:26 (NIV)

“For this to work, you need to leave your mask at the door.”

These were words my counselor spoke to me in our second meeting. The first meeting was when she handed me a book on boundaries, which felt like a very blunt way to tell me I had a problem.  Now, when she told me to leave my mask at the door, it was all I could do not to fake a stomachache and never return.  She was saying I couldn’t keep my happy-go-lucky face on in counseling. It would get in the way of making progress. Instead, she challenged me to be honest in expressing my emotions honest with myself and God.  But I thought showing frustration, anger, disappointment and sadness as a Christian was wrong. I thought if I believed in God, then I shouldn’t express these bad emotions because they were just that: bad.  That’s when my counselor kindly stopped me again and said, “Those aren’t bad emotions. They’re hard emotions. They’re uncomfortable to sit with. But they are God-given. He isn’t afraid of our emotions. He wants us to be honest about our feelings.”

You see, we were created in God’s image: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image …’” (Genesis 1:26).

Our purpose as image bearers is to glorify God, and He has given us so many emotions to feel as we walk out this calling. Our full range of emotions is a blessing. Even hard emotions have a purpose: For example, sadness can help us value joy. Anger and frustration can help us respond to injustice and value peace and stability. And our hard emotions drive us to depend on God.  Jesus experienced some hard emotions too:

    Frustration with merchants in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13).
    Sadness when His friend Lazarus died (John 11:35).
    Loneliness when He was on the cross (Matthew 27:46).

Though our emotions, if not dealt with and processed well, can lead us to sin, Jesus’ emotions stemmed from His righteous love for His people. In His anger, He did not sin. In His grief, He did not sin.  This “aha!” moment, realizing that all emotions are God-given, was freeing for me. And maybe you find yourself feeling a little freer too?

You may be:

    Upset with your child who hasn’t picked up their toys.
    Frustrated with a friend who keeps canceling plans.
    Angry at a spouse for the way they’re handling a work situation.

And those are OK feelings. We just don’t want to stay there all the time. We want to understand why we’re feeling how we’re feeling, repent if our emotions have led us to sin, and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to handle our hard emotions with grace.  I’m becoming more comfortable not only leaving my mask outside the door of my counselor’s office but also when I meet with friends or in my church small group. I’m still not the best at expressing hard emotions but it’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.

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3 Ways To Walk Your Morning Blues Away With Jesus
April 5, 2024
by Bonnie Gray

“Are you tired? Worn out?  Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace ...” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Early one morning, I woke up preoccupied. With a long to-do list and a stressful work deadline looming, I couldn’t figure out how I was going to get everything done. As I made coffee, I tried engineering my day like a game of Tetris optimizing every minute.  My heart sank. There wasn’t much space to breathe. Looking outside at the sunny, blue skies, I saw beauty but didn’t feel it. Instead, I felt weary. Have you ever had a morning like that?

The day is still young, but you already feel weighed down and tired, held captive by worry.  When I later returned to the coffeepot after getting dressed, can you imagine how bewildered I felt to find it full of clear water?

I had put in the filter and filled the tank, but I was so preoccupied I forgot the most important thing: coffee grounds!  As I made another pot, scriptures surfaced in my heart:  “Are you tired? Worn out?  Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace ...” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus’ words felt like a comforting hand on my shoulder. The phrase “walk with me” in the Message paraphrase captured my attention. Jesus invites us to spend time with Him and rest from the burdens we carry. The metaphor of taking a walk, hand in hand, implies an intimate, one-on-one reconnecting of hearts away from distractions.  How do you enjoy spending time with Jesus in your faith-walk?

Here are three of my favorite ways you can borrow today:

1. Listen to a worship song. Songs give us a simple way to practice the presence of God, calling us back to Him. Music can bring calm and comfort put on a favorite worship song, and let God whisper words of love to you.

2. Journal a prayer based on God’s Word. Just one loving word from God brings light into your day. As you slow down to read and reflect on Scripture, respond by journaling a prayer. Studies show 10 minutes of journaling can lower anxiety and improve mood.

3. Spend time outside reveling in God’s creation. When we hear birds sing, see trees bud, or take a walk in fresh air, we often feel refreshed with God’s loving presence. Studies show 10 minutes spent in nature can ease feelings of anxiety and sadness.

We can orchestrate the most optimized life and high-output schedule, but without time to rest, we don’t have peace or joy. We were created to walk in wellness with Jesus. So let's take the time to enjoy what helps reconnect our hearts to His.  Sometimes we can walk our morning blues away simply by spending time with our loving Savior and any day is a good day to start. Jesus will take care of us every day.

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Change Is Possible It Just Doesn’t Happen Overnight
April 11, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst

"... make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance ..." 2 Peter 1:5-6 (NIV)

No matter what your struggle has been, victory is possible today. Sadly, most of us don't think that's true. The problem is we tend to measure long-term success while downplaying the absolute victory found in small successes.  Honestly, I need to remind myself of this. For instance, I’ve been trying to be more active lately by setting a goal of walking 10,000 steps a day. In some moments, I just don’t feel like fitting an extra walk into my busy schedule, and I can start to convince myself it doesn’t really matter. But the truth is that each step is a victorious small success as I focus on moving my body.  Now, I’m not saying I’ll be ready to run a marathon this year, but by building upon the small successes of simply showing up for myself choice by choice, day by day I’ve seen positive change in my physical, emotional and mental health.  This principle applies to other struggles as well.

    If I choose not to be snappy with my kids and instead respond with tenderness, that's a victorious small success.
    If I choose to pause before responding to a rude sales clerk and give her a smile instead of being harsh, that's a victorious small success.
    If I choose to give my friend the benefit of the doubt rather than jumping to the conclusion that she meant to hurt my feelings, that's a victorious small success.

I like the way our key verses talk about this:  “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance ...” (2 Peter 1:5-6).

Here, Scripture reminds us to “make every effort to add” some things to our faith. Think of this like a muscle. We have muscles as a part of our bodies, but we must add activity to those muscles to use them effectively and gain strength. In most cases, our muscles will work for us as we exercise them. Goodness, knowledge, self-control and perseverance will also work for us as we practice them over and over again.  I don’t know what victory looks like for you. Maybe it’s a thought pattern you’d like to stop ruminating on. Or a habit you’d like to build to memorize more Scripture. It could be achieving goals you have for your family or making changes you’d like to see in yourself. Whatever it is, I challenge you to name what victory is for you.  Here’s what I know: Sometimes victory seems so far away because we measure it only by our end goal. And end goals can seem overwhelmingly huge, daunting, and just plain hard to reach. Instead, if we start measuring victory by the smaller choices we make each day, it won’t seem so impossible.

    Before you do 10 pushups, you have to do one.
    Before you memorize a whole chapter of Scripture, you have to know the first verse.
    Before you start living a more peace-filled life, you can stop that one anxious thought from ruining your day.
    Before you have a better relationship with that person, you can have one better reaction.

You see, change is possible. It just doesn’t happen overnight.  Big things are built one brick at a time.  Victories are achieved one choice at a time.  A life well lived is chosen one day at a time.

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Unwrapping Our Gifts for God’s Glory
April 12, 2024
by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NLT)

Throughout my elementary and middle school years, I spent many hours at the dance studio starting with tap and then signing up for ballet and jazz. The music moved me, but it took practice and discipline to get the steps just right.  One of my teachers used a large stick to pound out the rhythm of our dances on the wooden floor as we practiced. She wanted to make sure every movement was precise but also flowed with the mood of the music. Sometimes she would demonstrate sections of the dance for us. I deeply longed to dance like her elegantly expressing the emotion of the song with every sashay and compass turn.  Just as I had a dance mentor, a young man named Timothy in the Bible had a spiritual mentor in the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote the book of 2 Timothy as a letter to encourage Timothy to follow in his footsteps and to fix Timothy’s focus on the faith.  “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

When Paul said “fan into flames,” he used a Greek word that essentially meant “fire it up.” He was encouraging Timothy to ignite his spiritual gifts and let them burn for others to see.  Sometimes learning something new is surprisingly hard. But as we unwrap our gifts, nurture them, and invest time in practicing, we make progress toward full flourishing.  In this passage, Paul was also addressing Timothy’s lack of confidence. Timothy may have felt unsure of his gifts, but Paul reminded him that fear and timidity do not come from God.  Maybe you’ve felt this way too. I know I have. The voices saying you’re not good enough, you can’t do it like her, and you’re going to mess this up seem to be shouting from every direction.  We need a community to cheer us on in our giftings. Timothy needed Paul’s coaching to remind him that God had given him gifts and urge him to keep seeking God's purpose. I needed my dance teacher to pound out the rhythm and demonstrate the movements of the dance so I could find the flow. We all need mentors, teachers, fellow believers and friends to encourage us in the dance of life.  It takes courage to step out and use our gifts with power, love and self-discipline. And God has already given us that courage through the Holy Spirit within us. So put on your dance shoes, my friend it’s time to get moving.

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Quit Telling Yourself That
April 18, 2024
by Meghan Mellinger

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)

“I am tired of being tired.”

The words spilled out of my mouth like the tears from my eyes. Here I was, yet again, in what had become my default state: weary and worn.  Something had to change.  While I couldn’t change my circumstances, I could control what I was thinking about my circumstances. So I decided to do some digging into the depths of my mind: What was I actually telling myself?

I’m a pretty positive, upbeat person, but my investigation felt like a walk through a haunted house uncovering a new terrifying thought around every corner.  On days I woke up with a no-end-in-sight workload awaiting me, I’d tell myself: You’ve never handled stress well, so it looks like today is going to be awful! Congrats! Then I’d hit the snooze button.  When I struggled to make progress toward a goal, I’d tell myself: What’s the point?

You’re not going to achieve this you don’t have what it takes.  When I wondered where and how I might meet my future husband, I’d tell myself: At this point, it’s looking pretty impossible. Can you be a "cat lady" if you're allergic?

Yikes.  No wonder I wasn’t doing well. The things I was telling myself weren’t offering hope or help.  I have a feeling I’m not alone.   What are you telling yourself?

Break out your journal, laptop or phone, and do your own investigation. Notice some themes in what you tell yourself on a daily basis, and write them down, bringing your thoughts to light.  Why are you telling yourself that?

Where do your thoughts come from?

A past hurt?

A friend?

A fear?

Your experiences and relationships can influence your thoughts, but they don’t have to have the final say.  What can you tell yourself instead?

Romans 12:2 says God makes us new by transforming our minds:  “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

We can change the way we think by allowing the Holy Spirit to rewire our old thoughts with empowering, helpful and truth-filled thoughts instead. Here are a few God-centered thoughts you can borrow today:

    I have an all-powerful God who wants to help me and whose Spirit is always available to me, anytime, anywhere.
    I have an identity in God that isn’t dependent on my performance, achievements, job or relationship status.
    I have a relational God who loves me unconditionally and still chooses me even with my imperfections.

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But I’m Desperate, Lord
May 2, 2024
by Lynn Cowell

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB)

My eyes squint as I figure out if it’s time to get up. My phone glares back: 4:34 a.m. Too early. Yet it feels like I’ve been lying in bed praying for hours.  I’ve been trying to practice the words of the Apostle Paul: “Pray constantly” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

I’m desperately praying about sick family members, struggling friends, and the stress of an unsure future.  There is something else that is constant: the weariness of my heart. All I know is I’m exhausted. Is this what Paul had in mind?

This praying-constantly thing, with my burden growing bigger by the minute, doesn’t feel like God’s will for me.  In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church, he gave the directive to pray constantly, but this was just one of his directives. “Pray constantly” is surrounded by other words to help us as we seek the Lord. In fact, it’s right in the middle of two other directives:  “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, emphases added).

The third directive, “give thanks in everything,” has stumped me during the majority of my walk with Christ. I can’t say I have practiced giving thanks in everything it feels like too much. I'm supposed to praise God in the middle of my distress?

Paul proposes that praise is to be a part of every prayer that passes from our lips. Praise is the empowering part of prayer. When we choose to praise God with our prayers, we place our burdens in the hands of the One who can bear them. Thanksgiving helps us to shift our focus from our problems to the One who is faithful, capable and in control.  A few verses later, Paul tells us why we are to give thanks in everything: “He who calls you is faithful; he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, CSB).

This is how I can praise Him and you can too. We can praise God as we pray because we know He is faithful. He has demonstrated His faithfulness to His people, and to you and me, in the past. He will do, in His wisdom, what He knows to do.  Now, I’ve begun a new practice when praying. I petition our Father, expressing my needs, and then praise Him for His faithfulness. I read Scripture out loud, which helps me to thank God for His greatness, majesty, trustworthiness and holiness. As I state the grandness of my God through praise, instead of just reciting over and over to Him the grief of my sorrows, my burden becomes lighter.  Thanksgiving shifts our heaviness onto the shoulders of the God who can do the impossible.