Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1
What do you measure your life with?
The yardstick of worldly success, fame, or money?
The ruler of putting yourself first?
Counting your possessions, 401k statement or stock market?
Or just God?
When we measure our life, we decide how happy we are or not.
How content we are, how peaceful, or fearful we have become.
Your focus equals your measuring stick.
What you focus on helps determine your level of contentment.
Take your family for example. They are needy, sometimes too much so, and you find yourself in a bad mood with the work load.
You are focusing on what you are unable to do at that moment while stuck helping others.
Focus instead on God and what He has you doing at this moment. Make your work an offering to Him.
Changes your mood.
God must be our first focus, our second, our third, and on and on it goes.
When you change your perspective, your measuring stick disappears.
When you focus on knowing God is always with you, walking beside you every moment, life suddenly brightens.
Remembering your inclusion into the family of God Himself yields the ultimate acceptance.
You don’t need the world’s love. It’s fleeting anyway.
God allows us wonderful times here on earth, but when you focus on those, disappointment is right around the corner.
Focus on God and His love for you.
When you put Him first in all things, you’ll begin to depend upon Him more and more.
The demon in charge, whose name escapes me, is upset.
He’s a champion for the dark side.
Here is his rant.
I am discouraged. First the overturn of Roe vs Wade.
Good grief, it was so utterly easy deceiving Americans for almost 50 years now.
Guess we relaxed our efforts too much, thinking the law would never change.
Who would have thought those Christian prayers would ever really help?
I sure didn’t. Especially not after this long.
Time to work on the states. Surely most will keep choosing death. They think it’s a choice, but I know the truth.
What? The court decided coaches can now pray after a public school game?
On the field? In public? Like out in the open? Are they crazy?
Need to ramp up the violence. Let’s concentrate on the cities with less police protection.
What about the Christians? I’m not worried. I know how to get them.
Let’s take him over there.
I know him well. He looks spiritual, but underneath, he’s a mess.
He’s full of self-pity, one of my favorites. Tends to affect him every night about 7pm.
Becomes morose thinking of his family. I know how to stoke that.
Sometimes, he doesn’t crumble under the lies, because he prays, bringing the power of God into the room.
Not tonight. I got this.
Look – he’s thinking of his family. I’m going to plant a doubt, telling him they don’t care a whit about him.
Neither does his wife. Good. He’s quite upset. Perfect.
Let’s keep going, as this is quite fun.
I’ll whisper, ‘You’re nothing. You’re old and it’s almost over anyway, so what does it matter…’
Haha, good. He bought it. Closed his eyes and tried to escape.
He’s done for the night. Who else can I torment? Time’s wasting.
Now we will peak into his evening as the demon in charge, whose name escapes me, determines the next assignment.
“Who’s got her?” shouted the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
“I have her, sir,” answered a tiny demon with a large voice.
“Excellent, #2”, replied the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
“Want me to apply the usual tools, sir?” asked the tiny demon with the large voice.
“Yes, #2. Full report when you are done,” answered the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
Running to the girl, demon #2 assessed the situation.
He saw her sitting at the table, heads in her hands. It was late. He saw no one else up.
“Fabulous!! She’s staying up past her children and husband. She’s all alone, ready for my thoughts,” declared demon #2 with a large voice, although he whispered not wanting to disturb her.
Whispering into her head, demon #2 said, “You’re right. No one ever cares. Certainly not your family. They couldn’t care less about you. You might as well leave. Would they even notice your absence? They could live totally fine without you. You are not needed. You are useless. You are stupid.”
Sitting back, demon #2 witnessed her reaction. While the words began to take affect, she started to cry. Confirming the lies from demon #2, she agreed with his words, blowing her nose from the tears, which were beginning to flow from her weepy eyes.
The angels were stirred. Immediately, they circled her, knowing her heart and loyalty to God. They began to whisper God’s truth, combating every lie from demon #2.
Demon #2 sat up, scared. “Crap, they are negating my lies.” Immediately, he began to whisper more lies into her head.
Suddenly, the girl was aware of two trains of thoughts entering her head: the angels and demon #2.
Burring her face into her hands, demon #2 thought he had won. He started to celebrate, a smile erupting on his ugly face.
All of a sudden, the girl yelled, “NO.” She began agreeing with the angels, opening her bible to read. Her lips declared the name above all names, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
Demon #2 shrank back in fear, recoiling from that powerful name.
Immediately, he ran back to his nest, more comfortable among the evil comrades.
“Back so soon?” asked the demon in charge, whose name escapes me. That demon was certain of demon #2’s triumph.
Shuttering in fear, demon #2 replied, “Sir, she was helped by the angels from On High. They came and I didn’t know what to do. She began agreeing with them. And sir…she even declared that name. Jesus.”
“NOOOO,” cried the demon in charge, whose name escapes me. “Next time, I will personally accompany you. We must not let that girl out of our grip. She’s too important. Her mission from God MUST be accosted no matter what. Do you understand me?” He roared in anger.
And that ends our story. Demon #2 went on to worry about the next assignment. The demon in charge, whose name escapes me, went on a giant rant for a long time, certain to pull out all stops the next time he could encounter the girl.
The girl remained in her home, unaware, or partly aware of the spiritual battle swirling around her. Knowing she needed to remain whole, she began to pray deep in her heart, wanting to remain always loyal to Him, deciding from then on to listen closely only to His voice.
Are you loyal to Him? What might the dark side say to you when visiting your thoughts? Will you choose to believe God’s truth today and always?
I’ve always loved planting flowers, but I’m talking food.
Growing your own food. Like actually growing literal food.
We grew some tomatoes and jalapeño peppers last year.
While that was fun, this year’s garden is even funner. 😉
We have acorn squash trying to spread their vines over everything else.
Carrot seeds looking lovely, their soft green tops reaching high above the soil.
Watermelon, pumpkins, cucumbers, herbs, and a whole box of flower seeds!
Tomato plants sprouting up from throwing old tomatoes into the garden soil last fall.
We won’t discuss our sad strawberry plants, yielding a total of 3 strawberries so far.
You get the point. We have 96 square feet of growing goodness. I can’t wait.
How’s your garden? Need to yank some weeds? Redirect your plans back to God?
We all have seeds cast our direction, that with the right ingredients, can take root.
Believing a lie, confirming it with situations, watering it with self-pity. That root would be hard to yank.
Yet, immediately refusing a lie planted in your head, would remove it instantly.
Fertilizing your garden with God’s truth and wisdom would then create a garden where sin’s seeds fail to take root. Or would at least take more effort.
Is your garden full of God’s truth? Are you able to yank these weeds easily?
Gardens like that regularly see fruit. Sometimes there’s a drought, but it’s not because the soil is ugly.
Or is your garden soil so full of weeds, truth can hardly begin to grow?
Squash and cucumber vines love to grasp anything they can, clinging to the next plant in their path.
We must be diligent to shape the vines, freeing the plants they wish to cling.
Like those vines, we must be careful to keep our garden free from not only weeds, but things in our life that want to choke out everything else. Even the good things.
Time to put on your gardening gloves, tie that sun hat around your neck, and dig into the dirt.
Gardens only flourish with purpose. And your garden, hidden within your heart, will only flourish with God.
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. Psalm 25:12
Christianity is really very simple.
We are nothing without God.
Less than nothing.
Sinful, destined to live forever apart from God.
God created us. Loving us so much, He threw us a lifeline.
Jesus died in our place.
When we believe in this free gift of salvation, God is forevermore with us.
Abiding literally in us.
That’s the simple part.
When we choose God, He resides within our heart.
With God in us, why do we ever allow worry to peek out?
God will take care of it.
With God in us, why do we nurse our fears?
God is bigger than any fear and He is taking care of everything.
If we really trust that God is dwelling within us, His power is a billion trillion quadrillion times more than any stupid fear, doubt, or worry.
Remind yourself God is here.
God is here and He is bigger than anything you face.
With Him by your side, you can be filled with His perfect peace as you face whatever comes your way.
How dare we become so wrapped up with ourselves, we forget Him?
Repent and move forward with your complete trust in Almighty God.
Become so dependent on Him your mind is trained to immediately squelch fear with faith.
Going forward, replace fear with trust.
Replace unnecessary stress with peace.
Psalm 25 reminds us God will instruct us when we fear Him.
Will you fear Him, trusting His plan for your life?
Thank you, God, for saving us not only for eternity, but saving us from ourselves. We are nothing without you. Continue to remind us of your awesome presence constantly residing within us. With You continually on our mind, we can remain within your perfect peace as you instruct us in the way You choose for us. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)
Do you find yourself surprised when our faith seems to be tested?
Really, are you ever surprised?
I am and I’m guessing you are, too.
But stop and think about something: Jesus allows trials to refine us.
To make us stronger. Finer. More solid.
Doesn’t that sound like a positive outcome?
Let’s flip it to the other side. The dark side.
Does the devil want to cancel you?
100%. If he can cancel you, you’re done. Finished. Don’t matter no more.
If the devil can succeed at tempting you to give up, he wins.
If you pass the test of faith from God, you win. And so does God.
Either way, it really doesn’t matter why you are entering a trial of whatever it is.
Matters how you come out on the other side.
Take God’s wisdom, love, grace, and mercy with you on the way.
Your maturing will enable you to face the next test with some of the answers.
After all, you’ll have one more detail of your life under your belt. A detail God orchestrated in your life.
Expect trials and tests. You’ve got the answers, so sit down and pass. With God’s help you will faithfully pass each time.
Moms are the most underpaid, under acknowledged, under revered bunch.
Not only do we grow humans from within our bodies, we grow them in our hearts.
Children, whether natural or adopted, are extensions of ourselves.
We ache when they cry. We rejoice when they laugh. We cry when they fail.
I can remember my eldest. I had pre-eclampsia, so my feet were puff balls.
Literally swollen and blue if I stood too long, which means like a few seconds.
He was 2 weeks late and I labored all day and night for him.
Having no drugs, I can remember referencing Eve’s sin while in the throes of labor pains.
But when he was born, it was literally all worth it. The pain evaporated.
Motherhood is like that. Sacrifice. Emptying of ourselves for another.
There is no relationship like it.
When these humans become adults, we let them go. Off into the world, exploring for themselves under the protection of their childhood.
It’s no easier, folks. My eldest recently married the love of his life. Wasn’t there as they privately wed before a judge.
I love them so much, but it hurt not attending their wedding.
But it’s their choice. Sigh.
As mothers, we must do our very best. We continually sacrifice for them, whether it’s when they are small or grown.
Mothers are always there for their children. Not letting attitudes pass, but we are their constant.
Yes, we face multiple disappointments. But we are still there. A constant in their life like God is for us.
What an honor. Thank you God, for allowing us to be your hands and feet to others.
Help us to navigate the waters of motherhood as you would want us to act.
Fill in our cuts and bruises, which seem to reopen with a child’s actions.
Only with Your constant presence may we even begin to excel at this, the toughest job in the world.
For Mother’s Day, we mothers choose to honor God, our loving, constant help.
God, who gives us His strength, when ours is never enough.
God, who gives us His love, when ours is all used up.
God, who gives us His peace, when ours last nerve has been clearly trampled.
God, who hears our every complaint and joy, yet never chooses to leave our side.
God is our constant. Our everything. He will always be your faithful companion as you navigate the calm or troubled waters of motherhood. Give Him your family again today. He will make you a happier mother today.
But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise. Mark 15:5
When Jesus was before Pilate, He answered some questions, but He did not give a speech, defending himself.
He didn’t dive into a tirade, justifying His actions.
Jesus knew what He needed to do, and said only what was necessary.
Do you talk too much? Often defend your honorable intentions?
Sometimes we do. Talk too much.
For example with children, we explain ourselves WAY too often. Yes, offer an appropriate explanation, but you never need to defend yourself as a parent.
Why? Because you are the parent. And your child is not. They are the child.
Glad we are on the same page now.
Children enjoy trapping adults into arguments. Children are pros at arguing and whining.
Some regularly win when they keep going, grating on parent’s nerves.
You know you can stop that, right?
Tell the child no. Your only words offered for their benefit will be “because I said so”.
Repeat yourself when they keep asking why.
Then put a stop to their tantrums. Walk away.
While interacting with children is only one example, we sometimes talk too much in other areas.
Work, phone calls, emails, social media, the list goes on and on.
Sometimes saying less is more. Better. In fact, superior.
Let’s practice quiet authority. Not saying every thought that pops into our brain.
Think things through before uttering a word, asking God to help you speak His words of life.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 ESV
Has God directed you a certain way, but you’re not sure why?
Has God asked you to go a certain way, but you’re not sure where?
Trusting God while walking in darkness takes guts. We’re talking seriously strong guts.
Trusting someone we cannot see for a direction we are not sure where?
Are you crazy? Yep. You?
I wouldn’t call it crazy. I would call it trust. Wild trust. But trust with a secure foundation.
Abraham had layers of trust with God, knowing he could rely on God’s faithfulness.
While he did not know where he was going, he knew God was with him.
That God had ordained his steps. That was enough for him.
Is that enough for you? We have layers of trust with God, too.
Faithfulness found in the details of our lives when we care to look back. To remember.
God has always been there for you. He continues to be and will continue to be.
His faithfulness to you stretches over all of your days.
With God, there is nothing to fear, because you can look back at His personal faithfulness to you.
When He asks you to go somewhere, you can go.
When He asks you to do something, you can.
Even if you don’t know all the why’s, what if’s, or where’s, you can start on the journey.
Count yourself blessed. Just like Abraham, your faith in God will enable you to follow God all the days of your life.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way; though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3
This Psalm depicts absolute dire circumstances.
The earth gives way.
The earth literally moves away.
The mountains are moved into the sea.
Tall giant mountains are now in the water.
The water surrounds, causing the mountain to tremble.
Real calamity.
But yet, the psalm starts with God.
God is a present help in the midst of earth shattering consequences.
He is above the fray.
Has your life given way?
Do you have important people or situations impossibly thrown into the sea of chaos?
God promises to be your strength in the midst.
In the midst of the swirling waters, which make no sense, God is there.
He is present even in the midst.
Even in the unanswered prayers.
Even in the misunderstood situations.
Your life can become like nothing you recognize, but you can still rely in God.
He has, is, and always will be with you.
But it is your choice.
God cannot remain your ever present help if you choose to focus on the storm.
On your mountain which has been thrown unexpectedly into the sea.
When the safety of the ground beneath gives way, what is your response?
Trusting God, who promises to be your refuge in the midst?
God is our present, real, never leaving help in trouble.
Because of this, we will not fear when life throws up around us.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
When God goes before us, He knows before we do.
He sees things before we do.
He feels things before we do.
He literally clears the path before us.
Picture a shepherd or a warrior.
Taking their weapon, they sweep the weeds, creating a path for you.
Scouting their eyes, they notice dangers.
They note possible wild animals.
Depressions in the earth.
Approaching weather.
Even good things, they notice.
Then He runs back to you, walking by your side.
He’s your protector.
Your shield.
He’s your dad.
Never leaving.
Always available.
For your safety and wellbeing.
How can I ever be afraid or discouraged with God going before me?
Facing an uncomfortable situation?
Picture God already going before you, literally clearing your path.
Picture Him running back to walk with you every step of the way.
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Is it?
Is your life wonderful?
George Bailey’s life was.
But He didn’t see it.
All he saw was what he didn’t have.
He chose to view life through that lens.
The lens of what he didn’t have instead of what he possessed.
He had little material wealth.
His job was stressful as a loan officer in a small town, riding through the depression and WWII.
Yet through his control and influence, he seemed to hold things together.
Until his Uncle Billy, who lost the $8,000 on Christmas Eve, sent George over the edge.
Because he viewed his life considering his many problems, he was filled with despair when control slipped through his fingers.
God proceeded to teach him a lesson by way of his guardian angel Clarance.
George began walking through his town as if he had never been born.
That messed with him as he no longer saw love by giving or receiving it.
No wife, children, job, or legacy.
Even his friends no longer knew him.
When George saw all of this, he realized what was truly important, beyond the money crisis gripping his soul.
He had a precious family who loved him.
He had multiple friends.
He lived in a wonderful town.
And he mattered.
What lens do you look through to see your life?
Do you look past your blessings, gazing only upon your problems?
Or do you look past your problems, focusing instead on your blessings?
Guessing we won’t wake up tomorrow, looking at our life as if we never were.
Also guessing we won’t have a dream tonight that, like Scrooge, takes us into our past, present, and future dependent upon our present choices.
But we can decide to repurpose our new year, looking to God for our strength, wisdom, and peace.
We can walk in George’s shoes, realizing how material possessions simply do not matter when love is absent.
We can remind ourselves how every moment in our lives is placed by God.
And that we matter to not only God, but dozens, if not hundreds of other people.
This new year, walk with your head held high.
Connect with others and in the process, you’ll connect others to Him.
I can remember one year, when my children were little, they memorized Luke 2, King James Version of course, because the language just seems fitting with the season.
They recited it before we opened presents.
Such a powerful story we seem to think little about as it is so familiar.
In honor of our Savior’s birth, I assembled some previously written devotions especially for this precious season.
Feel free to read them all in one sitting or spread them out until Christmas Day.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
Jesus knows.
Jesus, who is God, the Creator of ALL things, understands.
Your weakness has sympathy with God.
Instead of shaming us, He understands.
He understands because He was human, walking our world, tempted with this and that.
Yet He did not sin.
Ever.
Having God literally sympathize with us for our weaknesses, is incredible.
Unique.
Precious.
But there’s more.
His understanding comes with a bonus, His strength.
When we are weak, God wants us to ask Him for help, because He actually will.
Do we deserve it?
Nope.
But Hebrews reminds us we must approach the undeserved throne of grace with confidence.
Instead of pointing His finger, condemning us while we are down, He opens His grace filled arms, waiting with armfuls of mercy.
Recognize your need for Him.
Repent for trying life within yourself alone.
Ask Him to fill you instead with Himself – His mercy and grace.
And purpose to try again, choosing to act within His strength alone, absent of yourself.
Yes, we will continue messing up, because we are sinful.
But we have God, who really knows how we feel, always sitting there, right by our side.
He’ll scoop out our crud, replacing it with His perfect self.
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to Himself. 2 Corinthians 4:13-14
It’s impossible.
But God.
Utterly unattainable.
But God.
Completely devastating.
But God.
Simply too much.
But God.
It’s like you’ve forgotten all about Him.
His power.
But God.
Two words with big meaning.
Heard this phrase years ago, don’t remember where.
Today, those words plopped back into my brain.
But God.
The first word is a conjunction – a coordinating conjunction if you care to know the type.
Connects words and phrases together.
One could use the conjunction and instead.
And God.
That works as we include God.
Not as powerful in my humble opinion.
But God shows me everything stops because God enters.
It’s all impossible, except for one variable: God.
Almost like you’ve forgotten the climax to the movie, or the surprised twist at the end.
By placing the phrase But God at the end of your story, there’s hope.
A future.
More to come.
And that future has the all powerful, all knowing Lord writing the end of your story.
Each situation, big or small, can include God.
But it’s up to you.
What words will you utter when faced with difficulties?
Why me?
Or –
But God.
Go ahead and ask God why He’s given you this trial.
But end your whispers with But God.
Ask Him to finish your story.
He has a beautiful ending, if you’ll only let Him enter in, bringing Himself in all His glory.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11
Thanksgiving, a time to be thankful.
We have SO much to be thankful to God for.
Life, our very breath breathed from God Himself.
Family, those to whom we would do anything to help.
Another day, pregnant with possibilities.
God, the creator of ALL things, who whispers His love to us every day.
Worship music, which allows us a tiny glimpse of worshipping God in heaven.
Nourishment for our mortal bodies as we keep walking on this earth.
Pure water, filling our teeny cells with life.
The Bible, which, when opened, allows us to see the very heart of God.
Shelter from the storms of life, whether a home, room, or cozy dorm.
Paychecks from our jobs, which allow the bills to be paid on time.
Blessings, which look different for us all, but every single one is precious, nonetheless.
Coffee, the drink from God, which allows us to do all He asks of us.
Kidding, kind’ve.
Wisdom from on High, which helps us choose just what He wants us to do.
Peace from God, which passes ALL understanding when considering what path we sometimes walk.
Pure joy, the fruit of the Spirit most unexplainable.
When we have joy in the midst of life’s sufferings, the world notices.
Joy in the storm proves God is above it all.
And He is.
Above it all.
God is above our wants and desires.
He is above our family.
God is above our past, present, and future.
God is our ultimate thanksgiving prayer.
God, who created ALL things, wants me.
He wants all of us to be His.
Surrender afresh again to Him alone.
And with thanksgiving, give Him your very self.
He will faithfully fill you with enough to not only survive, but thrive.
And thank Him for the hurt.
For the ugly.
For when we are in the midst of the fire, we see You more clearly.
We see Your suffering for us on the cross.
We see our human need for You.
We are humbled once again as we seek Your face.
So, yes, we are thankful, very thankful for the churning seas of life.
Thank you, God, for all You do for us, the good and the ugly.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1
There is absolutely zero condemnation when you are His.
God’s.
When you have given your life to God, the world’s condemnation no longer sticks.
It’s no longer your identity.
You are covered, instead, by God Himself.
Chosen.
Loved.
Valuable.
Are you still living under your old identity?
Your old condemned self?
Why?
Whatever for?
Because it’s what you know.
Your old ways are safe.
Known.
When you face trials, you revert to old labels.
Because they are like old familiar blankets.
Wrapping up in self-pity feels normal.
Clothing yourself in anger feels justified.
When you choose to become God’s, you are changed.
Your identity becomes new.
Condemnation falls away.
Fear goes.
Anxiety flees.
But only if you choose to stay under the new identity from God.
The choice is yours.
Romans 8 reminds us God declares we have no condemnation when we are His.
But He gives us free will.
You can choose at anytime, to walk from under His wings.
Out from His identity for you.
Your old identity is out there.
Easily attainable and readily available.
But with it comes the usual fear, anxiety, and angst.
Because it also includes the absence of God’s peace.
Reaching for your old identity results from walking in the flesh.
In your own sinful self.
Romans 8 urges us to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh.
Because when we walk with God according to His will, we are within His peace.
Not condemned.
Choose every day to walk with God.
Choose every day to refuse the pull of the flesh.
When you do, condemnation will fall away as God Himself remains.
Amy Linnea 
You must be logged in to post a comment.