Out loud with words or crying out within your soul?
David, the man after God’s own heart, did many times.
This Psalm is one example.
He starts by royally complaining.
From the depths of his soul he wonders how long God will forget him.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (verse 1)
He then tries to console himself.
We all do, when we fail to hear from God.
Or we think we don’t.
He forgets he can choose to praise God instead.
He focuses, instead, on his sorrow.
Again, like we all do.
David goes on: How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (verse 2).
David again pleads, sharing with God he will die if his sorrow remains apart from God’s peace.
He desperately wants God to intervene so his enemies don’t take pleasure in David’s weakness.
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. (verse 3 & 4).
David ends the psalm by choosing to praise God.
He remembers how faithful God has been to him.
That, in turn, helps David realize God will again bring him out of the depths.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. (verse 5 & 6).
Maybe David has found the key.
The key to reconnecting our mind, soul, and body to the One who created us.
Praise.
Choosing to praise even in the midst.
Even when every fiber of our being wants to remain wallowing in the pit of self pity.
Praise the Lord even if.
Praise the Lord even if you don’t feel like it.
You will remember how faithful He has always been in every circumstance.
And you will suddenly lift your eyes, knowing He will once again show Himself.
Like the prodigal son’s father watched every day for the return of his wayward son, God watches for your arrival.
For your restoration.
If you are completely lost, when you decide to return to God, He’ll scoop you up the second He sees you, forgiving you completely.
If you are wandering away, stepping off into self-focus, not relying on Him, the moment you decide to return life’s burdens to Him, He’ll take them back in an instant.
Because He’s always watching for you.
Watching out for you as you walk with Him, guiding you around the rocks so you don’t stub your toe.
Showing you which path to take, when the path splits in two.
And protecting you with His umbrella when the dark storms arrive.
He’s also watching for you when your choices take you apart from Him.
When you’re determined to make it all on your own.
When you selfishly trudge on alone, thinking the entire world is against you.
It’s not, and God’s available to give you His peace.
He longs to have a relationship with you.
What are you waiting for?
God, who created you and all things, craves a relationship with you.
He can make all things new.
He can cross your every t and dot your every i.
Effortlessly.
Why wait?
Whenever you are ready, God will be there.
Always.
Because He is forever watching for you, His precious child, to return completely unto Him.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
God made us human.
Flesh.
And when we have not recognized the need for our Savior, we live according to the flesh.
Ourselves.
Satisfying our every “need”.
Romans says when we set our mind on ourselves, it leads to death.
Death.
Literally the opposite of life.
But when we have recognized our desperate need for God, giving ourselves over to Him, we begin to live according to the Spirit.
That means life.
As Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, helping us to live according to God’s will and plans.
We set our minds on the things of the Spirit.
And that, my friends, brings life and peace. Ahhhh.
But is it possible to choose death instead while living within the Spirit?
Yes, because we are human.
God allows us to make our own choices, choosing between living in the flesh or the Spirit.
It’s easy to tell if you are choosing to live within the Spirit.
Are your words producing life and peace or death?
Are your actions reflecting life or death?
Do your decisions cause others to recoil in death or thrive within life?
Setting one’s mind is critical, God says so.
Means you purposely align yourself to God’s ways through His Holy Spirit.
It’s a choice.
And then it’s a choice to stay fixed on God.
Choose to set your mind on God.
Ask Him to help you and His faithfulness will continually point you to life.
My Jewish faith has always been central in my family.
I keep the laws, heading to the tabernacle when my sacrifice is due.
We’ve waited for the Messiah my whole life.
Actually for generations now.
Sometimes my condition takes over and I can think of nothing else.
Honestly, I feel so useless.
Always feeling tired, needing to run to the toilet.
My condition also makes me unclean.
So I feel ashamed. Constantly.
I know God can heal me. He just hasn’t yet.
Maybe He won’t. Maybe this will be the way I always live.
I need to accept that if indeed my life will remain the same.
God can still use me.
But I’m so tired. Tend to feel sorry for myself if I’m completely honest.
Where am I standing? I’m in the city streets.
Today is going to be different.
I’ve heard Jesus will be walking through town today.
Heard simply amazing things about Him.
Miracles. Healing. Acceptance.
I need to see Him. He can help me if I can get near enough to Him.
I can feel it in my heart.
I’ve been waiting in this heat for awhile now. I’m so tired.
But I must remain standing. For Him.
Oh, I see a large crowd coming. They are so joyful and loud!
I see Him. Jesus is here! I can recognize Him from His eyes.
He is looking so loving at all of us, the crowd pressing against Him.
Ok, here’s my chance. I’m going to reach out and touch just the edge of His garment. That’s all I need to do.
Wow. I did it! Thank you, God!
Do I feel any different? Possibly? Could it be?
Wait. Jesus has stopped walking.
He has turned around, eyes searching the crowd.
Now He’s speaking, wondering who touched Him.
His disciples are confused as there are many surrounding Him.
But Jesus keeps looking for me. I just know it.
His eyes find me and I step forward trembling. I confess what I did, falling at His feet.
Jesus reaches down and helps me to my feet.
He called me Daughter! And said my faith had made me whole!
My suffering is now finished and I am to go forth in peace.
My body instantly feels completely different. I really am whole!
I am crying like a baby. I am full of overflowing joy and love from this man who noticed me.
This famous man, Jesus, sought me out and noticed me.
Yes, my body is healed, but He also healed my heart.
My identity has changed from unclean to daughter of the Messiah.
I must tell everyone He has come! Our wait is over! Hallelujah!
What do you need from God today?
Do you have faith He will help you, too?
As a Christian, our identity is fixed into God’s family as daughters and sons of the Most High.
Your Father in heaven will fill you with love and peace to overflowing each and every day.
Go to Him like this woman, believing He will help you.
And He will.
Because He loves and notices you.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:20-22
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.
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.
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.
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.
He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4
Adonai El Roi is the Hebrew term for “The God who sees me”.
Meaning this: God sees you.
God, who created all things, sees you.
You.
Little ole’ you.
Ever feel invisible?
I know you aren’t, but you might feel unseen.
Not cared for.
Unvalued.
Invisible.
You might be among the living, but feel dead inside.
When we do not feel valued, we feel dead.
Invisible.
But God sees you.
He sees all of you, the good, bad, and the ugly.
He sees your heart.
He sees your dreams.
He sees your ever hopeful anticipation and your extreme disappointments.
Is that enough?
Only if you allow Him to cover you.
Because He sees you.
Psalm 91:4 reminds us that “He will cover us with His feather and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
He covers you because He sees you and He cares to be your comfort.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
Are you living in the authority of one whom God has saved?
Are you remembering God’s promises, pointing your very existence to Him?
Are you seeking God’s face for the souls of your family?
Are you asking God to show you how you should serve Him today?
Our eternal salvation is for later.
When we’re standing at the judgement seat of God.
But Jesus saved us for today.
He saved us to be His witness.
He chose us to spread His good news.
He uses us to be His hands and feet to those we meet.
Yes, God died to save us from our sins.
For eternal life praising His name.
But He also saved us from ourselves for today.
Today and tomorrow.
For the world.
The world needs to see your salvation and what that looks like.
He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 2 Samuel 22:17-18
Insults, heard or implied.
Words that bring death.
When sitting near these toxic fumes, there’s not much we can do.
Especially when directed towards us.
They can explode out of nowhere.
Suddenly covering you with filth.
Covering you with filth you believe.
Covering you with lies you begin to agree with.
All from insults hurled towards you.
Like an arrow piercing your soul, words can carry death.
While they can carry death, the arrows don’t have to deliver death to you.
It’s your choice to accept the lies or not.
Your choice to keep the painful arrow stuck where it hit.
What is your other choice?
To yank it out, immediately forgiving the sender.
Impossible in your own strength.
Literally.
But that’s where God comes in for you.
When you ask God to cover you with His feathers, He will protect you.
Literally, He will.
Emotionally, and spiritually, He will cover you.
Protected by God, arrows will still come.
They will be hurled at you with frightening speed.
But – by choosing to ask God to keep you whole, you won’t absorb the arrow’s poison.
Sure, it will try to pierce your soul, spreading it’s toxic substance.
And until you are trained to immediately refuse with God’s help, it could hurt.
Even for awhile.
But every time you yank out the arrow, God’s peace will dispel the poison.
Even heal your wound.
But you must ask Him every single time.
And as you retrain your reactions to insults, God’s feathers will become stronger.
So strong, the arrows will fall away as they bump you.
Who are you going to believe?
An insulting arrow filled with someone’s jealousy, selfishness, or evil intention all filled with lies?
Or who God says that you are to Him?
Choose to remember Whose you are.
Choose to remember Who your Father is.
The One who desires to protect you from everything evil.
Humble yourself, and ask Him to protect you.
Protect your mind, body, soul, and spirit from anything not from Him.
Apart from God, we can do nothing, especially avoiding arrows filled with poison.
Psalm 121:7-8 reminds us that God will keep us from all evil.
He will even keep our lives.
Safe.
Secure.
Even more – He will keep our going out AND our coming back now and forever.
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. John 11:33
Jesus was fully human and knew sorrow.
He wept with us.
He was filled with compassion.
Sorrow moved Him deeply.
Just like you and me.
Our weeping friends or loved ones move us deeply.
Sometimes we are the ones weeping and others are moved to compassion for us.
Weeping signals sorrow.
That something is deeply broken.
Wrong.
Needs to be fixed.
That’s when God moves in, if you’ll let Him.
Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“
Weeping can bring fear, as one usually cries when feeling alone.
Suddenly by themselves.
But God reminds us that He is with us.
We are NOT to be dismayed, because God is our God.
He promises not only to be with us, but to strengthen us.
He wants to help us, holding us up with His righteous right hand.
Weep.
But bring it to the feet of God.
Tell Him all of your sorrows.
He will listen, as a compassionate faithful friend.
And then He will take your sorrow, turning it into His peace.
Sometimes it takes time, especially if the wound is fresh.
But if you faithfully keep giving all of it to God, He will continually strengthen you, holding you upright with His righteous right hand.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments. Psalm 103:17-18
Keep trusting.
Keep believing.
God has a plan and it is our only job to keep going, trusting and believing He will do what He has promised He will do.
You must remember how faithful God is to us, His beloved.
If you have forgotten, look through the Bible.
Look back into your life.
Notice again those moments He was faithful to you.
Inspect the lives of others and notice how very faithful God always is, even when you think He’s not.
When we have doubt, it’s because we don’t see God moving fast enough for us.
We don’t see evidence of our prayers immediate fruitfulness.
We don’t see the movement of God with our loved ones.
Those reactions are rooted in our flesh and not in the space of God.
God always hears your prayers.
And yes, they work, meaning He always hears them.
Your prayers matter.
You might not see the fruitfulness for years, but they still matter.
I understand wanting to see a sign from God, confirming the assignment of our prayers.
I’ll share mine.
I’ve been praying for the souls of my children.
While I know all 5 of them have faith deep down from their itty bitty childhood selves, their adolescent and young adult selves have not exhibited the faith they once had.
I’ve been asking God to surround them with godly friends.
To cover them with His peace, freedom, and the knowledge of His truth.
My youngest son’s life was recently spared from death.
His car was totaled on the interstate during an icy spell.
He came within inches of death and he knows it.
Thank you, Jesus, for your evidence of faithfulness.
He’s been reminded how precious life is.
His heart has been opened to God.
Both he and my eldest son have recently realized what a treasure our family is to them.
My oldest two daughters have shown care for others beyond themselves.
Restoration has happened on many levels within our family from the brokenness and ugliness of the world.
All of this possible only from the faithfulness of God.
Every morning, after inhaling my devotions, I seek the Lord for my family.
Today, God showed me He is working, even when I don’t see it.
That’s what faithfulness is – keeping the prayers flowing even when I don’t see it.
Even when you don’t see it.
Thank you, God, for allowing me to see a glimpse of what You are doing, how You are working.
May we all see evidence of Your faithfulness as we lift our families before Your throne.
And may You continue to run after our family with reckless abandon, bringing them into Your arms once again.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
The angel Gabriel had just disappeared, leaving her with God’s request.
Mary was left standing in the middle of the room, trembling after her encounter with God’s holy angel.
Steadying herself by grabbing a chair, she collapsed into it, wondering if she had imagined it all.
Gabriel had appeared to her, proclaiming God’s need for her to be the Lord’s earthly mother.
“How could I say no?” Mary thought. “I want to do whatever God wants me to do, but I’m scared. Really terrified, actually. What will people say? Will they believe me?”
Mary said yes to God.
She had no idea the ramifications of her acceptance into God’s will.
Her life was over as she knew it, but obeying God was more important to her than anything else.
Did she have periods of doubt?
Of course.
Did she have moments or even days of regret?
Probably.
She’s human.
Imagine yourself.
Imagine the whispers of your friends, the people you’ve grown up with your whole life.
“Did you know Mary’s pregnant? She’s not even married!”
Overhearing these comments would not sit well in her heart.
She probably cried as those pregnancy hormones raged.
And it probably never stopped.
The whispers.
The comments.
She was permanently labeled.
And not in a good way.
Mary could have listened to those lies, allowing them to define her.
But she knew they weren’t true.
All she had to do was look upon the face of God’s son Jesus, the sweet boy running around her house.
All she had to do was ask God to remind her of His purposes for her.
All she had to do was choose to believe God’s identity for her instead of the world’s.
How about you?
What identity do you embrace that is not from our loving God?
What whispered lies or comments do you bring into your heart, believing them instead of God’s truth?
Amy Linnea 
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