For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
How often do you read the Bible?
Do you open His Word every day or only when you happen to have the time?
Have you made devotions a daily habit?
Morning, noon, or evening – whenever you have carved the time each day?
I can remember wishing I wanted to have devotions. This was years and years ago. When the children were small.
I consciously wanted to dive into the Bible, but that desire never materialized as I always pushed it off for later.
About five years before my family fell apart, God mercifully dropped into my head, creating a desperate need to know Him more.
I craved His wisdom. His mercy. His strength.
I began to get up earlier than the others, sitting with God and His word.
Reading through the Bible, I became familiar again with God’s heart and His faithfulness over the ages.
Looking back now almost 16 years later, my time with God has been an anchor during the aching years of my life.
Where would I be without God? Certainly not sitting upright, wearing my crown as God’s daughter.
Come with me this year and read through the Bible.
Journey with me as we navigate His word.
Me, I’m reading straight through. Genesis through Revelation.
Last year I read through choosing some from the Old Testament, a Psalm or Proverb, and a New Testament portion each day.
Other times I’ve read the Bible chronologically.
And another year it was the New Testament only with Psalms and Proverbs.
What’s your decision? Pray about it then jump right in when you know which plan to choose. The year’s still young, so you can easily catch up.
I have many listed on my Media page (link below), but there are hundreds of choices other places. There are even audio versions from the YouVersion Bible app.
The precious Bible is easier than ever to access – you just have to choose to do it. So let’s go!
You won’t regret it. 🙂
Amy’s Bible plans: Click on Media, scrolling down to Bible Plans. Choose from Psalms/Proverbs/NT; Chronological; Genesis through Revelation (Bible straight through); 365 Bible ( OT, Psalm/Proverb, NT).
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you. Ezekiel 36:26-27
A Christmas Carol is a popular Christmas classic penned by Charles Dickens well over a hundred years ago.
One cannot comprehend the panic Scrooge felt as he walked with the Ghost of Christmas Future, unless one has made sinful choices such as Scrooge.
Because Scrooge was so selfish, he was blind to anything but himself.
Increasingly becoming aware of his sin only that night.
The consequences of his actions finally spoke louder to Scrooge than his fleshly habits.
Finding him in the graveyard, he sees the man’s name so ridiculed in death pages before: his own.
Falling on his face, he begs the Ghost of Christmas Future for a second chance.
Scrooge is agonized beyond anything he’s felt before.
He recognizes he is literally doomed.
Doomed forever and ever unless given a second chance.
A second chance as a changed man.
Begging the Ghost, he claims to have changed.
Begs and pleads with all his might.
He finally understands his truly bleak future written by his choices lived his entire adult life.
Stop and imagine yourself. What if that was you?
Do you have sections of your life ugly to God?
So ugly you deserve eternal damnation, too?
We all do. All of us deserve death.
But Jesus. His birth, death, and resurrection bring us hope as we place our trust in Him.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Let’s return to the question at hand: what ugly parts of your life do you still need to give to God?
Why haven’t you? What’s stopping you? Are you even bothered by them?
Scrooge wasn’t for most of his life. But when his eyes were opened, he was horrified.
Release your fleshly desires to God. Release your sinful ways, hurtful to so many.
Scrooge never cared about hurting others, but he did when he finally got it.
We don’t have the luxury of seeing future consequences of our sin.
But we do have the gift of God’s redemption. And second chances.
When Scrooge finally pried open his hands, he released his bitterness. His anger. His selfishness.
And in return he was given new eyes. And boy was he happy!
Releasing those burdens caused Scrooge to well up with joy unlike anything he had ever felt before.
Just like us, when we are forgiven by God.
Covered by Jesus, we are made new. Forgiven. Hopeful. Loved.
Bring your whole self to Jesus, this Christmas. Ask Him to show you any part you’ve neglected to give to Him.
Gather up your courage, give Him that ugly part, too, and welcome the healing He promises to bring.
Like Scrooge, you’ll be grateful all the way down to your toes.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Do you find it odd our entire world celebrates Jesus’ birth?
Our secular world who seeks to elevate themselves more often than not?
Sure, you could argue Jesus’ birth has morphed into Santa, presents, and reindeer.
But even Santa is based on Nicholas of Myra, a fourth century bishop who left gifts for poor children.
Maybe the world isn’t totally lost. Yet.
How can you help your friends and family see the baby Jesus instead this Christmas?
Through you. Your witness. Your focus.
Jesus is the reason for the season. Overused phrase, yes, but it’s so true.
When you think for just a moment how deeply God loves you…..
When you ponder why God sent Jesus to earth…..
When you stop and realize how desperately you need our Savior…
You’ll discover the true meaning of Christmas.
Jesus came to earth just for you.
God missed His relationship with you that much.
He missed you and desperately wants that relationship back.
He wants you to trust Him. To love Him. To realize how much you need Him.
Because His plans for you are so good. The very best.
And to communicate that love, God set Jesus’ birth in motion.
That’s how much He loves you. All of you.
Begin to replace the commercialism of Christmas with the celebration of Jesus.
God’s peace on earth will come to your corner.
Your “why” you celebrate will alter everything. Real peace and real joy for once.
Let’s replace all the trinkets nobody needs. The gifts people return. Events we feel compelled to attend.
Replace it all with an increased devotion to Jesus, thanking Him for His gift. Himself.
Rely on Him for your peace as you dwell on the love He has just for you.
Let your celebrations stem from this and all of the gifts, events, and chaos will become worship to God.
While the world has lost the focus of Christmas, let’s keep ours, shifting back our focus to God and His precious gift of Jesus for you and for me.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
There once was a miserable lady, who lived in a cottage near the edge of the forest.
She lived by herself and had grown to an old age.
Her many belongings gave her comfort since her relationships were complicated.
Her loneliness was compounded by her attitude as she continued to blame everyone and everything for her misery.
Everyone except herself.
Looking back, she had lived a good life.
She was accomplished, pretty, and comfortable.
On the outside she was the picture of health.
But she was deathly afraid.
Afraid of what, you may ask?
Letting go. Forgiveness. Not being in control.
Surrendering and accepting life.
And change.
To protect herself, she lashed out and declared herself “Mrs. Always Right.”
Her loved ones and friends never spent much time with her, because her bitterness was easily spread.
Her cottage was nestled on the edge of the great forest.
It was so beautiful – once.
Her memory smiled as she recalled all the beautiful years spent in the forest.
Simply lovely.
But her frown would always return and stay firmly planted on her face when she recalled the devastating fire that had swept through her precious forest.
Everything had burned down.
All the trees, flowers, and life.
The forest was like that for years.
Too long, actually.
And when things look bad for years, it’s easy to forget the beauty.
One day, the forest began to regrow.
New life had sprung all over the place.
Months went by and suddenly the forest was beautiful again.
Stunning, actually.
Radiant.
But she could not see it.
When the lady looked at her beloved forest, all she could see was destruction.
She could not see all the beauty.
Her bitterness had changed her forever.
Her eyesight would not allow her to see the goodness.
She refused to acknowledge her new beautiful surroundings, choosing instead to remember the fire and how her forest once had been.
Are you blind, too? Miserable by choice?
Do you only see what once was, refusing to recognize God’s new blessings in your life?
Allow God to enter, letting His new blessings flood your heart with promise and thankfulness.
There is no need to be miserable by choice.
Choose instead to be thankful as God will never leave your side.
For in Him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28
Where are you gathering your identity?
Are you shopping at Walmart when you should be selecting items at the most expensive store?
You might reply you cannot possibly afford the most expensive store.
Remember, I’m not talking about material goods.
I’m talking about your worth. Your identity. Your very core.
When you surrender your life to God, He steps in, scooping out the ugly, replacing it with beauty.
Jesus’ death on the cross provides the transaction removing sin. The sin we were born with. The sin we chose. Our heredity. God’s power removes all of it, replacing it with redemption.
When redeemed, we have God’s power. His life. His disposition.
Acts reminds us we live and move and literally are within God.
Your identity is God’s.
Your worth is God’s.
When we live from within God’s power, we have everything.
When our being is literally from God, our worth is immeasurable.
It’s time to stop shopping for your worth at the thrift store.
Time to stop settling for your used former self.
Instead, select God’s exquisite self. His perfection wanting to shine through you.
Start living as if God is speaking through you.
Start living as if God is working through you.
Start living as if God is moving through you.
Because when you live and move and have your being in God, He’s already here.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:14-15
What are God’s purposes for you on this earth? To glorify Him, and you cannot do that while complaining.
You’ll also live caught in the web of self-condemnation, probably in a bad mood most of the time when your speech is perverse.
Subsequently, your witness for God is tarnished.
Sends others off screaming in the other direction.
So how do we glorify God when we feel like complaining?
We praise him anyway.
We choose to push aside the complaining thoughts, praising God instead. Even if.
When we choose to continue trusting God as life tempts us to sour – that’s when our witness shines. That’s when God’s transformation of our very selves shines brighter.
It’s how the world sees the difference God makes in our lives.
So if we choose to complain every time things go south, we’re absolutely no different from the world.
They complain, too.
But if instead you choose praising God in the midst, choosing to trust him instead of your circumstances, you’ll show the world how good God is.
How trustworthy He remains. How much better off you are with Him by your side. How much you need Him as life often deals badly.
Your purpose on this earth is to glorify God, reflecting Him to others.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
How dare we question God.
Yet we do.
Why? Because we want our own way.
We think we know better than Him.
Do you see how selfish that is?
How arrogant?
Did we create the earth and all it contains?
Did we place the stars in the heavens?
Did we design life with such variety and beauty?
Absolutely not.
We are God’s creation.
God is not our creation.
I get it though. Often our lives seem to turn unexpectedly, down a path we wished to avoid.
We question God. We question because we hate it. The direction we travel.
God allows things.
He created us with the ability to choose, and sometimes people make bad choices.
Or, sometimes it’s our own fault.
Yet God allows it.
We can be assured from Ecclesiastes 9:1 that “… how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.”
All we do are in God’s hands.
We need God. He helps us filter out bad choices when we cannot see what’s right.
Further, we can rest assured God works all things for His purpose.
Romans 8:28 reminds us,” And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
God sees everything.
He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly.
While He might allow circumstances you detest, He will stay by your side.
And He has a plan. Do you trust Him?
You are worth more to God than anything else He created.
He sent His only son to die on the cross for you so you can spend eternity with Him.
Yes, God is holy.
Yes, He created all things.
And no, we are not in charge.
But you can rest assured God is.
God, who created order and beauty, is on the throne.
And when trials come, He will be with you every step of the way.
His ways are higher than ours.
We must not question God, but live peacefully, knowing He cares for all of His creation.
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat……And they went away…..When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them… Mark 6:30-34
Jesus preached and worked all the live long day.
Every day, tirelessly, He fed His sheep.
But even Jesus wanted rest.
But when He tried, the crowds would run to find Him.
And He would begin again, feeding them. Healing them. Helping them.
As mamas, our children tend to find us, too.
We try to get away, but it’s never for more than a few minutes.
You hide in the bathroom.
Pretty soon, you hear the little feet outside your door. A timid knock. You reply, “Just a minute!”
You lay your tired head down to sleep, and your baby awakens, demanding attention.
You try sleeping in past the ungodly hour of 6am, but the dog comes in with a note on its back, asking for pancakes. Pancakes?
When babies are little, you carry them everywhere with you.
Bedtime? They are next to you in a cradle.
Want a shower? You bring them to the floor in a bouncy seat.
Just starting to walk? They are always within view.
Going anywhere? Guess who is coming with you!
Yes, we have moments where they nap.
Yes, we have moments when they’re occupied and you can catch your breath.
But the constant parenting is never ending, even when they’re older.
I’m convinced tired mamas are under God’s wings.
He knows dog tired as He was so many times while walking this earth.
Humans are exhausting.
But here’s the good news: God is never exhausted.
He has unlimited strength to give you.
Jesus experienced human tiredness as He was fully human, yet fully God.
And He remembers.
Ask Him to fill you with His strength. His peace. His joy.
And smile, because He understands tired.
He gets it!
So if you’re in the season of tired mama stuff, take heart.
God understands. And I promise it will end, but not soon enough, I know.
And if you’re plain tired from reasons other than helping tiny humans survive, God’s ready to fill you up with His strength, too.
Because when we are weak, He is strong. So very strong.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5
Picture living within the blessing of God.
Within His purpose for your life.
What does that look like?
Peace resonating from the depths of your toes.
Comfort knowing you are obeying God’s will for your length of days.
An absence of fear knowing God is right by your side.
Sound good?
Of course it does.
Let’s keep going.
Living within God initiates a constant conversation with Him.
After all, it’s not possible to know Him without talking with Him. Constantly.
You begin to share all the details of your day.
As they happen.
No, you’re not literally talking out loud all the live long day, but you know, in your head.
Constantly referring everything back to God.
Asking Him for wisdom.
Patience.
Mercy and love.
As you are tempted to look within yourself for solutions, fear creeps back.
Like an old weed that never completely dies, it rears its ugly head at the least likely moment.
But when you live within the presence of God, you don’t allow that weed to take root.
You cancel the lie with the truth of God.
You push the worry away as you remind your brain how God is in control.
Your heart remains at peace while you purpose again to focus on God. On His truth.
When you choose to live within God’s presence, it’s a moment by moment choice.
You purpose to focus on God.
And when you forget, you plop yourself back into His arms as you again refocus your brain.
Training yourself takes time.
Retraining your brain that is.
But as you choose God moment by moment, it will become easier and easier.
Before you know it, you’ll react less within yourself when life bumps you.
Our life has so many choices.
Too many if you ask me.
But there’s one choice that is easy to make: choosing to focus on God.
Ask God to help you and He will be more than happy to accommodate you.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows, like a sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin- oh, the bliss of this glorious thought- My sin- not in part but in whole, Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, The trumph shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, “Even so”- it is well with my soul.
It Is Well with My Soul by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
God created us with a body, soul, and spirit.
Our body is temporary. No surprise, but we have an expiration date.
Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions.
It’s our human side that generally drives our decisions.
Works in sync with our body.
We decide to eat poorly (our will) because we’re grumpy, and our body is affected.
Then our mind and emotions feel guilty and we pledge to do better until the next time something annoys us.
Then the cycle continues.
Our spirit is what communicates with God.
It’s what is broken when we have not given ourselves to God.
When you continually ask God to fill you with Himself, your spirit can reign over your mind and soul, transforming them according to God’s plan.
Bringing me back to my original question.
Is it well with your soul?
Your mind, will, and emotions?
You can only be well with your soul if you focus on Jesus.
If you give Him your burdens.
If you allow Him to work through you as we cannot do this on our own.
If you allow Him to give you His peace in the midst of a stormy season of life.
It is well with your soul if you can remain calm when attacks come your way.
It is well with your soul if you can continue loving others when instead they cause you harm.
It is well with your soul if you do not dwell on negative thoughts, but instead praise God even if.
The writer of the hymn, Horatio Spafford, was a Christian, who endured tragedies like Job.
First he lost his son, then his sprawling investments during the Great Chicago Fire, and finally his four daughters on a boat to Europe. Only his wife survived.
While going to rescue his wife in Europe, he wrote the words to the hymn while sailing over the spot his daughters perished.
Enduring the loss of almost everything, his focus remained on God.
His soul was well, meaning his mind, will, and emotions were fixed on God.
Only when Jesus is your single source of peace can it be well with your soul.
Not another human.
Not any circumstance.
Not even yourself.
Only Jesus.
Humans regularly fail us.
We regularly fall short.
But Jesus never has, never does, and never will.
Allow Him to be your all in all as you seek Him first and declare to all it is well with your soul.
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
I was deeply reminded the other day of how God holds everything in His hands.
Yes, He gives us free choice, but He is ultimately in charge.
Of everything.
He allowed Adam and Eve to sin.
And us, too.
Because we sin, we become separated from God, who is holy.
Yet He always provides a way back to Him.
When we choose Him, He’ll even walk alongside us. If we’ll let Him.
Imagine that. Allowing God, who created all things, to walk beside us.
As if it should ever be our choice. But it is.
He desperately wants us, but on His terms – which is for us to freely choose Him.
No bullying or taking against our will.
Even Paul, I mean Saul, when he encountered God.
Paul could have chosen to say no to God.
He would’ve been blind the rest of his life, but he had a choice.
This brings me back to us.
Daily submitting and really giving everything to God.
All things.
Teeny tiny things like parking spots, ugly hair, or stubborn pounds.
Big huge things like wayward relationships, divorce, or death.
Everything else seems to fall in between.
Working on my book and launch party comes to mind.
God literally handed it to me through His faithfulness and mine.
But little anxious worrying thoughts have been popping into my mind.
Honestly, they’ve had the ability to take over, making me question my course.
But then God whispers into my ear, “Why are you even bothered about that? Remember My faithfulness, which will never run out. I’ve cleared My path for you. As you continue to walk with Me, I’ll have your back. Forever.”
That’s for you, too. Stop worrying. Like ever.
Worrying removes your focus from God’s truth, which is this: He will never leave us or forsake us.
He’s got big plans for all of us.
Allow Him to use you and enjoy letting Him take care of the details.
Because He holds everything, including you, in His capable hands.
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
What else in the world is there?
What could possibly compare to Him?
Look full in His wonderful face.
Gaze your eyes.
Stop everything else, and look.
For the things of earth will grow strongly dim.
Everything else will fade in comparison to the One who created You and all things.
As my grandmother used to say, “From the balcony of heaven, what will it even matter?”
For in the light of His glory and grace, these things simply won’t matter one bit.
Why do earthly things grow dim?
Because of Him.
His power, His glory, and His grace above all.
God created everything.
He reigns over it ALL.
So, we must turn our eyes upon Him, Jesus.
Because He is our everything.
When you allow your mind to settle on things out of your control, people who do not care, or circumstances you wish would change, peace will leave as fear is invited to stay.
As Proverbs reminds us, focus yourself on Jesus. Leave no room to divert your eyes from Him.
Means you will purpose your mind to focus on Jesus and His truth.
You will focus on His love, protection, and provision for each and every little thing.
Focusing on Jesus means you trust in Him fully.
For your everything, today and tomorrow.
Focus on Jesus, the Author of your story, whose steadfast love and faithful presence will remain with you now and always.
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.
“Sir,” asked the demon who was tiny but had a large voice.
“What do YOU want,” demanded the demon in charge whose name escapes me.
“I found someone I can dominate. I’m sure of it. Look.” The tiny demon with the large voice pointed at a man sitting in a comfy chair. The man was starring at his phone. Life swirled around him unnoticed.
“Fine. He’s practically lost anyway. Go,” shouted the demon in charge whose name escapes me.
Demon #2, who was tiny but had a large voice, shrank away, excited to show the demon in charge his moves. He had just learned some new tactics. This man seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Demon #2 crept up to the man who was starring at his phone while life swirled around without him.
Whispering into his ear, demon #2 reminded the man of his failures, disappointments, and poor life choices. Causing the man to become uncomfortable, he suggested a snack even though the man had recently eaten.
The man shuffled to the refrigerator, pulling out some food. Balancing the food with his hands and phone, which he never put down, demon #2 startled the boy who immediately began running into the kitchen, knocking into the man. Food went everywhere. The phone went flying.
The man who usually starred at his phone while life swirled around him found himself yelling at the boy. The boy, who was only four and looked up to the man, began to cry. Instead of comforting his son, the man tried to find his phone. Finding it under the table, the man picked it up and gasped. The screen was broken.
The man who usually starred at his phone while life swirled around him swore as he began cleaning up the mess from the boy.
After cleaning up the mess, the man sank back into his chair, looking at his phone. Thankfully, he realized it really wasn’t broken at all. It was merely scratched. All was well. Demon #2 suggested the man did not need to apologize for yelling at his son. After all, his son was in the wrong!
The man sighed, agreeing with demon #2. Forgetting all about his snack, the man settled his focus once again onto his phone. Life continued to swirl around without him.
Demon #2 found the boy crying in his room. All alone, demon #2 began to whisper lies, confirming the thoughts the boy was having. “Your dad doesn’t really love you. He cares more about his phone than you. He ignores you because you’re boring. You’re not worth his time. You’re so clumsy anyway. You should stay away from him.” The boy sniffled as he listened to the lies from demon #2.
Checking back in on the family later, the woman wondered aloud to the man why the boy was so upset. The man didn’t have any idea, although he barely heard her as he was still on his phone while life swirled around without him. The woman left the room wondering what she had done to the man. The boy continued to feel unloved. The man continued watching his phone as life swirled around without him.
Demon #2 reported back to the demon in charge, whose name escapes me. “Sir,” began demon #2 who was tiny but had a large voice. “I influenced not only the man, confirming his previous believed lies, but I successfully planted new lies into the boy and woman, confirming them with actions from the man.”
Putting down his paper, the demon in charge whose name escapes me, looked up in surprise. “Well, that’s more like it,” he replied. “Maybe you’ll work out down here after all.”
Grinning, the tiny demon with a large voice said, “Yes, sir! Looking forward to more torment, sir!”
Demon #2, the tiny demon with a large voice, revisited that family many times. Over the years, he repeated the unloving lies into the boy, who was now becoming a man. This was almost too easy…
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalm 119:133
I know, you have control over your reactions, but not over the actions or responses of others.
You have no control how other people will react or sometimes not even care.
You also have no control over circumstances thrown your way.
Sickness, job loss, inflation, an inconsiderate spouse, ungrateful children, the threat of war.
You can only control your reaction.
What does your flesh immediately do when faced with any of that ugliness?
Become wrapped in self-pity as unloving or fear try to walk back into your mind?
Seems justified, yes, but that choice brings darkness.
Walks you away from God and His love for you.
What if instead, you began to thank God for walking with you, for providing you a continued walk with His peace?
And what if you continued to thank God for your circumstances and His provision for all things we pray?
You’d be slapping the devil in the face for sure.
I don’t know what you think, but to me, when we step out in faith while slammed by life outside our control, there’s a bigger hallelujah sung behind us.
Bigger than when we are simply obeying God through flowery, sun-shiney days.
When we choose to ignore our pity party, celebrating God’s goodness instead, the sting sent the devil’s way is a little more obvious to him.
A little more painful. A wee bit more disappointing.
The devil knows you, knows your weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Why give him a good time instead of you?
Give him a bad time. An absolutely horrid time.
Keep showing him Who is boss over you. And it’s not him.
While life is often completely unfair, remember God is always kind and just to you.
He’s always with you no matter your attitude. And that’s not fair to God.
So resolve to give the devil a hard time by ignoring your fleshly cries, filling yourself up with God instead.
In return your days and nights will be even better.
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?
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
When all the noise is stripped away, what is your focus?
In the dark of night, what grips your soul?
Worry?
Dread?
Fear?
Or Jesus?
In this world, we will have trials.
But Jesus.
In this world, we will struggle.
But Jesus.
In this world, pain will come and go.
But Jesus.
Jesus has overcome the world and everything in it.
All our trials, struggles, and pain are piled at the foot of the cross.
What has removed your focus from Jesus?
Family?
Job?
Our country?
Jesus knows the beginning from the end.
What better to focus on then the author of all life?
Look at your mountain.
Now look again through Jesus.
Looks manageable now, doesn’t it?
Trials are real, but Jesus is bigger.
Struggles are exhausting, but Jesus is bigger.
Pain can be excruciating, but Jesus is bigger.
But Jesus.
Jesus is over, under, and beside all things.
All of the trials, struggles, and pain.
Refocus on Jesus, purposing only to trust Him with everything.
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will He instruct in the way that He should choose. Psalm 25:12
Are you someone who fears the Lord?
Fearing the Lord is not cowering in the type of fear we think of first.
It’s honor.
Respect.
Submitting to the One who created all things.
Putting God first and foremost in all things.
Knowing how small you are in comparison to all of creation, eternity, and God Himself.
I know we cannot always put God first, but you can think about Him and what He would want you to do.
With even tiny things like your response to literally anything.
Thinking about what God would want you to do brings security knowing you are under the shadow of His wings.
In return for placing God on the throne of your life, He promises to instruct you in the way He chooses.
And God chooses the best for you.
How do we know that?
Because Romans 8:28 reminds us that “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose“.
Walking with God, submitting to Him, brings us to God’s purpose for us.
And that is good.
Maybe your life has been affected by other’s poor choices.
And maybe you bear the brunt of that.
Remain under God’s instruction as He works everything out for good.
Through trials of your choosing or not, choose to remain God’s.
Confident He will work everything out for your good, because you love Him.
Amy Linnea 
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