But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
God is constantly calling on you.
He’s calling you higher, to live more honorably within His strength.
Or He’s calling you to come home.
To lay it all down.
To finally submit, allowing Him to direct your steps.
When He calls, what do you do?
What is your reaction to Him?
Scrooge, from Dicken’s Christmas Carol, was called multiple times before he finally changed.
The story begins with his nephew calling on him to celebrate Christmas.
Then two gentlemen ask for a donation to charity.
Some carolers sing to him through the door.
Marley, his dead partner for seven years that very night, appears and Scrooge still refuses change.
Scrooge keeps walking through that night, witnessing the past and future, only begging for a chance when he sees his lonely grave.
While our moments are not as bizarre as what Scrooge experienced, God still calls us.
Do you notice?
What did you do when that thought popped into your head, asking you to act on something?
Or when that person came into view, did you talk with them?
Did you answer the phone when they called you?
When the sermon appeared on your social feed, did you watch it?
When the prayer meeting calendar invite reminded you, did you ignore it or attend?
God’s ways are higher than ours and He is constantly calling us higher.
Up from our sinful selves, or continuing up if we are already His.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
He’s here.
Picture Jesus sitting right here.
In the chair beside you.
He’s as near as your very breath.
He’s waiting for you to need Him.
He knows you need Him, more than you even realize, but He gives you that choice.
He knows your heart belongs to Him, but sometimes it wanders away a bit.
When your heart wanders, it seeks after things of this world instead of God.
Jesus is seeking the Father on your behalf.
Always in prayer for you.
Your needs. Your health.
Your very life.
Anticipating your sigh, He looks at you.
Love and sympathy pour from His eyes.
He sees you.
He knows you.
He has a plan for all your days.
Good things, hard things, and everything in between.
He longs to hear your heart.
To carry your burdens, big or small.
As you labor through this life, reach out to Jesus.
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?
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.
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. Psalm 119:15
Feel as if your mind is stuck?
Wound up with who knows what?
Feel immovable?
So overwhelmed you have no idea where to begin?
When we become so consumed with life, our connections to God become clouded.
Cobwebs begin to weave their way this way and that every time we rely on ourselves instead of God.
When we focus on the millions of things we could, no should be doing, not asking God what He wants us to do.
Whenever I begin to feel the weight of all I’m supposed to take care of, I can feel brain connections popping.
Like an overloaded circuit.
What if you didn’t go through the mail.
Ok, just look for bills that are immediately due, but ignore the rest.
What if you only sent gift cards to family members for Christmas instead of placing the pressure of finding the perfect gift for all 39 people in the next 3 weeks?
What if you skipped dusting and ate only soup and eggs for a week’s nightly dinners?
Would anyone die?
Your children might think life has if they hate your dinner choice, but who asked them?
Create margin.
Space in your brain.
You literally cannot do it all.
Clear the cobwebs by focusing on God.
Ask Him to order your steps.
Before you commit to yet another thing, ask Him if you should.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Psalm 73:26
We all know what to do.
What God wants us to do.
We are supposed to give Him our burden and trust He will take care of everything.
That’s easy for the first second.
Alright, maybe for the first few seconds.
But what then?
We begin to doubt.
We get upset.
And before you know it, we’ve scooped up the burden once again, placing it back on our shoulders.
It’s so easy to give our burdens to God.
What’s hard is not taking them back.
What’s hard is not beginning to doubt God’s goodness and faithfulness.
It’s hard to keep trusting His way when you don’t see any movement on His part.
Instead, what should we do after placing our burden into God’s hands?
Pray.
Pray and trust.
Pray, trust, and refuse to participate with doubt and worry, because they are not your friends.
Sit back and trust, eagerly anticipating how God Himself will solve your issue.
He has promised to dot every i and cross every t.
He is in every situation.
Present.
With you.
So instead of willingly picking your burden back up due to doubt and worry, instead smile as God keeps your burden and relax, knowing He will pull through for you.
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
Lord, the evening is here.
Literally and figuratively.
I am surrounded by dark thoughts.
Lies are sweeping into my head.
No one knows, but You, Lord.
You know my anxious thoughts.
Stay with me.
Right here.
Endure with me without yielding.
Because I can’t without You.
~~~~~~~~~~ Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see— O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Lord, You never change.
You are always the same.
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Forever.
I can count on You every moment of every day.
There is nothing in this world that compares to You.
While I am surrounded by the cares of this world, I am reminded You are here.
Your patient care fills my every need.
~~~~~~~~~~ I need Thy presence every passing hour; What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r? Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I need you every moment.
You made me strong, but Your strength is stronger.
Only You can foil the enemy’s plans for me.
I can stand only with Your strength pulsing through my veins.
Your constant guidance carries me throughout each day.
In days of happiness and sadness, You never change.
You are always here.
~~~~~~~~~~ I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Who should I fear with You at my side?
You, who died for me and raised to life again?
What can man possibly do to me?
The cares of this world are nothing compared to You.
They might weigh me down, but when I give my burdens back to You, I triumph still.
I win only with You by my side.
Thank you for patiently bearing my burdens, walking with me every day.
~~~~~~~~~~ Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies; Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Remind me of what is really important.
You died for me.
You care deeply for me.
Your ways are higher than mine.
You have my best interest first and foremost.
I am in Your thoughts.
Your presence lifts the pressing darkness away.
You scatter it into a million pieces.
Your light and presence fill the room with peace.
And my heart rests, because You have and will always abide forever with me.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.” James 2:23
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. And what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.
Friends bear each other’s griefs.
Yes, we excitedly share our joys, too; however, when life smacks us in the face, we run to our friends for comfort.
Jesus is our ultimate friend.
He not only bears our griefs, but also all of our sins.
When we carry everything to God in prayer, our soul remains at peace.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
And when we don’t?
When we decide to carry our own burdens, neglecting to share them with God?
The pain stays.
It intensifies.
It becomes all consuming.
And all of this is completely unnecessary if we only remember to give everything to Him.
Not only remember, but actually do it.
Give everything to Him.
Trust it all to His capable hands.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Life is not perfect.
Certainly far from it, actually.
Why are we ever discouraged?
God holds everything in His precious hands.
His hands, which created everything, are waiting to take our burdens.
Trials, temptations, or trouble should all go straight to Him.
Wait and see how He will solve it.
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Jesus knows our every thought.
He hears your whispers.
He dries your tears.
He holds you in the dark of night.
He loves to share your joy.
Because He knows you better than any friend on this earth, take everything to God in prayer.
Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God. John 8:47
My husband and I recently watched a show in which a friend at headquarters whispered encouraging words to a friend’s earpiece, who was fighting on the field.
Those whispered words brought courage and strength to the friend on the field, who was in major trouble.
And those words made all the difference.
Discouragement left.
Hope returned.
The mission was accomplished.
My husband and I discussed how amazing it would be to speak life into an earpiece, delivering it to the other spouse when needed.
Feeling overwhelmed at work, he or I could “ring for help” and the other would whisper encouraging words.
Wouldn’t that be neat?
But then I realized something.
We already have access to something even greater.
When we need strength, all we need to do is utter that prayer to God and He will whisper into our earpiece everything we need.
But only if we listen.
While feeling overwhelmed, we can ask God for perspective, strength, and joy, and He will deliver.
Only if we ask.
But here’s the thing-
Sometimes, when we utter our prayer, we listen to the wrong earpiece.
We listen instead to the whispers that declare us “no good, unable, or less than”.
Those whispers are also available to us.
So which earpiece will you listen to?
God’s, who speaks truth, yet will also bring you into a place of complete submission?
That earpiece is full of life, truth, and peace.
Or will you believe instead Satan’s, who speaks evil lies, fostering your ego and making you feel lonely?
Yes, it would be wonderful to key into your spouse’s encouragement whenever the whim demanded.
But God’s earpiece is ready to go.
Now and each and every day.
Whenever the need arises, ask Him for strength.
Ask Him for His peace to pass all of your understanding.
Then, as God, who is THE Creator of all things, whispers the truth in your ear, listen.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord.
You mean trust in my own strength, right?
No, trust in the Lord.
But I know what I want.
Need.
So does God.
In fact, He knows best.
He wants your best, sees your future, and will bring all things into fruition if you trust.
Trust in Him, not in yourself.
With all of your heart.
All of me?
Even that corner that wants to do things my own way?
Yep.
Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart.
And lean not on your own understanding.
I cannot trust my own understanding of my very own life?
But I know me better than God.
You do?
God created the mind with which you think.
He created your heart that beats, producing life.
He understands you more than you understand yourself.
So lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him.
All my ways?
Even when I want to go my own way, because I feel it’s best?
When I want to go down pity’s path?
When I want to follow my sour mood to worry’s house?
Yes. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him.
And He will direct your paths.
Well, I do want Him to direct my paths.
When God directs my paths, He brings His perfect peace.
When I follow my own path, not trusting in Him, worry and dread are my companions.
But when I trust in the Lord with my whole heart, and trust not in my own way, God will walk with me and peace will be my companion.
Remind yourself how faithful God has always been to you.
And begin again, trusting Him every step of the way.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
When everything else is stripped away…
Give me Jesus.
When life doesn’t go according to plan…
Give me Jesus.
When you stand aghast at life swirling seemingly out of control around you…
Give me Jesus.
When you simply cannot comprehend what God is doing…
When you want what He has taken from you…
When your heart is bleeding from the pain of life…
Give me Jesus.
His peace and love will bring you comfort as you remind yourself Who is still on the throne…
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His merciesbegin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23
In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.
We are nothing without Him.
Mere shells devoid of purpose or real change.
With Him, everything changes.
When we are clothed with His mercy, we give others compassion.
When we are clothed with His love, we give others significance.
When we are clothed with His forgiveness, we give others freedom.
When we are clothed with His peace, we give others rest.
He continually pours out His blessings to us, so we can spread His character to the ends of the earth, blessing others with Himself.
His mercies are new every morning.
His precious ways are counted among the saints.
Taste and see how God is good.
So very good.
Allow Him to fill you up with His goodness.
Every morning.
Watch His good news spread to the thirsty souls near you.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
God wants me to be at peace and rest about everything?
Yes, because He commands us to not be anxious about anything.
Even my children?
Yes. Even my marriage?
Yes. Even the uncertain future with our broken world?
Especially, yes.
When God asks us to not be anxious about anything, He knows we are unable to do that in our own strength.
He provides the road map to peace.
With absolutely every piece of your busy life, pray about it.
Seek God’s face about each aspect of your life.
Thank Him for all He has done and will do for you.
When you pray and seek His will with a thankful heart, His peace will wash over you.
His peace, which passes ALL understanding, will arrive.
Not only will His peace arrive, but it will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
He will guard your heart against fear.
He will guard your mind against lies.
When you fully submit your requests to God with a thankful heart, He will blanket your heart and soul with a peace which passes all understanding.
When you choose to give ALL of your worries to God, thanking Him for all He is, His peace will take over.
His perfect peace, which we cannot possibly understand.
When you give up control,
When you submit your will to His,
When you thank Him from the top of your head to the tip of your toes for all He has graciously given to you,
He will come, bringing His perfect peace.
He will come.
He wants to come.
He cannot wait to give you His peace.
Keep submitting and thanking, following His will for your life.
Every single day.
You will become radiant with His peace and what a witness that will be of Himself.
The world needs peace.
Only the peace of God will last and what if you, reflecting His perfect peace, could literally show the world a glimpse of God’s saving grace?
He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Psalm 113:9
As mothers, we wear our emotions on our sleeve.
We break our backs for our children, desperately crying out to God for their redemption.
Even if that’s not you and instead you have nieces or nephews or care deeply for other children, we all deeply love.
Sometimes, as soldiers, we become solitary, holding all the burdens in our tired hands.God wants to walk alongside you, helping you every step of the way.You can trust Him completely.
A gentle reminder from God for you this day:
I love your children even more than you can possibly imagine.
They are mine.
I see them.
I know them.
I know their deepest sorrows and greatest joys.
I recognize their desires in life and I am present with them always.
Letting go of them is not easy, but as you do, remember I am God and I am their Father.
I hold them in the palm of My hand.
I will never leave them or forsake them.
When you lift them up before Me in prayer, rejoice that I am already working.
Rest, knowing I love them even more than you are able.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11
He will give life.
To you.
Right now.
So here’s a question:
Why is any Christian walking around defeated?
Full of self pity or poor me?
Why do we let anger drag us down to the pit?
Why do we allow worry to fill our brains with dread?
Why do we become overwhelmed with life?
Because we forget.
We forget whose we are.
Are you wandering aimlessly through life, cowering at every arrow thrown your way?
Or…
Are you walking with purpose in every step, deflecting arrows whenever they fly?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Does God ever confuse you?
Leave you baffled?
Speechless?
Or do you make sense of everything He allows?
I don’t.
I can’t possibly make sense of some things.
So I’m left in a confused state.
Left until I decide to trust in God once again.
God surprised us with a gift.
A baby.
The promise of new life.
I was anxious then thrilled once the idea settled into my mind.
But two months later – poof.
Everything changed and I found myself in a puddle of tears.
Longing for the baby I was beginning to know and love.
Why, God?
Simply why?
Sometimes God allows things and we cannot possibly figure out all the answers.
And when we question, that’s ok.
As long as we look back and are reminded of His faithfulness.
His goodness.
I have learned a few things though.
He showed me unconditional love.
He showered me with love from my family, friends, and precious husband (who has the patience of Job).
He reminded me how He is ultimately in control.
And He reminded me not to worry, because He’s got this.
He’s got everything.
He knows the beginning of my story to the end.
My entire life is in His hands.
And He’s got yours too.
Your life is precious to Him.
And He loves you more than you could possibly imagine.
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me cup again. Psalm 71:20
Ever see God work?
Witness His marvelous plan unfold?
Take a breath and look around.
He’s working in your children’s hearts.
He’s organizing your thoughts.
He’s ordering your steps.
He’s revealing nuggets of wisdom just when you need them.
He’s providing a way through life.
He’s solving your mini issues which can overwhelm any person.
Your precious life is in His hands and He’s actively showing you the way.
You knew He would.
Come through.
Deep down, you knew.
Yet you still allow stress to step into your mind, completely distracting you.
Did you catch that?
We allow stress to literally step inside our mind and take over.
Completely distracting.
Hmmmmm…….
Oswald Chambers is one of my favorite authors.
Been reading his devotional for years.
His words are steeped with truth:
Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret. and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.
I want my family to be stamped with the presence of God.
Imagine if we all submitted to God and asked Him to work through us each and every day.
How blessed we and our families would be.
Not to mention everyone else God places in your path.
Amy Linnea 
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