02
Jun '22
Turn Your Thoughts
02
Jun '22
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)
Turn your thoughts to the Lord often!
Training our thoughts can be tough, since it is one of the most common places Satan likes to attack. Even though this is challenging, the positive outcome is worth it!
The more you train your thoughts on the Lord, the more peace you will have. When you think upon the Lord and His goodness, the affections of your heart will also begin to turn towards Him.
Whenever you experience something good, thank the Lord for it.
Even the small, everyday things of life are worth thanking Him for. Think of the Lord when you see the sunset and sunrise. Think of the Lord when you see the flowers in bloom that He sends for you every spring season. Think of and thank the Lord for each meal and for His provision of a house. Think of and thank the Lord for the joy you receive from the friends and family He’s placed in your life.
Intentionally placing little reminders around your house and living space can also help. Write scriptures on sticky notes and place them on your mirror, in the car, or at your desk! Play worship music in the background as you cook meals or work on your daily chores.
Even unpleasant and painful moments of our day can point our attention back to our Savior, reminding us of how much we need Him.
Today, how can you be intentional in turning your thoughts towards God more? What are some creative ways you can do this?
The more we are able to turn our thoughts to the Lord, the more we will become aware of His presence and how close He really is to us, enabling us to experience His perfect peace!
When I read this devotion it blessed me. As hard and distracting as it may be some days, we must choose to think of The Lord in all things. On our bad days and our good days, Praise Him! Praise Him on the mountain top and in the valley. Point your attention back to The Savior.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
31
May '22
The Lord is Near
31
May '22
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
When we experience something painful in our lives, we can run to the Lord and know He’s there to comfort and strengthen us.
He is a God who is well acquainted with grief and what it’s like to suffer.
While God never causes our anguish and suffering, He is able to use it to draw us to Him and bring refinement to our souls.
God can use suffering to reveal things to us about Him and ourselves that we may have never seen if we didn’t endure the trial.
Even as you press through and pursue the Lord amidst pain, you are still being transformed from the inside out:
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Knowing this, we can take heart in the fact that the hardship we endure isn’t for nothing!
No matter what we’re facing, with the Lord in our heart and by our side, we can rejoice that we are becoming more and more like Him every day.
Even when the enemy has tried to inflict suffering, waste time and seemingly delay us, God is still the one who has redeemed us. Just as God has redeemed our souls, so can He redeem time we feel was lost. He is our redeeming God who restores what was stolen from us!
Today, whether you’re in a joyful or hard season of your life today, take heart! The Lord is near to you!
I don’t know who needs to hear this today or be reminded of this very thing but this devotion blessed me and I felt someone needed to read it today. He redeems, restores and is always near.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
26
May '22
Vigilant in Thanksgiving
26
May '22
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)
Be vigilant in thanksgiving today.
Thankfulness and gratitude are vital to have every day because it helps clear our minds and draws us closer to the Lord. Gratitude keeps our hearts open and yielding to the Holy Spirit’s leading, unlike an ungrateful heart that is closed off and stubborn.
Instead of viewing tasks with the mindset of, “I have to do this,” try viewing it with, “I get to do this.” This can aid in transforming our mindset and help us face the work that needs to be done more joyfully and with confidence.
As we train ourselves to view challenges as a privilege and opportunities for growth, our hearts will be filled with more gratitude.
Even as you go through these challenges and work on tasks, you can still be in constant, earnest prayerthroughout the day.
Doing this will keep you in close communication with the Holy Spirit, who is your holy helper, your constant companion and counselor. Ask Him to help you when you are overwhelmed and in need, and He will give you the solutions.
Whatever tasks need to be done, work at it with all your heart and with thanksgiving!
When I recently read this devotion it blessed me. In all things, Give Thanks.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
24
May '22
Thy Lovingkindness
24
May '22
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (Psalm 36:7)
The love of God is a priceless, free gift!
All the riches, money and fame in the world combined still cannot compare to the treasure that is God’s unfailing love.
You don’t have to possess the world’s treasure in order to be rich in the eyes of your Heavenly Father.
This unfailing love is given freely to anyone who wants it! There is no fee or performance we must put on in order to earn God’s love.
Reflect on how your Savior willingly went to the cross to endure unimaginable suffering for you.
His willingness to suffer is a result of the immeasurable love He holds for you.
While the riches of this world will rust and only last for a short time, God’s unfailing love for you is eternal.
This amazing wealth of love belongs to you forever, and no one can take it away!
Regardless of how much wealth we have here on earth, the priceless treasure of God’s love is our daily portion.
Knowing this free gift is secured for us in eternity, we can walk boldly through our life on earth every single day.
Today, be encouraged as you reflect on His love. Not only is it immeasurable and priceless, but it is unfailing! You can rely on His love more than anything or anyone else.
Your beloved Savior has everything you need!
Amen! What a beautiful devotion. I pray it is a reminder of His love for you.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Course Corrected
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. (Hebrews 12:5)
If you have walked with Jesus very long, you know Him.
You know when He is opening doors for you that no person could have opened and you know when He is protecting you from something.
Do you know when He is convicting you or giving you a correction?
Course correction is a mercy, it just doesn’t feel like it in the moment.
God allows us to be “course corrected” through people, break-ups, friends that bail out and lay-offs, just to name a few.
If we submit to God and stop fighting with people we will always see His hand of intervention later with gratitude.
Don’t try to understand “why” in the moment. “Why” may not surface for a long time but our confidence that He is faithful and good should stand forever.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)
I felt this devotion was incredibly powerful. Don’t try to understand “why” in the moment.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
17
May '22
Spiritual Storehouse
17
May '22
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7)
Peter made that statement almost 2,000 years ago.
In 2 Thessalonians, three different people were so sure the return of Jesus was any day, they had stopped working.
Many prepare by storing food and water, but, is your spiritual storehouse full?
Is it packed with hours of prayer, intercession, fasting and bible study?
A focus on the “when” of Christs return is not as important as preparation for those who are not ready.
God, I want to be prepared for whatever life brings. Help me to store your word in my heart and to have great maturity [rootedness, stability and Christlikeness].
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (Mark 13:32)
This devotion blessed me. I have one question for you today, is your spiritual storehouse full?
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
12
May '22
Look Ahead
12
May '22
But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. (Philemon 1:22)
Paul asks them to prepare a guest room for him…surely their prayers will cause his release from prison.
He not only speaks positively of leaving prison, but writes in hopes that he can raise their spirits.
He expressed Faith that their prayers were moving his chains and looked ahead… not down at his shackles.
The present moment can often be like Paul’s shackles, clear evidence that we cannot change our situation.
Don’t stop at your limits, but instead look to God, who is limitless.
I will do what I can and God does what I can’t!
Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. Philemon 1:21
Look ahead, not down at the shackles. I don’t know how you can read that and not feel the power behind it. I pray today you are inspired to look beyond your shackles and look to God with confidence, Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
10
May '22
His Voice
10
May '22
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. (Ephesians 4:14)
Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus to guard themselves against the widely changing interpretations of doctrine.
He warned them to not get tossed around emotionally by people who spoke into their lives.
Let us Seek Christ first before we go to people, regardless of who they are.
Mentors and accountability groups cannot take the place of the Holy Spirit.
Pastors and bible study teachers are still human…growing and learning just as you are.
(You)have one Lord, …one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] God, all in all.
If I am confused, let me go to my prayer room first… not my phone! God sends us mature believers so can become mature too; but His voice must remain first in all we do.
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 1 Timothy 4:6
When I read this devotion I had to take a moment and reflect on what was being said. I think often times we are quick to seek guidance, opinion and approval from man, when in reality, we need to first go to God, seek Him and follow His leading. I love when it said, “His voice must remain first in all we do”. Simplicity at its best.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
05
May '22
God Is All In
05
May '22
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11)
Paul was in prison when he wrote this to the church.
He was encouraging them and thanking them for prayer and support as he shared the gospel city to city.
He was speaking from a place of experience with hardship.
God has not changed, He knows what He has asked you to do and is never just an observer in your life. God is all in… every detail, every step and through all your tears.
Paul spoke of an inner strength and peace he had that made no sense. His peace truly passed all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)
It’s okay to confess that you can’t do something, just don’t stop there! We do what we can and He does what we can’t.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
“God is all in”, how many of you have had to remind yourself of that truth time and again. It’s easy to get caught up in a web of lies when in reality, we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us. He is faithful through and through. I count myself blessed to have such incredibly powerful devotions, full of such truth, to share with you.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
03
May '22
He Chose Us
03
May '22
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:l. (Ephesians 1:4)
God chose you, before He formed the earth he knew you and loved you.
Before the fall of Adam and Eve he knew you and made a way to be close to you forever…through the cross of Jesus Christ.
What was His purpose for you?
“To be holy and blameless”.
To be holy is to live a life of consecration, being set apart from others for God’s purposes.
He called us to be blameless, but knew of ourselves this was not possible.
He gave us Jesus to make our sin bow down and lose its’ power over us.
God you created me to have a purpose and did everything it took so I can live that purpose out! I cannot bring my purpose to pass nor can I ruin it!
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Ephesians 1:5
“God created you and I to have a purpose”. When I read this devotion that statement stood out to me. I pray it ignites hope within you. He died so we could live. Hallelujah!
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!