Devotions

[PippaJane]

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2023/07/10/you-are-known-and-loved?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ofygZJ1Y3V0_uB1rhEGau_FZnXgCYqm7zWncwzt4xPk6eMlac3RYf8Il8H2JaO-w6-FauF_67ldxD4Z74OE2WouQpZg&_hsmi=263307313&utm_content=263307313&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread

You Are Known and Loved
July 10, 2023
by Tracie Braylock

“You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.” Psalm 139:1 (NIV)

It was during the very first course of our nursing program that we were given one of our most important exams. We were tasked with demonstrating how to do a head-to-toe assessment, an evaluation of all of the body’s systems, which would give us a picture of a patient’s health status and potential problems.  For weeks, I studied for this exam, learning the steps of the assessment, what to look for in each body system, and questions to ask the patient throughout the process.  It seemed like so much information to retain, so many steps, and so much room for error. But as exam day approached, I knew I was ready.  Still, completing this examination and gathering as much information as possible about a person’s body and its current condition can only give a glimpse into the totality of the person.  Even with all of the notes I had taken, the hours of studying, the instruments in my nursing bag, and the support of classmates and professors, my assessment was limited. Because just like the proverbial “tip of the iceberg,” what we can see and measure about a person is only a fraction of all there is to know.  I passed the exam and was grateful that I did. But what will always be more gratifying is knowing that there is One the Great Physician (Mark 2:17) who knows me, and every patient I care for, inside and out.  If you’re struggling with not feeling seen, heard or understood.  If you wish you could share your stories, your secrets or your shame.  If you’re questioning whether anyone knows all of the parts that make you who you are or if it even matters.  I want to remind you of what Psalm 139:1 says: “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.”

Yes, my friend, God knew you before you were ever formed in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5), has numbered the hairs on your head (Luke 12:7), and knows your words completely before they’re on your tongue (Psalm 139:4). There is no part of who you are that is hidden from God or is a mystery to Him.  So when it seems like the doctors just can’t find the problem, or your spouse or friends don’t seem to understand you even though they’ve been right by your side, or all that you’ve been through feels like more information than even you can retain, remember your Creator sees it all. God is aware of every condition you face and each detail about who you are. You can turn to and take refuge in the One who knows your every body system, every potential problem, every thought, desire and care. He is familiar with all your ways, and you can trust that you are thoroughly known and loved by Him.

[Cocopops]

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/01/12/reframing-our-loneliness?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_84mG7juLf6f1yLGlLZh1UHQmZ7FEu232dEWPcRpz9Vs1WNAZhtnaORSU2prWieGt6XnyjzG8O892SmmJM_79iQmmLqQ&_hsmi=286594980&utm_content=286594980&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread

Reframing Our Loneliness
January 12, 2024
by Meredith Houston Carr

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)

“What do you have coming up this week?”

I tried to disguise the crack in my voice as I answered my mom's question as casually as possible, not wanting her to hear the ache of isolation I felt. “Oh, this and that. You know, busy mom life.”

A cross-country move had left me miles away from family and friends. Sure, life was busy in this new place but busy is a poor substitute for relationships and the security of being known. Those days, loneliness felt like my only friend, a BFF so devoted she would never leave my side.  Perhaps you can relate. The friendships you desire haven’t materialized (or perhaps they’ve fallen by the wayside). The partner you’d hoped to spend your life with hasn’t shown up yet (or maybe decided to walk away). Your home that used to buzz with children’s laughter and light is all quiet now (or you’ve dreamed of this home but haven’t been able to build it).  Despite all the blessings in your life, there’s no denying it your heart feels the sorrowful squeeze of seclusion.  When loneliness strikes, the Bible provides comfort. In my season of solitude, I especially found encouragement in today’s key verses from Psalms, beautifully penned by David:  “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalm 139:7-8).

In poetic form, David reminds us of the one crucial truth we can cling to for dear life when loneliness looms: We are never truly alone, no matter how void our hearts or homes feel.  God's watchful, unwavering presence wraps around us, even when others have walked away. His Spirit goes with us to the world’s farthest reaches or into the workplaces where we feel unseen. He holds us steady when grief gnaws at our souls and when the enemy whispers, You will never belong.  Like David, we can learn to reframe how we see lonely seasons not as a vacuum to fill but as an invitation into a deep and abiding fellowship with our heavenly Father. Through this lens, we can even learn to embrace lonely seasons as a unique opportunity to let Jesus fill our empty spaces. In the process, we’ll find that His presence provides an abundance no earthly relationship and no amount of numbing can match!  The next time loneliness squeezes your heart, let it be a reminder to lean into God’s unseen, unending presence.  Through prayer, tenderly turn over all your pain and tears to Him.  Then invite Jesus into your empty places, dear one and prepare to enjoy the comfort of His closeness like never before.

[heartbroken]

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2023/07/14/theres-more-to-it-than-you-can-see?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9arlzJ9VP58pZTjS3lAEBC8l4NY6C4sbyB1-NU7S1nOyKTHBbhtHw7pfwOCCL9XBhbpQjg67s5raNrcTo5OVPauC6EUA&_hsmi=263324326&utm_content=263324326&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread

There’s More to It Than You Can See
July 14, 2023
by JaNean Freeman, COMPEL Training Member

“And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)

Hanging up the phone, I did a victory dance. After I spoke to a representative from our cable provider, my family's loyalty to the company was rewarded with a discounted price that would fit into our budget, and I would no longer need to cancel.  But my excitement quickly faded when I received a confirmation email that did not match what I had been quoted. When I called back, another representative reassured me that she could see the reduced price and I didn’t have to worry. I felt relieved until I saw the bill the following month.  For a third time, I called back, now frustrated.  The agent empathized with my frustration and offered a heartfelt, “I wish you could see what I see.”

She said she could see a credit on the account that wasn’t reflected on the bill I’d received, and it would just be a matter of time before everything would line up.  Right then, I felt God speaking to me about situations in my life that had caused me worry, fear and disappointment. I felt God saying, If only you could see what I see. There’s more to it than how it looks. It’s going to work out in the end. Just trust Me.  In 2 Kings 6, we read that the prophet Elisha’s servant was afraid because of how circumstances appeared. He saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city to capture Elisha.  When he asked Elisha what they should do, Elisha told him: “‘Don’t be afraid.  Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17, NIV).

He discovered that there was definitely more to the situation than he could see.  What and how we see makes all the difference in the world. Wouldn’t it be nice to see with our natural eyes all the ways God is working behind the scenes? Bye-bye, fear, worry and doubt! But then again, how would we ever grow in our faith? And would we ever really learn to trust God?

What if, instead, through the eyes of faith, we are able to see a bit of what God sees?

What if the Truth of God’s Word becomes more real to us than what we are able to see with our natural eyes?

I’ve found that it is in those challenging situations, when we feel surrounded by the enemy’s army, that we are able to switch to faith-vision. And if we hold on to God through the process, we see that His plans do work out in the end. The credit finally gets processed. It actually works together for our good.  So, friend, be encouraged: There’s more to your life than you can see.