Devotions

[Lost Soul]

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In Case of Emergency
August 22, 2024
by Tracie Braylock

“The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].” Psalm 37:23 (AMP)

Hospitals have emergency codes every employee must be aware of. As a nurse, I’m familiar with how these codes are announced, either within one department or to the entire hospital, depending on the situation. For example, “Code Red” indicates smoke or fire while “Code Blue” indicates a medical emergency like cardiac or respiratory arrest.

When the code is announced, a series of steps are followed so hospital personnel can keep patients, visitors, employees and the general public from undue harm or panic.  In a Code Red, for instance, staff are to complete the R.A.C.E. procedure:

R: Rescue those in immediate danger.
A: Activate the nearest fire alarm.
C: Close all doors and windows within reach, and turn off fans and air conditioners.
E: Extinguish small fires with a fire extinguisher.

As a believer in Jesus, did you know you also have emergency codes you can use in dangerous, dire or discouraging situations?

They’re found within the Scriptures!  God has given us the counsel of the whole Bible to guide, bless and teach us but it is also helpful to know some key verses for encouragement and prayer in hard moments. Here are some examples:

    When you feel alone, you can pray Deuteronomy 31:6.
    When you feel fearful, you can pray Isaiah 41:10.
    When you are in danger, you can pray Psalm 91.
    When you have sinned, you can pray Psalm 51.
    When you need courage, you can pray Joshua 1:9.
    When you are seeking peace, you can pray Isaiah 26:3.
    When you are heartbroken, you can pray Psalm 34:17-19.

God offers the safety and support you need to navigate whatever situation you’re facing.  Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].”

Not only do we have steps we can follow, but God redirects our attention away from the pain of our problems and toward Him as our Protector and Provider. God orders and establishes our steps and guards us as we go.  My friend, isn’t it wonderful to know that in times of stress, struggle or stumbling, the Lord still holds and sustains you?

God is right there with you every step of the way as your ever-present Guide, helping you navigate both everyday and emergency situations.  Call out His Word, follow the path He’s established for you, and trust Him with each new step. Your safety and deliverance are found in Him.

[heartbroken]

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The Refill of Rest
August 23, 2024
by Jackie Smith-Bell

“.... [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31 (NIV)

As I was driving along the highway, panic set in I realized I had five miles until my gas tank was empty.  Running on fumes, I coasted into the nearest filling station, reflecting on the similarity between my soul and my fuel tank, both needing to be replenished. Life had been moving at a breakneck speed, leaving me emotionally drained, and I hadn't slowed down to recover.  Exhausted by my mounting to-do list, I longed for moments of rest to refill my soul with peace and joy only God could provide. Initially, I convinced myself I'd find time later that day, after finishing dinner and laundry, or the next morning. However, I kept making excuses, focusing on other things instead.  Do you ever make excuses about why you haven’t spent time with God?

Do you ever wonder why your relationship with Him is “low on fuel” and rest feels nonexistent?

You aren’t alone, friend.  We live in a world where busyness and excuses are commonplace and quiet time with God feels optional. If we aren’t careful, life's demands can easily have us speeding toward an unsustainable pace that drains our senses. Prioritizing rest is essential to replenishing our souls.   Even Jesus, who was fully God and fully man, embraced rest (Luke 5:16; Matthew 8:24). And just as our Savior welcomed rest, we need it to recharge and reinforce our well-being, enabling us to show up as the best versions of ourselves in service to God and others.  In Mark 6, Jesus sent His disciples out on a ministry assignment. After completing this assignment, preaching, healing people and spreading the gospel, the disciples returned home emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausted.  Jesus, the ultimate source of rest, said: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).

Jesus’ request was not just casual but was a command to prioritize spiritual replenishment and soul care, leaving no room for excuses. He tells you and me to do the same in our assignments as wives, mothers, friends and more within our spheres of influence.  We often coast through our days and try to sustain ourselves with tasks that were never meant to fulfill us then wonder why we aren't experiencing abundant life. Sometimes our souls’ emptiness indicates our need to spend quiet time in the presence of Jesus, our true Sustainer. His presence is the place where grace flows and life’s pressures lighten.  Resting in Jesus enhances our day. We can start small, like waking up 30 minutes earlier for prayer or taking a 15-minute walk outdoors to appreciate His creation. The outcome is the same: He restores the joy and peace we thought were lost.  Jesus loves to fill our emptiness with His presence.

[heartbroken]

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Prioritizing Our People and Our Projects
August 27, 2024
by Karen Ehman

“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 (AMP)

I settled on the front porch with my iced tea and my laptop, hoping to make the task at hand more pleasant: renewing my driver’s license online. Just then, my phone began to buzz with a text from a friend who wanted to talk.  I had a decision to make. Would I stop my task to call this person?

Since I knew the conversation might run long, I decided I’d call when my online work was finished.  We all have obligations and people in our lives that need our attention it’s a balancing act that won’t ever go away. So how do we navigate spending time on both our work and our humans?

The letter of Philippians is full of advice for living in harmony with others by humbly emulating Jesus. The writer of the letter, Paul, urges, “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).

It is a simple sentence yet a significant truth.  The verse doesn’t say to look out only for the interests of others, neglecting our own needs. Nor does it say to watch out only for ourselves and ignore the needs of those around us.  Paul used the Greek word skopeó, translated as “look out for,” which means “to keep an eye on, to consider, to contemplate or to scrutinize carefully and then act.”

When it comes to our tasks, activities and daily responsibilities, we do well to keep a watchful eye on them to make sure they get done. However, we can also mindfully observe the relationships in our lives, knowing there are times when others need us and when we need them.  Think of wearing bifocal glasses: Sometimes you look far away at what’s happening in the distance, but other times you focus on what is right before you. Similarly, we can toggle our focus between our people and our projects.  What does this look like?

Maybe we put our phone in “do not disturb” mode when we are at work, allowing messages from family only and returning texts and calls to others later.  Maybe we teach our kids that when we have an important online meeting, we’ll have the door shut, and they are only to knock in case of emergency.  On the flip side, when we hear that our widowed neighbor needs help weeding her yard, perhaps we ditch our plans for an afternoon of shopping and help her instead.  God empowers us to love our people well without neglecting the duties He has called us to perform. May we love others deeply and perform our work diligently, trusting God to help us creatively find the bandwidth to do both.

[PippaJane]

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Perfect Peace Is Possible
September 3, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries

 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

Looking to our feelings instead of Truth to steady our souls is dangerous ground.  I saw a vivid depiction of this several years ago when we remodeled our house. I invited a friend over and asked for his expert opinion. But when he started staring at the ceiling with a look of grave concern, I knew something was wrong. One of the major beams had been poorly repaired and wasn't able to provide enough support a point proven by the sagging floor upstairs.  Seeing those broken boards barely hanging on, I felt like God was giving me a glimpse of the unstable places inside of me. It was a loving admonition to stop assessing His goodness based on how my life felt at any given moment.  Why?

Because feelings are fragile props. Only Truth is solid, unchanging and stable. The beliefs we hold should hold us up even when life feels like it’s falling apart.  Which brings us to our key Bible passage for today. Isaiah 26 focuses on the strength God gives His people so they can accomplish His purposes.  First, we need to know that one of the keys to understanding Isaiah 24-27 is realizing that the prophet Isaiah was looking ahead to the end of all things. Isaiah knew while things may not look good right now, God promises us His plans are good. God is moving us toward that day when death will be swallowed up and He will wipe every tear from His people’s eyes (Isaiah 25:8). He has ordained our peace (Isaiah 26:12).  But we aren’t just promised peace in eternity. Isaiah tells us how we can experience and walk in strength and peace today:  “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:3-4, ESV, emphasis added).

The Hebrew word for the phrase “stayed on” means “to brace, uphold, support.” In other words, those with minds fully braced, upheld and supported by trust in God and His Truth will be kept in perfect peace. This means an all-embracing peace. It comes from God, by the power of His indwelling Spirit, giving us the strength internally to face whatever comes our way externally.  This doesn’t mean that our circumstances will feel peaceful, that all our relationship troubles and hardships will suddenly get better, or that all the prayers we pray will suddenly get answered. But our minds can be steadied with God’s Truth instead of overrun with thoughts of fear, anxiety and worst-case scenarios.  The God who rescued David from Saul (1 Samuel 23), who split the Red Sea so the Israelites could safely pass through (Exodus 14), and who promised strength to His people through Isaiah is the same God you can trust with your life.  God is always doing more than you know, working toward a good you’ll one day rejoice in.

[Admin]

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Dreams Interrupted
October 4, 2024
by Brenda Bradford Ottinger

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

Envisioning the story of tomorrow, I saw scene upon scene where the little one inside me would someday grow, laugh and live. Yet dreams that once danced deep in the hollows of my heart now rest in a slip of bygone time.  One moment I was pregnant with life the next, a heartbeat was lost to eternity.  Whether miscarriage or other aching loss, perhaps you, too, know this empty echo in your spirit as you grieve beautiful dreams that have been interrupted. I’m so sorry for your loss, dear friend. It can be so hard to wrap our tender hearts around the loss of a future we expected.  One of my favorite biblical writers, King David, knew a lot about loss, from mourning death (2 Samuel 12; 2 Samuel 18:33) to mourning hardships of life (Psalm 22). I love this comforting scene David penned in Psalm 23, describing God’s presence with him on the darkest of days:  “The LORD is my shepherd.  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:1-4, NLT).

Before David was king, he was a shepherd, so he knew about leading sheep along difficult paths while protecting and providing for them staying ever close through it all. Throughout the ups and downs of David’s days, he recognized that his God, the Shepherd of his life, was his ever-present source of comfort and support.  David also wrote these comforting words about God in Psalm 139:7-10: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me” (NLT).

Oh, the relief of recognizing, as David did, that even when loss leaves us feeling empty and alone, never once will the Lord leave our side. The great Shepherd of our souls is as close as our very breath, tenderly walking with us through every dark valley of life.  Dear sister, it’s OK to feel what you feel; God isn’t judging you for being human and heartbroken. The Lord understands your disappointment and confusion, and He doesn’t need you to filter your pain.  Your God is right here, right now, loving you where you are.  In times like these when there are no answers to the “whys” as your heart cries, friend, may you rest in the tender love of God, who is forever with you. Curl up in His palm, and be held in the comfort of His care.

[Lost Soul]

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Building a Secure Attachment Style With God
June 14, 2024
by Kia Stephens

“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

“I have an insecure attachment style,” I wrote in my journal.

I had recently been researching the different types of “attachment styles,” a psychological term for how our primary caregivers’ engagement with us as infants can impact our adult relationships. I learned that our family of origin can set us up to have secure attachments or insecure ones.  It was eye-opening and painful at the same time as I unpacked how my attachment style impacted my closest relationships. Growing up, I experienced a difficult relationship with my mom and a nonexistent one with my father. Although my mother did the best she could, I still grew up with a fear of rejection and abandonment.  But while many articles I read about attachment seemed to outline human relationships well, they often omitted our most important relationship: the one with our heavenly Father.  Many of us tend to view God through the lens of our biological fathers. As a result, we may sometimes hesitate to place our faith completely in Him. We may wonder, What if He doesn’t keep His promises?

What if my circumstances never change?

How do I know if God will be a heavenly Father to me?

Maybe you have found yourself asking similar questions.  But when our trust in God wavers, we can remind ourselves of who He is. For instance, in Numbers 23:19, Scripture debunks any assumption that God can be compared with a sinful human being:  “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

These words were originally spoken to Balak, a wicked prince who sought to manipulate God’s power for his personal benefit, but they also offer comfort for us today. Simply put, God is not in the same category with broken humans. Although we may have erroneously compared Him to our fathers or the fatherly figures in our lives, there is no comparison. God is unchanging and perfectly loving in a way no human parent will ever be.  He can be trusted.  He does not lie.  He keeps His promises.  And He will never change His mind about us.  We can also be sure of God’s character through His past faithfulness to us real-life evidence that He will never leave us and that He does what He says He will do. God patiently provides us with repeated opportunities to trust Him courageously, in spite of our fears that He will abandon us.  No matter the foundation we've received from our family of origin, God makes it possible for us to establish and build a secure attachment with Him. If we are wrestling with whether our heavenly Father will abandon us, we can silence this fear with the truth of who God says He is in Scripture.

[Lost Soul]

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How To Walk and Live in God’s Truth
June 25, 2024
by Karen Ehman

“Teach me Your way, O LORD, I will walk and live in Your truth; Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].” Psalm 86:11 (AMP)

When I was 16, I met a 20-something woman who instantly fascinated me. It wasn’t because she was strikingly beautiful or academically inclined. She wasn’t incredibly wealthy or hilariously witty. Something else about her intrigued me: She seemed so confident in her living because she walked so closely with God.  As we spent time together, I noticed she placed a high priority on prayer, asking Jesus for guidance in every decision. She also prayed for others, such as people facing financial hardship or major medical diagnoses. She prayed for a friend contemplating whether the relationship she was in was healthy. Why, she even prayed when she lost one of her contacts in the bathroom sink!  One day I asked her what was the secret to a successful Christian life. Her answer was straightforward: “Realize that your very life depends on staying connected to Jesus above anything or anyone else. Don’t make a move without Him.”

I have discovered how very true her advice is. If we want to be people who make wise decisions when faced with so many options, we need to tether our decision-making to Scripture and align our hearts with God every single day.  Psalm 86:11 depicts such a person who petitions God: “Teach me Your way, O LORD, I will walk and live in Your truth; Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].”

The two words “walk” and “live” in English are translated from just one word in the original Hebrew. The term is halak, and it doesn’t just mean putting one foot in front of the other. It suggests accompanying, continually following, accessing, patrolling and traveling.  This multifaceted definition reveals such a vibrant verb! When we walk in God’s Truth, we are accompanying Him. But we aren’t just walking by His side: We are continually following Him. We have access to Him, so we are not trekking alone, nor are we sauntering obliviously. We are on patrol, watchful and cautious of what lurks ahead. We aren’t rambling aimlessly but traveling purposefully through life.  Let’s take Psalm 86:11 and turn it into a prayer, asking God for that “awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder.” If we have humble hearts that truly want to seek after the Lord, we can ask Him to teach us to walk and live in His Truth.  God alone holds the answers to all of life’s dilemmas. Let’s purposefully and sincerely bring each decision to Him, no matter how small or great, before we pick up our foot to walk.

[PippaJane]

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A Call To Persevere
August 19, 2024
by Ruth Chou Simons

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us ....” Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Though western Colorado is replete with stunning views and mountain-town-vacation vibes, my family struggled to find deep community here. Even after a few years, we felt isolated in public ministry and wrestled with all that we lacked by living in a rural area.  For several months, we seriously considered moving. How much easier and better it would be for our whole family if we moved somewhere with more schooling options, more friends and fellowship, more encouragement in ministry and of course, more access to Costco.  But ultimately, this season wasn’t about finding a new location for the Simons family; it was about meeting God where He had already placed us. It was about loving the very difficult place we were desperately trying to escape. Amid our desire to get to where we wanted to go, the clarion call was to start where we already were and to use what we already had.  It was a call to persevere.  New Testament writers shared a common framework for encouraging their readers to persevere. More often than not, their encouragement in Scripture begins with this word: “Therefore.” We find “therefore” repeated throughout the letters to the Church as the writers reminded believers that persevering is possible.  One of my favorite “therefores” is at the beginning of Hebrews 12:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus ....” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV).

This particular “therefore” comes after a list of believers credited with undeniable, unshakable faith in Hebrews 11 they are the “cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 12:1. The writer of Hebrews is encouraging us to remember the faith of these past believers and, more importantly, to remember the God they put their faith in.  And then Hebrews 12:1-2 gives practical instructions the way we should respond in light of God’s Truth:

    Throw off entangling sin. Sin clouds our ability to see God for who He truly is and distracts us from the tasks He’s given us to do.
    Run with perseverance. The Holy Spirit empowers our perseverance, but that doesn’t mean it won’t require conscious effort on our part.
    Fix our eyes on Jesus. He’s our perfect example!

Friend, because Jesus is better than anything we could secure, we can live on purpose as we follow Him in all that He has for us. We can start where we are, with what we have, and persevere. What we believe about God who He is and what He is like compels us simply to take the next right step. And when we do, we start living hope-filled lives right now, even while our eyes are on all that is not yet.

[PippaJane]

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Your Race at Your Pace
September 10, 2024
by Meghan Ryan Asbury

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us ...” Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

A few years ago, my friend and I formed what we called the Slow Girls Running Club: Where the Pace Doesn’t Matter.  We wanted an excuse to gather some girls together, and we wanted accountability to run just for the fun of being outside and moving our bodies.  The girls who showed up varied in all aspects of life, including running skill and speed. Many of them didn’t know each other, and some came alone. But they still showed up.  And we ran together.  We started and ended at the same spot but all took slightly different routes, ran varying distances and went at different paces.  The goal was not to compete. It was just to run.  Which reminds me of today’s verse. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

God has marked a spiritual race for us to run. In this race, we all may move at different paces, facing different hurdles along the way, but the finish line is the same: eternity with Jesus.  When we take our eyes off Jesus to focus on the runners around us, that’s when we can trip, get hurt or throw ourselves off course. Sometimes we trip and fall because we’re trying to run in someone else’s lane. Other times we get exhausted from trying to keep up with someone else’s pace.  The reality is we don’t have to compare our paces and races with everyone else’s because the race of life is not a competition.  When we focus on what God has given us, we find a better way to live a way to stop endlessly striving to catch up. Instead, we can run alongside one another, cheering for our fellow runners and telling each other to keep going when we get weary.  Maybe today you take a few moments to acknowledge to God where you are striving to catch up. Maybe you admit you are struggling with comparison. Maybe you confess a sin you are hiding.  Then watch as those weights that burden you start to fall off and you become better able to move toward all God has laid before you.  You are not behind. You don’t need to catch up or get ahead. You are here to run a race God has uniquely designed for you. Keep moving forward.

[Lil angel]

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Dear God, I Don’t Know Which Way To Go
September 20, 2024
by Jennifer Dukes Lee

“But the Lord said, ‘Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.’” Acts 9:15 (NLT)

Raise your hand if you’ve ever stood at life’s crossroads, saying to yourself, Which way should I go?

What if I choose the wrong path and mess up my life?

My hand is raised.  I struggle to choose a restaurant on a night out so imagine my indecision when the stakes are high. For much of my early adulthood, I sought clarity by making pro-and-con lists so lengthy that each one probably needed its own table of contents.  But when I met Jesus, that started to change.  Early in my faith, I told a friend about my decision-making struggles. I knew I needed to stop writing dissertation-length lists and surrender to God, but I couldn’t figure out practically how to do it.  The friend gave me a simple prayer:

Dear Lord: Your will, Your way. Amen.

“Really?” I asked. “That simple?”

Then I prayed that prayer. I still pray it today. I’ve learned that God loves it and He will answer it, so I need to be ready to obey when He does. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if it’s contrary to my own desires.  Exhibit A: Ananias in Acts 9. The Lord gave Ananias a clear vision telling him to prayerfully lay hands on Saul, a frightening dude who persecuted believers in Jesus. Ananias wasn’t too keen on the idea.  “‘But Lord,’ exclaimed Ananias, ‘I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!’” (Acts 9:13, NLT).

You can practically hear Ananias’ voice shaking.  “But the Lord said, ‘Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel’” (Acts 9:15).

So Ananias went, walking straight into the center of God’s will.  Ananias didn't know Saul had recently met Jesus Himself! Saul was temporarily blind after this life-changing encounter, but immediately when Ananias laid hands on him, scales fell from Saul’s eyes.  If Ananias had disobeyed, God could have made another way. But because of his obedience, Ananias got to play a key role in a milestone moment of the Christian faith: Saul, aka Paul, ultimately became a world-changing messenger for Jesus who spread the gospel to the nations.  We might not have a vision like Ananias did or hear God’s voice audibly, but as believers, we have His Spirit in us. We have His Word to lean on. We can seek Christian mentors and counsel. And we have a God who promises to give us direction.  When we pray, Your will, Your way, it won’t always be easy. But like Ananias, we can experience the peace of knowing this life-altering truth:

The best place to stand is in the middle of God’s will.

[Lil angel]

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Divinely Provided Strength
October 7, 2024
by Jamie C. Finn

“... My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a (ESV)

Most nights, I limp to the post-bedtime finish line. The day is long and hard. I wake before dawn and then give-and-go nearly every moment till dark. Nighttime is a minefield for my kids fear of isolation and abandonment, overstimulating hygiene routines, nighttime monsters, darkness and its frightening shadows, anxiety for the next day, and the terrifying quiet that invites intrusive thoughts.  My exhaustion is bone deep soul deep.  The Apostle Paul surely must have known this level of weariness, but he saw it as an opportunity to experience God in a new way. It’s not that Paul wanted to experience hardship; in fact, he “pleaded with the Lord to take it away” from him three times (2 Corinthians 12:8, NIV).  But God reminded Paul of His own sufficient grace and perfect power. God used the weakness-inducing challenges of life to invite Paul to experience Him in a new, fulfilling and complete way:  “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NIV).

I often pray away my exhaustion, asking God to take it away, to make it better: Don’t keep me living at the edge of myself, Lord. I want a life that is free, full and abundant.  And God answers me, based on His words to Paul, with an invitation: Boast in your weakness. Delight in your weakness. Rejoice in coming to the edge of yourself because it is there that I am found.  Weakness is limitation, incapacity, inherent not-enoughness part of our humanness. Because of our weakness, we can admit and glory in the fact that we are not God, and we can run to God to find all that we need. We boast in our incompleteness so that we can experience the glory of Christ’s power resting upon us.  This changes the paradigm for all of life, especially the hard parts. Insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties and weaknesses they don’t need to be avoided, fought against or prayed away. Instead, they can be delighted in. Because anything that brings us more of God and His all-sufficient grace and perfect power is a gift.  So today, I’m not only anticipating exhaustion, not only practicing awareness of my weakness, but I’m also preparing to meet strength the kind of supernatural, divinely provided strength that’s found only in my weakness.  Because when I am weak, then I am strong in Him.

[Lil angel]

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Keep Washing Feet
October 9, 2024
by Whitney Lowe

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)

“Can you believe she said that to me?” I asked my husband.

Someone from church had made a comment in passing that offended me. Over the past months, I had been trying to develop a friendship with this person. She hadn’t really reciprocated, and now her comment had me wanting to walk away entirely.  I was 100% ready to delete her from my contacts over a backhanded compliment that she probably didn’t mean.  Christian community isn’t easy, friend. Though we often idealize church and the relationships that come with it, we are all still human, equally as prone to carelessness as we are to taking offense.  Thankfully, Jesus saw this coming. At the Last Supper in John 13, He exhorted His disciples not to give up: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

Until Jesus returns, our love for fellow believers is the sign that the gospel is real. God could have written it in the clouds, right?

But God didn’t do that. Instead, He called us, His Church, to show the world that new life in Christ changes everything and draws us together in redemptive fellowship.  Importantly, Jesus had just finished washing the disciples’ feet when He gave this new command. He washed the feet of Judas, who was hours away from selling Him out for 30 pieces of silver, and the feet of Peter, who would deny Him in a moment of weakness.  Serving one another as family members in the household of God (Ephesians 2:19) requires a posture of humility. Jesus set the bar for loving each other down here on the floor, washing feet that have been walking all day (in Jesus’ case, walking through unpaved streets before there were sewer systems), serving people we already know are inevitably going to hurt us with their lack of sensitivity and their failure to return the favor.  Just like the Old Testament law bound the Israelites together as God’s chosen people, the new commandment that binds us together in Christ is love. Sometimes that looks like washing feet, even when the world tells us to pick up our righteous anger and fight back.  We continue to love each other unreasonably because that’s how people know we belong to Jesus, who died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). In those moments when offense and bitterness tempt us to cut ties and throw punches, may we be people whose unconditional commitment to each other shows the transformative, sacrificial love of our Savior.

[Lost Soul]

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Praying for Our Leaders
October 16, 2024
by Kristen Miller

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)

“I’ll pray for you.”

I’ve often walked away from conversations with that genuine intention but consistently putting it into practice proves difficult.  Recently, a friend leaving on a mission trip asked me to pray for her. With her next words, I felt a twinge of conviction. She said, “I’m asking you because I know you’ll pray.”

Her intent look, clasped hands and earnest tone communicated her belief that I would pray and that it would make a difference. I imagine if the Apostle Paul were sitting across from us today, he’d have a similar demeanor when inviting us to pray “for all people for kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

When we consider international politics, national governments, election results and political parties, Paul’s instruction can feel daunting. These issues can become points of such controversy and polarization that knowing how to pray sometimes seems impossible.  Are our prayers even making a difference?

Paul certainly thought so. Three of the words Paul used in 1 Timothy 2:1 “petitions, prayers, intercession” all carry a similar meaning: earnest requests to God on behalf of another person. Additionally, this verse mentions “thanksgiving,” which is active, grateful language lifted to God as an act of worship. Paul asks us to give thanks for our leaders. What a perspective shift.  Prayer is not a last resort or a passive option. The power of prayer can’t be underestimated (James 5:16). Prayer is active, and in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, we see it has an effect we pray and intercede for all people and those in leadership “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives.”

We need God’s wisdom, grace and ability in our day-to-day lives, and so do our leaders. Prayer is our opportunity to appeal to God. Prayer is our part; the answer is God’s part. He wants us to ask for what we and our leaders need (Matthew 7:7).  Setting things in motion for the Kingdom of God begins on our knees in prayer.  Here are three ways to intercede for our leaders including political leaders, national and state government leaders, local community leaders, church and spiritual leaders, and family leaders:

    Pray for leaders to develop their leadership style and skills.

    Pray for wisdom, unity, strength and discernment.

    Pray for God’s plan to be accomplished.

Who is God calling you to pray for today?

Trust that God hears your prayers and is working on your behalf and on behalf of your leaders.