Post Holiday Blues

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.James 4:8 NIV Bible Gateway

It’s now been about two weeks since Christmas so how is your mental state? You may still be putting things away or writing thankyous. Have you allowed yourself to slip into a self pity mode of the blues? It’s very easy to do if you don’t watch what you are dwelling on. 

Comparing yourself to another’s situation or starting to get negative can get you in a bad mood pretty easily. Think of people who have lost loved ones over the holidays or maybe didn’t have the money to buy gifts or take trips. How about those in North Carolina still dealing with horrific storm damage from earlier. Or then there is Southern California and wildfire destruction. 

It is sort of like the character George Bailey in the classic old movie ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ which is a must see at Christmas. He was at the end of his rope over potential financial destruction and about to commit suicide when his angel Clarence appeared to save him as a result of many prayers going up for him. When the angel says “to think you were going to take your life over money” George replies “it may not be important in Heaven but it is pretty important down here” and so the story goes.Your life is valuable and people in your life depend on you so never start digging a pity hole which is hard to escape from. 

PRAYER: I am grateful first for life. Next for family then friends. Thanks for food and clothing and money to use and help bless others with. Guard my heart from wrong thinking. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Your 21 Days

 

 "So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer."Ezra 8:23

My former church,  Church of the Highlands in Alabama is having 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer right now. I have a link at end of devotion for any who care to check it out. Churches are joining from as far away as Hong Kong. 

My question to you is what are you fasting from or seeking God for in these 21 days of the new year? A time to regroup and to rethink things and pause and not overreact. 

Your church may not be starting the new year this way but it is an awesome method to take a good hard look at your life and make it less self centered and more God centered. Maybe you will find things to fast such as social media or too much TV. Anything in your life that takes you away from your walk with the Lord basically. 

PRAYER: Father as I start a new year I want your help in being still and waiting on you in so many areas of my life. I pray for those far from you who need a daily walk with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Www.churchofthehighlands.com/21days

Don’t Just Throw A Scripture On Stuff

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.“ Matthew 23:23 NIV Bible Gateway

Recently the Los Angeles area was devastated by fires of apocalyptic style. When people are hurting it is easy to toss out a scripture here and there for comfort or maybe even in an unkind judgmental way, but may I challenge all believers to go beyond the scripture to prayer and practical help.

At times when people are at their lowest point such as losing all the material goods to a fire they may be able to be reached easier with the message of the gospel. When you get to the end of yourself and your stuff there is God.

No one leaves this Earth with a U Haul being buried next to them at their gravesite. Your stuff can be destroyed in an instant but the relationships you make, the kindnesses your show and the love you provide last for eternity.

PRAYER: I get overwhelmed at times trying to organize and get rid of things I don’t really need and in the big scheme of things just having friends and family is the key. Help me be placed where I can help someone hurting. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Focus On Good In 2025

 

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.Colossians 3:2

It is so easy to be negative or even think you aren’t then to slip up and be labeled judgmental. I have a great idea!!. Focus on doing good in 2025 and skip political squabbles. 

Intentionally set your mind on ‘things above’ and allow God and the Holy Spirit to handle the issues of our fleshly nature. Don’t try to prove anything to anyone. Be still and be at peace. 

As I watched Former President Jimmy Carters funeral at the National Cathedral in DC with people of both political parties in attendance I noticed for once kindness and gentleness. Why not do your part in the year ahead to speak love and pray for those who you disagree with or who don’t care to be in your circle of friends. 

PRAYER: Lord I want to be more like you in every way. Guard my heart from wrong thinking. Show me how to live even those I don’t feel like. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Put Your Critical Spirit To Rest in 2025

 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.Romans 12:3

New Year’s resolutions run the gamut from losing weight, getting in shape, starting a new hobby, doing something on your bucket list but do any of you need to be more loving and less critical in 2026?

Sometimes an innocent opinion can be misinterpreted to be criticism. A new tactic would be maybe to start praying for the person you are tempted to make an unkind or seemingly judgmental comment about. 

God loves everybody ponder that for a moment. Liberal, conservative, gay, straight, democrat, republican. Ask God to help you see through His eyes and ask Him how perhaps you need to minister to others. Let God do the fixing you just love and pray. 

PRAYER: I am grateful Father for all you have done in my life. Thanks for your redemption, grace, mercy, love and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Love In A World Of Hatred

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.1 John 2:15-16 NIV Bible Gateway

Seems this world we live in is antagonistic toward the believer or a person who would dare stand up for fighting evils in our culture. The anger can even come from a family member who doesn’t understand why you aren’t sucked into the culture and its’ lies too. 

This hatred can cause you to be labeled critical or judgmental because you don’t buy into the lies of those whose heart is hard and who is in love with the darkness even though they may not think so. 

You press on to pray for school students, do prayer walks, and ignore ugly comments and being unfriended or blocked because you are ‘mean spirited’ and too religious. Sound familiar to anyone? Just keep praying my friend no matter how much you are being mocked or ridiculed. Prayer works. 

PRAYER: Father please help those I know who don’t care much about you and call people who do religious because of their lack of understanding. I pray for a massive revival to break out and many get saved. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

New Years Plans/Thoughts

 

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.Isaiah 43:19

Each year the clock and calendar rolls around to a new year it is time to think about making changes, trying new things, starting a new tradition, or starting a new hobby. The biggest change many choose is losing weight and getting into shape. 

Might I challenge you to get your physical body in condition yes but more importantly your spiritual body or soul. Many are ambitious in that they say the plan is to read through the Bible in a year. I admire that but it has not worked for me. 

I have the You Version Bible App on my phone and it has a daily reading but also different plans you can check out. As mentioned in a previous devotion you can do 21 Days of prayer at www.churchofthehighlands.com/21days check that out. Now go do a new thing! 

PRAYER: I choose this day to let go of grudges, wrong thinking, and stuff I have no control over and to relax and rest in your love Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.