Didn't Keep Your January Goals? Don't Beat Yourself Up

 

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! Psalm 31:24

When a new year rolls around seemingly you may have lofty goals about losing weight, going to the gym, being a better neighbor, joining a Bible study, or journaling and before you know it it is the first of February and you have stalled out. Don’t beat yourself up and just keep pressing forward.

Life is not a race and a big no no is comparing yourself to another. God has made each of his creations unique and with a specific purpose. Maybe you know yours and maybe you are yet to figure it out. Keep getting up, breathing, trying to be a good citizen and helping those around you who seem down and out. Life isn’t just about you but it involves many facets around you.

May I challenge you to not quit. Download the YouVersion Bible app for starters. So much good stuff on it. Set up a date with a friend for coffee or lunch. Wake up daily and don’t dash to turn on the TV or dive into Facebook but be still and read Psalm 1, then Psalm 2, and so forth. Talk to God he is waiting to hear from you.

PRAYER: Today is another day you have made I will rejoice and be glad in it. I will stop trying to be like others and be who you made me to be. Use me Lord to cheer up others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Stop The Chattering-Tune In To God

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.Proverbs 10:8-10

Do you chatter on the phone, on social media, in person and in chattering often don’t really know if what you are passing on is even factual? This is a big time to start the rumor mill running and a statement catching fire and taken out of context and not a good thing to do. 

Everyone has probably been guilty of talking too much and passing on stuff that sounds true but you don’t really know if it is true. Probably best to leave the ‘fact’ unspoken, and perhaps talk to the savior first for guidance. 

The times today are filled with wrong information everywhere. The internet says so and so is dead and in fact they are very much alive so therein starts the rumor mill. Ask God to give you discretion and also give you love for others so you don’t talk about them and try to not be guilty of setting a forest ablaze with your words. 

PRAYER: Lord help me be kind with my words and think before I spread misinformation. Help those responsible for giving news be truthful and not out to destroy someone. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Satan Lies In Wait

“For from within, out of man's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23)

The world we live in is run by Satan changing the culture to get sin normalized. Unless a person, like moms and dads for instance, have a relationship with the Lord they will fall for the utter nonsense on parade and celebrated today and pushed on children in school libraries and many public schools. People like me who write devotions are considered quacks or religious extremists. 

There have been churches who caved to the culture and edit the Bible in order to not offend anyone. We are at war my friends. Lovingly make corrections when you have an opportunity, speak up at school board meetings when the words ‘gender affirmation’ come up. 

Satan has been at work deceiving people since the garden of Eden and he messes with marriage and gender then society crumbles and we are on track for another Sodom and Gomorrah. Be on your knees. Don’t get to the point you are not bothered by the indoctrination of children and God fearing Christians who love this country being called ‘Christian nationalists’. The media loves to slap negative titles on groups they wish would go away. Keep praying. Be kind. Pray for those who are blinded. Stay calm. 

PRAYER: Today let me hear your voice Lord. Open the eyes and ears of any I know who can’t see what is happening. Help me be on guard so I am not deceived. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Note- Moms out there who want to pray for the schools, the teachers and the children check out Www.momsinprayer.org of which is worldwide ministry in over 160 countries. #Momsinprayer

Help Is On The Way

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:13

I am not sure what you may be facing today and maybe everyday. Physical challenge, mental challenge, wayward children, sickness, but God hears you and has not forgotten you even though you wonder when the tables will turn. Why me Lord? 

Recently I became very discouraged over something I have been trusting God for for many years. I realized two factors where Satan was at work in my mind trying to taunt me and that was completion of 21 Days of Prayer and also a wonderful Moms in Prayer city gathering. The enemy hates when you pray and he hates when you stay peaceful in the storms of life. 

Whatever is going on know that God has a plan and He is growing you just as much as the person or situation you are praying for. You need to be still, keep praying, don’t try to work things out on your own, and yes did I say pray? 

PRAYER: Father I thank you for all you have given me in my life. Even when situations seem dire and unchangeable I know you are there. Help me be still. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Friends - Make You Or Break You

“Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" 1 Corinthians 15:33

You are only as good as the friends you choose to hang out with. If you are a parent of a child still at home continually pray for them to make wise choice of friends.

As the verse says “bad company corrupts morals” it is so very true. To be on the path God wants you to be on you need to be wise in selecting companions. This could apply in adulthood too as it says in Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

If you are praying right now for an adult child who may have left his friends at the door of the church so to speak and has picked up with a crowd who affirms his choices keep praying. Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers and many people who claim to love the Lord don’t love His word if they are giving the okay to some sorts of behavior. Pray for those you know who need drawn back by the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER:I am thankful for prayers of people in my life for me and help me never doubt or stop praying for those being fooled by Satan to believe lies. In these last days many are fooled. I pray for protection of those in my family to stay on track with the Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lonely?

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 NIV Bible Gateway 

Everyone needs friends. There is a saying if you want to have friends show yourself friendly. In my life as a former military member and military spouse we have moved many times. Each time comes with the task of making new friends. I know the feeling of being alone and don’t like anyone to feel it. 

If you are in a neighborhood keep an eye out for those who look new and show a gesture of kindness. If you are new get involved by finding a church home. Not all churches will be friendly I visited one several years ago in Iowa and their church sign said ‘The Friendly Church’ but the only time we were spoken to was when pastor said to greet person next to you. That was it! 

Sometimes being alone is okay because solitude is good for the soul especially when communing with God. Pray for God to show you someone to befriend. I did this prior to a Women’s conference years ago in Mesa, Arizona and made a lifelong encouraging friend Elaine. Ask God to use you to brighten another’s day. 

PRAYER: Lord God use me to help someone in a pit to be lifted up and restored. Guard my heart from self pity as that is a tool of the enemy. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

How Are You Doing Today?

 

Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.2 Corinthians 1:4

Depending on what is going on in your life is how you answer this question. I know people struggling with a gravely ill adult child, a few with cancer, some making decisions on moving to a new state, some believing for deliverance from an addiction, and so forth. I don’t have on my list any third world problems such as hunger, homelessness, violence, war, and unclean water. 

The way to navigate through any problem either here or on another country, is to trust in the Lord, pray, stay positive and never lose hope. If you aren’t on this list you can stay positive for these people by not letting negative speech concerning them come from your mouth. 

God can and will use every situation that comes into your life. Trying to refocus any fears to something positive. Satan hopes you will forget to talk to God. Make time to get alone and just chat with God. He can set your feet to dancing again. 

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for good times and bad for in all things you have a plan and purpose. I will trust in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.