Lord I Need You

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10

I need you for my screw ups. I need you for my wandering thoughts. I need you for trying to stop comparing. I need you to try to stop always trying to be right. I need you to stay humble. I need you to help me stay off social media which creates so many problems and hurts. 

Do any of those sound like you? Friend it is essential to stay in tune with God and the Holy Spirit. I frankly don’t understand how people who once followed Christ think they are just fine without him and don’t even take their children to kids church. 

Lean in to God. Talk to Him daily. If you don’t go to church try to get plugged in.  Our world is getting crazy and you need an anchor to keep you grounded. 

PRAYER: Father today I give you thanks for life, liberty, and joy. Use me to help bring joy to another who is hurting. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Stay In The Joyful Mode

 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

 When you fly by air you are asked by the crew to put your devices on Airplane mode which I do. But as you wake up each day perhaps you need to put yourself in the ‘joyful mode’ not allowing anything to distract you. 

It is difficult to attain joy apart from the Holy Spirit in dwelling you. Joy is a calm contentment where you can’t help smiling. 

No matter what issues are going on in your life forget the past reach to the here and now and keep your mind on things that build up and not tear down. Don’t involve yourself in divisive things that will only bring joy to the devil. 

PRAYER:I am grateful for another day and what you have in store for me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Watch God Work

 Watch God Work

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 54:17

I believe in positive thinking and focusing on what God can do. I believe in speaking words of life and not death into situations. 

In the 2019 motion picture Breakthrough, which is a true story, a woman whose son broke through the ice and was in ICU wanted positive talk around her comatose son. Every one wanted to say if he comes out of coma he would be a vegetable she refused to let anyone to come in his hospital room unless they were positive and affirming and believing for a miracle. 

This is so true. Some faiths may frown upon this thinking it is what it is but God is the God of miracles and breakthrough. Believe = Receive, Doubt = Do Without. 

PRAYER: I know Miracles can happen. The birth of children is one huge miracle. You oh Lord are awesome and powerful and I trust in your healing and restoring power. Nothing is impossible. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Oh Beautiful For Spacious Skies

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.Colossians 3:15

What is on your mind today? If you stop and think there is much to be grateful for even in the midst of issues in your life. You almost have to be intentional seeking God each day before Satan pokes a finger in your eye.

You may be experiencing family separation, prodigal children, isolation, fear, imbedded worry but you have to give this stuff over to God and try to stop bemoaning things and trying to fix things.

God knows your pain. Oh Becky stop saying that. No I mean it He really does care! I go through this where I become almost spiritually incapacitated and have to recognize Satan’s attack and wake up. Truly have prayer, by this I mean go in your prayer closet and cry out to God. God has a plan. Hang in there. 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for America, for truth, for those who choose to serve you and carry your light to the hurting, confused and downtrodden. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.Ephesians 1:3

Do you feel blessed? If you woke up with a case of the blues first remember God wants you to have joy and the enemy is the one trying to squish the joy out of you and get you away from your quiet time and prayer closet time. 

Today go outside or look out a window at the sky. Right now as I wrote the sky is light blue with puffy clouds. A few dark clouds indicate rain may be in the forecast. Give thanks to God for the beautiful day. 

If you have any dark clouds in your life God can help you find the silver lining and a rainbow is in your future. God’s rainbow his promise. Remember each day to say thank you for your blessings and try to shift wrong or gloomy thinking by getting your Bible out and reading the book of John. Shout for joy!

PRAYER: Today I choose joy no matter what the enemy is trying to put off on me. I choose to kick the devil and tell him to shut up that God has whatever is going on. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Click link for a song of worship: 

https://youtu.be/5_aIauL2xKA?si=wf6muXHEtpjVvxHK

Help Lord I Am Lonely

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.Psalm 147:3

Do you ever have days you feel lonely and isolated even after our shutdown due to pandemic fears? There is a saying “if you want to be a friend show yourself friendly” but also remember to push back from those in your life who have made it crystal clear they want nothing to do with you.

If your heart is hurting today first get out and turn on some praise music I included one at the end of this devotion. Pray for your enemies and anyone in your life who has hurt you. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t to win a friend.

Above all keep running your race to win. Think of the ‘ultimate lonely’ of a man or woman in prison and if your heart is touched ,see if you can get a letter writing ministry started at your church, similar to my former church Church of the Highlands, called Letters of Hope. Everyone needs relationships. God did not make us to be alone as it says in Genesis referring to Adam and Eve. Find community and let your light shine for Jesus and pray for those who are unkind or hurtful to you that the Holy Spirit could infiltrate their lives.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me remember there is always someone who is in a worse place than I am. Give me creative ideas to share love with the unloveable. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click link for a song of praise:

https://youtu.be/YXg2ztge8f0?si=-o2Zyth1koBT4-2E

The Sting Of Rejection

 

“Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” Psalm 27:10

Rejection hurts whether from a person you thought was a friend, a spouse after years of marriage, losing out on a contract at work, not being selected to be in a club or fraternity and so forth. 

Jesus suffered the ultimate rejection and name calling. Unjust and hurtful as it was he took it bravely. 

You can’t fix everything and in time giving situations to God is best. Trust God to either restore or help you manage your wounded emotions. Love your enemies it says in Matthew 5:43-48. Focus on helping someone or being kind will help alleviate some of the hurt. 

PRAYER: Father I give you my issues in life which are too great for me to do anything with. You know those who have crushed my spirit and perhaps they themselves are wounded souls who need you. I praise you for healing mind, body, and emotions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.