Devotions For Real Life

God moments, lessons learned, and hope for the journey

Look for a new post every Sunday. My hope is you find encouragement, wisdom for real life moments, and share them with others who may benefit from any of the posts.

  • Selective Reading

    I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept of selective listening, and if you’re a parent, you’ve likely accused your children of it. It’s when you listen but only hear the messages you want to hear, while somehow ignoring everything else, even if it’s said. It’s as if you’re deaf to any instruction other than those you want to hear. This idea of selective listening got me thinking and I realized that this selective behavior also applies to reading.

    For years, there were certain parts of scripture that I preferred to avoid. Some of these were for legitimate reasons, as I didn’t see how they could add value to my life. Additionally, there were scriptures whose messages I understood but didn’t want to accept. I’m not alone in this selective reading behavior. As believers, we often practice selective reading when it comes to the word of God. Popular verses like “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” and “nothing can separate me from the love of God” easily roll off our tongues. We appreciate the messages they convey and enjoy the perceived benefits of these scriptures.

    Then there are the scriptures we prefer to avoid. For instance, “As much as you can, be at peace with each other. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, and forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.” We tend to avoid this when we don’t want to forgive or when we want to give free rein to our anger because we feel justified in our offense. I’ve heard many believers say they won’t forgive, which I believe is a result of selective reading, neglecting Matthew 6:15: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” What offense could be greater than what we did to God? We cost Him the life of His most precious, His own Son. We willfully caused this because of our sin. When I hear believers say they won’t forgive, that verse quickly comes to mind. When I’ve thought I don’t want to forgive, that scripture runs through my mind. I realized that I have to forgive, that I must forgive because God forgave me. How can I ask or require Him to forgive me so much if I’m not willing to forgive others?

    What about the scripture about what true religion and what it is? According to James 1:27  religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. You see scripture says that true religion is not attending church every Sunday, it’s not having Christian radio stations bumper stickers plastered on your car, or even blasting worship music.  It’s not wearing a cross or witness wear. No true religion is when you are the hands and feet of Jesus and you minister to orphans, shut-ins, widows, the disregarded, the forgotten, those in prison, the homeless on the streets, the neighbors in need who offer nothing in return. True religion is giving freely the love of God through acts of service, kindness, and selfless generosity. That’s what scripture says. It also says that Jesus will one say to certain people that I was hungry, and you fed me, I was naked and you gave me clothes, I was sick or in prison and you visited me. That whatever you do to the least of these you’ve done unto me. Do you see the message that’s so clearly there if you will choose not to selectively read scripture but instead take it as a whole. 

    The very reason God chose Israel was so they could be blessed and, in turn, bless others. Nothing that God sends out returns empty or simply ends. Our salvation and the life we have in Christ are meant to be shared with others. This creates a cycle of life and growth. It flows through us and continues to others, rather than stopping with us. That’s what scripture teaches.

    I challenge you to consider all of scripture, even the parts that make you uncomfortable because they highlight areas in your heart and mind that need change. King David expressed it best in Psalm 139 when he said, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” We should ask God to search us and use scripture as a guide to identify aspects of ourselves that need transformation or removal. If you only selectively read scripture, you’ll miss the full message of the gospel of Christ. Your salvation wasn’t just for you; it was a gift meant to be shared as you forgive, show kindness, serve, and love others. Ultimately, this glorifies your Father in heaven by generously offering all you are in service to Him, just as Christ offered all of Himself for you.

    He doesn’t expect us to accomplish everything in one day. It’s a process, but choose today to open your heart and spirit to the transformative word of life. Choose today to embrace and fully absorb the message found in scripture. Pray the prayer David prayed and truly mean it. Then watch as the word of God, which is more powerful than you can imagine, transforms, renews, and gives you brand new vision and eyes to see the world and others. Not as problems to be solved or annoyances to avoid, but as lost souls desperate for the same amazing gift you have already received so freely. Will you read it all and let it change you? Will you read it all and let it transform others as it flows through you? Will you stop selectively reading and embrace the full gospel of Christ?

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  • Armor Up: Fighting the Battle Within

    The best generals and warriors understand that battles aren’t always won by might; they are also won by perception. If you can convince someone they are defeated, they will stop trying to fight. These are tactics that aim to deceive, confuse, and psychologically break your enemy’s will to fight rather than relying on a direct contest of strength. This kind of psychological warfare is just one of the many tactics that our enemy uses against the body of Christ, against believers.

    Satan is a cunning enemy. He never stops trying to take as many of us from the Lord or prevent as many of us from coming to the Lord as he can. He does this in many ways. One of the most obvious ways is through comfort. He makes it look so good to be independent from God and not worry about the consequences. He deceives people into thinking they have plenty of time and not responding to the tugging or the knocking while they have a chance. He encourages others to harm and hurt the innocent, making it seem deserved. He works at suppressing the message of the gospel in this way. These are the most obvious of his tactics, and we all know full well that he employs them.

    Yet there is one tactic that is harder to identify but is employed just as often against believers. It’s the psychological warfare that we go through in our battle with the enemy. If he can’t convince you with creature comforts to sit out of a fight, like the survivor players who choose to take the reward instead of staying in to win the prize, then he’ll try other ways to convince you to come down off the obstacle and quit.

    The psychological warfare that makes the pain scream louder so that you hear it, that makes the time stretch and feel like an impossibility to ever win even though winning is within your grasp, the feeling that everyone else is stronger than you so why even stay in the game because you won’t win anyway? He’ll try to distract you with temptations that would pull you away from this race that you’re running. He loves the compare game, you know which game I’m talking about. It’s a game where when you look at Facebook or when you walk around outside, that thing you’re struggling with is right in your face, and it seems like everyone else is winning but you. For me, this is at church on Sundays when I look around and everyone’s going home after church, and it seems like they’re all surrounded by their families with their partners and joyful, and I’m going home alone again. Or I’m going with just my boys and me but no partner to enjoy life us. I feel the lack because as I’ve looked around, I’ve seen others who have. It’s not that I’m envious; I recognize that having a partner wouldn’t make my life magically wonderful. It’s just an ache and an unmet desire that I have. I’ve known women who desperately want a child who experienced the same kind of feelings as they’re looking around, and all of a sudden, it seems like everyone is pregnant, but they can’t get pregnant. Maybe it’s not a relationship or a person you want in your life, but maybe it’s finances, and you look around and see that it seems everyone else has the new thing that you’re not able to get or that you really want. Perhaps even the things you need are hard to attain, and it’s discouraging when you look around because it seems so easy for everyone else. That’s the compare game that the enemy likes to use, his tactic of distracting you away from focusing on unity in the body of Christ and focusing on what you do have and your relationship with the Lord. 

    I want to be very blunt when I say that if you hope in anything but the Lord, you will be disappointed. Everyone else and everything else that we can put our hope in besides God will disappoint us or fail us somehow. If not in the beginning, then eventually. We are fickle humans, and we live in a world full of mortal, fickle humans with corruptible and perishing things. There is not a single thing that we have here that endures or lasts forever; there is no one who is faithful without ever making a mistake or failing us. We cannot live forever, so we will ultimately disappoint anyone we love because we will leave them, and we won’t want to. I know we’ll see them again in heaven, but here on this earth, we will cause others grief in one way or another. The only place to properly put your hope where you won’t be disappointed is in the Lord.

    Today, as I sit here, I fight the psychological battle with the enemy. He wants to discourage me, he wants me to play the compare game, he wants to point out all the ways that I shouldn’t be happy and all the things I don’t have. I don’t have to let those arrows hit me. I don’t have to believe the lies that are being thrown at me. I don’t have to allow myself to become discouraged and feel defeated. I will not lay down my sword, my shield, or take off my armor and quit fighting for the Lord. I will ask God to give me the strength to just stand. I will cover my heart and my mind with prayer and with truth from God’s word. I will ensure that the only playlist I have running is the one that speaks of the truth of who I am in Christ and his love for me. 

    Recognizing the kind of battle we’re fighting is key. Once we recognize the kind of battle we’re fighting, then we know how to fight back or how to combat the enemy. My goal is that you would see the kind of battle you’re facing because it might be the same kind of battle I’m fighting now. Maybe it’s different versions of the same arrows: discontentment, disappointment, insecurities, maybe even pride and confidence in yourself, not in Christ. But the enemy lobs arrows at us. The enemy tries to distract us with all the wonderful things we could have if we choose our own way instead of standing there fighting the battle that God has called us to do.

    When I was in my kitchen cleaning dishes, thinking about my life and my workday ahead and all the frustrations, and I was feeling overwhelmed, I realized that the enemy was trying to discourage me so I wouldn’t share this with you, but I am going to share it anyway.

    My fellow believers, we have an enemy, and no, he is not at fault for everything we do, but he is the cause of all the lies and the deception and the hurt in the world. He is the cause of all death and grief. He wants to write your story, tell you that it’s better that you take the pen out of God’s hand, and you write it the way you think it would be best. Let’s win this psychological battle; let’s let God write our story. Let’s walk in hope for salvation and righteousness in Christ, not in hope of temporary things that don’t endure. Let’s invest ourselves and our time in building God’s Kingdom instead of being concerned about only building ours the way we want it to be. Choose to stand and say, “I am a child of God, and no weapon formed against me, whether real or psychological, will prosper, and every lie that rises up against me will fall, put down by the truth from God’s word.” I am not afraid of what the devil will bring or use to try to defeat me because I’ve already won because Christ won. I just have to stand and believe, and no amount of psychological warfare will defeat me because I have victory in Christ. The Son set me free, and I am free indeed. 

    I will not be tied down; I will not be discouraged, and I hope you make that decision too. Sometimes it is a decision we have to choose because we don’t feel it, but even when I don’t feel it, I know the truth of who I am in Christ, and I will not allow the enemy to convince me otherwise and let him win. Lucifer, father of lies, I’m going to shine my light no matter what; you cannot dim it, not with any tactic you try to use against me. Because I have a fortress and a refuge, and I have armor, and my team has already won! 

    Do you believe it? I hope you do, that the truth sinks into your soul and helps strengthen and sustain you today, like it has me.  

    Scripture reference: Ephesians 6:11-13,  2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 1 Peter 5:8,  Psalm 91,  Isaiah 54:17

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  • When I don’t

    There is a newer, and really fun praise song people sing at churches all over. It’s actually just called “Praise.” There’s a line in that song that I was thinking about this morning. It says, “I’ll praise when I feel it, and I’ll praise when I don’t.” I’ve been reflecting on this idea of moving and acting despite not feeling.

    There are seasons that I would describe as neuropathy of the soul. Neuropathy occurs when there’s been damage to the nerves, causing symptoms like numbness, tingling, and even pain. Ironically, sometimes losing feeling actually hurts. These are the real-life symptoms of a physical condition. However, I would argue that neuropathy of the soul functions in much the same way. These are seasons of numbness, doldrums in life with no wind to guide or move you. It’s like you’re just stuck or suspended there, with motivation or emotion. Yet, even in that place, as believers, we have a choice to make.

    We can choose to actively pursue, praise, and walk by faith even when we don’t feel like it. When I feel no motivation to lift my hands in praise, I can still lift my hands in praise. When reading scripture feels like just reading other words on a page, I can still read the words on the pages of scripture. When singing praise songs feels pointless and joyless, I can still sing praises. When praying feels like sending words into a void or as if the words are bouncing right off the ceiling and coming back at me, I can still pray. Even when I don’t feel the drive to pursue God passionately, I can still choose to pursue Him passionately. My faith is not based on my feelings. I don’t serve God because it feels good or even because I want to. I am compelled to serve God out of absolute gratitude because of His boundless grace. And even when I don’t feel it, the truth of His boundless grace has not changed. Not only am I compelled out of gratitude to serve the Lord, but there’s also nourishment and hunger that can only be met through connection with the Lord.

    Often, when you have a fever or some kind of cold symptom, you can lose your desire for food, not your need for it. Primarily, people lose their hunger because they can’t taste the food. When you can’t taste the food, even though you still need it, your desire for it reduces. This is what happens during this season of neuropathy of the soul. It’s almost as if I can’t taste and see that the Lord is good; instead, I just have faith that He is. This is harder. To want to eat when there is no desire or motivation to. Where previously I felt the full effects of joy and peace, it was sweet, and my soul longed for that refreshing. When the same nourishment is like sawdust in my mouth, even good things are hard to swallow. Sometimes it’s like that. There’s no sweetness even to things that are sweet, no enjoyment in taking in nourishment. There’s no flavor, but it’s not because there’s no flavor; it’s because you can’t taste it. The food hasn’t changed; your ability to taste it and recognize the sweetness has. When you don’t feel it, when your walk with the Lord and all His blessings, His sustaining grace, have not lost their sweetness or somehow seem to have become less, we just can’t feel it, the truth has not changed.

    Do you stop eating because you can’t taste the food? No, if you did, you would die from lack of nourishment. Your body still requires nourishment even if there’s no enjoyment in receiving it. It’s the same for your soul. There is never a moment when you do not need the nourishment that only comes from the bread of life. There’s never a moment when you do not require the water from the well that never runs dry. When you feel it and when you don’t, the only way to do anything in the daily life of a believer is to stay connected to the vine. We must draw from and seek God at all times. When we feel the amazing connectedness and joy in that relationship, when there’s sweetness that we can savor, and when we feel nothing at all. We can recognize that those are just seasons of neuropathy of the soul or times when we’ve come to a place in the ocean of our life where we are stuck in a doldrum. Our position might be different than it had been, but God has not changed. He is still amazing even if, when we look, we do not feel any wonder.

    So what do we do? What is our response to these times of numbness, times where there’s no intrinsic or extrinsic motivation to seek and stay connected? It’s simple: we eat anyway. Those are the moments that we choose to walk by faith and believe in something that we can’t feel or see but that we know is true. Those are times we choose to seek what our soul doesn’t even recognize in that moment that we need but we know that we do. These are times of trial where we are tested in a very specific way to see if we will continue to pursue God and serve even when there is no benefit or it feels like there’s no easy, quick-win benefit for us. If I only serve God when it feels good, if I only seek God when it’s easy, what kind of service and seeking is that?

    If your response to this is, “I’ve never felt that way and I never will,” I have news for you: you will. All of us go through these times, and all of us as believers have a choice to make regarding our reaction and our action in those moments. It’s fun to say, “I’ll praise when I feel it and I’ll praise when I don’t,” but it’s not so much fun to actually have to choose to praise when you don’t feel it. That’s when our act of worship becomes a sacrifice of praise and an act of faith.

    This journey with the Lord requires nourishment and connection every day and every moment. So when you feel it and when you don’t—regardless of your feelings—I challenge you to pursue God anyway. Remind yourself when it feels joyless and there’s no sweetness in the pursuing to keep pressing on. Remember, we live not by sight but by faith, and we pursue God not by feelings but by faith. And because of our faith we pray. “Lord, when we don’t, We still will because we need you always! Help us Lord never to forget that!” You are my God when I feel it, and when I don’t! You are the one I serve when I feel it and when I don’t! And I will seek you always – when I want to and when I don’t! – I will preserve and believe by faith!

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  • Lifting Up Weary Arms: A Journey of Faith

    I haven’t been writing lately. When I try to tap into that part of myself that’s inspired, I find very little. Why? Absolute weariness. Weariness can lead to many symptoms, and a lack of creativity is just one of them. It also has a tendency to take me down that dark road where I wonder why it even matters that I continue to write. That dark road of the valley of depression and despair where motivation is hard to find and positivity is fleeting

    Yes, even in the life of a believer, there are times when life becomes so heavy and situations so taxing that you find yourself at the end of your rope. Because I find myself here, I started to realize I should do what I typically do: process, come, and see a way to either look at this situation from God’s perspective or perhaps find a way, with God’s help, to move through this season with grace. Unlike before, I’m not condemning myself for being here. There are very valid reasons for my bone weariness. Work demands are very high, stressful situations with team members, my father’s health struggles, and having to recognize that his passing might be sooner than I feel ready for, if one can ever be ready for that. Some health challenges of my own, probably due to the exhaustion. Financial strains and the regular daily responsibilities that are always there but now feel impossibly heavy. All of these things combined remind me that I don’t need to condemn myself or blame myself for the weariness. I recognize that life is just heavy at the moment.

    Even though I don’t condemn myself for not being stronger, I’m still not sure how to cope. It’s like I have a bill to pay that’s higher than the amount of money in my account to pay it. There’s nothing I can do inside of myself to make up the difference. So it goes unpaid, and the need remains. But does it have to? That’s what I’m asking myself today: do I have to stay weary, or is there another answer?

    This brought my mind to Jesus asleep in the middle of the raging storm. It brought my mind to Paul and Silas singing praises when they were beaten and shackled inside that prison. And it brings my mind to so many other saints who had praised and found peace in circumstances much worse than my own. How can I find that place of rest when I don’t even have the strength to lift my own arms for help?

    My mother reminded me of Moses in the Old Testament during the battle when he held his arms up and the victory continued to be on Israel’s side. But when his arms grew weary and started to fall, the battle began to be lost. What was the answer for him? He had help—those who came alongside him and held up his arms so the battle would be won. I realized there are moments when we cannot raise our own arms, when our strength has been sapped and we need help. For the battle to be won, we need help. As humbling as it might be, I need to reach out, even just to a few, and ask to be lifted up in prayer for strength and peace. Why is it that people either feel entirely willing to share everything they think is wrong or share absolutely nothing because we should be stronger and shouldn’t have needs? Perhaps we don’t share because we’re not sure exactly what we need—there’s just so much, and we can’t really explain it. The Bible tells us to cast all our cares on Christ, for He cares for us, and it also tells us to bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. It says if anyone is sick or in need, they should call for the elders of the church and have them pray for them. Are we bringing our needs to the Lord? Am I?

    Am I doing what they do in Psalms when they lamented the weariness and frustration of life but marveled at the greatness of God? Am I willing to admit that right now I have no strength and even the song in my heart seems much quieter, and I don’t exactly know how to get free of this? Am I asking the few that I trust to hold me up in prayer, and am I being real when someone asks if I’m okay? Are you? If you feel like me, absolutely worn out, are you being honest and open? Are you letting the body of Christ know how they can support you?

    The path forward, I see now, is simple. I have to honestly reach out, lean into the Lord, and lean into the body of believers around me. I cannot think that in my own strength this battle will be won. I wasn’t meant to run this race on my own, and sometimes I need somebody else who’s running to look over and say, “Hey, keep going. Let me take that burden from you so you can run easier.” Maybe you feel very much like me. Let’s try a new way. Let others help hold your arms up when you can’t find the strength in yourself, like Christ and His Holy Spirit through the love and encouragement of those around you, infusing you with a second wind, a little extra when your tank is empty. Be honest and real, but always remember to stay hopeful because there is help to be had. We are not like those who face the heaviness of life, as it tends to become very heavy at times, without aid or assistance. We are those who have a Savior, a Father, a true friend in Christ. We are those who have a body of Christ to support, encourage, and love us. We are those who are one part of a whole, and we should recognize that and act that way. If you’re hurting, if you’re weary, if you’re tired, it affects more than just you. You don’t have to stay there. You have others who will come alongside you, walk with you, lift you up, and encourage you, showing you that there is a pathway back up once again. Or who can take part of the weight so you can still walk but rest.

    Life will never not be challenging. The tasks we face will always require energy and at times tax our strength to the point where we’re on empty. But God and His family, the support and love that He has and wants to lavish on us, is even greater than we could ever imagine. Start today. Stop trying to be strong enough and let someone else hold up your arms.

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  • Strength for the Journey: Spiritual Nourishment in Daily Life

    Most Saturday mornings I walk with my sister.  It’s such a sweet time of communion and fellowship, not to mention the health benefits. However, this Saturday morning I struggled with lightheadedness and weakness during our walk. This week was very stressful at work, and I often didn’t have time to stop and eat or drink water. Yesterday was no exception. After several days of spotty meals and insufficient hydration, walking our usual three miles was challenging. Waves of weakness washed over me as we walked. Praise God I made it, but the experience reminded me of an important lesson for us as believers.

    To work and live, we need energy, which we get from the nutrition and nourishment of food and water. If we don’t consume the right amount, our bodies weaken. The same applies to our spirits. Spiritually, God has called us to walk the path of discipleship, which requires energy and guidance. Jesus is the bread of life, and God’s word and presence are our food and nourishment. If we don’t regularly feed our spirits, we will experience spiritual weakness, just as I did physically this morning.

    Have you been feeling spiritually weak? When facing challenges, do you feel faint? Ask yourself if you are feeding your spirit. Are you regularly taking in God’s presence and word? Are you abiding in Him and staying connected to the vine? It matters because the only way to stay spiritually nourished and healthy is to continually take in spiritual nourishment. Just as our bodies consume the nutrition we eat and it is necessary that we regularly take in nutrients, our journey with the Lord uses and consumes the spiritual nourishment we bring in through His Spirit and work in us. We need to regularly take in spiritual nourishment. That is why God doesn’t give us everything all at once. Instead, He saves us, and we continually draw from Him. This drawing is an action we choose to do or not to do.

    Of course, there are heavy moments that are impossible to face without extra grace from God, no matter how strong we are spiritually. However, if you actively pursue God, building and feeding your spirit, He will give you strength to persevere. You will still face challenges, but you will face them with a spirit soaked in God, a mind renewed with His word, and a heart passionate to follow Him no matter what.

    God has not called us to a race on an easy road.  It is not one we can complete in our strength alone.  Our journey requires much more. The only way to strengthen yourself and prepare for each day with the Lord is to prioritize your spiritual nourishment. It matters. 

    Are you feeling weak in the face of everyday challenges? Consume the bread of life, stop and drink from the living water of God’s word and Spirit. You don’t need to continue lacking strength; it’s right there for you, but you have to take it. No matter how busy I am at work this week, I will set aside time for regular nourishment to avoid feeling physically weak. I want to be able to walk next Saturday and feel stronger. Even more importantly, I will continue to feed my spirit because life is much harder than a three-mile walk. The challenges we face are greater, so we must continually draw from the Lord, consume the bread of life, receive the words of life, renew our minds with His word, and always remain in thankful prayer.

    There’s no need to continue in spiritual weakness when there is such abundance. You need only to sit at His table and be nourished by Him.

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  • Would You Rather?

    If someone offered you untold treasure, but you had to let go of everything in your hands to take it, would you rather keep everything you already have or receive all that is being offered in Christ?

    Sometimes, I play the “Would You Rather” game with my friends. It’s always interesting to see what people choose, as it reveals their priorities and character. You learn a lot about someone based on their choices. Some questions are silly and fun because one option is clearly preferable. Others present two unappealing choices. A good friend of mine often chooses neither. I’d tell him that you can’t do that; you have to pick one. You can’t have a little of both; you must choose one option. Those are the rules of the game.

    This reminds me of Christ’s teaching that you can only serve one master. You can’t serve both a little. In a way, it’s like a poker game where you must push all your chips to one side. We don’t like that idea, do we? We want to be like my friend and say, “Neither,” or “A little of both.” We might even delude ourselves into thinking there’s an option C if we don’t like A or B. But according to Christ, there isn’t. There’s only option A: God’s will, His way, the path to righteousness through Christ Jesus. This path emphasizes spiritual growth and the production of the fruits of the Spirit, rather than self-seeking or gratifying physical desires. We don’t need to worry about physical things because God knows what we need. We seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and He adds everything else to us. Option A is a life of servanthood and sonship to the Lord.

    Option B is the wide road of self-service and satisfaction. It’s the choice to pursue what you want, how you want, without considering the future or consequences. It’s all about feeling satisfied and indulging. Option B’s master is easy; he doesn’t give you wisdom for living. Instead, he says, “Do whatever you want. Anything you think is good. There’s no truth, and you’re not missing anything. Live for today; who cares about tomorrow?”

    If option A is going all in with God and submitting to His will, and option B is serving your flesh and fulfilling all desires, then what is option C that people like to pretend exists?

    To be clear, option C isn’t real, it’s an illusion. It’s what people tell themselves when they’re doing option B but want to believe they’re somehow fulfilling option A. Option C says, “Sure, God is my master, but because He’s loving and forgiving, I can pursue my life as I want.” This is the path of delusion many people take. They think option C is different from option B, but it’s not. Option B has a section that comes close to option A, but it’s not the same. It’s close enough to make people feel like they’re on the right path while still having what they want.

    This isn’t a popular message, and many will stop reading because they don’t want to hear the truth. Many, like my friend, want to say, “I want a little of both,” or “I don’t want to choose.” But not acting is still a choice. Scripture says there’s a way that seems right to man, but its end is death. That’s what option C is, or option B Part 2. My challenge to you is to ask yourself what choice you’re making each day. We all make a choice.

    Recently, I took time to focus on the Lord because I realized some things weren’t right in my heart and life. As I spent time in the Word, I found the contentment, peace, and healing I needed. I thought those things would come in other ways, but they were only found in the Lord. One night, as I read the Word and prayed, I wept in wonder. Everything I needed was already there, but my hands were full. I couldn’t take hold of what God was offering. I wanted to believe I was on option A, but I was on option C. I thought I could serve myself and God because there were things I wanted. But those things don’t bring peace or healing. Only when I fully surrendered did I find what I needed. I had to deny myself, as Christ says, to pick up my cross and follow Him.

    I’m not the only believer who has struggled with the propensity to edge toward option C. We tell ourselves we’re okay but wonder why we’re struggling and not at peace. God is there with everything we need, but we have to let go of everything else. Have you pushed all your chips to His side of the table? Have you surrendered every area of your life to the Lord? Do you say, as Jesus did, “Not my will, but Yours be done, Lord”? Are you willing to answer these questions honestly and consider what you’re choosing? I’m not saying believers don’t have bills and needs. I’m not saying we should sell everything and preach on the streets day and night. Some may be called to that, but others are not. We are called to abandon our pursuits and concerns for things God will take care of and focus on doing His will each day, sharing His hope and truth, and being more concerned about our spirit than gratifying our flesh.

    The world will tell you there are unlimited ways and combinations to choose from, but the reality is there’s only option A, the narrow road, or option B, the wide road, which encompasses all other letters. Have you looked down lately? Do you know which path you’re walking on? In this “Would You Rather” game, what answer are your actions choosing? The road has an ending, so your choice matters. Think about it and choose carefully.

    Do you believe you’re on option A? Have you looked at your hands lately? Can you lay hold of Him and all He has for you, or are your hands already full? Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re fully pursuing God when you’re only doing so when it’s convenient or aligns with your will. That’s not submission or surrender.

    I realized the misalignment in my spirit was because I was making the path crooked. I repented and now remind myself daily that I am a bondservant, a servant by choice to the will of my Father. I still make mistakes, but I have contentment and peace because I’m not seeking something elusive or drinking from what the world offers. Instead, I’m drawing from the well that satisfies the soul. It’s a choice, and I was making the wrong one. To anyone on the road I was on, I offer encouragement and hope. The peace, contentment, and joy you seek are available, but you won’t find them through the world’s distractions. Partial surrender is not full submission. To lay hold of what God has for you, you must let go of everything in your hands. I pray you have the courage to deny yourself and take up your cross. Experience the joy of full freedom and spiritual abundance beyond imagination.

    So, I ask you today, God is offering you untold treasure with worth beyond what we can imagine, are you willing to let go of everything in your hands to take it?

  • Kingdoms of Sand vs. Kingdoms of God: A Call to Obedience

    Recently, while reading the book of Genesis, I came across an old story I had heard before. As often happens, when I revisit these ancient tales, there’s always something new to learn. Today was no exception.

    After the flood, God instructed humanity to disperse and repopulate the earth. In simple terms, God wanted them to go forth and fill the earth again, as it was a blank slate, wiped clean by the flood. Once again, human will contradicted God’s desires. Remember the first time mankind followed their own will instead of God’s? They ate the one forbidden fruit among many that were allowed. It was pleasing to the eye and promised wisdom. Eve was deceived, but Adam knowingly chose to eat, going against God’s will. This act of willful disobedience caused the fall of all mankind.

    In the story of the Tower of Babel, we see humanity once again choosing their way over God’s. Instead of dispersing as instructed, they gathered in one place and built a mighty city with a tower reaching the heavens. They were building their kingdom on earth. Was this the kingdom God wanted them to build? A kingdom made of stones, marked by architecture, design, and human intelligence? This time, instead of seeking wisdom, they sought fame and glory.

    Consider this: God made man righteous, holy, and perfect. Not only did He create man in His own image, but He also gave him authority over all living creatures. Adam named them. When Adam needed a companion, God provided a perfect one. Yet, all this authority and righteousness were not enough. Mankind wanted more. The irony is that they already had more than they understood. Ever since, humanity has been trying to return to that state of holiness and righteousness. We cannot achieve this through our works, actions, fame, or recognition. We can only be made right and perfect through the sacrifice of Christ.

    You see it all the time: mankind trying to gain for themselves and build their own kingdoms. The only kingdom God wants us to build is His Kingdom. The only glory we should proclaim is God’s glory. God did what He always does; He disciplined mankind by confusing their languages, causing them to scatter across the earth. Humanity ended up fulfilling God’s will, whether they wanted to or not. God’s will always prevails because He is faithful and true, bound to His word. He is not a man that He would lie.

    Don’t be too hard on these people though.  They were fallible and they could not be righteous on our own. They also did not have Jesus.  We are hopeless without the Lord, like sheep without a shepherd. We would have been right there with them building the tower, because we are just as fallible.  

    The same pattern repeated throughout scripture and is evident even today in our lives still. Mankind is still trying to build their own tower to the heavens, seeking wisdom to be equal with what they consider God to be. Many people think they are God because they know so much. Still, the same foolish and harmful actions persist.  Actions such as defying God’s instructions, seeking self-satisfaction, and wasting time building kingdoms that will not last. This can be said even of some “believers.”  

    If you’re tired of spending your life building something that won’t last (beautiful castles in the sand), I challenge you to take a chance on God. Instead of following your own will, inquire of Him and walk in the way He directs you. Instead of spending all your resources on yourself and acquiring temporary things, invest in serving and loving others, building treasures in a place where they will never rust or be stolen. Instead of spending your life building sandcastles that wash away with the changing tides and times, stand on the eternal rock and build God’s Kingdom through love, worship, service, sacrifice, and submission. Will you listen to what God is telling you today? The choice is yours, but I promise you, God’s will prevail either way. I’d much rather stand with Him than against Him because I know which side will have the ultimate victory. Where will you stand? What will you build? Will you listen and obey?

  • Loving Yourself: A Journey of Faith and Self-Discovery

    Recently, I began keeping a gratitude journal, and I highly recommend it. It helps focus your heart and mind on the positive aspects of life. The journal includes both daily and weekly activities. Interestingly, the weeks I find hardest to complete the weekly activity aren’t the ones you’d expect, which is quite revealing.

    Some activities come easily, like describing my inner critic and the negative messages I combat. I finished that one five days early. However, when it asked me to write about what I liked about myself, it took me all week. The following week, I realized I had completely overlooked the last line asking for things I admire about myself. It was blank, which sadly reflects reality.

    I’m not sure why it’s so hard to love myself. Maybe it’s because I live in my own head and know myself better than anyone else. Well, God knows me better, but I know myself and don’t like what I see. I dislike my weaknesses, my patterns, and tendencies that cause grief to myself or others. I don’t like that I have to constantly choose to be better because what’s natural isn’t the best.

    I’ve told people before that if there’s anything good in me, it’s God. Everything else, all the bad, is me. I saw myself as completely unlikable and found it hard to imagine that God could even love me. Now I know it’s ridiculous and a form of self-loathing. The truth is that it’s hard to explain when or why I came to this conclusion that I’m all the detestable parts, and that there is nothing good in me. Regardless of the cause, it’s a real struggle for me, and I know I’m not the only one. Even as a believer with faith in the Lord, willing to forgive and love others, I find it nearly impossible to feel that way towards myself.

    Recently, I had to contemplate what my younger self would think about who I am now. I didn’t like the answer that echoed in my mind. I think she’d be disappointed in me. I’m not where I thought I’d be, and I’m not who I thought I would be. I want to be clear, sharing this with you all is not easy. This is not something I am proud of. I’m being brutally honest here and baring my scarred soul for all to see. The vulnerability of being absolutely transparent in this moment is scary but also freeing. I needed to admit this truth to myself and recognize that perhaps my perception of myself is wrong. I’m acknowledging that I have a problem with self-contempt and harsh judgments towards myself.

    On that same page of my gratitude journal that asked what I like about myself, it asked me to ask my family and friends what they thought I was great at. It didn’t take them a week to respond. My children and a few friends were happy to share their thoughts. Straight from my gratitude journal, they think I’m great at friendship, being a mom, leadership, music, cooking, organizing, being a daughter, sister, confidant, worshipper, communicator, listener, joy-bringer, and fun to be around. They also said I’m a great person. I’m not telling you this to boast but to point out that how others see us is often entirely different from how we perceive ourselves.

    If you, like me, struggle with insecurity or have high expectations of yourself that you haven’t met, maybe you shouldn’t look at yourself through your own eyes. Just because you perceive it that way doesn’t mean it’s true. Maybe I’m not as wonderful as my friends think, but I’m certainly not as unlovable and not good enough as I think. Maybe my younger self would have liked me. Maybe she’d be proud that I’m resilient, that despite heartbreak and tested faith, I still love and believe. So, I need to choose to love myself today. I need to see myself through someone else’s eyes. Sometimes, it’s okay to find love on the outside and bring it in.

    None of us truly loves everything about ourselves. We’re our worst critics because we see and hear every mistake. Instead of beating yourself up, minister to yourself. Be kind and patient with yourself. Have compassion and forgiveness for yourself. I pray you find healing from self-loathing, that you have the courage to offer yourself the same patience and tolerance you give others. Embrace yourself and recognize that God enhances the good in us. Some of the good in you is you, not just God. He didn’t just give you weaknesses; he gave you strengths too. You are worth loving, you are God’s beloved creation, so love yourself today!

  • The Good Shepherd’s Pursuit

    The Parable of the Lost Sheep is a familiar story that I’ve heard countless times. Today, as I reflected on it again, I realized the profound message it conveys. Jesus, God’s one and only Son, is the shepherd. He left the glory of heaven and abandoned His prestige. He stepped down from His throne and descended to our level, becoming a man. This is how He came to find us. He is the Good Shepherd.

    He cares about the one. Many ancient stories depict gods who reside in distant places, indifferent to our existence, using us for their purposes. This is not the picture we see of the one and only God. The one and only God, who truly deserves all glory and honor, treats us with compassion and mercy instead of as we deserve.

    He provided Abraham with a substitute; instead of his son, there was a ram. God knew there was no ram, no substitute that would be sufficient. Only Jesus was righteous. So the one who knew no sin, received the punishment for all of our sins. Jesus knew He had to die, that he would pour out his life to save ours. There was no other way. Scripture says that if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died in vain. This means we couldn’t be saved through the law or our works. Only by the grace of God and the sacrifice of Christ, who took our punishment, can we have freedom.

    Christ is the Good Shepherd who went after the one—us. He didn’t leave us to save ourselves; instead, He knocks on our hearts and pursues us. The most powerful and magnificent King of the universe chose to lay it all aside to come after you, to bring you into the fold. What a beautiful image: Jesus, the shepherd tending the flock, looks around, recognizes that we’ve wandered away, and goes after us.

    Perhaps today, as you go about your life, you will stop and let the truth of what Christ has done for you sink in. You hear this story so many times, but you forget how amazing it is that our God sacrificed so much and that Jesus would go so far for you and for me. Be overwhelmed with the amazing love and grace of our true Shepherd today!

    Scriptures: Luke 15:3-7, Revelations 3:30, John 10:11-18

  • Rooted in Faith: Embracing Life’s Storms

    Recently, I wrote about some lessons from nature, particularly observations during a hurricane that roared through my town. At the time, my room was at the front of the house with a picture window. I spent most of the storm watching in amazement. As I stared out of my window, the storm slowly passed over. The tree directly in front twisted and bent. I watched as some limbs fell and flew off. I began to feel a great deal of respect for the tree. Its roots were deep enough in the ground, and its trunk was strong enough to withstand a category 2 storm. It did not fall. As I sat there, safe within the walls of my home, I realized a great truth: We are not the person in the house safe from the storm of life. No, we are the tree!

    Whether you are a believer or not, we are all exposed to the troubles and trials of life. Just as we share sunny days of goodness, we also share our fair amount of storms and foul weather. Tornadoes, hurricanes, even earthquakes. Our troubles come in many forms. There are traumatic troubles that we face, much like the hurricane my tree had to weather. But there are also times when the rain falls softly. Whether it’s good weather, gentle rain, an afternoon thunderstorm, or the hurricane troubles of life, the truth remains that we all stand exposed.

    Some believers think that having a relationship with God somehow transitions you from being the tree outside, exposed, to being the person in the house, completely sheltered from all trouble. But that is just not true.

    So, what does God do? What good is having a relationship with Him if He doesn’t take away all the troubles? There is much benefit in our relationship with God, just perhaps not the benefit we think He should give us. What He does provide is a well, a source of nourishment that is always there. There is no drought or disruption that can stop us from His ever-flowing stream. We can anchor our roots deep in Him and draw from this rich depth of strength, hope, joy, and love day after day. He provides all we need to be sustained. He infuses us with strength in areas where we are otherwise weak.

    In addition, He gives us a family. We are not a single tree alone. We stand together, an entire forest of believers. Others buffer and protect us just by their presence and prayers. With this unity, we stand stronger as we stand together. Yes, we are the tree, but that doesn’t mean it’s a hopeless situation for us. It is a situation of hope that we can stand firm and strong on His foundation, drawing from His well that never runs dry. We can have confidence that no matter how strong the storm, we will not fall or be destroyed. Sure, we may lose a few branches, but when we are rooted and grounded in Him, we can endure.

    No, we are not the protected person in the home, but praise be to God, we are the faithfully sustained and generously cared-for tree. So today, I pray you can say with praise, as I choose to say, “I am a tree.” What a great adventure awaits, what great testimonies we will have to share, and what a blessing it is to be a tree standing for our Lord!

    Scriptures: Isaiah 42:6, Psalms 16:8, Romans 5:3, 1 Peter 1:7