Devotions For Real Life

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?

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 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

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

Recently, I had an incredibly refreshing experience that filled my heart with joy. As a parent of two teenagers, I cherish moments like these. One of my sons, without any particular reason, came to sit beside me and hold my hand. He didn’t say anything or ask for anything; he just sat with me. When I asked if he needed anything, he simply said he wanted to sit with me and that he loved me.

As I sat there, overwhelmed by my son’s love and consideration, I was reminded of a question I encountered in a devotion: “What are some ways you use God to get what you want instead of loving and serving Him?” This question struck a chord with me. I realized that often, I only go to God in prayer to ask for something. It made me think of how my children sometimes only come to me when they need something. While I appreciate those moments, I understand that their engagement is driven by their needs, not just the desire to be with me.

Reflecting on how special and treasured I felt when my son sought me out just to spend time with me, I imagined how God must feel when His people seek Him solely to be in His presence. God is not there just to respond to our needs, like an Alexa device that we call upon only when we need something. God’s purpose is not to meet our needs; He desires a relationship with us.

Many people follow Jesus because they seek healing or blessings, but the true pursuit should be of Christ Himself. We should serve Him, not treat Him as our personal server. Our ministry should also be to God, not just to others. When was the last time you sat in prayer or worship just to praise and rest in His presence, without asking for anything in return?

God understands when we come to Him with our needs, but He desires more than that. He wants a relationship with us, where we seek Him with no ulterior motives. I felt deeply loved and treasured when my son chose to be with me just because he wanted to. Imagine making God feel that way. As a song I heard goes, “I’m caught up in Your presence, I just want to sit here at Your feet. I’m caught up in this holy moment, I never want to leave. I’m not here for blessings, Jesus, You don’t owe me anything. More than anything that You could do, I just want You.”

I am not ashamed to admit that I am in love with my Savior and desire nothing more than to sit with Him. I hope you feel the same way because I assure you, He wants you to love Him like that. There will be times when we need to come to God with our needs, and He will understand. He wants to lift our burdens and restore us when we are in need. However, let us remember that this should not be the only reason we go to Him. So, I challenge you to try it—just say hello and sit a while with the Lord. He wants to be with you, and He wants you to desire the same. Surprise him and bring joy to your Father’s heart today!

Scriptures: Psalm 27:4, Psalm 16:11, Jeremiah 29:13, Psalm 42:1-2

When I revisited the story of Jonah, I noticed a detail I had never observed before. Do you know where Jonah sat after his mission was complete? He sat outside the city of Nineveh. Do you know why he was sitting there? Why did he delay instead of leaving immediately and celebrating the redemption of the city? He sat there because he wanted to witness its destruction. The message God had sent Jonah to deliver was “repent or face judgment.” When he delivered the message, the people in the city chose to repent.

You would think that repentance is a cause for joy, that the fact the city didn’t have to be destroyed would be wonderful news. However, that was not Jonah’s response. Not only did he sit outside the city waiting for it to be destroyed, but when it wasn’t, he became angry with God. He told God, “I know that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” He explained that this was why he didn’t want to go in the first place, because he already knew that God wouldn’t punish them. Jonah’s true intentions towards the people are revealed by his words and actions, and God’s heart was revealed also.

Jonah had already decided that the people, all of them, deserved the calamity and judgment that was promised. They were guilty. In his mind, they didn’t deserve to be redeemed or saved; they didn’t deserve a warning. He was so angry that God relented and spared the city that he said it would be better if he, Jonah, just died. God asked Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry?” I wonder something deeper today. Did Jonah have a right to render judgement condemning the people? How many times have I done the same thing?

We all, like Jonah, have been called to share the good news of the opportunity for salvation and redemption. This message has been given to us to share with everyone. Like Jonah, we have been called to share the message with people who we might feel are undeserving of the opportunity to repent. In our minds, there are people we’ve already condemned as unredeemable. Is it our job to determine who deserves redemption and who doesn’t? No, it’s not. We cannot see into the hearts of men to understand the intentions and reasons behind their actions. We are not God.

I am not excusing the actions of the people of Nineveh, but I am pointing out that they were living in a way that was right in their own eyes. They did not know the truth or even claim to serve God. What we know of the people in Nineveh at that time is that they were violent. This was a byproduct of the godlessness, idolatry, and perversions prevalent in their society. The people in Nineveh were not followers of the one true God and did not adhere to the same standards and laws that Jonah did. They behaved like all other people of that time who were without God or who served other gods, so even if you consider their actions to be unrighteous from the perspective of God’s laws, you must keep in mind that they didn’t claim God as their own and had not been blessed to receive the teachings or truths in their lives up to the point when Jonah arrives.

Does a person consider a sinner to have less value or are they thought of less in the eyes of God because they don’t do what is right? In light of God response and words we can understand that God had compassion towards them after all, he created them. We need to understand God’s approach. Not only how he views mankind, but how he views the judgment and punishment received because of sin. Do you think that God would happily destroy all unrighteous people? God forbid, he is not cruel.  He is just and kind. Though Jonah seemed to be happy and wanted to watch as they all burn, it would not have brought joy to God’s heart to bring judgement on the lost people of Ninevah. He does not enjoy our judgment. I’m sure he feels every soul lost, even one.

Look at the words God said to Jonah when Jonah groaned over the loss of his shade as he waited for the city to burn and felt sorry for himself when it didn’t: “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” God loves all people and does not wish for any to perish. That is clearly what scripture tells us. We should not make the mistake of thinking that because he is the one who ultimately will judge all of mankind, that in any way indicates that he enjoys watching people suffering because of the judgement they justly receive. 

We also should not make the mistake of thinking God needs a defender. If we believe that unrighteousness is offensive and wrong because it is against God, why then would we seek vengeance on His behalf? Doesn’t God say that vengeance is His to give? Scripture says that our battle is not against flesh and blood, so why then do we feel the need to attack people who live openly in unrighteousness and against what we perceive as the right way? Did God call us to go out and punish people for their sins? To hate them for their sins? To attack them for their sins? To wish horrible judgment and punishment on them? No, He did not.

What He has done is ask us, like He asked Jonah, to go to them and offer them a message of redemption through repentance. We are called to speak life, not death and damnation. To offer hope, not condemnation. To be the light of the world, not to seek to put out other people’s light. We need to be very careful to check our attitude. 

Remember, you are not called to be the righteous judge. You are not called to be God’s defender. You are not in any position to render judgment. You are not the one to bring vengeance.

We do not glory in the sufferings of others because we think they deserve the punishment or the pain they are experiencing. If that is the state of our heart and if that is our attitude, we need to check ourselves because we are very much in the wrong. Jonah demonstrated the incorrect attitude and approach and God called him out on it. I challenge you to check your own heart today. The world does not know we are a Christian by every right action we take; they know we are a Christian by our love. Perhaps Jonah was written as a warning to us so we would proceed with the right perspective in our own missions ahead. As we go to share the gospel with the lost, we need to go with the right approach and attitude.

Where are you in the story? Are you sitting outside the city waiting to watch it burn? Are you angry at God for not punishing everyone you perceive as unrighteous and deserving of it? Or are you hurrying back to other believers to testify of the amazing redemptive work that God did in the city? Are you trying to tell others who still have not heard and had the opportunity to repent, so they too can be saved? Are you rejoicing and celebrating with all those that are redeemed? In your own story, where will you choose to be?