Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

March 23, 2009



Drawing Near

Amy Carroll



"...and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."

Hebrews 10:21-22 (NIV)

         

Devotion:

As he passed the entrance to each home, the inhabitants rose and moved to their doorway. They watched as Moses passed by them and walked beyond the boundary of the camp to enter the Tent of Meeting. The man who had endured such disrespect suddenly felt reverence from his people, for both God and himself.



As I read Exodus 33 which contains this story, I felt a deep sense of relief. The Israelites were finally back on the right track after a colossal derailing. I had read chapter 32 and grieved at their failure. Even after seeing miracle after miracle--the parting of the Red Sea, water from a rock, manna and quail--it had only taken the Israelites 40 days of Moses' absence to fall back into idol worship and immorality. God was so offended by the sin of the people that He announced His intention to send an angel to direct them as He withdrew His own presence.



So I was comforted to read about their return to worship. I rejoiced that God gives second chances and that the Israelites were rising to the occasion. They finally understood their need for God and for Moses' leadership. Moses set up a tent outside the camp where anyone could go who was inquiring of the Lord. They had a place to go to speak to the Lord, but the people responded by watching as Moses went to meet with God while they worshiped in the entrance of their tents.



In a discussion about this passage, my friend Tricia brought up some great questions. Why did the people stop at the entrance to their tents? Why did they worship from so far away? All the people had been given access to the Tent of Meeting and were invited to meet God there. Why was their journey toward God only partially complete?



Her questions resounded in my mind all week long. I started to realize that I identified with the Israelites that stood to worship in the doorway of their tents. There are times when I too worship God from a distance. Sometimes it's from a sense of unworthiness. Sometimes there's sin that separates me from Him. Sometimes its residual shame or fear from past sins that keep me from drawing near to where God waits for me. Sometimes I'm disappointed when I don't understand God's ways, and occasionally I'm just world-weary.



In looking at this Old Testament scripture, I remembered that there were times when God in all His holiness drew a line for the sinful people and basically said, "You can only come this close to me." He did it as the people stood in awe watching His presence approach Mount Sinai. Jesus' life, though, was purposed to erase any of the barriers for those who desire to know and worship God in a completely up-close way. As Hebrews 10 tells us, Jesus is our great priest who allows us to "draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith."



I ask you to come with me and draw near to God. Let's start walking away from the safety of our "tents" and shed all the fear, shame, weariness and unworthiness as we move toward His throne to worship. He has invited us to come close through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. I accept!



Dear Lord, help me to worship you in the closeness that You desire. Your Spirit has issued an invitation for me to draw near, and I want to be in Your presence. Thank You for making that possible through your Son. In Jesus' Name, Amen.



Related Resources:

Do You Know Jesus?



The Air I Breathe by Louie Giglio



Broken into Beautiful: How God Restores a Wounded Heart by Gwen Smith



Visit Amy's blog



Application Steps: 

Remember that you are God's precious child. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord, you are adopted into His family.



Read the power verses below and ask God to help you develop a new intimacy with Him.



Reflections: 

What keeps me from worshiping God up-close?



Power Verses:

Hebrews 4:16, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (NIV)



Romans 8:15, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." (NIV)





© 2009 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.



Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31

[Judy Harder]

March 24, 2009

Scribbled-On Dreams

Marybeth Whalen

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5 (NIV)
       
Devotion:

Recently I learned that a book that I had given up on was miraculously going to be published after all. I was amazed at God's power and His timing. I was ecstatic that He opened doors that I thought were shut forever. As I dug out the original notebook I had once designated to hold the papers and notes I would need for this project, I was shocked to find that almost every page in that notebook was scribbled on by my youngest child. Her artwork made every page unusable! I chuckled to myself as I closed the notebook and went in search of another one to use instead.

Later I reflected on my decision to hand over that notebook to my child. What had made me do that? I knew that it was because the project was, in my estimation, worthless, forgotten. The notebook represented something that would never be. It epitomized the death of a dream. Why not let my daughter fill in the pages with her toddler scribbles? I must have reasoned that nothing else would ever fill those pages!

And yet we serve a God who can blow new life into a dead dream. I had forgotten all about the book I once yearned to write. I had moved on in search of a new dream. But God had not forgotten. His plan was different--and longer--than mine. His vision was further reaching. His outcome never consisted of me writing my dream off as worthless and unachievable. Instead He wanted me to trust in Him even when the situation looked hopeless.

Do you have a dream that looks dead from where you are standing? Have you thrown in the towel, chalked your efforts up to experience and moved on? Just don't move so far that God can't bring you back to the dream when He is ready. Don't fill in the pages of your notebook with hopeless scribbles and not give Him room to fill the pages with His Word, words of life and hope and vision. Yes, surrender your dreams--holding onto them lightly and always keeping His plans as your purpose, ready to lay down anything He asks because no dream is more important than Him. But also remember that God loves to bring about the unexpected, throwing us little surprise parties that bring joy to His Father's heart.

My notebook now serves as a reminder--in childlike script--of God's ability to overcome the impossible and open doors that were once slammed shut. I wouldn't trade those scribbled-on pages for anything! Now I look forward to filling the pages of a new notebook with all new dreams. Dreams that were handed back to me when I least expected it.

Dear Lord, please help me to trust You when things don't work out and I have to surrender my dreams. Help me to rest in the fact that You see things from a much bigger vantage point than I ever could. Help me to know that You always have my best interests in mind, even when You close doors I wanted open. And help me Lord to be ever mindful of Your power that is always at work--even when I can't see it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

For the Write Reason General Editor Marybeth Whalen

Learning to Live Financially Free: Hard Earned Wisdom for Saving Your Money and Your Marriage by Marybeth and Curt Whalen

Visit Marybeth's blog

Application Steps: 

Do you have a dream you believe is dead? Spend some time writing about that dream in your journal today. Describe it in detail, and then ask God for His purposes to be revealed and His plans to be accomplished. Then spend time praising Him in advance for what He will do with your dreams.

Reflections: 

Why do you think dreams are important to us? Do you allow yourself to dream? Have you allowed broken dreams to stop you from dreaming altogether?

Power Verses:

Psalm 75:1, "We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds." (NIV) 

Psalm 136:6, "Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." (NIV)

Psalm 105:4, "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." (NIV)

© 2009 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

March 25, 2009

Despairing Parents

Susanne Scheppmann

"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word."
Psalms 119:28 (NIV)

Devotion:

Thud! I heard my son's feet hit the dirt outside his bedroom window. My heart sank. I had been right when I told my husband, "He's going to run-away. Watch."

The whole afternoon and evening had spun into a disaster. My adolescent son had gotten into trouble. We were in the middle of discussing it with him when the phone rang. My husband listened as his ex-wife told him that his daughter had run away that afternoon.  I watched the panic cross my husband's face as he dug for more details about what had happened.

In addition, I spied my son's alert face and witnessed a light bulb go off in his adolescent brain. I could tell he thought, "I'm going to run away too!" We sent my son to his room while we managed the bigger problem of the moment -- my stepdaughter.

Sure enough, he went on the lam. My thoughts raced. Should I go after him? Should I lock him out of the house? Or should I wait and search for him later? I felt emotionally and physically exhausted.

Both my husband and I were stricken with confusion and sadness as we battled through all the drama and trauma in our family. That evening we despaired. How could this happen? We tried to be good parents. It seemed that with three teenagers, life was a never-ending crisis.

Things did turn out OK. My stepdaughter returned home to her mother. We found my son, and my husband coaxed him home. Everyone went to bed, and two exhausted parents prayed for a better tomorrow.

That was several years ago. Children mature. Time heals. And God is faithful to the prayers of a despairing parent. He feels our heartaches. He sees our tears. He grants us the courage and guts to keep on parenting.

Our key verse today acknowledges the pain we may experience, but it also points the way to gaining strength--God's Word. If you are a despairing parent, seek the Lord's comfort, wisdom and strength by reading and praying Scripture each day. God is our source of strength when we come to our wit's end in the life-long career of parenting.

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of my children. I am honored You set me apart to be their mom. Yet, at times parenting is hard! I ask You for guidance and strength. Remind me of the joys of parenting when I despair. Help me keep a balanced outlook. I ask You to provide me with special Scripture that I can pray for my children. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents by Susanne Scheppman

Blended Families by Maxine Marsolini

Listen to Today's Radio Show for more encouragement when parenting is hard.

Visit Susanne's blog

Application Steps: 

Read and memorize Psalm 4:3 and 5:3. Then pray for your children and know that the Lord hears you call to Him. Wait in expectation for His guidance.

Reflections: 

Where do I place my trust and hope when it comes to my child?

Do I recognize that Jesus loves my child more than I do?

Power Verses:

Psalms 144:12, "Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace." (NIV)

Psalms 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (NIV)

Isaiah 49:25, "But this is what the Lord says: 'Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.'" (NIV)

© 2009 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

March 26, 2009

Finding God's Purpose and Perspective
Renee Swope

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

Devotion:
A few weeks ago, I shared a devotion about the day I wanted to quit being a mom. I spent time that afternoon writing in my journal, processing my emotions with God and asking Him to help me. Later that day I read something in Zig Ziglar's book, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World, that God used to completely change my perspective as a mom and as His child. Here's what I read:

Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest man in America in the early 1900s, so wealthy that he employed over 42 millionaires! One day a reporter who was intrigued by Carnegie's wealth asked how he developed these men to become so valuable that he would pay them that much money. Carnegie explained, "Men are developed the same way gold is mined. When gold is mined, several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold, but one doesn't go into the mine looking for dirt -- one goes in looking for gold. And the more he looks for, the more he finds."

After this story, Ziglar challenged parents to look past their children's mistakes and mine for gold in them. I'd been buried in the dirt that day! My discouragement and feelings of failure as a mom left me so disappointed in myself. I was also convinced God felt the same way about me.

Pity set in and I started wishing I had a gold-miner in my life who could see beyond my mistakes and find the gold in me. That's when God whispered to my heart, "Renee, I am that gold-miner. You are the one who is so critical of yourself. You are the one who focuses on your faults. But I see the gold of My image in your heart, and I want to bring it to the surface so your kids can see Me in you."

As I sat there trying to process what God was whispering to my heart, stories and promises from the Bible started flooding my thoughts helping me believe that God really does see beyond who I am to who I can become. It would take time for those truths to sink in, but that day God used His thoughts to give me a new perspective - of Himself and of myself. Then He challenged me to look for ways to transfer that perspective to my children.

It's easy to get buried in the dirt of discontentment, disobedience and discouragement. You may even be thinking, Where's the gold in it all? I wondered, too. But after reading Carnegie's story and hearing God speak to my heart, I wanted to become a gold-mining mom.

As I thought about the gold I'd like to find in my children, character traits like patience, kindness and contentment came to mind. I decided to make a list of golden attitudes and actions and look up Bible verses we could learn together. I even made gold nuggets by balling up foil and spray-painting them gold. I decided that each time my kids showed a golden attitude or action, I'd reward them. When they saved up enough nuggets, they'd get a special treat.

Each week we'd find a new character trait and Bible verse, write down ideas to live it out and make them part of our family devotions. God's Word became a part of our everyday lives as He taught me to take my eyes off of my children's habits and focus on their hearts. Not only did it change my kids' attitudes and actions, it changed me, too. For the first time in months, I was excited about my role as a parent. God had given me a new perspective, and a whole new sense of purpose as a mom!

Dear Lord, thank You for not focusing on the dirt in my life but seeing beyond who I am to who I can become. Help me believe that, receive that and give it away to my kids, my husband and my friends. Help me look at their hearts and encourage the glimpses of You that I see in them. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Renee's Blog for more practical ways to connect spiritually with your kids. Also, sign up for a chance to win D6 Devotional magazines for parents and children.

Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Chart and CD: Wisdom, encouragement and tools to develop character in your kids. By Renee Swope

The Mom I Want to Be, by T.Suzanne Eller

Application Steps:

Encourage character in your kids by noticing and celebrating things they do like sharing a snack (generosity), putting away toys (responsibility), feeding the dog (initiative), concern for a friend (compassion), and saying thank you (kind words).

Reflections:

What character trait and Bible verse can you and your kids learn and demonstrate together this week?

Power Verses:
Ephesians 5:1-2,"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering to God." (NIV)

Colossians 1:28, "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ." (NIV)

© 2009 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

March 27, 2009

Under My Skin

Lynn Cowell

"...and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of depair..."

Isaiah 61:3a (NIV)
       
Devotion:

It wouldn't stop burning. Like a sunburn after hours at the beach, the heat on my hands stayed for hours. As a blessing to my family, I had made Aunt Carol's jalapeno peppers. With the sharp knife and chopping block, I transformed eighteen forest-green peppers into little boats of tasty fun. What I hadn't counted on was that ten minutes of exposure to the pepper's oil to my dry, cracked winter skin produced a burning that lasted for hours.

As I looked at my red, cracked hands, I was reminded of another part of me that looked dry and under-nourished not so long ago. In the heat of the summer months, my heart was in bad shape. It felt like a stone. When I would go to church, I sang the songs, but my heart was not truly singing praise to my Love, Jesus. I assumed it was the church. Surely, something had changed. We needed new music; something fresh.

Soon after something did change, and it was me. I re-discovered the oil of gladness and oil of joy by personally coming into the Lord's presence daily. Although I had never stopped reading my Bible and praying, I hadn't been taking the extra time and effort to come into His presence.

With the help of a prayer journal, I started beginning my time with the Lord each day by exposing myself to Him in praise. In her journal, Intimacy with God; Your Daily Guide to Prayer, Tara Furman suggests several ways to come before Him: repeating His attributes, calling out His names, and singing hymns or worship songs. My favorite is reading out loud the Psalms. Just yesterday the repairman heard Psalm 103 coming loudly from my lips as he banged away on my wood floor.

Opening the day with praises to my King has transformed my heart. Now, when I go to church, I no longer wait to enter into His presence; my heart is already there. I have found that my outlook through the day is different. Like the oil from the peppers, the burning effect of His presence is felt in my heart many hours after the exposure.

Dear Lord, as it says in Psalm 100:4, help me to enter into Your gates with thanksgiving and into Your courts with praise. Help me to give thanks to You and praise Your name. You are good and You deserve my heartfelt worship each day. I love you! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Intimacy with God: Your Daily Guide to Prayer by Tara Furman

His Princess: Prayers to My King by Sherri Rose Shepherd

Visit Lynn's blog

Application Steps: 

Put your favorite worship music on and find a place where no one can see you. Spend some time worshipping Jesus as you feel He would enjoy: singing, arms raised, clapping, dancing, whatever you feel would bring glory just to Him!

Choose some new worship music to breathe fresh air into your time with Him. Check out our Shop P31 page for new CDs.

Ask a friend what her favorite Christian worship music is and swap for a week.

Reflections: 

What holds you back from worship?

Does your heart feel dry and cracked, like it needs some ointment? Ask the Holy Spirit to soften your heart.

Power Verses:

Ezekiel 11:19, "I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." (NIV)

Psalm 103:1-2, "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." (NIV)


Psalm 9:1-2, "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." (NIV)

© 2009 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 1, 2009

The Truth About Fear

Micca Monda Campbell

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV)

Devotion:

Have you ever noticed how some TV commercials mix just enough truth with their product to make it believable? While that's called false advertisement, the product still comes off convincing. It's not until we purchase the product, and it fails, that the trickery becomes exposed.

In the same way, Satan specializes in false advertisement. He's good at making our fears look real when they are not. Does that mean all fears are wrong? No. The fear of standing near a high cliff protects us from getting to close to the edge and toppling over. One the other hand, Satan's spooks are full of trickery. They are usually disabling and keep us from progress. This kind of false advertisement can choke our faith and fuel our fears.

Have you ever wondered where our struggle between faith and fear began? I have. According to author and teacher Malcolm Smith, fear was introduced to the human race by a satanic lie.

The Garden is the first place where the serpent deceived Eve by twisting God's word. The Lord told Adam not to eat of any tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). If he or Eve ate from that tree, they would surely die spiritually. Not only did Eve eat the forbidden fruit, but she offered it to Adam and he ate too.

As soon as Adam disobeyed God, their relationship changed. Adam was not only afraid, but he doubted God's authority, friendship, and provision. Satan's lie told Adam that he didn't need God. In fact, Adam was persuaded that he could be his own god, self-sufficient in every way.

The same can be true for you and me. At times, you and I live independent of God's presence. We act as if everything depends on us. We wouldn't dare admit that we are in over our heads. We want to appear in control. But God never meant for you and me to be strong in and of ourselves. We were meant to show His strength in our weakness as He provides for our needs. We were created to live like little children, dependent on the care our heavenly Father.

The times we insist on living life our way, in our own strength, we experience the same result as Adam and Eve. We will live in fear. This is right where Satan wants us.

If we're afraid to try, we never will. If the enemy can keep us contained by fear, we won't be able to fulfill our potential or make a difference in the life of another. Satan knows what we are capable of with Christ. To prevent us from that realization, he poisons us with fear.

The truth is what we fear rarely comes to pass. This kind of fear that is fueled by Satan's lies can be described by this acrostic:

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real

It's not that we shouldn't be concerned about certain issues of life such as safety and health. But when worrying takes over by keeping us up at night and shutting us down during the day, we've moved into a place we were never meant to live. We must return to living in God's presence and relying on His promises and provision. Only then will we be able to distinguish between truth and lies. Only then will our lives be marked by faith, not fear.

Dear Lord, help me to discern between false fears and real concerns. As I commit Your Word to memory, make Your truth alive in my heart so that I can battle fear and live by faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

An Untroubled Heart by Micca Campbell

i am not, but i know I AM by Louie Giglio

Finding a Faith Stronger Than All My Fears (3 CD set) by Micca Campbell

Visit Micca's blog.

Application Steps: 

Determine if your fears are real or if they are only False Evidence Appearing Real. If your fears are real, heed their warning. If they are smoke and mirrors performed by the enemy, take those thoughts captive and give them to God in prayer.

Reflections: 

Do you doubt God's provision and protection - why or why not?

Are you living independent of God's presence, or carefree in His care?

How can depending on God's resources and strength eliminate your fears?

Power Verses:

Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (NIV)

John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid." (NIV)

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (NIV)

© 2009 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 2, 2009

The Principal's Office

Lysa TerKeurst

"...for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."

Psalm 26:3 (NIV)
     
Devotion:

Recently, one of my kids got called to the principal's office. On the very day I received an invitation to speak at a national parenting conference. Thank you very much.

Have you ever struggled with letting a circumstance that came your way suddenly define you?

This seems to be a lesson God lets me live over and over. He wants to be my only definition of who I am. I am a child of God, holy and dearly loved. I know this. I teach this. I believe this in the very depths of my soul.

Yet, it is so easy for me to slip into redefining myself when situations arise.

With my head, I was able to see the "principal's office" situation for what it was. My child is in a process of being shaped. My child is strong and while this will serve her well later in life, strength in an immature little person begs to be disciplined. She is a sweet child who made a not-so-sweet choice. All of this is part of the process of growing her up.

I could see all of that with my head.

However, with my heart, I felt like a failure. I wanted to decline the opportunity to speak at that conference and go crawl in a hole somewhere. A hole stocked with chips and salsa, brownies made from a box mix, and ice-cold diet soda.


A part of me felt like I'd been called to the principal's office as the voice of condemnation started haunting me, "You are a bad mom. You have a bad child. You have a bad home."

So, quietly, I slipped away with Jesus. And I did what I've done a hundred times before. I held those condemnations up to the Lord and asked him to help me see this situation the way He wants me to see it. Not the way others see it. Not the way my heart is tempted to see it. But the way He sees it.

And once again He reassured me.

I am not a bad mom.

My child is not a bad child.

My home is not a bad home.

This situation is a call to action. There is a character issue that needs to be addressed within the heart of my child. And kids are supposed to have character issues that need to be addressed.

That's why God gave them parents. That's why God gave me this specific child. God sees within me the ability to be the one He's perfectly designed to raise up this strong little person.

Today is a new day. A day where we can choose to only be defined by God's truth and grace as we navigate this wild wonder called parenthood.


Dear Lord, help me to realize that You have perfectly and purposefully planned my life. Today I am going to make the choice to see the good in each situation with my child. Please help me to be a parent that pleases You with my every thought, word and deed. I admit my dependence on You Lord, and ask for Your guidance. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa's blog today where she'll be giving away a copy of her book, The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained.

What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst

The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained.


Application Steps: 

Spend intentional time in prayer this week for your children and their character development.


Spend intentional time in prayer for wisdom as a parent.

Reflections:

How can I turn a seemingly stressful situation into a positive learning experience for my child?

Power Verses:

Psalm 25:5, "...guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." (NIV)

Matthew 6:13, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (NIV)

Proverbs 16:20, "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord." (NIV)

James 4:10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up." (NIV)

© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 3, 2009

Walking Through a Valley

Glynnis Whitwer

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell."

Psalm 43:3 (NIV)

Devotion:

I live in a valley. Every direction I look there are mountains. Living in the West, my family also vacations in mountains. Because of that, it seems I spend lots of time in valleys. One truth I've learned is if you keep walking, you will eventually get out.

One summer we took a trip to Southern Utah, with a stop at Bryce Canyon. It was warm outside, and it only got warmer as we headed down into the canyon. It was a great hike as we circled the interesting rock spires called hoodoos. We wound our way down the valley with steep mountains on all sides. After a while, I was hot, tired and ready to sit down and relax.

As I rested on a rock, I looked up at the canyon rim, wiping salty sweat out of my eyes. It looked very far away. I wished for a shortcut to get out, but knew there wasn't any. Short of calling in a helicopter, there was only one way out, and it was to walk across the valley and up the mountain. Sitting there on that rock might give me a moment's rest, but it didn't get me out of the valley.

I've also been in other valleys: those of fear, worry and hopelessness. I'll be honest. When I'm in those valleys, my inclination is to sit. Fear paralyzes me. Worry straps itself to my feet like weights. Hopelessness misconstrues reality so I'm blinded to the truth. And so I stay, planted firmly in the valley of misery. Over and over, I review how others have hurt me, and forecast possible fearful outcomes. None of those choices gets me out of the valley of misery. In fact, they get me nowhere.

What does get me out of those difficult valleys is when I keep walking, and walking to me is when I keep praying even though it seems like my prayers hit the ceiling. It's when I keep reading my Bible, even though the words seem to have less meaning. It's when I keep going to church or a small group even when I'd rather stay home. It's singing songs of worship, even though my heart isn't soaring with joy. But when I keep doing those things, I take steps toward truth and eventually get out of the valley.

Walking through a valley to me means doing the things that are healthy and God-honoring, even when I don't feel like doing them. There is always a way out of a valley. But it means I have to keep walking, then climb a mountain, and that takes work. But when I do the work, God rewards me with a breathtaking view.

Dear Lord, please speak to my heart in my darkest valleys. I need to remember that You are the truth, and not my circumstances. Help me have the strength to do the right things, and not stay planted in misery during a time of difficulty. I long to be out of this valley. But I will praise You now at the bottom and I will praise You from the mountain top -- for You are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew by Ruth Myers

Visit Glynnis's blog

6 Habits of Highly Effective Christians by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer

Application Steps: 

If you are in a valley of suffering, what is one spiritual discipline you can incorporate into your life today, even though you don't feel like doing it?

Reflections: 

Why do many Christians stop doing spiritually beneficial activities when they are in a dark valley?

List five things you can do to keep your faith strong during rough times.

Power Verses:

Psalm 23:4, "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." (NLT)

Psalm 90:1-2, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (NIV)

Luke 3:4b-5, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth." (NIV)

© 2009 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 6, 2009

I Know How I Designed It

Van Walton

"...we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus..." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Devotion:

My amazing husband can do anything. He's a fix-it man. There isn't anything he can't repair or create. He rebuilds damaged computers for family and friends, repairs weed eaters and garage door openers for neighbors, and rescues broken furniture from trash heaps. Recently he brought a chair home from a dinner party. It wasn't a gift and we didn't steal it. Someone sat in it and broke it!

After two days of taking the chair apart - performing what looked like orthopedic surgery to me, you know when pins and screws are inserted to keep bones and joints from further damage -- followed by a little gluing, sanding, and staining, the chair looked brand new.

"Wow!" I said, impressed.

"Sit in it and rock back," he encouraged.

"Rock back? I don't think so! What if I break it?"

"Oh, believe me. You won't."

"How do you know?" I asked, not convinced.

"I know how I designed it. I know the pressure points and how much stress it can take" he responded with a smile of confidence. "Go on. Sit in it and rock back."

I sat down and rocked back.

The chair was solid. I don't care who sits in it, or how they land in it now, it will not break.

I think about the times we don't believe we can handle any more stress. The pressure seems overwhelming and we cry, "Time out! I can't take any more!"

God responds, "Trust me. You will not be destroyed. I know your pressure points. I know how much stress you can take. I know how I designed you."

I cannot describe the peace I felt when I related the work of my husband's hands to the work of God's hand.

Of course He knows how much I can take. After all He is my Creator, the one who bent down by the river and fashioned me with His hands. He's the one who knit me together in the depths of my mother's womb, the one who is called the Potter.

He knows the exact temperature needed in the kiln to create the perfect clay vessel. He knows how hot the fire must be to separate the dross from the silver and gold. He knows how much pressure a diamond or emerald must withstand in order for it to come forth solid and brilliant. He knows how long the irritant must sit in an oyster before it becomes a pearl.

My Father knows exactly how much I can take. He knows because He designed me. With that realization I am able to trust Him and smile at the future, no matter how hard life is today.

Lord Jesus, You are the Carpenter. You know exactly how to build a piece that will withstand pressure and stress, a work of art that will not easily crumble. You created me the same way. Rather than tremble in the face of despair, help me trust in Your design. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

From the Pound to the Palace by Van Walton

Beyond the Shadow of Doubt (DVD) by Renee Swope

Visit Van's blog

Application Steps: 

Memorize this phrase and repeat it whenever you feel you "can take no more" pressure or stress: "God knows my stress and pressure points. He will not allow me to be crushed. He knows because He has designed me."

Reflections: 

What brings me to the edge of despair?

Can I trust God that I may have to undergo stress and feel some pressure before I reach His final design for me?

Power Verses:

Malachi 3:3, "He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver..." (NLT)

2 Corinthians 4:7-9, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed..." (KJV) 

© 2009 by Van Walton. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 7, 2009



Following My Father's Directions

Karen Ehman

"The Lord said, 'IIt is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law.'" Jeremiah 9:13 (NIV)

Devotion:

The car was packed; the gas tank full; a cooler stood chock-full of sandwiches for the long ride. This was it! My three kids and I were excitedly off on a summertime adventure. In the midst of a stressful and busy move and while waiting for the kids' bedrooms in the basement to be finished, we threw caution to the wind and took my friend Marybeth up on an invitation to join her at an ocean beachfront home she was being allowed to use for free.

Now this was no small undertaking. It was going to be a 17-hour trip with three kids in the car. Besides the necessities we needed to pack, most of all we needed directions. We had to see on paper just how to get from our little home in the middle of Michigan to sunny Ocean Isle, North Carolina, without getting lost!

Should be a piece of cake in this era of online sites that spit out detailed directions, right? Of course! So I printed them off, tucked them in a folder and revved up the car's engine. Before I left, however, my father called me. He winters near Ocean Isle and he wanted to give me verbal directions since he has traveled that course twice a year for the past 18 years and is very familiar with how to get there.

I reluctantly wrote down his instructions, complete with highways to avoid and exit names, etc. Then, I tossed the directions into the glove compartment. I thanked him for the gesture but assured him I probably wouldn't need it since I had the newest, slick Internet directions already. But "Father knows best!' he assured me. I smiled and headed off.

About half-way to our destination, I noticed that the exit number and name on the Internet's directions didn't match up. I began to panic. Should I take the exit number it gave or the exit name it listed? I chose the exit number. Soon after that, we became completely lost. None of the directions made sense any more. We got off the exit, headed back to where we'd made the turn and tried again.

But this way didn't work either! We were soon heading north instead of south and there wasn't an exit in sight for miles! When we finally got off, I popped into a gas station and asked for help. The attendant smiled and handed me a piece of paper with corrected directions already written on it. It seems that the Internet site does not completely have the directions. In fact, the station gets dozens of lost souls wandering into their establishment everyday longing just to get back on the right track. They were ready with printed directions to give out to such weary travelers.

Worried that the rest of my Internet directions might be wrong as well, I quickly fumbled through the glove compartment to find my father's handwritten instructions. I ran them by the gas station attendant. "Perfect!" he commented. My father knew the way without any wrong turns. "Just stick to your father's instructions and you won't be lost" I was told.

Like so much of life, we hear of new fangled shortcuts, ways to find happiness or even new paths for getting to heaven. Celebrities say they have found new spiritual dimensions or perfect peace in a New Age practice. We must resist the desire to trust these so called 'new ways' completely and instead follow our Father's original instructions: the Holy Bible. His ancient words ring true. He is the way, the ONLY way, and following His instructions will never result in our souls being lost.

Perhaps it is time we did away with the new and went back to the old. God's instructions are never wrong. They lead to peace and contentment and a home with Him in heaven forever. Why, that is even better than a week at the beach!

Dear Lord, help me to get and stay forever grounded in Your ancient instructions, the Bible. May I follow only Your holy ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Pierced By the Word: 31 Meditations for Your Soul by John Piper

For more on following God, visit Karen's blog

A Life that Says Welcome by Karen Ehman

Application Steps: 

What new ways does the world present for finding happiness or achieving eternal life?

How do these ways measure up to what the Bible says?

Reflections: 

What are some actions I can take that will keep me grounded in God's Word? How can a friend help me in this endeavor?

Power Verses:

Psalm 16:11, "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (NIV) 

© 2009 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org