Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

September 25, 2008



What Should I Say?
Renee Swope



"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and petitions." Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)



Devotion:
My prayers used to feel kind of flat. I didn't know what to say so I stumbled over my words when I talked to God. I especially didn't know how to pray when I was struggling or when a friend was going through difficult times. I wanted to say the right things because I thought that if I prayed the right way, then God would listen and answer my prayers, the way I wanted Him to.


It took me a while, but I finally got up the courage to talk with a friend about my fears and struggles. She explained to me that prayer isn't about saying or asking the right things; it's about building a relationship with God by talking to Him, and listening. She taught me how to be still and listen for His still small voice in my spirit before I started praying. I found that if I waited for Him to lead the conversation, the Holy Spirit would guide my thoughts and my prayers.



Over time, I also learned the power of praying God's words written in the Bible. I read books and heard sermons that taught me that when we pray God's Word, we pray God's will. I loved that idea. It gave me a sense of confidence and direction when I didn't know what to say in my prayers.



I also wanted my prayers to be filled with power. I wanted to believe that God was able and willing to accomplish what I was praying for. The Bible says that scripture is "alive and active" so I knew that when I prayed in agreement with God's Words, I could expect those prayers to come alive in a situation and become active in the person's life that I was praying for.



Oftentimes when I pray now, verses that I've read in the Bible will come to mind. For instance, when I feel like my plans are spinning out of control, Jeremiah 29:11 will pop into my thoughts. On those days, I'll pray:



"Lord, you know the plans you have for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a future and a hope. You say that if I come to you and pray, you will listen and you will lead me. So, today I surrender my plans for Your plans. Please guide my decisions and thoughts to match Yours so that I can experience hope and not harm. Even though things aren't going so great today, I trust the plans You have for me."



I love knowing there isn't a certain way I have to pray to get God's attention. In fact, prayer has become one of my greatest passions and joys. I don't feel any pressure to say the right things anymore. Sometimes I just sit still and let Him whisper His promises into my thoughts and then I ask for their fulfillment with my prayers. Other times I simply pour out my thoughts to Him. And when I need a little direction, or I am not sure what to say, I open up the Bible to align my words with His Words -- knowing that I'm also aligning my heart and desires with His will.


Lord, I'm so glad I don't have to say that right things to get Your attention. Thank You for Your Spirit that lives in me and leads me -- in my daily activities and even in my prayers. I would love it if today You'd give me a verse to pray so that I can see Your Word come alive in my circumstances and become active in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.



Related Resources:


For a list of scripture prayers to pray for you, your family and friends, visit Renee's Blog.



31 Days of Prayer: Moving God's Mighty Hand, by Ruth Myers



A Busy Woman's Guide to Prayer by Cheri Fuller



Do You Know Jesus?



Application Steps:

Find one of your favorite verses and turn it into a prayer. Here's an example:



May the God of hope fill ______ with all joy and peace as ______trusts in him, so that ________may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13



To find a verse on a specific topic or keyword, click here to go to Crosswalk's online Bible search tools.



Reflections: 

Do you ever avoid prayer because you feel like you don't know what to say?



Power Verses:

Psalm 66:19-20, "God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. 'Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!'" (NIV)



Romans 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (NIV)



Philippians 1:9, "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight," (NIV)



© 2008 by Renee Swope . All rights reserved.



Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

September 26, 2008

A Reflection of God's Glory
Susanne Scheppmann

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures . . . May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works." Psalm 104:24, 31 (NIV)

Devotion:

Modern technology is amazing. I remember as a child watching high-speed photography of a flower budding and blooming. The photography captured days of nature's movement and beauty, so that in a few minutes I could see and understand what took place in my garden.

Even though we can see pictures, movies, and read books on the wonder of nature, there is nothing like experiencing it for ourselves.

So often, we miss the glory of God in nature. Stress and busyness hinder our senses from recognizing the beauty of God's creation. We allow life's mundane tasks to strip us of opportunities to increase our faith. Yet the earth's Creator gifted us with the five senses--sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. He did this so we can experience His character and personality.

Our God rules nature--nature does not control God. The Creator spread out the stars in the heavens and set the foundations of the earth. He covered it with water and then set the boundaries of the seas. He assigned the rivers to their places in the mountains. He provides water to all living things. God causes grass and plants to grow. He provides nutrition and lodging for His creatures. He enables us to cultivate and work the earth so we, in return, will glorify Him.

The Lord has given us proof through nature that He exists and that He provides for His creation. My faith increases when I stop to think about the miraculous beauty of nature. If God can take care of the mighty heavens and the spinning earth, then I know He is able to take care of me.

Dear Lord, open my eyes to Your wonders. Forgive me for taking for granted so many things that are amazing creations formed by Your hands. As I watch for nature to display Your wonder, increase my faith in You, my Creator. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Birds in My Mustard Tree: For Those Who Struggle with Faith by Susanne Scheppmann

Perplexing Proverbs -- A Woman's Bible Study by Susanne Scheppmann

Application Steps:

Plan a day this month to enjoy nature and God's presence. Take a journal along to record your experiences and thoughts while outside.

Reflections: 

Am I too busy to enjoy nature?

What can nature teach me about God's character?

Do I praise God when He reveals a glory of nature to me?

Power Verses:

Psalm 8:3-4, "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (NIV)

Psalm 19:1-4, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (NIV)

© 2008 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

September 29, 2008

Upside Down

Luann Prater

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" Matthew 6:25 (NIV)
         
Devotion:

Everything in my closet is shrinking! Do you notice it too? It is amazing how a little extra around my waist causes my pants to rise above my ankles! And I am sure that since I hit the 50 mark, the Michelin Tire Man has taken up residence inside my skin. I don't need an inner tube when swimming in the lake with my grandkids; I have one permanently affixed to my middle!

Recently I made a commitment to get back on track with my eating habits, choosing vegetables instead of bread, and fruit instead of snacks. Even though I know this is the right approach, I have found that it tends to consume my thoughts. Aren't we funny creatures? We seem to major in the minors of life.

The Bible teaches us to put first things first; to seek God before all else. And yet, we continually put Him somewhere on the to-do list with everything else. He has proven to me over the years that if I put Him first, all the other things will fall into place. So why is it so hard to do that on a day-in, day-out basis?


1 Chronicles 16:11 tells us, "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." So what do I do instead of seeking the Lord? Often I seek my own will or pleasure before I seek God. Sometimes I'm more interested in getting what I want before I ask what He wants. Other times, I operate in my own logic and strength -- calling my own shots according to what seems right to me.


When I live that way, I turn the guidance of the scriptures upside down. Matthew 6:33 clearly instructs us, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."


So here is what I've learned recently on my quest to eat right. When I begin my day seeking Him, my appetite stays in check. Period. When I truly focus on my relationship with Him, eating is just where it needs to be. It becomes part of my day but not the focus of my day. God's ways do work -- we just have to follow them. So I challenge you, turn your logic upside down this week and begin each day seeking the One who created you.

Dear Lord, thank You for being enough. Teach us each day to seek Your face before all other things in our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Jesus?

A Woman's Secret to a Balanced Life by Lysa TerKeurst and Sharon Jaynes

Self Talk, Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild

Visit Luann's Blog

Application Steps: 

Rise each morning this week and spend quiet time seeking the Lord. Spend this time only focused on Him, who He is, and what He has already done in your life. Save the "I wants" and the "please help me" for later. Then record how your days become drastically different than the norm.

Reflections: 

What challenge am I facing today?

Why do I try to conquer challenges on my own?

How can I turn my prayer habits upside down?

Power Verses:

Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV) 

Luke 12:31, "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." (NIV) 

Acts 17:27, "God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (NIV) 

© 2008 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

September 30, 2008

G.F.I.

Susanne Scheppmann

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB)

Devotion:

I pulled in the driveway grateful to be home after a five-day conference. I pressed the remote and the garage door rolled open. Bloodied water trickled toward me as I stepped from my car. I knew immediately what had happened - the freezer had gone out. All the meat had thawed and the bloody, watery juices had drained out of the freezer into a maroon stream that slowly ran toward the driveway. Yuck.

Mark, my husband, was out of town. I stood in my garage disgusted and slightly freaked out. Of course, I called my husband for help. I didn't care if it was late and there was a three-hour time difference between us.

He patiently said, "Check the G.F.I."

"The what?"

"The ground fault interrupter. It's in the electrical outlet where the freezer is plugged in."

Sure enough, the G.F.I. had tripped and in response the freezer shut down. Nothing was technically wrong with the freezer, except now it had hundreds of dollars of rotting food sitting inside it. Because of a tripped G.F.I., my evening turned from one of anticipated relaxation to hours of vexing cleanup.

Isn't our faith sometimes like that, too? We are believing and trusting the Lord, when all of a sudden something unexpected happens -- our own G.F.I (God Faith Interrupter) gets tripped. In response, our faith shuts down and we melt like a gallon of vanilla ice cream in a hot garage.

It's certainly difficult to understand the twists and turns in our journey of faith. When a God Faith Interrupter occurs, we grope in the darkness for something to reassure us that regardless of our circumstance, the Lord is loving, merciful, and He will guide us. God Faith Interrupters might shake our faith. They can be scary. They certainly will be unexpected and uncomfortable, but the Lord holds the charge of power to uphold our faith even when it shuts down temporarily. We must turn to Him.

Express to the Lord your fear of a "God Faith Interrupter" tripping you up. Then thank Him that He will be with you, showing you mercy and loving-kindness, no matter what happens in the days ahead. Then resolve to stay plugged into Him, no matter what.

Dear Lord, I prefer those times when my life goes smoothly. However, I ask for an extra measure of faith when my life takes an unexpected twist. Teach me to trust Your sovereignty in my life, and to rely on Your strength. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Birds in My Mustard Tree: For Those Who Struggle with Faith by Susanne Scheppmann

Sanctuary: A Devotional Bible for Women

Visit Susanne's Blog

Application Steps: 

Read Genesis 39. Note the G.F.I. in Joseph's life. Consider how our Key Verse correlates with Genesis 39:20-23?

Reflections: 

What G.F.I. (God Faith Interrupters) have occurred in your life?

Did you believe that God was with you throughout the ordeal? Why or why not?

Power Verses:

Jeremiah 31:3, "The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (NIV)

Genesis 39:20b-21, "But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden." (NIV)

Psalm 57:1, "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." (NIV)

© 2008 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

October 1, 2008

A Blameless Heart

by Sharon Sloan -- She Speaks Graduate

"I will walk in my house with a blameless heart." Psalm 101:2b (NIV)

Devotion:

Living a life of godly integrity happens within the walls of our own homes first. That's really where we are authenticated. For me, what God sees and knows of me in my home and with my family is most important to me, rather than how others perceive me elsewhere. If I am living a life surrendered to Him inside my home and with my family, that life will flow naturally and freely everywhere else. It will be genuine and self-evident.

God sees and meets me when I spend quiet time with Him. God sees me when I love and serve my husband with respect and joy. God sees me when I handle His Word with tenderness and invest it into my children's hearts. He also sees me when I fail miserably in these areas and fall to my knees for forgiveness as my heart aches with the godly sorrow that leads to repentance and thus brings forth His life. He sees and knows the real me.

If my husband sees and knows that I am seeking God daily and abiding in Him continually, then my heart is at rest and filled with joy knowing he has confidence in me. He knows I desire an authentic life before our God and in our home. My husband's confidence in me because I love and fear the Lord is priceless. I want the same to be true of me as it is written about the Proverbs 31 woman. "Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." Proverbs 31:11 (NIV) I want to be that crown on his head and jewel around his neck, and that must happen in our home with deep authenticity. It doesn't happen in social settings with shallow facades.

A wise woman seeks to have a blameless heart in her home. "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1 (NIV) The destructive hands of pride and selfishness will tear apart the beautiful gifts with which God has entrusted me. I so earnestly and passionately want to be the wise woman building up my home and family.

Walking with a blameless heart is a standard set by God. Blameless does not mean sinless. The NIV study note clarifies that blameless means "spiritual and moral integrity". Even when we really blow it, our godly integrity, born out of a vibrant relationship with Him, brings us back to a humble heart before the Lord. When we do fail, God and those around us will see our true remorse and desire to be right with Him and with those we have offended.

God does not expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to depend on Him for our godly integrity. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Gentle Father, You desire me to walk with a blameless heart. You have generously given me all I need for life and godliness. May my life honor you in my home and before my family first, such that Your life spills out to all those around me naturally. Strengthen my heart and hands that they may continually build my house in Your perfect love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Click to learn about Gather and Grow Groups which encourage women in Biblical truths and godly authenticity.

Behind Those Eyes: What's Really Going on Inside the Souls of Women by Lisa Whittle

God's Purpose for Every Woman General Editors, Lysa TerKeurst and Rachel Olsen

Application Steps: 

Read Psalm 26.

Pray and ask God to search your heart to see if you are walking with a blameless heart in your home. Ask Him for His strength and passion to do it. If you are not, ask God and your family for forgiveness. Remember He has given you everything you need for life and godliness. Depend on Him.

Reflections: 

Are you the same person in your home as you are outside of your home?

Consider how an authentic life before God and your family also has lasting effects on those around you.

Power Verses:

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless." Psalm 84:11 (NIV)

"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering." Psalm 26:1 (NIV)

© 2008 by Sharon Sloan. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

October 2, 2008

Good Mom, Bad Mom, Good Mom

Lysa TerKeurst

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26(NIV)

Devotion:

Good Mom?

Bad Mom?

Good Mom?

Bad Mom?

Do you ever feel as though you are the ping-pong ball in a heated match bouncing constantly between feeling like a good mom to a bad mom?

One minute I have a great discussion where my child finally gets it... GOOD MOM!

The next I get an e-mail from a teacher that lists the three parents who have yet to turn in that permission slip and I am on the list for all the world to see... BAD MOM!

I calmly handle the stresses of the morning routine... GOOD MOM!

But then during the afternoon homework session, my child's irresponsibility over a last minute project just about sends me over the edge. I find my neck muscles tensing and my voice rising... BAD MOM!

I make sure they pack something healthy for lunch... GOOD MOM!

The schedule falls apart in the late afternoon and I wind up feeding them sugar cereal for dinner... BAD MOM!

Sometimes I feel like that ping-pong ball mom bouncing from feeling good to bad. Yesterday morning I sat down at the kitchen table after getting everyone where they needed to be and cried. Sometimes having kids is the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life. Other days I feel like the task of parenting little people is driving me to the brink of craziness.

Just the other day I was processing some recent family things with my friend, Renee, over the phone. Suddenly a strange theme seemed to arise. I just started laughing. I told Renee that so many of my days seemed to tell the same kind of story... I was on the verge of a breakdown and then I spent time with Jesus and He made things better.

Renee quipped back to me, "Well, isn't that where most of us live every day?"

Not that we are on the edge of a breakdown, but we live in a place of utter dependence on God. I know as a mom, I live in constant need of His love, encouragement, wisdom, perspective, strength, patience, and grace.

Anything I do right as a mom is because of my constant dialogs with God.

Anything I do wrong as a mom is because of trying to do things in my own strength and slap wearing myself out.

That's where grace steps in. And I need lots of grace. God's grace steps in and says, "Lysa, you are doing better than you think. Stop bouncing from feeling good to bad to good to bad. In the good times, rejoice and thank me. In the not so good times, call out to me quickly."

And suddenly it occurred to me; with God I'm never a bad mom. I might be having a bad moment... or two... or seventeen. But a few bad moments do not define me as a bad mom.

God's grace is there to cover me. Teach me. And even in the middle of a bad moment, interrupt me, redirect me, and change me.

Forgiveness is there.

Love is there.

A second chance is there.

You are a good mom my friend even if, like me, you've had a few bad moments... you is the exact mom God knew your children needed. Let's live in that truth today.

Dear Lord, being a mom is a great privilege but one that can be so challenging at times. Teach me how to lean on You with every action and every reaction. And when I mess up, please help me to not define myself by my mommy failures. Help me to only be defined by Your love that assures me and Your grace that covers me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa TerKeurst's blog for a list of Scriptures every mom should have.

Love Notes in Lunchboxes and Other Ideas to Color Your Child's Day by Linda Gilden

The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained by Lysa TerKeurst

Application Steps: 

Find a verse today that could help redirect an angry or frustrated response with your kids. There are some good ones listed below in the power verses. Or you can search out one that specifically applies to your unique struggles. When you feel your temper about to flare, have this verse handy and quote it out loud. In that moment ask God to give you a wiser response than your natural feelings.

Reflections: 

Do you ever struggle with being defined by your mistakes rather than by the truth of God? Spend some time in prayer today asking God to give you His loving perspective of how He sees you. Rest in his lavish love. If you need to ask for forgiveness for some of your actions, do this and then let these things go.

Power Verses:

Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (NIV) 

James 1:5-6, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (NIV- emphasis mine)

© 2008 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

October 3, 2008

Exit Numbers

Marybeth Whalen

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold."

Job 23:10 (NIV)

Devotion:

Have you ever driven on a long road trip, with the responsibility of getting from point A to point B falling squarely on you? It can be a bit overwhelming if you are not used to it. When you anticipate the many highways and unfamiliar cities you will pass through, you think it will take a miracle to get you there! I have always admired people who have driven long distances to unfamiliar places, but never thought I could do it myself.

I recently had the opportunity to travel from my home in North Carolina to my sister's home in Florida . It took nine hours to get there, with many roads to travel during those nine hours. As I looked at the directions I had printed off from the computer, a plan of action formed in my mind. I quickly circled all the exit numbers for each point on the trip. When I got to a new highway, I simply noted what exit we were on, and then gauged how far we had to go based on the exit numbers. By focusing on those numbers, I was always able to take the right way. In the end, what had overwhelmed me became quite simple because I had my exit numbers as my guide!

God has provided us with exit numbers in our lives. He has provided us with His Word as a map for how to find our way. He has promised in His Word that He will provide us with a way out when we face temptation. He has given us the Holy Spirit to whisper directions to us when we feel lost, confused or panicked. He has written these exit numbers on our hearts. The challenge for us is to focus on them and not get sidetracked or overwhelmed by the cars speeding past us, the neon signs flashing at us, or the scenery that can divert us from the right way.

We all have these elements in our life - each one taking a form that is unique to us but no less devastating in its potential. Satan loves to taunt us with these, waving them in front of us and telling us how hopeless our situation is. He wants to destroy us, to cut us off from the Father. He wants us to stop focusing on those exit numbers so we will lose track of where we are on our journey with God.

Have you lost sight of the exit numbers because other stuff has distracted your attention? Do you need to go back through your directions and mentally place a big red circle around those things that keep you on the road He has for you?

Maybe today you feel like you have pulled off to the shoulder of that road and all the other cars are just whizzing past you. Everyone else seems to be intent on where they are going and how they are going to get there. But you just feel lost and hopeless. Do you need someone to come along and help you accelerate back into the flow of traffic? Just for today, I invite you to pray and ask God to help you get where you are going. I challenge you to listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to you - to open up God's Word and let it guide you. The exit numbers are all there. And, with God's help, you will get where you are going.

Dear Lord, I need Your help to make it where I am going. I confess that sometimes I don't even know where I am going and get overwhelmed by the distance it is going to take to get me there. Yet I know that You have provided me with the Way to get there. Help me to trust in that. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

He Speaks to Me by Priscilla Shirer
Visit Marybeth Whalen's blog

For the Write Reason General Editor Marybeth Whalen

Application Steps: 

Spend some time today doing a word search in your Bible concordance on words like "way," "road" or "path." Choose one or two verses that minister to you and write them down somewhere visible in your home or car.

Call a friend who can help you find your way on the road to where you need to be.

Reflections: 

Reread the last paragraph of this devotion -- which of those questions do you really need to ask yourself today?

If you are not in a place of needing "exit numbers" to find your way, perhaps God is laying someone on your heart who needs you to be that friend who helps them get back on the road. Who could that be in your life?

Power Verses:

Job 23:11, "My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside." (NIV)

Isaiah 48:17, "This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." (NIV)

John 14:6, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (NIV)

© 2008 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

October 6, 2008

I Will Do Something New

Melanie Chitwood

"'Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold I will do something new, now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.'" Isaiah 43:18-19 (NAS)

Devotion:

Several years after a friend weathered a huge storm in her marriage, I asked her, "How do you not remember and not get angry all over again when you're reminded of the hurt your husband caused you?"

Her answer was simple but not easy: "I choose to believe that God loves me, my husband, and my children. And I choose to trust God."

The key word here is "choose." Today's key verse in Isaiah is also about choosing. In our marriages, we can choose to remember the hurtful times, or we can choose not "to call to mind the former things."

Let's look at some real-life examples where we can chose to look ahead rather than behind:

I can choose...

to forgive my husband for forgetting my birthday.
not to repeat in my mind the hurtful words my husband said in the heat of an argument.
to appreciate my husband for what he does now, rather than wishing he'd send me flowers like he did in the beginning of our marriage.
to be merciful and gracious when my husband loses money in an unwise investment.
not to hold grudges.
to forgive my husband for unfaithfulness.
not to wonder if I married the right man.

We can make choices like these every day in our marriages, and as we do, I believe we will see God do something new and miraculous in our marriages. After all, He's the God who makes a "roadway in the wilderness" and "rivers in the desert" as our verse says.

I saw my friend choose to trust God during the storm in her marriage. Then, over and over again, I've seen her choose to look ahead to the new things God promises to do in her marriage, rather than dwell on the hurts of the past.

I'm inspired by my friend's ability to rejoice over the new life God brought to her marriage. As our conversation concluded she said, "What we went through was absolutely heartbreaking, but I prayed to see it through God's eyes. I believe that God can make all things new, that God can work all things to our good if we believe in Him. God transformed our marriage as I rested in Him and trusted Him."

Dear Lord, I rejoice that You make all things new! Lord, You can even raise a dead marriage to new life. Lord, I choose to look ahead not behind in my marriage. I choose not to call to mind hurt from the past. I can't wait to see what good things You bring to my marriage as I trust and obey You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas

What a Husband Needs from His Wife by Melanie Chitwood

Listen to P31 Radio Show

Application Steps: 

Right now, what hurt or anger can you leave behind so God can do something new in your marriage? Pray now, confessing to God that you've been holding on to hurts of the past, and ask Him to begin a new work in your marriage.

Reflections: 

What would happen if you forgave your husband for the way he hurt you?

What role does fear play in your inability to look ahead in your marriage?

Do you trust God to do something new in your marriage?

Power Verses:

Matthew 19:26, "...Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" (NAS)

Ephesians 4:22 , 23, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, ...to be made new in the attitude of your minds." (NIV)

Ephesians 4:32, "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (NLT)

© 2008 by Melanie Chitwood. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

October 7, 2008

Is Jesus Enough?

Lysa TerKeurst

"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)

Devotion:

I stopped in my tracks the other day as I was mindlessly singing a beautiful praise song. I say mindlessly not because I wasn't focusing on God. I was definitely lifting up my heart to Him. But the mindlessly part came when I realized I had no clue of the weight of the words in this song. Did I really mean what I was singing? The song said this to Jesus: "You're all I want. You're all I ever needed."

Really? Did I really mean those words? Is my Jesus enough? Ultimately the question should be: Is my relationship with Jesus in such a place that if He was truly all I had today, would I still stand and sing those powerful song lyrics?

The economy is shaky, funds are tight, prices at the gas pumps and grocery store keep rising. Am I going to let my heart be drawn into a place of worry and fear over all this instability? Or will I quiet my soul and calmly proclaim, "Jesus is my Provider and He is enough."

Today my son Jackson, who just got his driver's license, will be driving to a friend's house to watch the football game. His friend lives less than five miles from our house. But statistics show that most car accidents happen on the roads we are most familiar with, those closest to our homes. Will I be able to smile, tell him to be careful and let him drive down our driveway with full confidence that no matter what, Jesus is enough?

I don't know what kinds of twists and turns might come during my life journey. But, I know the only way to travel with a joyful peace is to settle in my heart the answer to this question once and for all. So, today, I declare Jesus is enough. Before I even know in what way this declaration will be tested, I've made the decision to say it, believe it and settle it.

Jesus is enough.

I think this is why Proverbs 31 is my favorite portrait of a godly woman. Proverbs 31:25 reminds us, "she can laugh at the days to come."

She was filled with such incredible joy not because life was perfect but simply because she had decided to make laughter, peace, and truth the hallmarks of her life. Proverbs 31:30 goes on to say this was a woman to be praised because she so reverenced God in the shrine of her heart. She knew without a doubt, He was - and still is - enough.

Dear Lord, Thank You that in this world we don't have to live consumed with fear of the unknown. For You know all things. Nothing will happen to us that does not first pass through Your hands. May I find peace in Your love, which is so consuming for us that You only have our best interests in mind. Help us to believe and trust in that truth no matter what. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa's Blog today for a list of reassuring Scriptures about God's love.

What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst

Do You Know Him?

Application Steps: 

The next time you start to fret over the "what if" questions, verbalize that Jesus is enough no matter what. Write down the power verses below and keep them in your purse until you've memorized them. Being able to have access to God's truth will guard your heart and your mind.

Reflections: 

Have you ever thought about whether or not Jesus is enough in your life?

What are some ways to put this devotional thought into practice in your life today?

How would your relationships improve if you had this kind of peace?

Power Verses:

Psalm 23:4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me..." (NIV)

Isaiah 54:10, "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you." (NIV)

2 Timothy 1:12, "That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (NIV)

© 2008 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

October 8, 2008

Gut-Honest Prayers

Rachel Olsen

"The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer."

Psalm 6:9 (NIV)

Devotion:

Have you ever grown frustrated with God over situations in your life? Have you gone to Him and poured out those feelings in prayer?

If so, you'll be able to relate to the prophet Habakkuk, who lived roughly 600 years before Christ. His book of the Bible begins with this complaint: "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save me. Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?" (Hab.1:2-3, NIV).

God answered Habakkuk by telling him to be patient and to watch, that He will do amazing things and usher in justice -- but only in His timing.

Passionate, honest, gut-level prayers have been recorded through out the Bible. Habakkuk wasn't the only one to complain. Moses, Gideon, and Elijah all questioned God. Job even cursed the day God made him and said, "I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul." (Job 10:1, NIV).

In his anguish, Job accused God of afflicting people for no reason (Job 9:17), overwhelming them with misery (Job 9:18), and not caring about injustice (Job 9:22, 24). Job even wondered if maybe God was laughing at the pain of the innocent (Job 9:22). None of these accusations are accurate -- far from it -- but we can sometimes feel that way in times of severe suffering or testing. God knows our deepest thoughts and feelings, so it's futile to think we can hide them from Him. Better to come clean with how we really feel, get it off our chest in prayer, and hopefully clear the way to hear and receive God's reply or comfort.

I've complained to God in the past for allowing my loved ones to die or fall deep into sin, for allowing valuable things to be stolen from me, for allowing my reputation to be unfairly tarnished, for allowing physical suffering in my body, or for not allowing what I felt I deserved. My goal is to be a woman of faith who can take such things in stride with Him. But when I'm losing that stride, I've found the best thing I can do is honestly take these feelings to God where they can be traded for His perspective and His comforting assurance.

Though God does not always change my circumstances the way I want Him to, He can and does change my perspective on those circumstances -- enabling me to endure them.

God listens when we complain about injustice. He understands when we feel shortchanged or opposed. Read through the gospel accounts of Jesus' life and you'll be reminded of just how much Jesus can relate to undeserved opposition!

Be honest before God in prayer today. While maintaining a holy respect for Him and thanksgiving for His saving grace, pour out the good, the bad and the ugly of your feelings. As Habakkuk, Job and others discovered, God can handle our intense emotions and questions. He may not explains Himself fully to us -- perhaps because we can't fully understand -- but He will flood us with His love when we come humbly and honestly before Him and pour out our heart.

Dear Lord, it is often hard for me to deal graciously with the difficult situations in my life. Help me to see them through Your eyes. Help me to endure, with grace, all that You allow into my life. Fill me with Your peace and love today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

The Character of God: Understanding His Heart for Us by Glynnis Whitwer

Do You Know Him?

Visit Rachel Olsen's blog today and feel free to share your prayer request there.

Application Steps: 

Read through one of the New Testament gospel books that records Jesus' life, noticing all the times and ways that He was opposed, or let down by those around Him. Notice also how He responded.

Reflections: 

Are you angry with God over what He's allowed to happen to you, or a loved one?

Have you taken those feelings to Him honestly in prayer and asked for His perspective and comfort?

Are you willing to settle for the comfort of God in your situation, or are you only interested in having God change your situation to suit you?

Power Verses:

2 Corinthians 4:17-18, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (NIV)

Psalm 86:6, "Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry." (NLT)

© 2008 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org