Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

 April 6, 2010

What Makes a Heart Right?

Wendy Pope

"Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 32:11 (NIV)

Devotion:

As I read today's key verse, I am so thankful I can rejoice in the Lord and be glad. I am able to sing because my heart is upright.  But I have to tell you, this upright heart was pretty downtrodden a few months ago.  Have you ever been there, in a place of oppression so heavy your bones ached and you felt as though your energy had been sapped by the summer sun?

It started about this time last year, in the months leading up to our annual She Speaks conference for aspiring or established Christian speakers and writers. Our staff felt the Lord's leading to fast before the conference.  Many fasted lunch each Tuesday, while others followed the Lord in obedience by fasting something else.  I participated in the lunch fast but confess today to disobeying the Lord when He asked me to fast something else.

This was something I loved.  Maybe, too much. It was something that brought me great pleasure.  It put a smile on my face.  It was...Dr. Pepper!  Yes, the Lord asked me to give up Dr. Pepper in obedience to Him and I said no.  I chose to live in rebellion to the Lord I claimed to love and continued drinking the soda.  It was at this point my relationship with the Lord started to suffer.

The Lord did not abandon me during my rebellion, nor did He stop using me in His kingdom, which made me believe I was "getting away" with my rebellion.  I was still speaking, writing, and leading my online Bible study.  It appeared that I had my cake, well in this case Dr. Pepper, and was "eating it too."

Shortly after the conference my spirit became restless.  I experienced sleepless nights that lead to draining days.  My body and spirit became weak.  It became more and more difficult to purchase Dr. Pepper.  I knew I was in rebellion but chose to compromise instead of confess.  When I ordered Dr. Pepper I would order a small and not get refills.  When the grocery store had a buy-one-get-one-free special, I would only purchase one twelve pack.  I was becoming a master at the "obedience clause" ... obeying my way.  This went on for months. 

David wrote about the cause and effect of living in sin in Psalm 32:3-4, "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer" (NIV).

These verses haunted me.  There was the truth of my life in black and white.  Fortunately in verse 5 David tells us what to do when the symptoms of rebellion become realities in our lives. "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD —and you forgave the guilt of my sin'" (NIV).

So, why am I able to today?  Last December I acknowledged my sin to God and stopped covering my iniquity.  In addition to my confession and repentance I finally obeyed what God had asked me to do months before, I stopped drinking Dr. Pepper.  My strength has been restored and my bones no longer ache.  My posture is upright and I'm confident because I am walking in obedience.  Will I ever drink Dr. Pepper again?  That is a question only the Lord can answer; but until He gives the answer, I want the posture of my heart to be upright, singing along the way.

What is the posture of your heart today?  Is it up upright or downtrodden?  Read Psalm 32 and follow God's instructions.  I promise the results will be uplifting!

Dear Lord, thank You for inspiring David to write this amazing message. Help me to live the truths of Your Word so I can rejoice and be glad in my relationship with You.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

More encouragement can be found at Hearing God

Out of the Mouths of Babes by Wendy Pope

Living Free in Christ: Experiencing Life as it was Meant to be (CD) by Wendy Pope

Visit Wendy's blog

A Perfect Mess: Why You Don't Have to Worry About Being Good Enough for God by Lisa Harper

Application Steps: 

Read Psalm 32.  Pray through the scripture, asking God to reveal any sin you have not acknowledged.

Reflections: 

How do I respond when God asks me to do something?

Why is obeying God difficult for me?

Power Verses:

Psalm 32:1, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." (NIV)

2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (NIV)

© 2010 by Wendy Pope. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 7, 2010

My Triple-Braided Cord

Karen Ehman

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)
       
Devotion:

I've been embattled in a knock-down, drag-out fight for over a quarter-century now. Sometimes, I feel the little daily battles that are part of this clash completely defeat me, leaving me helpless and hopeless. And I feel alone in my battle.

What is this battle that consumes me? It is one that many women face. My constant, decades-long skirmish is with food. Or rather, with my desire for food. Bad foods. Wrong foods. Or just vast quantities of food.

A few years back, I felt I'd come to the end of my rope. Severely overweight and reeling from seven different medical conditions, I finally determined to do something decisive for fear I might wind up like my aunt. She died unexpectedly of a heart attack when she was only in her early forties. I had just celebrated my 40th birthday, was the same size my aunt had been, and shared many of her medical issues.

So one day with desperate determination, a pair of hand-me-down walking shoes, and my trusty calorie counter in hand, I set off to religiously follow a weight-loss and exercise regimen. And follow it I did—to the T! Eleven months later, I'd dropped over 100 pounds. All my health conditions disappeared without any medication and I felt better than I had in my twenties. I boldly determined that never, EVER again would I let that weight creep back on.

Fast forward three years. One snowy Christmas eve, my husband's company gave him notice of a layoff. It lasted for nearly 9 months. Money was tight. The future looked bleak. I was worried and teetering on the brink of depression. I hate to admit that, sadly, I again turned to food instead of to God. I made it my comfort; my distraction; my friend.

However, this familiar "friend" quickly became my archenemy. Over the course of those 9 months, I gained back over a third of the weight I'd lost! Now entrenched in the thick of the battle again, I was weary and weak; embarrassed and embittered. However, one day God sent me today's key verse. He whispered in my soul's ear that I needed to stop fighting the battle alone. Time to call in the troops!

I phoned my friend Lysa and asked her if she would pray for me, and allow me to "weigh-in" with her once a month to let her know if I'd lost or gained. She too has fought the battle-of-the-bulge and was gracious and willing to be my second strand, watching my back and enabling me to conquer.

Another friend, who also has fought weight issues, sensed how much my regain was bothering me. On one of my darkest days, she took my chin in her hand, looked me squarely in the eye, and told me I was beautiful and that I needed to stop allowing Satan to beat me up. Shari became my third strand. She also prays for me and I email her each month giving her a report from the front lines of the battlefield.

Knowing these "I've-been-there" sisters were both rooting, as well as praying, for me has made an immense difference. It also inspired me to initiate a Weight Loss Wednesday weekly feature on my blog where nearly 80 women encourage, cheer and comfort each other. Together, we form one thick rope of sisters, intertwining our very souls. And yes, newcomers are always welcome!

Whether it is extra weight on our thighs or excess baggage in our souls, we women all face heated, hard battles. Our key verse today teaches us to decide not to wage war all alone. Enlist another strand or two to strengthen one another in the fight to overcome strongholds and worship God alone. Satan shudders when God's gals band together, with Jesus at the forefront, to courageously face the battle before us.
                                                                                                                                                                       
Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I try to wage war alone. Guide me to someone who will come alongside of me and encourage me not to give up in my quest to glorify You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

To take a peek at the Weight Loss Wednesday cyber group and enter to win a weight-loss jump-start giveaway, visit Karen's blog today.

The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Karen Ehman

Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be: A 90-day Guide to Living the Proverbs 31 Life by Donna Partow
When a Woman Meets Jesus: Finding the Love Every Woman Longs For by Dorothy Valcarcel
Share a good laugh and find solid truth with Dear Bathroom Scale
Application Steps: 

What areas of battle can you identify where you might need to "call in the troops" for back-up support?

Reflections: 

Have there been times in your life when your connection with other women allowed you or a friend to do something that could never have been accomplished alone?

Power Verses:

Matthew 18:19-20, "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (ESV)

© 2010 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

 April 8, 2010

When My Mean Girl Wants to Come Out

Lysa TerKeurst

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

John 15:11 (NIV)

Devotion:

Do you ever have days where someone tries to rip the joy right out of your life?

I do.

And it's really hard. It's a battle. The good girl part of my brain says, "Be nice. Honor Jesus with your actions. Your response is your responsibility. Self control, Lysa, self control."

But the mean girl part of my brain says, "How dare they act that way! I'll show you Buster Brown."

One part of me says fold your hands in prayer.

But another part of me says throw your hands in the air and throw a good old fashioned hissy fit.

Issues.

I have them. Maybe most of us girls do. Especially that one special week a month.

But God.

I love how those two words interrupt me. Redirect me. Remind me. Comfort me. Battle the mean girl in me. And cause me to pause.

Pause. Just for a minute, pause. And it's in that pause where we give the Holy Spirit room to interrupt the mean girl response just dying to come out and bloody the situation.

The Holy Spirit says, "Lysa stop and think. It might feel good in the minute to scream, retaliate, pitch a fit and flood the situation with scary emotions. But it won't feel good in the long run. It will feel awful in the long run. You'll feel the sting of regret. Come on Lysa... be rare. Be a girl who looks ahead and determines to do what's best in the long run."

Yes, it stinks that this other person is determined to steal my joy.

It really does.

But in reality, my joy can only be stolen if I let it be stolen.

In John 15:10-12 Jesus says, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

Several things struck me as I read this verse.  In each interaction I have with others, I'm faced with the choice to either remain in God's love or retreat from God's love.  I can't control how this other person is acting towards me.  But I can control how I act and react.  If I chose to remain in God's love and react to this other person kindly, it affects my joy.  Jesus interjects His joy right into the heart of a kind person.  If I make the choice to be kind, instead of my joy being depleted, it will be completed.

So back off mean girl part of my brain. The Jesus girl in me is taking over. And holding on to every ounce of joy that's rightfully mine. Circumstances can steal stuff from me. But not my joy.

And all Jesus' girls say, "Amen and amen!"
                                                                                                                                                                           
Dear Lord, this sounds so good in this moment.  But it will not be easy when I have an interaction today with "that person"... the one who makes my mean girl want to come out. Will You help me remember these truths?  Will You help me remember this person can not steal my joy?  And help me remember if I react kindly my joy can be completed rather than depleted.  And that's what I want.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Click here to visit Lysa's blog for a list of three practical things we can do to keep our mean girl from coming out today.

Lysa is speaking in over 40 cities this year and she'd love to meet you!  To check for a city near you, click here.

Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst. This book contains three chapters all about what to do when our mean girl wants to come out.  Learn how to conquer your anger, envy, and stress today!

Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl DVD and Participant's Guide - Contains six sessions lasting 15-20 minutes each on one DVD and a Participant's Guide for only $24.99!  Perfect for your Bible study group or as a neighborhood Book Club.

Application Steps: 

If you know you will be interacting with someone who has a habit of trying to steal your joy, plan how you can remain calm and kind.  Also, plan how you can limit the time you spend interacting with them.

Keep these three thoughts in your mind:

This person can only steal my joy if I let them.

I can't control this person, but I can control how I act and react.

If I make the choice to be kind, instead of my joy being depleted, it will be completed.

For a list of three practical things we can do to keep our mean girl from coming out today, click here.

Reflections: 

What situations in my life might get better if I apply what I'm learning in this devotional today?  Do I want frustration or joy to be my reality today?  What would it be like to live with Jesus' complete joy in my heart?

Power Verses:

John 15:10, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." (NIV)

John 15:11, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (NIV)

John 15:12, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (NIV) 

© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 9, 2010

Potholes Required

Van Walton

"Dear...sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." James 1:2-3 (NLT)
       
Devotion:

Before moving to the warm South, complete with mild winters and smooth roads, my family lived in Wisconsin. The greatest contrast I noticed? Southern roads free from potholes.

Or so I thought.

Then one day as I sailed along a local street, my car sank into a deep hole. Water and mud splashed over the windshield and bounced off my side view mirror. The abrupt pitfall surely damaged my car. At the very least it was dirty and dented.

"Where did that come from?" I wondered. "A pothole on the streets of my fine city?"

Driving on, I considered the pothole. Every road we travel is susceptible to pothole blight. I remember my front walkway caving in and crumbling after a heavy rain washed out the ground underneath it. I've even found myself walking around muddy holes on forest paths.

Yes, every road we travel is susceptible to the pothole blight, including the road of life. God's Word guarantees it: "You will face all kinds of trouble ...Your faith will be put to the test" (James 1:2b-3a, NIRV).

At one time or another, the highway on which we travel will fall out from under us.  Or, if we are not personally affected by troubles, we know someone who is.  Potholes are inevitable, it seems, if we're going anywhere.  Consequently, we can spend much time dealing with the destruction, or rescuing others from their deep pits. Writing these words distresses me and if I were to camp on this thought, I could find myself sorely depressed.

So I drive on, focusing on God's Word. Like the dependable tow truck that fixes damaged tires or the repair shop that aligns them, God's Word assures me that falling into an abyss is not the end of the ride. Life does go on ... with a high calling and meaningful purpose.

Consider these words:

"The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort...comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others ..." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)

"...we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.  We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair..." (2 Corinthians 4:7-8, NLT)

"...under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:2-4, MSG)

And finally Isaiah 53:3a, 4a explains that the troubles our Lord Jesus suffered made us whole. He was "a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief...it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down..." (NLT)

Precious friend, are you stuck in one of life's potholes? Don't despair. You're not alone. Jesus knows.  You may feel damaged, broken, or rejected but there is a high calling, a greater purpose for your troubling experiences. One day you will comfort others in their afflictions. Your light will shine on another's dark and difficult path. And when you step into eternity you will receive the crown of life.

Hallelujah!

Father, God, I have fallen into a deep hole. I am damaged, broken, and feel rejected. Please use my circumstances to strengthen me and cause me to shine so others may see Your glory. In Jesus; Name I pray, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Van's blog

From the Pound to the Palace by Van Walton describes for your children how a relationship with Jesus helps us endure troubles.

Trials for Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life by Janet Eckles

For more hope and to take a free test How Do I Know If I'm Depressed? visit God Sees You

Defeating Depression: Real Hope for Life-Changing Wholeness by Leslie Vernick

Application Steps: 

Read James 1:1-18 in several Bible translations. 

Reflections: 

What troubles threaten to destroy me?

Isn't God greater than any trial that comes my way?

Can I set my mind on trusting God rather than caving to defeat, confident that today's trials strengthen me for tomorrow?

Power Verses:

2 Corinthians 4:16-17, "...we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:4, "In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.  (NLT)

© 2010 by Van Walton. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 12, 2010

Attitude Adjustment

Melanie Chitwood

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..."

Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

Devotion:

One day I opened my car door and was blasted with a horrific smell. I searched every inch of the car but could not find the source of the stench. I then took action to get rid of the smell: I scrubbed the carpet with deodorizers and sprayed air freshener. The stench persisted. I left the car doors open, deciding I couldn't possibly run errands in that stinky car.

I went back inside, opened the refrigerator, and noticed a small trickle of milk had leaked on to the shelf. After examining the milk container, I realized that the milk must have leaked into the car the day before when I got groceries. That explained the cause of my stinky car: spoiled milk, one of the most offensive odors I've ever smelled.

Negative attitudes are like the stench of spoiled milk, permeating our lives and affecting everyone we come in contact with.  Think about some of these negative attitudes that might make you stinky: complaining, selfish, prideful, bitter, or unforgiving.  Do any ring true with you today?

Now imagine a pleasing aroma. What comes to mind? A freshly baked pie, the scent of the ocean, newly brewed coffee, or a cinnamon candle. A pleasant aroma is so powerful that it can bring a smile to our faces and make us feel more positive.  The same is true of our positive attitudes. In our relationships we can be like a fragrant aroma by adopting attitudes that please and reflect Christ. In fact, Paul teaches that we are a "fragrance of Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:15).  Consider these pleasing attitudes: thankful, humble, generous, gracious, kind, and cheerful.  You can ask God to be one of these fragrances through you today. 

Our attitude provides an accurate litmus test for the true condition of our hearts. God cares first about the condition of our hearts because when God has our hearts, He knows that we're surrendered to Him. He'll mold us and shape our attitudes and actions to reflect His character.

Dear Lord, search me, O God, and know my heart (Psalm 139:23). Soften my heart and make me willing to receive an attitude adjustment from You.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Today's devotion is adapted from What a Wife Needs from Her Husband, companion to What a Husband Needs from His Wife, both by Melanie Chitwood

Visit Melanie's blog, What Matters Most

The S.O.S for PMS: Practical Help and Relief for Moms by Mary M. Byers

Show your spring style with a She Speaks T-Shirt in Cranberry or Teal.

Application Steps: 

Since our attitudes reflect the condition of our hearts, take some time to sit quietly before the Lord.  Allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart. 

If you know you've had a bad attitude, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the root of that stinky attitude.  For example, if you've been grumbling and complaining, the root of this attitude might be a sense of entitlement.  Once you recognize the root, confess it and ask God to remove it.  Ask God to work His Christ-like attitude in and through you.   

Reflections: 

Consider the various relationships affected by your positive or negative attitude.  What fragrance does your spouse smell when you come near?  Spoiled milk or a fragrant spring candle?  What attitude do your coworkers get a whiff of?  What about your children?  Or,.the cashier at the grocery store when you're hurrying and running late? 

In which relationship is it the most difficult for you to be the "fragrance of Christ"?

Power Verses:

Proverbs 4:23, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life." (NAS)

2 Corinthians 2:14, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place." (NAS)

© 2010 by Melanie Chitwood. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 13, 2010

Discipline My Body

Marybeth Whalen

"I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." I Corinthians 9:27 (NLT)

Devotion:

As I shared with a woman I met about our family's journey out of $95,000 worth of debt, she posed a question that stumped me. "That's great that you guys did that," she said. "But do you really think that people out there are willing to do the hard work it will take to get out of debt?"

I confessed to her that I couldn't answer for other people. I could only share what we had experienced—what we knew worked. She responded that she thought people were looking for simpler, easier solutions than the arduous four-and-a-half year process we went through. I knew she was probably right.

Days later as I was struggling through the first mile of my run, I thought about her question and compared it to my lack of motivation to lace up my running shoes that day. I didn't feel like running. I didn't want to stop what I was doing at home and take time to go running. I didn't want to do the hard work. The phrase "I discipline my body" went through my mind. As my legs pumped and my muscles strained and my heart cried out for relief, I certainly understood what Paul meant when he wrote that verse.

As I ran, my mind cycled through the many other things in life that are worth doing, yet require us to "discipline our bodies" into submission to accomplish them. In some instances we must physically discipline our bodies. Taking care of ourselves, exercising, and making healthy eating choices requires resolve, sacrifice, and some hard work.

In other instances we must emotionally discipline our bodies. Choosing to honor our husbands, or our parents, with our words and attitudes requires a continual humbling process that our flesh rails against.

Still other times we must spiritually discipline our bodies. I am learning it's not enough just to say I want a close relationship with God. I have to "discipline my body" to pursue Him. This includes getting up early when my body wants to sleep longer so I can start my day by having a quiet time. And I can't say I want to live by His Word if I am not willing to spend time studying it, disciplining my body by foregoing my desire to veg out in front of the TV in favor of reading the Bible.

I am learning that most things in life that are worth doing aren't going to be easy. Yet my flesh—my lazy, insolent, ugly flesh—continually hangs onto the thought that it should be easy. Sometimes my flesh wins out, I won't lie. But for the most part I am learning that when I make the effort to "discipline my body" I am always glad later that I did.

Maybe there's something that God is urging you to do that's going to require disciplining your body. Maybe you have resisted it because you don't want to go through that. From someone who understands that battle, might I urge you to take the time, and submit your body, heart and mind to the process? On the other side of your effort is a transformed life waiting to happen.
                                                                                                                                                                         
Dear Lord, I know that doing the right thing is not usually the easy thing. Help me to follow Your ways and not my own. Help me to commit to the changes I know I need to make in my life. And let me feel You guiding and encouraging me every step of the way. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Marybeth's blog

Learning to Live Financially Free: Hard Earned Wisdom for Saving Your Money and Your Marriage by Marybeth and Curt Whalen
A Tip a Day: 12 Months Worth of Money-Saving Ideas by Ellie Kay
From Financially Frantic to Financially Free (CD) by Marybeth and Curt Whalen
Do you dread talking finances with your spouse?  Click here for tips on how to have a smooth conversation.
Application Steps: 

Write down in your journal one thing that you feel God has laid on your heart that will require "disciplining your body" to make it happen. Maybe it's taking better care of yourself or losing weight. Maybe it's doing the hard work and submitting yourself to the process of becoming debt free. Maybe it's recommitting to spending daily time with God—foregoing some sleep to make that happen. Whatever it is, pray about it and consider asking a friend to hold you accountable.

Reflections: 

What does your flesh want? Is it the best thing for you?

How will discipline change your circumstances in the long run?

Power Verses:

Romans 8:13, "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (NIV) 

Galatians 6:8, "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (NIV)

© 2010 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 14, 2010

Grabbing Hold of Shiny Thoughts

Rachel Olsen

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
       
Devotion:

Sitting in the overstuffed chair at Barnes & Noble I feel undersized. My feet don't quite touch the floor with my back against the cushion. So I pull my legs up and fold them beneath me, making a bird's nest of my lap. I pour my attention onto the pages of my selected book. People walk past me - surely, it's a busy Sunday afternoon - but I don't notice. I'm enamored with the words before me. I'm following in the footsteps of the author, from my perch in the enormous chair.

Twenty some minutes go by before I look up and stretch. The bookstore café sits in my sight line, just a few dozen feet before me. People are milling about. None of them in particular stand out. Until I spot the woman, coiffed like a porcelain doll. Ready to be someone's bright-eyed treasure. She's attractive, put together, and carries herself with that certain air only long time southern residents with a good bit of money seem to possess.

I stop scanning the café and watch only her. That is until a dark-haired man in a suit enters a few minutes later and heads to the tail of the coffee line. His suit is out of place for this time and space. But I suspect he could still stand out in a pair of khaki Dockers.

I watch him awhile, inching his way towards the counter, waiting his turn to order an espresso. Then I return my gaze to the woman, now seated at a table with her trendy bag, cell phone, coffee cup and papers, likely doing something important. Or at least doing something well. I notice my pulse has slightly increased. And when I inventory my thoughts, I find them discussing how to be as attractive and commanding as these two.

That's ironic, given that a few paragraphs back in the book, I'd paused at the author's line, "When did looking good become your god?" The question in the middle of the paragraph had begged me to pull the journal from my purse and write it down for future consideration. After dragging my attention away from the shiny café people, I decide now should be that future time. Placing my pen to the journal page, the ink forms this note to God and self:

"When I see someone, male or female, who looks good in my opinion—or in the world's opinion, as the two are entirely too synonymous at times—my attention fixates. I find my pulse even quickens. This happens whenever I like what I see—be it a person, a painting, or a ripe plum. I admire and desire it. And, honestly, I find myself longing today to elicit that kind of response in others. Why??

Probably because it seems powerful. Probably because a mind that is not set on Christ derives too much pleasure from being admired. But here I sit today, a bit disheveled, in need of a haircut, with my feet in my lap like a child. And what's equally honest is I want to enjoy sitting here like this without regret. Without worry that I'm not a shiny, suit person right now. I wish I looked my best at all times, and at the same time, I don't want to be driven by that wish. I see that for what it would truly be: slavery to image. I want to look nice when it's fun for me to, or necessary for me to look professional. But I don't want looking good to become my god. Thank You God, that You look at my heart and not my appearance."

And with that, having taken my thoughts captive, I return to my chosen book. Contented. With my feet in my lap like a child. And I walk some more in the author's footsteps, forgetting all about myself and the shiny people in the café. My mind has just tasted freedom in Christ—it tastes much sweeter than the world's best espresso and crème.
                     
Dear Holy Spirit, help me be aware of my thoughts today. Bring them consciously before me, and help me line them up with Truth. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Rachel's blog

God's Purpose for Every Woman: A Compilation of Favorite P31 Devotions  by various Encouragement for Today authors, Gen Eds. Lysa TerKeurst & Rachel Olsen

Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets the Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Intimacy with God: Your Daily Guide to Prayer by Tara Furman
A Woman's Price Tag offers more truth for you
Application Steps: 

Choose a certain bracelet, or tie a piece or ribbon around your wrist today to remind you to pay attention to your thoughts. When you catch sight of it, inventory your recent thoughts. How do they line up with scriptural truths?

Reflections: 

Do you pay attention to what you are thinking? Are you quiet enough at times in your day to notice your thoughts?

What strategies do you have or can you create for taking your thoughts captive and submitting them to Christ?

Power Verses:

I Samuel 16:7, "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.'" (ESV)

© 2010 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 15, 2010

Choose Where You Will Stand

Tracie Miles

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)

Devotion:

Several years ago, I began playing tennis and became a member of a competitive team.  Each week the team attends a practice clinic with our tennis professional to learn new techniques and strategies.  He is always full of great tips and advice to help us improve our game, but one particular week he said something that really stuck in my mind.

He discussed the importance of court position; where we stand on the court could determine whether or not we keep the ball in play and if we win the point.  Then he said that although we could not control what was going on in the court, we could always control where we stand.

I thought about how that statement is applicable not only to tennis, but to life. You see, even though we can't control what happens in the world, we can always control where we stand on issues of righteousness and integrity. Where we choose to stand will be evidence of the role that we are allowing God to play in our lives.

For example, we have no power over the sex, drugs, language and violence on TV, but we can choose whether we watch it or not. We have no power over the content of the movies coming out in the theatres, or how lenient the ratings are, but we can choose what we allow ourselves or our children to see. We can stand for purity.

We have no power to control the beliefs and actions of other people.  We cannot control the downfall of morals in our society.  We cannot control the decisions that Congress makes, which new laws are put into place, escalating gas prices, politics in the workplace, questionable practices in corporations, liberal tolerance, foreign affairs, war, or the state of the economy.   

In fact, sometimes it may seem that we have no control over certain situations in our own lives, much less the things happening in the world. But there is good news - we always have the choice to choose where we will stand in the game of life.

Proverbs 20:5 says, "Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within" (The Message).  That is really where court position begins - in the heart.  If our faith is strong and grounded, then we will be able to pull from that wisdom when faced with opportunities to choose where to stand, knowing that the power of God within us will empower us to make good decisions.

Our only hope in fighting this battle of good versus evil, in our hearts and in this broken world, is to be prepared to stand tall and firm for Christ, despite what the opposition may bring.

You know, life is a lot like a tennis court. We each have our side. We try to stay on the right side, but sometimes the balls that get thrown at us pull us in the wrong direction. Other times they are difficult to defend, cause us to stumble, or throw us off track. But if we choose the right court position to begin with, that is, to stay on God's side and choose Him as our partner, we are much more likely to exercise the power we have within us. Drawing deep from the well of God's wisdom in our hearts, we can do the right thing.

There are times when standing up for our faith may cause us to lose the popularity contest, but it will allow others to see God in us. And, there may even be times when our court position speaks louder than words ever could.

Where will you stand today?

Dear Lord, help me have the strength and faith to stand up for what is right when I am faced with opposition, and not be swayed by the pressures in a fallen world.  Help me live a life that glorifies You, instead of just taking the easy road and going along with the crowd.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
Visit with Tracie on her blog.
Help your kids take a stand!  Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris
Listen to Staying on Track for an extra dose of encouragement today.
Application Steps: 

Consider ways you can stand firm in your faith in your home, at work, with friends and in your community. 

Ask God to be your partner and seek His guidance where to stand on the court.

Reflections: 

What opportunities have you recently had to stand up for truth? How did you do?

If you were faced with opposition to God's truth in some way today, would you be prepared to stand up for Him?

Power Verses:

Ephesians 6:14, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place." (NIV)

Proverbs 11:4, "A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst." (MSG)

© 2010 by Tracie Miles. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

April 16, 2010

Crows Have Landed

Luann Prater

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)
         
Devotion:

I was 45 when it hit me.  We were on vacation and the hotel had one of those cool magnifying mirrors in the bathroom.  Well, it was cool until it showed the truth. It seems my "laugh lines" were running amuck and creeping out of the sides of my eyelids. 

"What in the world!" I shouted. "How long have I had these trenches in my face? And when were you going to tell me?" I yelped. My wise husband knew a death trap when he saw it, "Honey, I love your eyes," he replied. 

Now that I've hit the fabulous fifties, they don't wait for a smile to show themselves; no, the crow's feet have firmly landed and are forever etched in my face. I knew it was obvious one day when a client who works for a plastic surgeon told me she could get me a good deal, then she patted my face. 

No one escapes the fact that we all age. One day we wake up and realize the spring in our step has a bit of a squeak, gray hairs are sprouting in the most bizarre places (like cascading from your chin), and everything that was once perky has headed south.  Of course this is the exact moment I see a twenty-something bounce across the television screen and everything in me wants to burrow beneath a blanket on the couch with a warm chocolate chip cookie and pretend this will all go away.

Then I hear my grandkids squeal and run into the room.  It's time for another round of "The Gramminator!"  I roll to the floor and put on my best Schwarzenegger voice and proclaim, "No one escapes the Gramminator!" and the pouncing and wrestling begins.

It's at these moments I realize how much I love being 50-something.  The road to get here was not easy; in fact, those lines in my face were earned.  Every gray hair represents a tough time of losing a loved one, stressing over finances or crying over a wayward child.  The main lesson I've learned along the way is everything in life is temporary.  Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (NIV). Whether I'm on the mountaintop or in the valley, neither will last but He will always walk with me.

Today, I choose to laugh and let the lines dig in a little deeper because this is the only day I am guaranteed.  We are but dust, here today and gone tomorrow.  Besides, my grandson just gripped my face in his sweet little hands and said, "Grandma, you're beautiful." His view is better than the mirror.

Come on, let's embrace this thing called age together and laugh!
                                                                                                                                       
Dear Lord, thank You for every gray hair and every wrinkle for they serve as reminders.  Each one represents a time of leaning into You for strength. You have provided all I've ever needed.  May You always be evident in my life as I laugh at the days to come. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Spend Saturday afternoons with Luann on the air at Encouragement Café

Instill these truths in your child with The Tale of Three Trees retold by Angela Elwell Hunt

Instill these truths in your tween with The Divine Dance: If the World is Your Stage, Who are You Performing For? by Shannon Kubiak Primicerio

Instill these truths in your twenty-something with Authentic Beauty: The Shaping of a Set-apart Young Woman by Leslie Ludy

Instill these truths in your heart with Broken into Beautiful: How God Restores the Wounded Heart by Gwen Smith

Application Steps: 

Choose to laugh today. Take every care and give God thanks and praise for already taking care of it.  Then find someone to laugh with.

Reflections: 

What causes me to frown?

When will I see my age lines as triumphs?

How can I rejoice and not be afraid?

Power Verses:

Joshua 1:5, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (NIV)

Proverbs 16:31, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life." (NIV)

© 2010 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

 April 19, 2010

Maybe it was Hormones...

Melanie Chitwood

"...but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man

is being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NAS)

Devotion:

My husband Scott and I were watching a movie when we heard a great line: "Put the cuckoo back in the clock."  We looked at each other and laughed, really hard. 

I had been having some emotional days, and we both knew that this line from the movie was one aptly applied to me lately.  While most women would agree that emotional days are not out of the norm, this new degree of emotional upheaval was a bit over the top for me.

In my early forties I discovered that my hormones were changing. That might be more than you wanted to know about me, but I think you'll be glad you read this because even if you're not in your forties, at some point as a woman you're going to feel the effects of hormones. (If you're a man, this devotion might help you to understand the female in your life when she seems unstable or overly emotional.)

When hormones change, you can experience all sorts of physical, mental, and emotional changes.  You fluctuate between being so hot you want to jump in a cold swimming pool, and then a short while later you feel you need gloves and socks on.  You are weepy one minute and a nanosecond later your child's presence makes you more irritable than you ever have been. You're sure at some point in your life you had the ability to remember things but that ability is long gone.  Finally, one day your husband's comment about the cuckoo clock is funny, but another moment, it is the absolute wrong thing for him to say.

So how do we respond to these hormonally-induced changes?  We must take into account that the hormonal changes we're experiencing are real, and that our "outer man," the term used in today's key verse, is changing. While we don't want them to master us, at the same time we cannot discount the real effects of hormones. We need to make adjustments in all areas of our life. 

Spiritually speaking, the flesh may seem much stronger than the spirit, so we will need to counter these changes with spiritual weapons. We can be "strong in the Lord and the strength of His might" (Ephesians 6:10, NAS). We'll find that God's spirit renews our "inner man."

We also need to make adjustments in the physical realm.  Sometimes we as Christians want to separate the physical from the spiritual or emotional aspects of ourselves, but it's all connected.  Physically speaking, we need to take care of ourselves.  Too much junk food, sugar, and caffeine will only exacerbate our emotions and thoughts.  In addition, we may not have the stamina to do all we've done before.  We may need more exercise and more rest.  A doctor can advise you.

In the mental and emotional realm, we may have thoughts and feelings of insecurity, doubt, anxiety, irritability or anger in a way we never have before.  It's so easy to perpetuate the downward spiral of our thoughts, beating ourselves up for having these negative feelings.  Instead, we need to confess any sinful reactions against others and recognize that when our bodies are changing, we need to be purposeful about taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

In a nutshell, we need to seek a balance.  On the one hand, we need to be gracious to ourselves, knowing that our "outer man" is changing. On the other hand, we need to take practical steps to prevent our hormones from ruling us.  God created our hormones and He will give us wisdom and strength in dealing with them.

Dear Lord, thank You for hormones, even when they sometimes don't feel like a gift.  Open my eyes to how my hormones affect different aspects of my life, and give me the strength to deal with them in a healthy way.  Thank You, Lord, that because I'm Your child, Your Spirit lives in me, giving me the strength to do what I feel I can't do.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Melanie's blog -What Matters Most for ideas to help on hormonal days!

What a Husband Needs from His Wife and companion book What a Wife Needs from Her Husband by Melanie Chitwood

She's Gonna Blow! Real Help for Dealing With Mom Anger by Julie Ann Barnhill

For an extra measure of encouragement, read Handling Daily Frustrations

The S.O.S for PMS: Practical Help and Relief for Moms by Mary M. Byers

Application Steps: 

Keep track of your emotional and physical changes in a journal.  Can you identify a pattern?  Be prepared for times that will be hormonally charged.  Take some things off your schedule and eliminate some stressors.  If you can, wait to make major decisions.  Take a walk, read a book, sit outside.  Even if it's just for 15 minutes, take care of yourself.

Reflections: 

What's the most challenging aspect of hormonal changes to you?  The mental, physical or spiritual aspects?

Do your changing hormones result in treating other people in a not-so-nice way?  What can you do to respond better to others?  Especially to family members?

What are some practical steps you can take to minimize any negative effects of changing hormones?

Power Verses:

Galatains 5:16, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."

2 Corinthians 4:7,"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (NIV)

© 2010 by Melanie Chitwood. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org