Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

December 29, 2010
There's Always Something I Can Do
Glynnis Whitwer


"Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties."

Mark 6:39-40 (NIV)         

Devotion:
Worn out. Hungry. Without resources. Needs on every side. That's what Jesus' disciples faced at the end of a long day of ministry. Even Jesus was ready for a rest. So He suggested they go by boat to a solitary place. Great idea, right? Well, it didn't work out that way.


By that point in Jesus' ministry, people followed Him everywhere. In fact, they were so desperate for His touch, they ran around the lake, and actually got to the other side before Jesus did.


Imagine the disciples' response seeing all those needy people. I imagine they felt empty. Have you ever felt that way? ... exhausted by the demands on you ... emotionally bankrupt ... at the end of your resources with nothing left to give?


Just when the disciples wanted to curl up and rest, Jesus started to teach to the people.  Didn't He notice they were exhausted?  They wanted to do nothing, because that's all they thought they could do.


The disciples even tried to stop Jesus from teaching, and send the people away so they could do nothing in peace.  They said, "This is a remote place ... and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat" (Mark 6:35b-36).


So not only were the disciples exhausted, they were in a barren place with NO resources. I know what that feels like. There have been times in my life when needs faced me at every turn, circumstances and people thwarted my best efforts, and hope flickered like a weak flame. At those times, "nothing" seemed like all I could do.


On that day when the disciples felt they could not take on one more task, Jesus gave them a biggie. Instead of allowing them to send the people away, Jesus said, "You give them something to eat" (Mark 6:37).


Jesus then asked the disciples to present what food they had. It wasn't much, but they handed over five loaves of bread and two fish. Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups (v. 39).


While the disciples did that, Jesus thanked God for the food and gave it back to the disciples to pass around. Jesus worked a miracle that day, all the people were fed, and there were 12 baskets of food left.


I've read that story many times in my life, but recently something stood out to me. Why did Jesus ask the disciples to have the people sit? And why did they sit in groups? The most obvious answer is that in the face of an overwhelming situation, Jesus knew everybody needed order.   


What if there was more than a need for simple order? What if Jesus wanted the disciples to shift their focus away from what they couldn't do, to what they could do? Then, Jesus did what only He could - He performed a miracle.


The disciples were so focused on their own lack, and how they couldn't possibly meet the overwhelming needs, they decided to do nothing. Worse than that, they forgot they were standing next to the One who could help. But Jesus put them to work on the practical task right before them, to prepare for the miracle He was about to perform.


As I face hard times in my own life, there is wisdom in this for me.  Sometimes, all I think about is what I can't control.  I focus on the problem and the unfairness of the situation.  Even though I've prayed, confessed my needs and presented my resources to Jesus, I stay focused on what I can't do. It's a pretty limited view of the situation. 


I somehow forget that I'm standing next to the One who can feed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish ... and have leftovers! Sometimes, instead of doing what God has placed in front of me, I do nothing.


Perhaps, instead of wringing my hands with worry, I need to get busy with what I can control. There's always something I can do to bring order to my situation. It's not a distraction technique ... it's an act of faith.  Jesus is still in the business of miracles, and I definitely can't do those.

Dear Lord, forgive me when I focus more on my own limitations rather than Your power. There is nothing too great for You. Help me to turn my thoughts away from what I can't do, to what You have placed in front of me. I trust You to do the rest. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know the One Who Can Meet Your Needs?


Visit Glynnis' blog for ideas on what you can do in overwhelming circumstances


The Character of God: Understanding His Heart for Us by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer

One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps:

Identify a situation that has you frozen with inaction. Pick one thing you can do, and get started on it today.


Reflections:

What can I do to help myself overcome emotional exhaustion?


Why does doing a practical task sometimes help in overwhelming situations?


Power Verses:

Mark 6:42-44, "They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand." (NIV)

Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (NIV)


© 2010 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 30, 2010
When the End Goal Seems too Hard
Lysa TerKeurst


"...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance..."

2 Peter 1:5a-6a (NIV)           

Devotion:
No matter what your struggle has been, victory is possible today. However, most of us don't think that's true.  The problem is we tend to measure long term success while downplaying the absolute victory found in small successes.

Yesterday a friend of mine called to say she'd read my blog and, as a result, she walked away from indulging in a bag of M&Ms.  That's a victorious small success. Now, I can't say that her scale will stand up and clap and reward her with much lower numbers today. But, if she builds upon this small success - choice by choice, day by day - she will see positive changes.

As the New Year approaches, many of us make some kind of healthy eating commitment. But even if that's not your resolution, this principle applies to other struggles as well.

If I choose not to snap at my child and instead respond with tenderness, that's a victorious small success.

If I choose to pause before responding to the rude sales clerk, thus giving her a smile instead of perpetuating her smirk, that's a victorious small success.

If I choose to give my husband the benefit of the doubt rather than jumping to the conclusion he meant to hurt my feelings, that's a victorious small success.

I like the way our key verse puts it. In 2 Peter 1:5-6, we are reminded to "add" some things to our faith. Two of those additions are self-control and perseverance. For me, I have to decide to practice the self-control and perseverance that is mine since God's Spirit lives in me.

Think of it like a muscle. We have muscles as a part of our body. But we must add activity to those muscles to make them effective and strong. Our muscles will work for us if we exercise them. Self-control and perseverance will work for us as we practice these over and over. Start with the small victories and bigger victories will come.

Sometimes victory seems so far away because we measure it by the end goal.  And end goals can seem overwhelmingly huge, daunting, and just plain hard to reach.  Instead, if we start measuring our victories by the smaller choices we make each day, victory won't seem so impossible.

Big things are built one brick at a time.

Victories are achieved one choice at a time.

A life well lived is chosen one day at a time.

Dear Lord, I know that with You, victory is indeed possible. Day by day and choice by choice. Help me to believe this truth today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Visit Lysa's blog for a chance to win her new book Made to Crave and to register for her FREE webcast on this subject. Thousands of women have already signed up. Reserve your spot today by clicking here.

If this devotion resonated with you, Lysa's new book "Made to Crave" is just what you've needed. Click here to order your copy!

This book can be a group Bible study by using these life-changing resources: Made to Crave Participant's Guide and Made to Crave DVD teaching series, also by Lysa TerKeurst

You touch eternity every time you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries! Your purchase supports the many areas of life-giving ministry we provide at no cost. Although we wish we could offer the same prices offered by huge online warehouses, we simply can't. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps:
Sometimes victory seems so far away because we measure it by the seemingly overwhelmingly end goal.  If we start measuring our victories by the smaller choices we make each day, victory won't seem so impossible. Think of a struggle you are dealing with and daily record your moment-by-moment small successes. Pray over them, be thankful for each one. Watch them build one choice at a time. Remember, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us!


Reflections:
A life well lived is chosen one day at a time. What does this statement mean to you? Do you find it encouraging? Or discouraging? Why?


Have you found that you tend to miss the victories found in small daily successes?


Power Verses:

2 Corinthians 4:16, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (NIV)


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


Romans 8:37, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (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]

 December 31, 2010
My New Year's Prayer
Wendy Blight

"For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)       

Devotion:

The first day of each New Year carries with it a myriad of emotions that often lead to promises and resolutions. Some commit to lose weight. Some commit to exercise more. Some desire a more disciplined walk with the Lord. And some want to be better wives and mothers. We all want God's highest and best for the New Year.

But God knows too that these promises and resolutions are often grounded not in His Word but in our flesh. We focus on the end result and not on the process. There is nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight and exercise. It is a wonderful goal to be a "better" wife and mother. It is admirable to commit to daily Bible reading and quiet time. But we must beware of making these things a daily duty we check off.

Committing to a New Year's Resolution will not necessarily bring profound lasting life change. Committing your heart to God...studying, learning, and praying His Word...that is what will bring eternal, lasting life transformation.

I invite you to join me this year in writing a New Year's Prayer. To begin, examine your New Year's Resolution and prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal the heart issue behind it. Ask Him to lead you through His Word to verses that directly address what you hear.

Listen to the power of God's promise in our key verse today: "For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires" Hebrews 4:12 (NLT).

Perhaps you want to lose weight because you feel unworthy of love due to your past, your present, or choices you have made. Find verses on God's great love for you. Believe and trust His promises that He created you just the way you are because He has a great plan and purpose for your life that only you can accomplish.

Perhaps you want to spend more time in the Word but you are too busy...you just can't fit it into your day. Find Scriptures on God's wisdom and priorities. Proverbs is a great place to start.

Perhaps you want to be a better wife and mother, but you have a temper that flares or a tongue that cuts like a knife. Open God's Word and find verses addressing speech, self-control, and patience. Proverbs and James are great places to start.

Once you have found your verses, take each one and personalize it. Then join them together, along with your own words to make a prayer. Copy your prayer into a journal or notebook.

Listen to God's promise in Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT):

The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my Word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Friend, Isaiah 55 is God's PROMISE to you. If you pray His Word over your life...over your heart...over your home, He will be FAITHFUL to prosper it and make it bear fruit!


Heavenly Father, invade my heart as I seek to surrender my life to You in 2011. Lead me through Your Word, show me the truths and promises You have for me. Help me to write them into a prayer for You today. I love You, Lord, and desire nothing more than to live a life fully surrendered to You.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Visit Wendy's blog to read her New Year's prayer for you.


Enter to win a "Living Truth" New Year's Gift Pack! From your comments on her blog, Wendy will choose two women to receive a New Year's Gift Pack including: The One Year Chronological Bible, a copy of her Bible Study e-book, All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Wisdom in Everyday Life, and a Starbucks gift card so you can escape to a quiet place to spend time in the Word with Him.


Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story by Wendy Blight


All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Wisdom in Everyday Life (E-Book) by Wendy Blight

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps: 

Write your New Year's prayer, print it out, tuck it away in your Bible, and pray it often.


Reflections: 

Read Psalm 139. Sweet friend, this is the very Word of God written for you. Believe what it says. Your Father created you, and He loves you greatly!


Power Verses:

Psalm 139:16b, "...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (NIV)

© 2010 by Wendy Blight. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 3, 2011
Honestly
Lysa TerKeurst

"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." I Timothy 4:15 (NIV)           

Devotion:

I think we all get to a place sometimes in our life where we have to honestly assess, "How I am doing?"

It's not really a conversation I have with a friend or family member. It's one of those middle of the night contemplations where there's no one to fool. There's no glossing over the realities staring me in the face.

I know certain things about myself need to change, but it's easier to make excuses than tackle them head on. Rationalizations are so appealing:

I'm good in every other area.
I make so many sacrifices already.
I need this comfort in this season of life - I'll deal with it later.
I just can't give this up.
The Bible doesn't specifically say this is wrong.
It's not really a problem; if I wanted to make a change, I could - I just don't want to right now.
Oh for heaven's sake, everyone has issues, so what if this is mine?

And on and on and on.

Excuses always get me nowhere fast. That's why a few years ago I had to get honest in the area of healthy eating. Even if that's not your issue, I suspect these same scripts of rationalization have played out in your mind over other things.

So, the cycle continues day after day, week after week, year after year.

A whole lifetime can be spent making excuses, giving in, feeling guilty, resolving to do better, mentally beating ourselves up for not keeping our resolve, feeling like a failure, and then resigning that things can't change.

One day, I finally decided I didn't want to spend a lifetime in this cycle.

Nothing changed until I made the choice to change. I had to want it, spiritually, physically and mentally. The battle really is in all three areas.

Spiritually: In Colossians 3:1-5 we are told to set our minds and our hearts on things above. In order to do this, I have to put to death whatever belongs to my earthly nature which sets itself up as an idol in my life.

Idolatry is trying to get my needs met outside the will of God. I couldn't deny it. This described food for me at times.

For the sake of my spiritual health, it was time to get honest.


More times than I cared to admit, I turned to food when I should have turned to God. I relied on the temporary high of food to try and quiet the cries of my spiritually hungry soul. And no matter how I tried to excuse away my struggles with my weight, I wasn't at peace.

Physically: I couldn't keep my weight stable in a medically healthy range for any period of time. I would loose weight, but then I would always gain it back. And then to top it all off, when a doctor did some tests to determine my body mass index, my percentage of body fat had crept up to the "danger" category.


What?! I knew I was feeling sluggish and frustrated by the extra weight, but no one would have looked at me and thought I was at risk. Except now a doctor was telling me that if I didn't make some changes, I could be in trouble. The tests told me things the naked eye couldn't.


For the sake of my physical health, it was time to get honest.


I needed a healthy eating plan - not a fad diet. I needed a plan that would help me make realistic changes to improve my overall health and help me shed the excess weight the right way.

I couldn't deny it. It does matter what I eat. My weight is a reflection of what I consume.

Mentally: Don't settle. Don't compromise. What happens when you cut the "com" off of the word compromise? You're left with a "promise."

We were made for more than compromise. We were made for God's promises in all areas of our life. I am made for more than a vicious cycle of eating, gaining, stressing - eating, gaining, stressing...


For the sake of my emotional health, it was time to be honest with myself.


I was made to consume food. But, food was never supposed to consume me.

Sweet friend, getting honest with myself- spiritually, physically, and mentally- in my struggles with my weight was a crucial first step to finding victory. Is there an honest admission you need to make today?


I'd love to walk with you through the process of change. It's why I wrote my new book, "Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desires with God, Not Food." And it's why I'm sharing realistic, researched-based eating plans I now use on my blog today.


Remember, as a Jesus girl, it is possible to rise up, do battle with our issues, and using the Lord's strength in us, defeat them - spiritually, physically, and mentally - to the glory of God.


Dear Lord, help me be courageous enough to speak honestly to You and to myself in those areas I'm giving in to compromise. Show me how to rely on Your strength for more self-discipline in my life - not for my glory but for Yours. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

A great step to encourage you on this journey is the FREE webcast Lysa is offering every Monday night beginning January 10 - February 14. For more information, click here.


Visit MadetoCrave.org to read success stories of people who have found victory with their food issues using Lysa's new book, "Made to Crave."


Order your copy of "Made to Crave" by clicking here.


Visit Lysa's blog today for realistic, researched-based eating plans.


Application Steps: 

Visit Lysa's new "Made to Crave" website to download free resources and watch her inspirational videos by clicking here.


Reflections: 

What issue do I have that consumes way too much of my mental energy and produces stress in my life?


Power Verse:

Psalm 27:8, "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek." (NIV)

© 2011 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 4, 2011
The God of Story
Ariel Allison Lawhon
She Reads Co-Director & Featured Author

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
Revelation 22:13 (NIV)         

Devotion:
I think of Him first as a storyteller, this Jesus of mine. That might sound odd to some. He is after all Savior and Redeemer. Lion and Lamb. But I would not know Him as any of those had He not spoken to me first in the gentle whisper of story. 

Given half a chance, I would sit at His feet and listen even now. I'd follow Him through those dusty streets. Stop and ponder in that crowded marketplace. Or lounge on a grass-filled hillside. Prodigal sons and lost coins, rich fools and fig trees, talents and tares - I would cross my legs and sink to the ground, chin on hands, to hear His stories.

So kind of Him to write them down so I can read them at my leisure.


As a writer I am intrigued by the parables of Jesus. Those thirty short anecdotes sprinkled through the first four books of the New Testament are the subject of countless sermons. Yet they are so personal to each of us. In many ways, they are our stories. The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus. At times we've turned our back to Him as well. The older brother stayed outside instead of joining the celebration thrown in honor of his prodigal sibling's return. He symbolizes our self-righteousness.


And that's the power of story, isn't it? To see ourselves in the narrative. To squirm and wrestle. To clap and celebrate. Jesus never says, "Oh, by the way, that bit about the prodigal son is really about you and God. Wanted to make sure you caught that. Instead, He lets us see our reflection in the story. He leaves us to wrestle over which part we play.


The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery explains why the stories of Jesus are so personal and profound:

"Only one of the characters (Lazarus) is named, yet as we encounter the characters of the parables we sense that we have known them already. They are universal types, possessing the traits that we and our acquaintances possess. Never has such immortality been thrust upon anonymity. We do not need to know the name of the woman who first loses and then finds her lost coin: she is every person. The family dynamics of the parables of the prodigal son and the two brothers whose father asks them to work in the vineyards could be observed at any family's breakfast table... We come to realize that it is in the everyday world of sowing and eating and dealing with family members that people make the great spiritual decisions and that God's grace works." (emphasis mine)

God's grace works. That is shown through the power of story and that is why He told them. In His simple tales we see grace and holiness in the everyday tasks of life: planting and harvesting, a wedding invitation, baking bread, lighting a lamp, traveling to a distant town. The parables teach us to trust that all those made in the image of God understand the unspoken language of story. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, and every time we open His Book He says, "Come, let me tell you a story." 

Dear Lord, You are the beginning and the end of this great narrative called history. Thank You for writing me into the story. Though I play only a small part, may I play it well. May I honor You with my days and my choices and may I truly know that Your grace works. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

eye of the god by Ariel Allison
Ariel's latest novel, eye of the god, is a story of obsession, greed, hope and grace. Visit our She Reads blog this week to download your free electronic copy of the entire novel! Also, post a comment on the She Reads blog to enter into our drawing for a free copy of Ariel's book.

His Princess, Love Letters from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd
Application Steps:
Make a list of books that have taught you about the grace of God. Consider giving one as a gift.


Reflections:
Do I consider myself an important part of the story God is writing?


In which of Jesus' parables do I most see myself?


Do any of Jesus' stories leave me restless or uncomfortable? Why?


In looking at my life as a story, can I see the grace of God at work?


Power Verses:
Psalm 107:2-3, "Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south." (NIV)   

© 2011 by Ariel Allison Lawhon. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 5, 2011
Keeping My New Year's Resolutions to Myself
Glynnis Whitwer

"The king of Israel answered, 'Tell him:
"One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off."'"

1 Kings 20:11 (NIV)         

Devotion:
I'm done with announcing my New Year's Resolutions. I know some people thrive on accountability from announcing goals. I'm not one of them. Once, I announced on my blog I was losing weight, and I gained five pounds. There was something seriously wrong with that situation.

Recently, I heard successful entrepreneur Derek Sivers explain why some people shouldn't announce their goals. According to several scientific studies, it seems some of us get mental gratification just by talking about our goals without actually doing the work. While this opposes common understanding of accountability, I can see the truth in it.

There have been times when I've taken pride in myself for identifying a worthwhile goal. It's like there's this striving little part of me that puffs up ever so slightly when declaring what I'm going to accomplish. It's definitely a cousin of boasting, only so much more refined. Do I imagine your admiration just in the speaking of my goals? Does it make me seem smarter or bolder than I am?

You'd never know from the surface these thoughts dance around my subconscious. It doesn't even happen to me all the time. But for some reason, New Year's Resolutions are the worst. It's so much easier to declare a grand resolution than do the steadfast daily marching needed to cross the finish line.

Whether it's neglected resolutions, sales pitches that don't pan out, or political promises, we live in a society of sometimes lofty declarations. Yet I've learned the hard way that words are empty without the steadfast commitment to live them out. Time and truth go hand-in-hand.

The Bible is quite clear that actions speak louder than words. There's an interesting statement made in 1 Kings 20:11 that rings true. It's spoken by Ahab, king of Israel, when he faced attack by Ben-Hadad, king of Aram. Ben-Hadad sent threatening messages, trying to intimidate Ahab. Kind of like an athlete boasting assuredly that he will win tonight's game.

In the face of the final threat, Ahab said to Beh-Hadad's messenger, "Tell him: 'One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.'" In other words, save the talking for after you've accomplished the goal.

Now those are words worth memorizing. And they speak vividly to me today in the face of yet another year of potential and promise. The biblical principal behind them is: Do not boast - and if you boast, boast in Christ. In our age of status updates and tweets, it can be tempting to make ourselves seem more interesting, important, ambitious or productive than we really are, yet.   

I'm not saying it's wrong. It's just not right for me. So instead of making a public declaration of any New Year's Resolutions, I'm choosing to invest in my standing orders from God, while listening for His future assignments.

And I'm not telling anyone about it. Except you.

Dear Lord, thank You for the truth found throughout Your Word. Help me to grasp hold of this truth and apply it to my life. I long to be a faithful, diligent servant - one You can trust to do what she's asked. Help me be that woman. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

P31 Woman magazine


Visit Glynnis' blog where she provides a link to Derek Siver's full message and some resolutions she's NOT making.


When Your Child Is Hurting by Glynnis Whitwer


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

All I Need is Jesus & a Good Pair of Jeans by Susanna Foth Aughtmon
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity! Your purchase supports the many areas of life-changing ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses, but we simply cannot. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps: 
Resolutions aren't bad, but the idea is to back them up with diligent work. Identify one goal you have and the next practical step you can take toward completion.


Reflections:
What are your thoughts about announcing goals? Have you ever announced something, only to quit before completion?


Should a Christian have a different approach to setting New Year's Resolutions? If so, how should we be different?


Power Verses:
1 Peter 5:10, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (NIV)


Proverbs 16:2-3, "All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." (NIV)

© 2011 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 6, 2011
Lonely In Families
Marybeth Whalen

"God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."
Psalm 68:6 (NIV)         

Devotion:
I used to think today's key verse was a sweet promise to the lonely, assuring them that God would remember them and surround them with the love of a family. And, while I still think this is true, I recently had a revelation while reading this verse that there might be another way to look at it.

I noticed in my Bible's notes that the word "lonely" means "solitary." The person the verse is referring to may not be the person feeling sad because she's alone. This could be the person who needs some alone-time to recharge - she thrives in silence. When life gets too chaotic or crazy or noisy, all she really wants is to be solitary.


That person, in other words, is me.

So what does this verse tell us God does with a person like me? He plops her smack in the middle of a family. He says, "I know you prefer being alone. I know that you can control your world much better when there's a population of one. But, my child, that is not what makes you a better person. You will never be all that I long for you to be if I leave you in your solitary-ness."


God saw fit to put me in the midst of six noisy, arguing, busy children and one husband with his own set of expectations, needs and preferences. Then He took a ringside seat and watched the drama ensue. He watched as I battled my own selfishness, learned to put other's needs ahead of my own, and lapsed into longing for loneliness.


Being a solitary person is not all bad. Jesus understood this propensity to need time alone. While He surrounded Himself with crowds of people, there are times in the gospels where He tells His disciples He's had enough and withdraws from the crowds to recharge. Luke 5:16 says, "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Two words jump out at me in that verse: often and lonely. God doesn't try to take away our bent towards being solitary, but He doesn't want us to stay in that place all the time. We should take the time to go to our lonely places and pray. But we also need to come back and re-engage.

Maybe you're a solitary person too. Maybe you've found yourself rebelling against the needs of your family, lamenting that you just want to be alone. God created us for community. He knows that in isolation we do no one any good. He puts the lonely in families—and it's not always a pretty process. But the result He is going for is beautiful.

Dear Lord, I confess that I don't always see my family as a blessing and a tool to grow Your desires for me. Help me to balance my desire for lonely places with Your call in my life to be part of this family You've placed me in. And help me to praise You in both situations. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Marybeth's blog

The Mailbox -a novel about loss, hope, and the beauty of second chances by Marybeth Whalen


Walking with God in the Quiet Places: Devotions for Women by Various authors including Lysa TerKeurst

Love to get away with a good book? She Reads offers new selections, author Q&A, book clubs and more!

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps:
Commit today to be purposeful about finding your own quite place to withdraw to when you need to re-charge. Place a reminder in that place to pray.


Perhaps you love being around people, and your motto is the more the merrier. If so, consider inviting the lonely or those without family into your home regularly for a meal.


Reflections:
Are you one of the lonely people God saw fit to put in a family? Has your desire for solitary-ness affected your view of your children? Or your husband?


Is God calling you to step outside of yourself and connect with someone in particular?


Power Verses:
Psalm 84:3a, "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young." (NIV) 


Psalm 113:9, "He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord." (NIV)

© 2011 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 7, 2011
In Tune
T. Suzanne Eller

"I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music."
Psalm 101:1 (ESV)         

Devotion:
God seems to do an incredible amount of things for people, almost like a personal valet. "I found the perfect pair of shoes on sale," someone once told me. "It's like God knew I needed that little boost." Or the time that God helped another person find their glasses. They prayed and "poof" they found them.

This sometimes makes me question. How is it that people give God credit for helping them find shoes on sale, or that really great parking spot, and yet other people suffer? Loved ones get hit with disease. Financial problems cause sleepless nights. A hurricane hits Haiti as they struggle to overcome the effects of a devastating earthquake.

Maybe you too have pondered such things. Maybe it's caused you to question how much God loves His creation.

God is deeply interested in and intimately involved with us according to verses such as this one: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

The fact that God allows you to find that perfect-for-you little blessing one day, and come down with the flu the next doesn't negate His love for you. God's song plays strong and consistent over you, regardless of the good times or the hard times. His individual notes dance around us, inviting us to find Him, and then to find our part in His song.

Living in harmony with God, and finding our note in His song can compel us to look for ways to reach out to others who are needing to hear Him sing over them in their suffering. I also believe it can help us live in joy despite our circumstances. And I believe living out those notes will lead us to live lives of peace, even when times are not peaceful.

Today, let's close our eyes and open our hearts as we listen for our God singing over us. And let's take the time, eyes still closed, to imagine what it would look like for us to live in tune with Him.

Dear Lord, You do care about the intimate details. Just like the sparrow, You feed us; just like the lily, you clothe us in beauty. Father, for that I am immensely grateful. Help me to stay in tune with You and not stridently sing my own song over top You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Visit Suzie's blog for a giveaway and to explore "How big is God?"


The Woman I Am Becoming by T. Suzanne Eller

Shaped with Purpose Workbook and message on CD by Renee Swope
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps: 

Visit Compassion International to sponsor a child in need. Haiti is in particular need of sponsors.


Reflections: 

"What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God." ~Eleanor Powell

Power Verses:

Psalm 30:11,"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy," (NIV)

© 2011 by T. Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 10, 2011
weak places, Strong Places
Lysa TerKeurst

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge."
Psalm 18:2a (NIV)           

Devotion:
We all have them. Weak places. Places inside that make us wonder if we'll ever get it together like the "together people." Places that make us feel less than. Less than victorious. Less than a conqueror. Less than strong.

My weak places frustrate me - especially this time of the year. I just resolved to do better a week ago at the New Year and already I'm slipping.  And yet I refuse to resign that I can't ever change.

With the power of Christ all things can be made new. All broken things are subject to restoration. But sometimes I get so tired of trying and I just feel weak. Can you relate?

What is your weak place? A money situation that seems impossible? A marriage issue that frustrates you to your core? A temper that flares? An insecurity that stings? A family dysfunction that is always brewing? A food issue that rages even though you just signed up for that new diet program?

Let me breathe a little life into your weakness today. Whatever it is, however large it may loom:

"...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26).

We don't have to have all the answers. We don't have to make suggestions to God. It's okay to be so tired of our weak places that we run out of words to pray.

Look at the beautiful verses written to us Jesus girls tucked in around Romans 8:26 about weak places...

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit" (Romans 8:9a).

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

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

Maybe we need to sit still for just a moment or two today. Quietly sit without the weight of condemnation or the swirl of trying to figure things out. Quiet, with nothing but the absolute assurance the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

He understands our weak places. He knows what to pray. There is a purpose to this weakness. Though it doesn't feel good, things will be worked out in a way that good will come from it (Romans 8:28).

In that quiet stillness while the Spirit prays for us and we just simply soak in truth, there will be a flicker of light. A slight trickle of hope. A grace so unimaginable, we'll feel His power overshadowing our weakness.

In my new book, "Made to Crave- satisfying life's deepest desire with God not food," I write, "Even the smallest drop of God's strength is more than enough to cover our frailties, our shortcomings, the places where we deem ourselves weak."

I address this in my book so that we'll reject that title.

We aren't weak.

We are dependent.

Dependent on the only One powerful enough to help us. The only One sufficient enough to cover us in grace throughout the process.

Our relationships may not be sufficient. Our circumstances may not be sufficient. Our finances may not be sufficient. Our willpower may not be sufficient. Our confidence may not be sufficient. But He is and has been, and forever will be.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

So instead of wallowing in my weak place, I will let the Spirit reveal the one positive step I can take today. I will wash away the condemnation with the warmth of His grace. I will receive His power. And I will rename the weak place, my strong place. "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10b).

Dear Lord, I know I am weak without You. Please help me to have just enough faith to get through the next situation I will face today. And then enough faith for the next. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
If one of your weak places is compromising in the area of food, Lysa understands. For years she struggled to get her weight under control and make healthier choices. Finally, she found victory when she realized God made her to consume food, but food was never supposed to consume her. For a list of the three best things you can do when you're struggling with your weight, visit Lysa's blog by clicking here.


If this devotion resonated with you, don't miss Lysa's new book Made to Crave.

Also, you'll want to consider doing the 6 week Bible study using the Made to Crave DVD set and the accompanying workbook Made to Crave Participant's Guide


A great step to encourage you on this journey is the FREE webcast Lysa is offering every Monday night beginning January 10 - February 14. For more information, click here.

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps:
Remember to sign up for the FREE webcast Lysa is offering every Monday night starting tonight for the next 6 weeks! You will not want to miss hearing from one of the world's leading experts on nutrition tonight! For more information and to sign up, click here.


Reflections:
If God is truly a shield over my life, am I taking refuge in Him?


Power Verses:
Psalm 18:30, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him." (NIV) 


Psalm 10:17, "You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." (NIV)

© 2011 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 11, 2011
Company's Coming!
Lynn Cowell


"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.'"
John 8:34 (NIV)       

Devotion:
My kids knew the drill when company was coming. We would go through my cleaning notebook (yes, I have a cleaning notebook) room by room, and clean the house from top to bottom. That's the good part.


Doing my best to make everything perfect, the worst of me would show. That's the bad part. No hand prints on the windows. No streaks on the kitchen island. No spots in the bathroom sink. I wanted my house as close to perfection as I could get it; at least until company left. After that, all could go back to life as usual.


So what went through my kid's minds when this insanity happened? Did they just see this as my idiosyncrasy or something deeper? What was I teaching my kids? If lessons are better caught then taught, I have a feeling they might have caught the "performance bug" from me - the contagious belief that we need to perform in order to feel accepted.


Like catching a cold in the middle of the summer, the performance bug creeps up on me when I least suspect it. "Lynn, you're a terrible neighbor. Why don't you invite your neighbors over more often?" are my thoughts as I walk down my street.


"Lynn, you should be a better daughter. Look at your friend; she calls or stops by her parent's house every day!" assaults my heart as I prepare to give my mom a call.


Thoughts of "better" and "more" constantly pound my mind. In the past, the low immune system of my heart would catch the bug every time, flattening my sense of self-worth for the rest of the day. I allowed it to drive me. Pushed by the voice of my own insecurity, I forced more and more into my schedule. I tried to please everyone, everywhere, all for acceptance.


That is, until the Lord shined His light on the true motivations behind my performance: pride and fear. I was a slave to my sin. Once I admitted the source of my weakness, He could set me free! When the whispers came, I could shout back, "The Son has set me free; free of pride and fear. Now I am free indeed!"


I'm not saying I never struggle with performance, but the grip it once held on me is gone. With the Holy Spirit as my daily guide, I'm no longer a slave to performance. I'm released to live in true freedom.


Do you struggle, my friend, to do all and be all? Here is His promise, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31, NIV). If you are His disciple, cling to this truth. If you have yet to become His disciple, click on "Do you know Him?" below and find His freedom today!


Dear Lord, freedom is what I want to live in every day. Freedom to ask, "What is Your will for me today?" And freedom to obey only what You are saying. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Visit Lynn's blog for Q&A with author Shannon Primicerio on performance and our teens. Shannon is giving away a copy of her book The Divine Dance: If the World is Your Stage, Who are You Performing For!

Be the first to pre-order Lynn's new book! His Revolutionary Love: Jesus' Radical Pursuit of You (releasing in April)
Send your teen to the RadRevolution site where Shannon Primicerio speaks to teens on escaping the trap of performance. They can win a copy of her book there.
It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by Rachel Olsen
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity! Your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps:
Write down everything in your life you do and are responsible for. Make this list part of your prayer time for the month of January. Ask the Lord, "What do you want for my life, and which activities do I need to let go?"


Reflections:
Looking at the things in my life I do each day, am I doing these because God has called me? Or am I motivated out of pride or fear?


Considering the activities I encourage my children to do, are these activities in their lives because they enjoy them? Or is part of the reason because they make me look or feel better?


Power Verses:
John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (NIV)


1 Samuel 15:22 "But Samuel replied: 'Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'" (NIV) 

© 2011 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org