Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

February 9, 2011
... and she lives happily ever after.
Glynnis Whitwer


"... your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Psalm 139:1(NIV)


Devotion:
I recently finished a bestselling novel. It was over 1,000 pages, epic in size and story, and consumed me for weeks. A respected acquaintance recommended it, and once committed, I stuck with it to the end ... in spite of wanting to quit, often.


By the end of the first chapter, I realized it wasn't going to be an easy read. The story was set in the middle ages, with uncomfortably real sections. Perhaps I'm a bit sheltered, but it seemed to contain unnecessarily graphic descriptions. Skimming over the uncomfortable spots, I kept reading.

The book ended well, but there were times when I was ready to close the cover, and move on to something happier. The antagonists were just too mean. The plot too painful. The abuse, greed and vindictiveness too ugly to dwell on.

If that book ended badly, I would have been disgruntled at spending weeks of my life on it. On the other hand, I would have been frustrated to quit before finishing. Here's why.


If I had quit reading at page 245, the story would have seemed hopeless. I might have thought the villains won, or the hero and heroine never reconnected. If I had read a bit further, to say page 576, the story would have ended with justice as an impossible dream, and hatred and revenge as unavoidable and all-consuming parts of life.

But now, after reading the book in its entirety, I can see the amazing story. The plot progressed steadily; there was tension, conflict and eventually resolution. Good did triumph, although not without many bumps along the way.

It got me thinking that our lives are a bit like that. For those of us who have accepted Christ, we will have a happy ending in heaven with God. One way or another, our story will end well. But not every page or chapter in our story is happy.

Today might be page 452 for me. And on page 452 there is conflict and tension. Last year might have been chapter nine. And in chapter nine, the protagonists struggle financially, and wonder why God allowed such pain into their lives. If I only read one page or chapter, I would have a very different view of the story.

Yet the Author of my story has a purpose for every page and chapter in my life. He's got a story in mind and is building and developing the plot every day. No story is conflict-free. No story is complete without a challenge. Victory is empty without a struggle.

Today, I'm considering my life as a grand story. Good will triumph. The victory will be sweeter because of the struggle. Today is not the story. It's just page 452. So I will press on, trusting in a loving and creative Author to bring about resolution. You see, I already know the ending - she lives happily ever after.


Dear Lord, I praise You for Your creative and all-powerful nature. In light of the difficulties I'm facing today, I choose to trust You, believing You are writing an epic story in my life. Help me to press on when I want to give up. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Do You Know the Author of your story?


Visit Glynnis' blog for a discussion of books that have changed your life, and a book giveaway package.


When Your Child Is Hurting by Glynnis Whitwer

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Come Along: The Journey into a More Intimate Faith by Jane Rubietta
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:
If your life was a story, what would be the title? What is the title of the chapter you are currently living?


Reflections:
How does knowing God has a greater plan for my life change my outlook on today?


Imagining one of my favorite heroes or heroines, what character trait do they possess that would help me live out my faith?


Power Verses:
Psalm 107:2, "Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe ..." (NIV)


Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (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]

February 10, 2011
Sowing Times
Rachel Olsen


"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)         

Devotion:
In the words of Henri Nouwen, "Our short lives on earth are sowing times."


January is a time to take stock, reorder priorities, and revamp schedules before plowing ahead into the new year with renewed vigor. And that's what last month was for me. I did meal planning, creating weekly menu options. I did chore planning, creating some cleaning checklists. I did task planning, so I can move effectively forward in my work and on my projects. I also set up a new calendar system to track it all - that's quite ambitious for a "type B" girl like me!


Nouwen's words remind me, however, that while I'm planning how I'll order my days and meet my current goals, I can't lose sight of what is temporary versus what is eternal.


How I will stay on top of my household's laundry this week is temporary - but how I love and raise my children is eternal.


How I get to all my emails is temporary - how I answer God's call is eternal.


What I put on the dinner table tonight is temporary - how I regard, feast on, and serve the Bread of Life is eternal.


Whether I complete my errands efficiently is temporary - whether I run my life's race with perseverance and joy is eternal.


Planning and organizing, scheduling and strategizing, can help me live life in a way that secures time to nurture what's eternal. But I must make sure - amidst the cooking, cleaning, planning, working and sleeping - that I take and keep an eternal focus. Because it won't just happen, no matter how organized I am.


I must fix my eyes on what is unseen.


And that is a challenge because the surface-things of life dance constantly before me, often convincing me they are most important. But learning to see the unseen is a challenge worth rising to.


Our short lives here are sowing times so let's you and I sow while we can. For a time is coming when the chance to store up treasure in heaven has passed. A time is coming when you and I will no longer be able to witness the truth and love of Christ to those still lost. Now is the time to sow into eternity.


"If there were no resurrection of the dead," Nouwen explained, "everything we live on earth would come to nothing." Instead, we will be raised from the dead - along with every eternal thing we've done.


What's eternal will withstand, and be rewarded.


Our hours on earth are the time we're given to plant the seeds we and others will reap for eternity. I think I'll revisit my plans for 2011 today with that in mind. And I'll look for ways to impact eternity in this common, ordinary day full of laundry and lists.


Dear Lord, give me eyes to see the unseen today. Help me discern what is temporary and what is eternal, and handle both well. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do you know Jesus -- the One who longs to spend eternity with you?


Learn more about living for eternity in our modern world; get a copy of Rachel's book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know


Connect with Rachel at her blog where she's giving away a copy of It's No Secret.


Connect with Rachel on Facebook, and Rachel on Twitter. 

You impact eternity when you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide women around the world at no cost - such as this daily devotional. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps: 
Pause and pray, asking God to bring the eternal into view in your life today.


Read the story of a woman wanting water to temporarily quench her thirst, who finds a water that will flow through her soul eternally: John 4:1-42.


Reflections: 

Where have my eyes been fixed lately?


Power Verses:

Luke 21:33, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (NIV)


2 Cor. 4:18, "There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." (MSG)

© 2011 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 11, 2011
Sweet Dreams
Karen Ehman


"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating
the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep."
Psalm 127:2 (ESV)


Devotion:
I restlessly rolled over and squinted sleepily trying to focus my eyes on the bright blue digits still taunting me in the night. The alarm clock on my dresser flashed the awful news:


3:18 AM. Ughhhh!


I had crawled into bed nearly four hours earlier, eager to rejuvenate my body with a sound night's sleep. My ever-full schedule as a wife, mother, daughter, volunteer, neighbor, friend and part-time work-at-home woman had me worn and weary. Not only was my body tired, but my brain raced as well.


Random thoughts strung together like an annoying necklace of woes: Would my latest project be done in time? Is my adult daughter doing okay in her new job and living situation? Is my elderly mom going to slip and fall on the ice in this nasty winter weather? Did I offend my friend when she'd asked for my honest opinion about her child-rearing decision? Are my sons making wise choices when it comes to their peer groups? Would I gain back the twenty pounds I'd just lost.....for the third time?


And then...the dreaded "what ifs." What if the young mom in my Bible study discovers her husband is having an affair just as she suspects? What if my high school son with special needs doesn't do well on his ACT exam next year? What if my friends lose their home to foreclosure? What if my sister-in-law's ex-husband threatens her again...or worse?


And so I tossed and turned; and tried to no avail to induce sweet slumber that would whisk me away from all of my fears, both real and imagined.


Finally giving up, I dragged my flannel-clad self into the kitchen to heat some boiling water in my kettle and steep a bag of chamomile tea. I hoped it might do the trick.


Then, I recalled today's key verse.


Anxious toil. Yep. That pretty much sums up the state of mind in which I found myself:


ANXIOUS: "feeling nervous: worried or afraid, especially about something that is going to happen or might happen."


TOIL: "hard exhausting work or effort."


And all of this worry, unrest and wondering was costing me precious moments of sleep.


So that night, and many nights since, I have taken God at His Word. He says it is vain for me to toil anxiously. He says He gives sleep to His beloved. So I asked Him to give me the very sleep He promised!


As in many areas of my life, He doesn't simply wave a magic wand and make everything disappear. Oh, He is willing to grant. But sometimes, I also need to be willing to help in the process. So now, when the restlessness creeps in and threatens to rob me of another night's sleep, here is what I do:


With a notebook by my bed, I jot down my worries and leave them in the hands of the only One who never slumbers or sleeps. I transform my list of "what ifs" into a prayer page of "please advise," asking the God who crafted the entire universe out of nothing to show me, when He is ready, what action, if any, I need to take with regards to my list. For the time being, I request that He work on them, so I can get some shut-eye.


I also ask Him to show me if there is work for me to do that will require a temporary loss of sleep. Oh, not the flustering worry-work of fretting, but the pure, sweet work of simple prayer. I slide out of my comfy covers and get down on my knees. Then I pray a child-like prayer (about the only kind I can muster at that hour) and solicit the Savior. At times, I've even fallen asleep at the edge of my bed. (It may sound un-spiritual, but I see it as an instant answer to prayer! After all, I was asking for sleep and He granted it!)


If you too are tired of sleepless nights, will you join me in this quest for slumber? Stop counting sheep. Come to the Great Shepherd instead. You are His beloved and He has a little gift for you: rest for both your body and your soul.


Dear Lord, I am tired. I am weary. I want to be at my best so I can serve You fully. Will you please grant me, Your beloved, sleep just as You promised? In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
For more on this topic and a Sweet Dreams basket giveaway, visit Karen's blog


A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman

His Princess: Love Letters from Your Prince by Sheri Rose Shepherd
31 Days of Power: Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory by Ruth and Warren Myers
Application Steps: 
Locate today's key verse in your Bible. Read each word slowly, pausing to let the words penetrate straight to your soul. For added effect, look up the specific definitions to any key words.


Reflections: 
When have I been unable to sleep? What did I do? Did it work?


What other ways can I combat sleeplessness and restless thoughts?


Power Verses:
Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (ESV)


© 2011 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 14, 2011
Be Mine
Rachel Olsen


"My lover is mine, and I am his." Song of Solomon 2:16 (NLT)         

Devotion:
While I spent the last few months thinking a lot about Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, greeting card writers likely spent it focused on today - Valentine's Day.


Valentine's Day is the second-biggest card-buying holiday besides Christmas. More than 200 million Valentine cards will be exchanged today.


Have you ever watched somebody pick out a greeting card? Growing up, my family owned a chain of Hallmark stores where I worked as a sales clerk. The occasional customer would breeze in, look at two or three cards and then head to my cash register. However, most would spend 15 or 20 minutes reading through cards, searching for the just right expression of their love.


You may or may not receive a paper Valentine today, one from a greeting card company, or one hand-made of red and pink construction paper stuck together with paste. But I know you and I are both the recipient of the best Valentine ever - one that shines like rubies, one that is bright white and blood red.


In Christ, God sent us the ultimate Valentine. "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life" (John 3:16, MSG).


"Whole" and "lasting" - two things we seek but rarely find in this world. Sweet friend, long after the paper Valentine cards exchanged today are discarded or forgotten, God's love for you endures.


Jesus is God's demonstration of His eternal love for us. Not only that, Jesus taught us how to live and love each other. He experienced criticism and rejection -- and yet gathered strength from God to turn the other cheek. He showed love to all around Him, regardless of class, status or nationality. He prayed for His friends and His enemies. He even suffered crucifixion in order to save us from our sin.


Jesus is God's perfect expression of love. His life and death are God saying to you and me, "Be Mine."


Yes, God loves us so much that He gave us His most valuable gift -Himself. And after Jesus rose from the grave and ascended back to heaven, God sent His Spirit to remain with us. As God shares Himself with us through His Son and His Sprit, He says to us, "You are my beloved."


Hearing that is better than any sentiment a card-writer could pen. God Himself, given for you and me, demonstrates the ultimate expression of love. Like melt-in-your-mouth chocolates from a heart-shaped satin box, He invites us to taste and see that He is good and His love endures forever.


It's time to open your Valentine. Close your eyes and hear Him whispering to you today, "Be Mine."


Dear Lord, Thank You for first loving me, and for showing me what love truly is. I'm so grateful You invited me to be Yours. Like a bouquet of exquisite roses in a simple earthen vase, I treasure Your presence in this "jar of clay." May others see You displayed in me this Valentine's, in Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Have You Received God's "Valentine" in Christ?


Stop by Rachel's blog today to hear more about God's love for you and be entered for a Valentine's Day giveaway!

Pick up a copy of It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know and let the words on these pages spark your love for, and fan into flame your life in Christ.
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. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!


Application Steps:
Follow this link for a tangible way to show Christ your love this Valentine's.


Take some time to read through scriptures about love. You can read through them online here at Crosswalk.com or here at Biblegateway.com.


Reflections: 
Do I realize the great extent of God's love for me?


What does it look like to "Be God's?"


Power Verses:
John 15:12-13, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (NIV)


1 John 3:16a, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." (NIV)


Romans 5:5, "And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (NLT)


1 John 4:8, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (NIV)

© 2011 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

 

[Judy Harder]

February 15, 2011

A Recipe for Relationships

Micca Monda Campbell

"... he loved him as he loved himself."

1 Samuel 20:17b (NIV)

Devotion:

My mother use to tell me to count myself lucky if I had just one "close friend."  That's because close life-long relationships are hard to come by.

So many people today are looking for meaningful relationships, yet so few actually find them. We are becoming an increasingly private society, and it seems fewer people than ever have life-long intimate friendships. Still, the desire for this kind of relationship is not only sought after, but necessary.

Women are naturally drawn to other women. In fact, a girl's first experience with heartache may have been over a lost "best friend" rather than a "boy friend." Women value friendships. When they are lost, we grieve; not just over the friendship itself, but also for the secrets shared, the trust given and the acceptance enjoyed. If betrayed, the pain runs deep causing us to wonder if intimate friendships are really possible.

When I think of a biblical example of real friendship, the story of David and Jonathan, found in 1 Samuel 19, always comes to mind.

Jonathan, son of King Saul, was David's closest friend. But his father, the king, despised David because he was growing in popularity and because God had anointed David to be king. These facts enraged King Saul, so much that he commanded his aids and Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan loved David, therefore betrayal was impossible.

Love isn't the only fruit of true friendship. A real relationship consists of sacrifice too.

Jonathan stripped himself of the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his armor, his sword, his bow, and his belt. Jonathan was the potential heir to his father's throne, but we see him sacrificing his future for his best friend as he literally gave David his place as king.

You and I can learn from this action that true friendship means a willingness to sacrifice for each other in love. It's the ability to put another's needs, desires, and wishes above our own.

Loyalty is also a mark of true friendship. We're told that Jonathan went to his father and spoke well of David. Jonathan also stood up to his dad and essentially said, "Dad, you're wrong about David. He hasn't done any wrong to you; in fact, everything he's done has helped you." A true friend is a loyal defense before others, one who won't talk about you when you're not around. True friends stick up for each other.

Finally, intimate friends give each other complete freedom to be themselves. In an intimate friendship, you don't have to explain why you do what you do. You're just free to do it.

When Jonathan gave David the news that things were troubled in the palace and that his dad was going to kill him, the two were forced to say goodbye. The text tells us that they wept together.

When your heart is broken, you can bleed all over a friend like this and she'll understand. She won't try to dismiss your misery or tell you to straighten up. Intimate friends let each other hurt and they weep together. If your friend needs to talk it through, you will listen. Intimate friends don't bale; they stay. They allow you to be yourself no matter what "self" looks like in that moment.

If you're looking for a godly recipe for relationships, look no further. Mix together love, sacrifice, loyalty, and freedom and you can create an intimate friendship that lasts a lifetime.

Dear Lord, help me to be a friend like Jonathan. Then, bless me with the same. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears by Micca Campbell

Visit Micca's blog

Cultivating a Heart of Contentment (CD) by Micca Campbell

The Friends We Keep: A Woman's Quest for the Soul of Friendship by Sarah Zacharias Davis
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: 

Ask God to help you develop the kind of character that attracts others. While David had enemies, he also had a growing number of people who loved him. People are naturally attracted to someone who shines with God-like attributes. One the other hand, most are turned off by mean, selfish people. Whatever is on the inside will show on the outside - so develop the kind of traits that draw people of good characteristics.

Reflections: 

What kind of friend am I?

Do I exhibit loyalty, love, freedom, and sacrifice in my relationships? Why or why not?

Power Verses:

John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

(NIV)

© 2011 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.



Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

February 17, 2011

Room for Cream

Marybeth Whalen

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 (NIV)

Devotion:

"Shall I leave room for cream?" the smiling barista asks me as I place my coffee order.

I smile back at her and nod, anticipating receiving my cup full of dark liquid so I can carry it over to the doctoring station and customize it with a generous splash of cream and two sweeteners.

As I wait in line to create my comfort in a cup, I ponder the barista's question. I think about the idea of leaving room for cream—not just in my cup, but in my life. I always leave room for cream in my coffee, but I can't honestly say I always leave room for cream in my life.

Cream sweetens and lightens and richens. How do I leave room in my life for the things that sweeten and lighten and richen? As I pour and stir, my thoughts drift to the last week. I've done the have-to's: laundry, carpool, dishes, exercise. But it's harder to think of those little extras that fill my cup to the brim... sweet, white, rich extras.

Sweet: Time with friends just laughing and enjoying each other. Turning on a favorite song and dancing in the kitchen. Listening to my children when they talk. Taking the extra time to hear their hearts. Putting fun things I look forward to on the calendar. Turning the pages of a novel just for the joy of experiencing a great story. Pushing pause on my life so I can rest and recharge.

Light: Time in God's Word, which the Bible says is a light for our path in life. Journaling what He's telling me and what I'm learning about life. Time to pour my worries and anxieties out to Him, then leave them at His feet. Time to press into Him so I can hear His voice above all the others in this loud, busy world. Stepping out of the rat race and worshiping Him with abandon lightens my load.

Rich: Giving of myself through my time and talent. Tithing regularly to my church. Finding people who need a meal, a donation, a word of encouragement and then making the effort to actually give it to them and not just think it's a good idea. Surrendering myself to God's will instead of holding fast to my own.

All of these are things that bring me great joy, that help me reach that place of abundance I believe Jesus wanted us to live in now. Abundance, I am finding, does not come from merely wanting it. It comes from intentionally reaching for it—a result that requires action. It requires leaving room in my life for these things—not packing my life so full of have-to's that the cup is already full.

When that happens, I can try to add the cream but it will only spill over, wasted. It starts when I leave room from the beginning or take a moment to pour out what is already too full. With a little thought and a little effort I can learn to hear Jesus ask me, "Did you leave room for cream?"

And I can smile back at Him and say, "You better believe I did!"

Dear Lord, I want to live the life of abundance You called me to—a life that is sweet and white and rich. Help me remember that I have to leave room in my life for abundance or it will always elude me. Help me to seek You first and let You show me how to leave room for cream. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Visit Marybeth's blog

The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen

She Reads a division of P31 for fiction fans

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:

If you brew coffee at home or order a cup at a coffee shop today, while you're waiting for it spend time praying for God to show you ways you can leave room for cream in your life. Resolve to think about having an abundant life every time you fix your coffee.

Reflections:

What does an abundant life look like? What would fall in my sweet, white and rich categories?

Power Verses:

Psalm 65:11, "You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance." (NIV)

Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (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]

February 18, 2011
Free
Lynn Cowell


"I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts."

Psalm 119:45 (NIV)         

Devotion:
Being busy, overwhelmed in fact, made me feel important. I loved nothing more than creating a to-do list, simply for the happiness of checking it off. Even better was recounting the day back to my husband; my life sounded so important! Running around had a purpose.


Busyness quieted the voices of insignificance that screamed inside my head. But it wore me down. The pay-off simply wasn't there.


Soon I sensed God asking me to take things off my plate. When I didn't, He started removing them...one by one. That is when I began to experience freedom and the peace that comes from simply being. I found my completion in being His girl. The more I embraced the Lord, the more His freedom became the thing I cherished.


Dictionary.com defines freedom as the state of being free or at liberty, rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.


Freedom is my word for 2011, a word I want to fully understand. A word I am defining for me as: unconfined by my human limitations; free to be an expression of my amazing God and His revolutionary love.


David must have been a bit like me; a man prone to have to preach to himself on occasion. He gave himself this command, "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts" (Psalm 119:45, NIV).


In the original language "freedom" here means spacious, broad, roomy. That's not exactly how most non-Christians would describe Christians. But spacious, broad and roomy is exactly what Jesus has for those who are His.


Since God is not a God of chaos or confinement, when I follow His ways He brings freedom. He causes the things He has not called me to do, or to be a part of, to fade in the background. That is where my purpose is peaceful.


Father, I need Your freedom - the ability to move about without being driven by compulsion or emotions. I seek Your direction to find Your freedom. I choose to allow my expectations to fade, enabling my family and friends to walk in a spacious and broad place. I choose to walk in Your ways, not cluttering life with me and my agenda, but having room to be led by Your Spirit. Thank You, Lord, for giving me what only You can give...true freedom. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Stop by Lynn's blog today. She is hosting a special "freedom" give away!

The Mom I want to be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future by T. Suzanne Eller
He is that Into You (CD) by Lynn Cowell

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
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: 
In what area of life do you struggle to experience freedom and peace? Take today's key verse and insert your struggle. For example: "I will walk about in freedom from controlling my family, for I have sought out Your precepts." Write this out. Memorize it. Make it your go-to place when you need God's freedom.


Maybe like Lynn was, you are addicted to frenzy and you don't want to exchange crazy for calm. Ask the Lord to give you a desire to experience His peace.


Reflections: 
Why do I struggle to have freedom in certain areas of my life? (Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the root cause of the struggle.)


With the root revealed, what actions do I need to take toward freedom? (For example: pray for faith, choose forgiveness, focus on my completion in Christ, etc.)


Power Verses:
Galatians 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (NIV)   


© 2011 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

February 21, 2011
Are You a List Maker?
Melanie Chitwood


"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

1 John 4:16 (NAS)         

Devotion:
I'm a list maker. At my house you'll see a magnetic notepad on my refrigerator where I keep a running grocery list. By my bedside is a notepad for jotting down writing ideas. I have a notebook where I keep a daily to-do list and a long-term to-do list. And of course the best part of a list is checking something off when completed!


For years I kept another list. It wasn't written down. Instead it was a mental running list I didn't even realize I was keeping, until I experienced a perspective-shifting situation.


After my second son, Tyler, was born, I went through severe post-partum depression. It wasn't just the baby blues. It was days and days of crying, anxiety and no sleep. I had a newborn baby, a four year-old son, and a pilot husband who would soon go back to work. I was completely overwhelmed with everything. Finally, I called my doctor who prescribed medicine, but it would take a couple of weeks to work. Meanwhile, I had to figure out how to get through each day.


Every morning I woke up early, prayed, and begged God to take the depression away. But the depression didn't go away. In fact it deepened as I listened to the lies depression shouted: You're a failure. What's wrong with you? Why can't you do this? You only have two children and you don't even have to work full-time. Other people go through much harder things and you can't even do this.


One day when I just got sick and tired of being in such a miserable state, I yelled at God, What is this about, God? You're God. You could make this depression go away with the snap of Your fingers if You wanted to. Why won't You?


Finally, I was just still. As I sat there, I realized God wanted me to learn a life-changing truth. I had kept a mental running list of all the reasons God couldn't love me. I wasn't a good enough wife, a good enough Christian, and certainly not a good enough mother. When I was struggling with postpartum depression, I didn't feel like a good anything. So I sure didn't believe God loved me unconditionally. I believed God loved me - but I believed He'd love me more if I could get my act together.


I wonder if you're like me, keeping a running list of the reasons you mistakenly think disqualify you from God's unconditional love. Maybe like me you don't feel good enough at anything or you've struggled with depression. Maybe you have a secret that makes you feel ashamed - you've had an abortion, you've been unfaithful, you drink too much, you scream at your kids or husband. Maybe you've been divorced and that makes you feel unworthy of God's unconditional love.


When I gave God my list of reasons why He couldn't love me, I finally heard God's gentle answer in reply. Well, it's a good thing My love doesn't depend on you, My child. It's a good thing My love doesn't depend on you.


You can scratch all those reasons off the list. In fact you can tear up the list. I did that when I died on the cross for you.


Are you ready for a change today? Are you ready to stop beating yourself up for your flaws, shortcomings, or sins? God is not keeping a list of your mistakes, and you don't need to either. Tear up your list and don't start a new one. Choose to believe today God loves you. There is nothing you can do or not do to change His love for you.


Dear Lord, thank You for not keeping a running list of my mistakes, shortcomings or sins. Help me truly believe, to the core of my being, that You love me through and through, for now and always. I don't have to help You love me by being perfect. Let today be a defining moment where I tear up my running list and receive Your unconditional love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?


Visit Melanie's blog What Matters Most


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


A Perfect Mess: Why You Don't Have to Worry About Being Good Enough for God by Lisa Harper
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 down whatever has been on your mental running list of why you've mistakenly thought you're disqualified from God's unconditional love. Then pray, thanking Jesus for dying for you and nailing it on the cross once and for all. Then tear up or burn the list. This might be an activity you want to share with your husband or a good friend.


Look up verses or check out Melanie's blog for verses about God's love. Read them daily; choose some to memorize. This will help you believe how much God loves you.


Reflections: 
Do I believe I can help God love me by being good?


Is God's unconditional love settled deep in my heart?


What keeps me from believing God loves me unconditionally?


Has listening to the enemy's lies about myself, such as You're not a good enough mom or God could never forgive me for that, kept me from believing God loves me?


Power Verses:
Jeremiah 31:3b, "'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'" (NIV)


1 John 4:10, "This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (NLT)



© 2011 by Melanie Chitwood. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

February 22, 2011
Why I Do What I Do
T. Suzanne Eller


"Again he said, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.'"

John 20:21 (NLT)


Devotion:
Two sisters stood at the front of the church. Both were marked by a hard life. The younger sister sat down beside me. She had become a believer the year before. Just a few weeks earlier, she and a woman in the church had rescued her older sister from domestic violence and drug addiction.

"Can I pray with you?" I asked.

The older sister knelt on the floor, pressed her forehead between my knees and wrapped her arms around my legs. Her need was so tangible, her hunger so great. As she held tight to my legs, I felt her tears bleeding through the fabric of my pants. I was suddenly overwhelmed as God's presence flooded that moment and that space, and I felt His love for His broken, sweet daughter.

I leaned down and wrapped my arms around her and prayed, but it wasn't the words that mattered. It was God showing me all over again the truth: He transforms lives. He loves. He came to heal the broken-hearted and to place their feet on a new path.

Later that night I thought about that moment again, and I thanked God that I get to do what I do.

Sometimes the details of ministry life can take center stage. Whether you teach Sunday school, or work with youth, or are a pastor's wife, or lead worship, or anything you feel God has called you to do, sometimes people are difficult, or even discouraging. Sometimes you feel like a failure, even though you prepared and prayed for this.

No matter the challenge, it's nothing compared to what the early Christians experienced. I can only imagine the highs and lows these faithful people felt. But they kept their focus on the one thing that they got to do -- carry the Good News to those who were seeking truth. Perhaps they saw the fruit of their labor, but it's more likely that they didn't.

Transformation doesn't happen overnight. So while they were tossing seeds of hope here and there, it's likely that they experienced imperfect people, human nature, and obstacles, just like us.

In John 21, we find Peter, a guy pretty discouraged by ministry. He was enthusiastic in the beginning. But when he hit hard times in ministry, he almost forgot why he was doing what he was doing, and he ran in the other direction. But in verses 15-17 we see Jesus reminding Peter of the beauty of serving others. "Feed my sheep," He said three times. Peter rediscovered his mission. He went on to become a rock in the church.

Are you discouraged by the details, by people, by the mountains that keep popping up when it seems you just prayed them away the week before?

If so, today I pray that He will remind you all over again of why you do what you do. I pray He shifts your attention to those, like the beautiful young woman once abused and broken, whose lives are in the process of change.

You see, there will be many who "do what they do" who will come alongside the hurting woman. Sunday school teachers, pastors, women's ministry leaders, soup kitchen cooks, Christian friends—people just like you—and in the end they all will have written the Gospel on her heart.

Dear Lord, reignite my passion for ministry. Let me glimpse Your burden for those I come in contact with, and let me rediscover all over again why I love serving You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Visit Suzie's blog for a giveaway of Suzie's book, The Woman I Am Becoming


The Woman I Am Becoming by T. Suzanne Eller

Lead Like Jesus: Lessons for Everyone from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of all Times by Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges
First Love (DVD) by Karen Ehman
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:
You need to refuel, to keep the personal fire inside of you lit before giving out to others. Create a time and place where you can connect with God with no other agenda than to know Him.


Reflections:
"Peter loved Jesus with the deepest of loves, but his illusions, his presumptions about himself, were stripped away. Three questions--three confessions--three commissions! Peter's heart soared in relief." ~ Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome by Kent and Barbara Hughes


Power Verses:
John 21:15, "After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know I love you.' 'Then feed my lambs,' Jesus told him. (NLT)

©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]

February 23, 2011
Not Just Anyone
Rachel Olsen


"He's just the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us."

Mark 6:3 (NLT)


Devotion:
Ever feel like you are just a wife, just a friend, just a daughter or just a mom?


Or, do you ever feel like you are stuck in some dead-end place that even God isn't much interested in visiting? We all feel marginalized at times. Jesus did.


Early in the gospel of John, the disciple Phillip eagerly tells Nathanael, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."


"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from there?" (John 1:46)


The Jewish people considered Nazareth a God-forsaken place but nothing was farther from the truth. It was the God-chosen spot for the Son of Man to grow up, study the scriptures and prepare for His world-changing ministry.


Apparently, God thought planting Jesus in a small, overlooked spot would not be a hindrance to carrying out His magnificent plan for Him - a plan for the world's eternal redemption. Do you view the spot you are in a hindrance to what God wants to do through you?


Once He'd grown, the people of Jesus' home region had a hard time accepting Jesus as the Messiah. How could this man they'd seen learning to walk, learning to talk, learning to hammer and saw, be God's Son? In fact, they leveled the strongest possible accusation at Him. They claimed, in Mark 3:20-25 after He healed a man on the Sabbath, He was working for the devil.


That's not just marginalizing someone, that's attacking them! Have you felt misunderstood or attacked? Notice that God did little to stop these people from running their mouths incorrectly about Jesus. Instead He kept right on leading Jesus down His destined path.


Jesus eventually left His home region to preach, teach, heal and deliver people throughout the Middle East. His preaching was unrivaled. He performed jaw-dropping miracles. And crowds mobbed Him most everywhere He went.


After stunningly raising a girl from the dead, Jesus returned home to Nazareth with His disciples. Still the people there were "deeply offended and refused to believe in him" (Mark 6:3b). Although He taught them with uncommon wisdom, they replied, "He's just the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us" (Mark 6:3a).


How frustrating. How sad.


Jesus lamented, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family" (Mark 6:4). The Scriptures say Jesus was taken aback by their degree of unbelief in Him and, because of it, His ministry there was limited.


Do you come from a "could-anything-good-possibly-come-from-there" kind of town or home? Have you ever felt that your own family or friends couldn't see past your humanness to recognize your God-given potential? Has your parents' or peers' view of you limited you in some way?


After more ministry on-the-go, Jesus returned to Galilee once again in Mark 9:30-32. This time, however, He avoided towns-folk and focused on His disciples. From there, He made His way to Jerusalem where He would be crucified.


He was about to endure His hardest test—I wonder if He just wasn't in the mood to take the skeptical jabs.


After His resurrection, do you know where Jesus went? In addition to His disciples, who do you think He appeared before in the truth of His resurrected glory? The people who knew Him the longest, yet hadn't believed in Him. He headed straight for Galilee, going to His earthly home before ascending to His heavenly one.


Being overlooked or misunderstood is hard to take. Jesus was no doubt disappointed by those in His home region, and by the leaders in the synagogues whose job it was to recognize the Messiah when He came. But ultimately Jesus' identity, worth and power came from His Heavenly Father and not from the validation of any earthly being.


The same is true for you and me.


If you feel overlooked or misjudged today, take those feelings to Jesus and let Him reassure you. If you haven't received love and support from the people important to you, take that disappointment to the Lord who understands completely.


He is more than just a carpenter. More than just the brother of so-and-so. Jesus has the ability to transform anguish into peace, to trade our sorrows for strength, and to replace pity with power. Let's trust our often marginalized Messiah to shape our identity and define our future.


Not just anyone can do that.


Dear Lord, I will believe that I am complete in You. My life is worthwhile in Your service. And I am who You say I am. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Do you know Jesus?

Join us in our upcoming online study of It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by Rachel Olsen.
Connect with Rachel at her blog and on Twitter. Today she is talking about who you are in Christ.

His Princess, Love Letters from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd
Application Steps:
If you are raising children, go out of your way to ensure they know they possess precious God-given potential.


Choose to believe it matters not where you came from, or who you are related to, or even what you have done up until now - but WHO you spiritually belong to.


Reflections:
Where do I draw my identity and strength from?


Can I articulate who I am in Christ?


Power Verses:
Colossians 2:9-10, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority." (NIV)   

© 2011 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org